Thermal Protection Surge Suppression Device Arc Extinguishing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Metal oxide varistors (MOV) in surge suppression devices are prone to catching fire due to power frequency fault currents, despite thermal protection mechanisms, as they cannot extinguish electric arcs effectively when the current is cut off, leading to potential damage and fire in electronic equipment with poor overvoltage tolerance.
Innovation Solution
A thermally protected surge suppression device with a housing, base seat, and mounting plate, featuring a thermal protection device with a conductive metal member, compression spring, and arc extinguishing component, which generates airflow to extinguish electric arcs by moving a slider and creating a gap between the conductive metal member and metal bulge, preventing further damage and fire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a thermal protection mechanism is used to cut off power supply to the MOV when temperature rises, then the MOV temperature can be controlled, but electric arcs may be generated in the gap and fail to be extinguished, leading to continued power frequency fault current
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an arc extinguishing component as an intermediary element between the thermal protection mechanism and the circuit. When the thermal protection mechanism opens the circuit, this component actively extinguishes the resulting electric arc, preventing it from sustaining the fault current. The arc extinguishing component acts as a mediator that resolves the harmful effect (electric arc) created by the circuit interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by preparing the arc extinguishing component in advance to counteract the harmful electric arc before it can cause damage. The component is positioned and configured to immediately act on the arc when it forms, preventing the arc from sustaining the fault current and causing further damage to the circuit.
2Reliability
If the MOV is kept in power supply state to protect electronic equipment, then overvoltage suppression is maintained, but when MOV fails, power frequency fault current can rapidly increase causing fire
Solution Approach 1:
The arc extinguishing component serves as an intermediary safety mechanism that activates when the MOV fails. It intercepts and extinguishes the electric arc that forms during failure, preventing the arc from allowing sustained power frequency fault current to flow through the MOV, thereby eliminating the fire hazard while maintaining normal overvoltage protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by incorporating the arc extinguishing component as a pre-prepared safety measure. This component is positioned and configured in advance to cushion or absorb the harmful effects of electric arc and power frequency fault current when the MOV fails, preventing the catastrophic fire hazard before it can occur.
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 device effectively extinguishes electric arcs and provides safer, more reliable circuit protection by isolating the metal bulge from the conductive metal member, preventing short circuits and fires caused by power frequency fault currents, while also being fire-retardant and resistant to explosion from surge currents.
Implementation Method 1
the surge suppression component is heating up to make the low temperature solder melt
Implementation Method 2
the compression spring pushes the arc extinguishing component of the slider to move
Implementation Method 3
generate airflow to extinguish electric arcs
Implementation Method 4
the guide-track groove is tilted to the conductive metal member... provides the lateral thrust to push away the metal member
Data Source
AI summary
A thermally protected surge suppression device comprises a housing and a base seat with a mounting plate. The base seat is provided with a surge suppression component and a thermal protection device, and the thermal protection device further comprises a metal bulge electrically connecting to the electrode B of the surge suppression component, a compression spring, a slider provided with an arc extinguishing component movable on the guide-track groove. In normal working condition, the conductive metal member electrically connects to the metal bulge via a low temperature solder. When the surge suppression component fails, the low temperature solder is melt owing to being passed through the power frequency fault current, the conductive metal member is disconnected from the metal bulge, the compression spring pushes the arc extinguishing component to move to obstruct the disconnected gap, and form an airflow to extinguish the electric arc between the conductive metal member and the metal bulge. The present invention provides a safer, more timely and reliable circuit protection.