Load Break Switch Flat Surface Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing modular load-break switches face inaccuracies in component positioning due to component tolerances, leading to laborious assembly and asymmetric arc ignition during short circuits, and require the same copper thickness for different rated currents, increasing manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves designing connection elements and a movable contact element with flat sides in a common plane, where the movable contact element is pivotably mounted on a bearing surface, allowing for flexible adaptation of copper thickness based on rated current without changing other components, reducing positional inaccuracies and assembly complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If high-precision geometries and dimensions of components are used to solve positional inaccuracies, then positioning accuracy is improved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into two separate parts: a positioning element with a positioning surface and a support element with a support surface. This segmentation allows each element to be manufactured with standard tolerances while achieving precise positioning through the配合 of the two surfaces, reducing the need for high-precision manufacturing of individual components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning surface and support surface act as intermediary elements between the connection elements and the housing. These surfaces provide a reference plane that ensures accurate positioning without requiring the entire housing or connection elements to be manufactured with high precision, thus lowering manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If fixed groove dimensions in plastic shells are used for all switch sizes, then housing design is simplified, but copper part thickness must be uniform increasing costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing design complexityVSAvoidcopper amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The connection elements are designed with locally adapted thicknesses according to the specific rated current requirements of each switch. The housing structure with positioning and support surfaces accommodates different copper thicknesses without requiring changes to the overall housing design, allowing optimization of copper usage for each application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If standard tolerance components are used instead of high-precision components, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but positional inaccuracies increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning function and support function are merged into a single housing structure with specifically designed surfaces. The positioning surface on one element and the support surface on another element work together to establish precise positioning, compensating for standard component tolerances and achieving accurate component alignment without high-precision manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2937882B1Switch, in particular circuit breaker
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 SIEMENS AG
  • EP2937882B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2937882B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2937882B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a switch (1), in particular a load break switch, with connection elements (3, 5) which can be connected via a switching contact (12), the movable contact surface (27) of which is formed on a movable contact element (7) which rests against the fixed contact surface (27, 28) in the closed position.To achieve a setup with better positional accuracy, it is proposed that the two connecting elements (3, 5) and the movable contact element (7) each have a flat surface (21, 22, 25) and that all flat surfaces (21, 22, 25) lie in a common plane (E), wherein the connecting elements (3, 5) are arranged on one side of the common plane (E) and the movable contact element (7) on the other side, that a partial surface of the flat surface (22) of one connecting element (5) forms the fixed contact surface (28), that a partial surface of the flat surface (21) of the other connecting element (3) forms a flat bearing surface, and that the movable contact element (7) rests movably against the bearing surface with its flat surface (25).