Time Relay Socket Insulation Design for Arc Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing time relay sockets suffer from poor insulating properties due to harmful clearances near plug bushes and wiring ends, leading to electric arcs, which affect safety, service life, and control reliability, and are difficult to manufacture with good structural design and alignment precision.

Innovation Solution

The time relay socket features a staggered arrangement of arc isolating ribs and insulated baffles, with the ribs only in the plug bush and transition regions, and baffles in the wiring end region, enhancing insulation and arc isolation by creating a height and length difference that prevents electric arcs, and facilitating assembly by allowing the shell and cover plate to fit compactly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If arc isolating ribs are arranged on the shell only with grooves on the base, then the structure is simple, but the insulating property is poor and electric arcs are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidinsulating property
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different regions. Arc isolating ribs are arranged only in the plug bush region and intermediate transition region on the shell, while insulated baffles are arranged in the wiring end region on the cover plate. This localized differentiation optimizes insulation where needed without unnecessarily complicating the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension by adding insulated baffles that extend in the height direction from the cover plate, creating a three-dimensional insulation structure. This complements the two-dimensional arc isolating ribs on the shell, forming a multi-layered insulation system that effectively blocks electric arcs while maintaining structural efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If arc isolating ribs are arranged in all regions including wiring end region, then insulation is improved, but the fit clearance is too close to inserts and harmful clearances remain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulating propertyVSAvoidharmful clearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different regions. Arc isolating ribs are arranged only in the plug bush region and intermediate transition region on the shell, while insulated baffles are arranged in the wiring end region on the cover plate. This localized differentiation optimizes insulation where needed without unnecessarily complicating the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the insulation function into two parts: arc isolating ribs on the shell for the plug bush and transition regions, and insulated baffles on the cover plate for the wiring end region. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific region, preventing harmful clearances without creating fit clearance issues with inserts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If arc isolating ribs and grooves are arranged in butt-joint plugging manner, then assembly is simplified, but alignment precision is difficult to ensure and scrappage rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a new dimension by adding insulated baffles that extend in the height direction from the cover plate, creating a three-dimensional insulation structure. This complements the two-dimensional arc isolating ribs on the shell, forming a multi-layered insulation system that effectively blocks electric arcs while maintaining structural efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different regions. Arc isolating ribs are arranged only in the plug bush region and intermediate transition region on the shell, while insulated baffles are arranged in the wiring end region on the cover plate. This localized differentiation optimizes insulation where needed without unnecessarily complicating the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Area of stationary object

If eight jacks are densely arranged in the center of the base, then space is saved, but the distance between plug bushes is less than creepage distance requiring arc isolating structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidinsulation requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different regions. Arc isolating ribs are arranged only in the plug bush region and intermediate transition region on the shell, while insulated baffles are arranged in the wiring end region on the cover plate. This localized differentiation optimizes insulation where needed without unnecessarily complicating the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3226358B1Time relay socket
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 ZHEJIANG CHINT ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3226358B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3226358B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3226358B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention discloses a time relay socket. A shell is provided with eight jacks, conducting sheets corresponding to the jacks and plug bush ends on the conducting sheets. The conducting sheets are located in a cavity between the shell and a cover plate; each of the two ends of the cover plate is provided with four wiring seats, a cover plate screw seat and two insulated baffles. Each cover plate screw seat separates the four wiring seats at the same end into two groups, the two wiring seats of each group are separated by the raised insulated baffle on the cover plate, and wiring ends of the conducting sheets are arranged on the wiring seats. Each of the two ends of the shell is provided with two sunken hole grooves and a shell screw seat, wherein the shell screw seat is located between the two hole grooves at the same end and separates the two hole grooves at the same end, and a sunken space of each hole groove is accommodated with a group of two wiring seats provided with one insulated baffle and two wiring ends. Thus, a harmful gap can be avoided, the safety level is enhanced, and voltage resistance is strong.