Split Tube Electrical Switch for Fast-Acting Circuit Breaker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric switches, particularly those using split rings, face issues with reliability and durability due to shape deformation under stress relaxation, leading to uncertain electrical contacts and difficulty in assembly.
Innovation Solution
An electric switch design featuring a sliding assembly with a split tube that provides a clamping force through resilience, ensuring reliable and durable electrical connections by using a split tube that is easily assembled and maintains contact resistance below 50 microohms, even under vibrations or impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If split rings are used to provide electrical contact, then electrical connection is achieved, but the rings lose their shape and become oval under stress relaxation, leading to uncertain electrical contact
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive portion is divided into multiple conductive segments arranged circumferentially, separated by insulating segments. This segmentation allows each conductive segment to independently maintain contact with the sliding assembly without the entire ring deforming, thus improving electrical contact reliability while maintaining shape stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring structure combines conductive material segments with insulating material segments to form a composite conductive ring. This composite structure prevents the entire ring from deforming under stress while maintaining electrical contact through the conductive segments, resolving the contradiction between contact reliability and shape stability.
2Reliability
If the sliding assembly is mounted by force between the annular rings, then electrical contact is achieved, but assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive segments are designed to be resilient and capable of elastic deformation, allowing the sliding assembly to be inserted without excessive force. The segments dynamically adjust their position and contact pressure to maintain reliable electrical contact while facilitating easier assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact pressure and dimensional parameters of the conductive segments are optimized to provide sufficient electrical contact without requiring excessive assembly force. By carefully controlling the resilience and geometry parameters, the design achieves reliable contact while improving assembly ease.
3Reliability
If tight electrical contact is maintained between the sliding assembly and conductive tabs, then electrical connection is reliable, but contact resistance increases over time due to stress relaxation
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive portion is segmented into multiple conductive segments that can independently maintain contact pressure. This segmentation distributes the stress and prevents the entire contact interface from deforming uniformly, thereby maintaining lower contact resistance over time while preserving reliable electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of conductive and insulating segments creates a composite structure where the conductive segments maintain optimized contact pressure with the sliding assembly. This composite design prevents stress relaxation from increasing contact resistance, maintaining both electrical connection reliability and low contact resistance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a reliable and long-lasting electrical connection with low resistance, preventing intermittent contacts and electric arcs, and allows for easy assembly and operation with reduced force requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the conductive portion of the sliding assembly is connected by a clamping force with the two primary electrically conductive tabs when the sliding assembly is in its first position, and when the sliding assembly is in its second position, the upstream electrically conductive tab is separated from the conductive portion of said sliding assembly, said switch being characterized in that the sliding assembly comprises at least one tube split by a slot extending along its entire length, and in that the conductive portion of the sliding assembly is constituted by all or part of said split tube, the clamping force between the conductive portion and the primary electrically conductive tabs being provided by the resilience of the split tube
Data Source
AI summary
A normally closed electric switch having a sliding assembly that is actuated to open the switch, e.g. by a pyrotechnic gas generator. Prior to actuation, a conductive portion of the sliding assembly (21) is in tight contact with two rings (13a, 14a) that are axially offset on the same axis, belonging respectively to two electrically conductive tabs (13, 14), and after the actuator has been triggered, the upstream tab (13) is separated from the conductive portion of the sliding assembly. According to the invention, sliding assembly comprises a tube split by a slot extending along its entire length, and the conductive portion of the sliding assembly is constituted by all or part of said split tube, the clamping force between the conductive portion and the primary electrically conductive tabs being provided by the resilience of the split tube.