Switching Apparatus Buffering Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing switching apparatuses face challenges with size and cost due to complex mechanical height adjustments of coned disc springs, which require significant manual effort and increase the risk of operational failures and increased size for withstand voltage performance.
Innovation Solution
A switching apparatus design featuring a vacuum valve with a buffering mechanism that includes a basic shaft with a thread section, a shaft support body, an elastic body, and an adjustment member, allowing for load adjustment and minimizing radial movement, thereby reducing size and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple overlapped coned disc springs are arranged on support shaft lines to suppress chattering, then chattering is suppressed and contacts are protected, but the structure becomes complex and requires repeated load adjustment work increasing time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple coned disc springs into a single integrated elastic body that performs the same chattering suppression function. This merging reduces the number of separate components from multiple overlapped springs to one unified structure, simplifying the overall device while maintaining the reliability needed for suppressing contact chattering.
Solution Approach 2:
The single elastic body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides chattering suppression, acts as a buffer for collision loads, and enables load adjustment through its integrated design with the adjustment member. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components that would otherwise be required for each function.
2Manufacturing precision
If mechanical height adjustment of coned disc springs is performed by actual measurement, then load adjustment is achieved, but the adjustment work becomes difficult and requires two-step overlapping increasing time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical height adjustment process with a threaded adjustment mechanism. Instead of requiring manual measurement and physical height modification of multiple springs, the load is adjusted by simply rotating an adjustment member that compresses or releases the elastic body, providing precise control without time-consuming measurement and adjustment steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The load adjustment is achieved by changing the compression parameter of the elastic body through the threaded adjustment member. By rotating the adjustment member, the compression degree of the elastic body is continuously variable, allowing precise load control without the need for discrete two-step adjustment or actual measurement of spring heights.
3Adaptability or versatility
If coned disc springs are overlapped in two steps on multiple support shaft lines, then load adjustment is possible, but work man-hour increases and effort required becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple adjustable spring components into a single elastic body with one integrated adjustment mechanism. This eliminates the need for separate two-step adjustment procedures for each spring, allowing load adjustment to be performed once for the entire assembly, thereby significantly improving assembly efficiency and reducing work man-hour.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body is pre-configured with the adjustment member integrated into its structure, allowing load adjustment to be performed as a single preliminary action during assembly. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for subsequent repeated adjustment steps that would otherwise be required for multiple overlapped springs.
4Manufacturing precision
If vacuum valve is fixed to fixed conductor and load adjustment is performed, then load adjustment is achieved, but the sensitive component must be carefully handled increasing complexity and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the adjustment function from the vacuum valve by providing the adjustment mechanism on the elastic body side rather than requiring adjustment during vacuum valve installation. This segmentation allows the vacuum valve to be handled as a complete, pre-adjusted assembly, reducing the need for careful concentrated handling and decreasing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic body with its integrated adjustment member performs the load adjustment function independently without requiring complex external adjustment mechanisms or specialized handling procedures for the vacuum valve. The self-contained adjustment system simplifies the overall assembly process and reduces the complexity of handling sensitive components.
5Reliability
If coned disc springs are supported on multiple support shaft lines to allow minute movable movement, then chattering is suppressed, but prevention mechanism for shaft center deviation is needed increasing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the chattering suppression function into a single centrally positioned elastic body that is coaxial with the vacuum valve shaft. This eliminates the need for multiple distributed support shaft lines and their associated alignment requirements, removing the necessity for complex prevention mechanisms against shaft center deviation while maintaining effective chattering suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of distributing multiple support points around the vacuum valve as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the approach by using a single centralized elastic body support. This inversion simplifies the support structure, eliminates alignment issues with multiple shaft lines, and removes the need for additional prevention mechanisms for shaft center deviation.
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 a compact design with improved withstand voltage performance, reduced operational failures, and simplified load adjustment, leading to cost savings and enhanced workability.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic body concentrically attached by insertion to the shaft section between the shaft support body and the basic section of the basic shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A switching apparatus includes: a vacuum valve which houses a fixed side electrode fixed to a fixed current-carrying shaft and a movable side electrode fixed to a movable current-carrying shaft coaxially arranged with the fixed current-carrying shaft in face-to-face relation to the fixed side electrode; and a buffering mechanism which is coaxially disposed with the fixed current-carrying shaft on the fixed side of the vacuum valve and reduces a collision load at the time when the movable side electrode is close contact with the fixed side electrode.