Triangular Cross-Section Switching Strips for Flexible Safety Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing safety switching devices for power-operated systems lack flexibility and reliable contact from all directions, making them unsuitable for systems with complex curvatures and varying deformations.
Innovation Solution
The safety switching device features switching strips and contact strips with approximately triangular cross-sectional contours, offset orientations, and connecting webs embedded within a hollow profile, allowing for flexible installation and reliable contact from any direction, with a web connecting the strips to ensure consistent electrical contact without compromising flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional contact sections with complex configurations (S-shaped, U-shaped, tooth-shaped) are used, then switching function is achieved, but flexibility and adaptability to different curvatures are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The switching device is divided into multiple independent switching strips (first switching strip, second switching strip) and contact strips, each with simple triangular cross-sections. These segmented elements can independently deform and adapt to different curvatures, providing flexibility while maintaining switching functionality through their distributed arrangement within the hollow profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching strips and contact strips are designed with triangular cross-sectional contours and specific orientation angles (5°-25° offset from center line). By changing the geometric parameters (triangle shape, orientation angle, spacing), the device achieves both flexibility to accommodate curvatures and reliable switching contact, resolving the contradiction between simple configuration and functional effectiveness.
2Reliability
If switching strips are arranged to ensure contact from all directions, then reliability of switching contact is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switching strips and contact strips are designed with asymmetric triangular cross-sections oriented at specific angles (5°-25° offset from the center line). This asymmetric orientation ensures that the side surfaces of the strips interact during deformation, providing large-area contact surfaces for reliable switching contact from multiple directions while maintaining a relatively simple device structure with only two switching strips and one contact strip.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from point or line contact to surface contact by designing triangular cross-sectional strips with oriented side surfaces. When the hollow profile deforms, the strips interact along their side surfaces, creating large-area contact zones that enhance reliability. This dimensional approach to contact (from 0D point to 2D surface) improves reliability without requiring numerous strips.
3Reliability
If web connections are added between switching strips and contact strips, then electrical contact reliability is improved, but flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Webs act as intermediary flexible connectors between the switching strips and contact strips. These webs maintain electrical continuity and structural connection while allowing relative movement and deformation. The web's flexibility ensures it does not constrain the overall deformation of the switching device, thus maintaining adaptability to different curvatures while ensuring reliable electrical contact between components.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The safety switching device (1) has strand-like hollow portion (2) made of rubber or polymer, in which switching chamber (3) is provided. The switching chamber is provided with switching bars (4,5). Two mutually insulated and electrically conductive circuit lines (6,7) made of metal, carbon fiber or graphite fiber are embedded with respect to switching bars. The switching bars are respectively connected with terminal boards (9,11) by the bars (8,10).