Temperature Switch Vibration Suppression via Movable Plate Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional temperature switches with movable plates experience significant vibrations after contact separation, leading to arcs, especially when dealing with direct current, which complicates manufacturing and requires reevaluation of the switch's configuration.

Innovation Solution

A temperature switch design incorporating a movable plate with a thermally deformable member and a vibration suppression section that contacts the movable plate's fixed-edge side to absorb vibrations, allowing the plate to shift from a contact to a spaced position without rebounding, thus maintaining a stable contact gap and improving durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a movable flat section is formed by bending the leading edge portion of the movable plate to suppress vibrations, then vibration suppression is improved, but the original shape of the movable plate is significantly changed requiring manufacturing facility changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration suppressionVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The movable plate is divided into distinct functional sections: a flat leading edge portion for contact separation and a bent vibration suppression portion. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The vibration suppression is achieved by adding a dimensional feature (bent portion) to the movable plate structure rather than changing the material properties or operating conditions. This structural addition suppresses vibrations without affecting the manufacturing process of the base plate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the movable plate is made elastic to enable contact movement, then contact operation is improved, but strong vibrations remain after contact separation causing arcs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact movementVSAvoidvibrations and arcs

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic nature of the movable plate, which originally causes harmful vibrations, is converted into a beneficial feature. The elasticity allows the plate to return to its original position after contact separation, while the added bent portion dissipates the vibrational energy, transforming the harmful rebound into a controlled motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The bent vibration suppression portion acts as a pre-designed energy dissipation mechanism that cushions the rebound motion before it can generate harmful vibrations and arcs. This structural feature is built into the plate beforehand to mitigate the harmful effects of elasticity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 effectively suppresses vibrations of the movable plate, enhancing the interruption performance and durability of the temperature switch, particularly during direct current interruptions, by maintaining a stable contact gap and reducing arc occurrence.

Implementation Method 1

a thermally deformable member that is elastically deformed in accordance with a temperature change so as to elastically deform the movable plate such that the movable plate is positioned at a contact position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal deformation: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

a movable plate that is elastically deformable; a thermally deformable member that is elastically deformed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

a vibration suppression section that suppresses vibrations of the movable plate by contacting a portion of the movable plate on a fixed-edge side of the movable plate with reference to a center of the movable contact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration suppression through mechanical contact: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS11501936B2Temperature switch

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 UCHIYA THERMOSTAT

AI summary

A temperature switch includes an elastically deformable movable plate, a movable contact on the movable plate, a fixed contact facing the movable contact, a thermally deformable member, a vibration suppression section, and a cover. The thermally deformable member is elastically deformed in accordance with a temperature change to elastically deform the movable plate such that the movable contact is in contact with the fixed contact or spaced apart from the fixed contact. The vibration suppression section suppresses vibrations of the movable plate by contacting a fixed-edge side when the movable plate is elastically deformed to shift the movable plate from being in contact with the fixed contact to being spaced apart therefrom. The cover surrounds the movable and fixed contacts, and the vibration suppression section is a projecting section provided on the cover.