Electric Switching Device Curved Guide Joint
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical switching devices require oversized drive devices due to increased friction resistance between guide sections and conductor tracks over time, leading to disproportionate costs, especially in high and extra-high voltage applications, where precise production methods are necessary to prevent tilting and blocking.
Innovation Solution
A rotating and sliding joint is introduced, allowing for a sliding movement to be superimposed with a rotary movement, using convexly curved contact surfaces to prevent tilting and compensate for manufacturing tolerances, thereby reducing friction losses and enabling the use of a power-reduced drive device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If flat contact surfaces are used between guide section and conductor track, then precise guidance is achieved, but friction increases over time causing blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing flat contact surfaces with spherically curved contact surfaces on the guide section that mate with corresponding curved surfaces on the conductor track. This spherical interface allows for self-aligning contact that compensates for manufacturing tolerances and wear, maintaining low friction and preventing blocking while ensuring precise guidance throughout the operational life of the device.
2Reliability
If oversized drive device is used to overcome increased friction, then switching functionality is maintained, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical contact surfaces reduce friction between the guide section and conductor track by enabling smooth rolling and self-aligning motion. This friction reduction allows the use of more compact, cost-effective drive devices while maintaining reliable switching functionality throughout the device's operational life.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise production methods are used to prevent tilting, then guidance accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical contact surfaces inherently compensate for manufacturing tolerances and wear through their self-aligning geometry. This design allows for less stringent manufacturing tolerances compared to flat surfaces, reducing production costs while maintaining high guidance accuracy throughout the device's operational life.
4Adaptability or versatility
If guide section is allowed to tilt on interconnect, then tolerance compensation is improved, but guidance precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical contact surfaces enable controlled tilting and rotational movement of the guide section relative to the interconnect while maintaining precise linear guidance. The curved interface allows the guide section to self-align and compensate for tolerances through controlled rotation, ensuring both tolerance compensation and guidance precision are achieved simultaneously.
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 solution ensures defined guidance of switching contact pieces while preventing tilting, allowing for efficient operation with reduced drive power consumption, even after numerous switching cycles, thus minimizing costs and maintaining functionality in high-voltage applications.
Implementation Method 1
The coefficient of friction between the guide section and the interconnect thus deteriorates, as a result of which blocking can occur
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an electric switching device which has a first and a second switch contact piece (1, 2). The first switch contact piece (1) has a guide portion (10). The first switch contact piece (1) is connected to a drive device (6) via a kinematic chain, said guide portion (10) of the first switch contact piece (1) being guided on a guide path (9). The guide portion (10) and the guide path (9) each have a bearing surface (12), at least one of the bearing surfaces (12) being convexly curved.