Thermal Tripping Surge Protector with Decoupled Latching Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overvoltage protection devices face high costs, maintenance susceptibility, and lack of robustness in active solutions, while passive solutions experience premature triggering due to excessive forces required for actuation.
Innovation Solution
A device with a blocking element that changes shape at a limit temperature, using a latching holding device with flexible pincer-like jaws to decouple the second force from the blocking element, allowing a high force to move the slide without premature release, utilizing friction and a snap-in mechanism to ensure accurate actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If active solutions with controllers and sensors are used, then precise temperature monitoring is achieved, but costs and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking element A1 itself serves as the temperature-sensing component through its temperature-dependent change in mechanical properties (such as yield strength). The element automatically responds to temperature changes by deforming when the limit temperature is exceeded, eliminating the need for external sensors, controllers, or power sources. This self-service approach achieves precise temperature monitoring while maintaining simple device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic sensing and control systems with a purely mechanical solution. The blocking element's mechanical properties change with temperature, and this mechanical change directly triggers the tripping mechanism through force balance disruption. This substitution eliminates complex electronic components while maintaining measurement precision through the inherent physical properties of the blocking element.
2Ease of manufacture
If the blocking element is directly connected to the slide for simple structure, then manufacturing is easier, but force coupling causes premature release
Solution Approach 1:
The force transmission path is segmented into two separate chains: one from the blocking element to the first force transmission element, and another from the slide to the second force transmission element. This segmentation breaks the direct force coupling while maintaining structural simplicity, allowing independent optimization of each force path without complex intermediate mechanisms.
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 provides robust and cost-effective thermal tripping and disconnection of overvoltage protection devices, preventing premature activation and ensuring reliable signaling of the device's status.
Implementation Method 1
a blocking element A1 on which a first force F1 acts and which changes its physical state and/or its external shape when a limit temperature is exceeded
Implementation Method 2
The holding device is designed in such a way that the second force, which acts on the slide, acts on the blocking element essentially only by friction and not in the direction of movement of the first force
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for thermally triggering, separating, and/or signaling the state of a surge protector, comprising a blocking element on which a first force acts and the aggregate state and/or the outer shape of which changes when a threshold temperature is exceeded. Furthermore, a slide is provided which is blocked by the blocking element in a first state and on which a second force acts in order to convert the slide into a second state if the aggregate state and/or the outer shape of the blocking element has changed. A latch retaining device, which is connected to the slide and by means of which the blocking element indirectly blocks the slide and the second force is broken down into a sub-force component, acts on the blocking element in a clamping manner. Furthermore, the latch retaining device has at least one elastic flexible jaw which is supported against the blocking element and the surroundings of the slide in the first state, wherein the first force corresponds to the sub-force component.