Vacuum Circuit Breaker Integration for Compact, Cost-Effective Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum circuit breakers are large and expensive to manufacture, necessitating a need for a more compact and cost-effective design.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum circuit breaker design featuring insulating body with specific terminal configurations forming an isosceles right triangle, incorporating molded terminals and a dual-material pulling rod for reduced size and weight, along with components housed within an annular terminal for enhanced heat dissipation and dielectric strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional vacuum circuit breaker design is used, then reliable electrical connection and insulation are achieved, but the device becomes large and expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the insulating body and terminal supports into a single integrated molded component. The insulating body is formed as one piece with integrated terminal mounting features, eliminating the need for separate support structures and reducing overall device volume while maintaining electrical insulation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction with the insulating body made from electrically insulating material and terminals made from conductive material. This composite approach allows optimized electrical performance and mechanical strength in different regions, achieving reliable electrical connections in a compact form factor
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional vacuum circuit breaker design is used, then adequate insulation and current handling are achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating body is pre-formed as a single molded piece with integrated terminal supports and mounting features before assembly. This preliminary formation of the complete insulating structure eliminates subsequent machining or assembly steps, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining insulation integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating body performs multiple functions simultaneously: providing electrical insulation, supporting terminals, defining the internal chamber for the vacuum interrupter, and providing mounting features. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying manufacturing and reducing cost while maintaining adequate insulation strength
Data Source
Figure 1~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A vacuum circuit breaker 10 comprising a vacuum interrupter 12 coupled between upper 18 and lower 20 terminals and being operable to make or break an electrical connection between the upper and lower terminals. The circuit breaker has a body 22 formed from electrically insulating material, the vacuum interrupter being located in an internal chamber of the body. The lower terminal 20 comprises a hollow body 26 that forms part of the internal chamber and which is shaped and dimensioned to allow the vacuum interrupter 12 to pass through it. An electrical connector device 50 has a movable part 52 that is connected to the movable contact and an annular fixed part 54 that is connected to the lower terminal 20. The movable part 52 is connected to the first part 54 by flexible connectors 56, and has a socket (58) for engaging an electrical connector 60 of the vacuum interrupter 12. A pulling rod 16 is coupled to the movable contact via the electrical connector 60.