Staggered Spring Holder Assembly for Stable Transfer Switch Contact Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing dual-power transfer switch with bidirectional contacts faces challenges due to large occupied space and unstable contact pressure, especially when contact surfaces wear down, affecting mechanical and electrical properties, and requires multiple movable contacts with independent pressure mechanisms for stable performance.
Innovation Solution
A movable contact assembly with staggered spring holders and parallel-connected springs, which reduces installation space and ensures consistent contact pressure across multiple contacts, improving rated current capacity and short-time current withstand performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two independent elastic devices are used for each contact, then contact pressure stability is improved, but occupied space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two independent elastic devices into a single integrated elastic device with two separate elastic elements. This merging approach maintains the independent contact pressure control for each contact while reducing the overall occupied space compared to using two completely separate elastic devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The single elastic device serves multiple functions by providing independent elastic support for both the first contact and the second contact. The device universally handles contact pressure maintenance for bidirectional contacts while occupying less space than multiple separate devices would require.
2Power
If multiple movable contacts are installed side by side, then rated current capacity is improved, but contact pressure consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic device is segmented into multiple independent elastic elements, with each element responsible for maintaining contact pressure on a specific contact. This segmentation ensures that each contact receives consistent and independent pressure control, even when multiple contacts are installed side by side to increase rated current capacity.
3Reliability
If contact surfaces become thinner due to ablation, then mechanical properties deteriorate, but contact pressure stability should be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic device provides dynamic contact pressure maintenance that automatically compensates for contact surface thinning due to ablation. As contacts wear and become thinner, the elastic elements continuously adjust to maintain stable contact pressure, ensuring reliable electrical connection even when mechanical properties of the contact surfaces deteriorate.
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 achieves compact installation, consistent contact pressure, and enhanced performance by utilizing parallel springs to provide combined force, effectively addressing the issues of space and stability in dual-power transfer switches.
Implementation Method 1
at least a pair of springs... the movable contact is held between the two spring holders and between the two springs
Data Source
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AI summary
A movable contact pressure maintaining structure, acting on a movable contact of a dual-power transfer switch, wherein the movable contact pressure maintaining structure includes at least a pair of spring holders and at least a pair of springs; two corresponding spring holders in the at least a pair of spring holders are staggered and installed together relative to each other; the two spring holders are arranged such that two springs of the at least a pair of springs are respectively installed between the two spring holders in parallel; the movable contact is held between the two spring holders and between the two springs. A movable contact assembly including the movable contact pressure maintaining structure as described above. A dual-power transfer switch including the movable contact pressure maintaining structure as described above.