Vacuum Switch Clamping Contact Eliminates Flexible Conductors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum switches face challenges with high resistance and mechanical issues due to flexible connecting means, especially at high short-circuit currents and switching speeds, requiring complex connection technology and prone to arcing.
Innovation Solution
The use of a clamping contact system with an insertion clamp contact piece connected to the switching mechanism and a mating clamp contact piece fixed to the vacuum chamber, eliminating flexible conductor sections and allowing for a compact, high-current-carrying capacity path without arcing outside the vacuum chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flexible connecting means (sliding contact, strip contact, roller contact) are used to connect the switching rod to the moving contact terminal, then the moving contact can move in the switching direction, but the current-carrying capacity is reduced and resistance increases especially at high short-circuit currents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the flexible connecting means (sliding contact, strip contact, roller contact) from the system entirely. Instead, the switching rod itself is made electrically conductive and extends directly into the vacuum chamber to connect with the moving contact piece, eliminating the intermediate flexible connector that limited current-carrying capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching rod is given dual functionality: it serves both as the mechanical actuator that moves the moving contact piece and as the electrical conductor that carries current. This eliminates the need for separate flexible connecting means and resolves the contradiction between movement capability and current-carrying capacity.
2Ease of operation
If flexible connecting means are used to allow movement of the switching rod, then the moving contact can be positioned correctly, but complex connection technology is required and frictional or bending forces occur during rapid switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex flexible connecting means from the system. The switching rod becomes a simple, rigid, electrically conductive component that directly connects the drive mechanism to the moving contact piece, eliminating sliding contacts, strip contacts, and roller contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching rod performs both mechanical positioning and electrical connection functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate flexible connecting components and their associated complex connection technology.
3Ease of operation
If flexible connecting means are used to connect the switching rod to the moving contact terminal, then movement is enabled, but space is taken up by the connecting means
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bulky flexible connecting means from the system. The switching rod itself serves as the electrical conductor, eliminating the need for additional strap contacts, sliding contacts, or roller contacts that would occupy space.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the switching contacts are separated to extinguish arcs, then arc extinction is achieved in vacuum, but arcs occur especially when switching high power levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the vacuum environment (inert atmosphere) to extinguish arcs. The vacuum chamber prevents arc formation and propagation, allowing the switching contacts to be separated safely even at high power levels without causing harmful arcing outside the vacuum chamber.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to provide a vacuum switch (1) that is compact, requires little effort, and provides a reliable current path having a high current-carrying capacity between the terminals of the vacuum switch particularly at high switch-on speeds, wherein the vacuum switch has a vacuum chamber (2), in which a vacuum is present and in which a switching contact is arranged, wherein the switching contact comprises a fixed contact piece, which is firmly connected to the vacuum chamber (2) and which is in electrical contact with a fixed contact terminal (11), and a moving contact piece, which is movably guided relative to the fixed contact piece and is arranged at a distance to the fixed contact piece in a disconnect position and contacts the fixed contact piece in a contact position, a drive unit (7) for producing a drive movement, a switching mechanism (4), which is connected to the drive unit (7) and the moving contact piece and which comprises a conductor section that is electrically conducting up to the moving contact piece, and connection means, which connect a moving contact terminal (13) electrically to the moving contact piece in the contact position, it is proposed that the connection means comprise a clamping contact (16,17), which has an insertion clamping contact piece (16) connected to the conductor section of the switching mechanism (4) and a mating clamping contact piece (17) firmly connected to the vacuum chamber (2) and electrically connected to the moving contact terminal (13), wherein the insertion clamping contact piece and the mating clamping contact piece are arranged relative to each other in such a way that the insertion clamping contact piece (16) is clamped with the mating clamping contact piece (17) in an electrically conducting manner as a result of the drive movement.