Thermal Indicator Circuit for Electrical Adaptor Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Extension cords used in construction and residential settings face safety issues due to overloading, cord degradation, and the inability to handle varying voltage requirements, leading to potential electrical faults, fires, and hazards, as well as difficulties in ensuring proper connection and securing power distribution.
Innovation Solution
An electrical adapter with a thermal indicator circuit that detects excessive temperature without interrupting electrical flow, combined with ground fault circuit interrupters and twist lock mechanisms to prevent accidental disconnection and ensure safe power distribution, and adjustable anchors for secure cord placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If extension cords are used extensively to deliver electrical power to equipment far from outlets, then power distribution capability is improved, but safety risks including cord degradation, overloading, and fire hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates safety devices (fuses, GFI circuits, thermal indicators) into the extension cord before use. These devices are pre-installed and positioned to detect and respond to hazardous conditions before they lead to failures or fires, enabling preventive action rather than reactive response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thermal indicator circuits and GFI circuits that continuously monitor cord temperature and electrical conditions. When abnormal conditions are detected (such as excessive heat or ground faults), the system provides feedback through visual indicators or automatic disconnection, allowing users to respond to changing safety conditions in real-time.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fuses and GFI circuits are integrated into electrical cords to protect against electrical events, then safety protection is improved, but the entire cord is disabled when a single device trips the fuse or GFI, reducing convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the extension cord into multiple independent electrical circuits, each with its own fuse and GFI circuit. This segmentation allows a fault in one circuit to trip only the protective device for that specific circuit, while other circuits remain operational. Users can continue using unaffected devices without resetting the entire cord.
3Stability of the object's composition
If twist lock mechanisms are used to prevent accidental disconnection of plugs, then connection stability is improved, but it becomes difficult to visually determine whether the plug is properly locked, reducing ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates visual indicators (such as colored lights or color-coded markings) on the twist lock mechanism that change state based on whether the plug is properly locked. For example, a green light may indicate proper locking while red indicates improper connection, providing immediate visual feedback to users without requiring them to understand the mechanical details of the locking mechanism.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If thermal indicator circuits are added to detect excessive temperature without interrupting electrical flow, then safety monitoring is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thermal indicator circuits that act as intermediaries between the electrical conductors and the user. These circuits monitor temperature conditions and provide visual warnings without directly interrupting the power flow to connected devices. The thermal indicator serves as a mediator that translates thermal conditions into visual information, allowing safety monitoring without complex control systems.
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 enhances safety by preventing electrical faults and fires, allowing for balanced power distribution across multiple devices, and ensuring secure cord placement, reducing the risk of accidents and improving convenience in temporary power setups.
Implementation Method 1
Heating is another safety problem for both commercial and residential extension cords even when the cord is overloaded. Extension cords that have a flaw such as a loose connector, partially broken wire, or kink have a point of increased resistance that causes resistive heating even when the current drawn through the cord is within its rated capacity.
Implementation Method 2
Existing safety fuses and ground fault interrupter (GFI) circuits within electrical cords can sense sudden catastrophic electrical events, such as power failures, power surges, or other electrical or physical events caused on the source side of the electrical cord.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical adaptor comprising a housing. A male electrical plug comprises a prong extending from the housing and is configured as a standard 120-volt male plug. The prong comprises a distal tip, and the distal tip forms an end to the male electrical plug. A female socket is electrically connected to the male electrical plug and comprises an electrical contact positioned in the housing. The female socket is configured to receive a standard 120-volt male plug. The electrical contact comprises a distal tip, and the distal tip forms an end to the female socket. At least one thermal indicator circuit is electrically connected to the male electrical plug and the female socket and is electrically positioned between an end of the male plug and an end of the female socket. The thermal indicator circuit is configured to actuate an alarm upon detecting a temperature at or above a threshold temperature without interrupting electrical flow between the male electrical plug and the female socket.