Electric Switch Fork-Shaped Contactor Linear Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric switches with elastically deformable contactors suffer from reduced linear movement between contact points, leading to increased friction and potential welding, which can result in switch failure due to contamination and particle deposition, especially in small structures where actuation forces are high and contact surfaces experience minimal linear movement.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a flexible tension strip with arched sections that maintain a constant angle, ensuring linear movement of contact points over the contact surfaces, preventing rotational movement and facilitating self-cleaning, thereby reducing the likelihood of welding and allowing for higher load connections with lower actuation forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the switch structure is made compact (miniature or sub-miniature range), then the device size is reduced, but the linear movement between contact points is minimized, leading to increased friction and potential welding
Solution Approach 1:
The contactor incorporates an arched section with a specific radius of curvature that maintains a constant angle relationship with the tension strip. This curved geometry ensures that during actuation, the contact point moves linearly across the contact surface rather than rotating, thereby maintaining sufficient linear movement even in compact switch structures to prevent welding and contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the radius of curvature of the arched section and the angle relationship between the arched section and tension strip to specific parameter ranges. These parameter changes ensure that the contact point trajectory maintains adequate linear movement component while allowing the overall switch structure to be miniaturized
2Device complexity
If the contactor uses a simple elastic deformation mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the linear movement between contact points is insufficient, causing friction and particle deposition
Solution Approach 1:
The arched section with constant angle geometry provides an elegant geometric solution that converts rotational elastic deformation into linear contact point movement. This approach maintains mechanism simplicity while ensuring sufficient linear movement to prevent welding and contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The constant angle relationship between the arched section and tension strip creates a self-cleaning mechanism where the contact point automatically moves linearly across the contact surface during normal operation, preventing particle deposition and welding without requiring additional cleaning mechanisms
3Force
If the contact point moves with minimal linear movement, then the actuation force can be higher, but welding and contamination occur more frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The curved arched section geometry ensures that even with high actuation forces, the contact point maintains sufficient linear movement across the contact surface, preventing welding and contamination while allowing the use of higher actuation forces for more reliable switching
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
This configuration ensures reliable operation with increased linear movement on both contact surfaces, effectively preventing welding and allowing for larger load connections while maintaining a simple structure and easy assembly, ensuring a long service life and improved cleanliness of contact surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable contactor which can be moved against spring force from a normal position to a switched position
Implementation Method 2
The contactor (8) comprises an arched section (16), a tension strip (14) and an end area (18). Between the end area (18) and the arched section (16) is enclosed an angle (17), which remains virtually unchanged during elastic deformation of the contactor
Implementation Method 3
relative movement between the contact points which is substantially perpendicular to the switching direction is advantageous, because the contact points remain free from wear or dirt particles
Data Source
AI summary
An electric switch with flexible, fork-shaped contactor having an end area with first and second contact points. At least one tension strip and at least one arched section extends from the contactor in such manner that changing the switch from a normal position, in which the first contact point is in contact with a first contact surface, to a switched position, in which the second contact point is in contact with a second contact surface, and vice-versa, takes place by deformation of the tension strip while an angle formed at the transition, between the arched section and the end area of the contactor, remains substantially unchanged.