SHOCK-RESISTANT CIRCUIT BREAKERS

TRANSIENT SHOCKS CAN CAUSE NUISANCE TRIPPING OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND INTERRUPT THE POWER SUPPLY VITAL TO COMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER EQUIPMENT. SHOCK-RESISTANT STABILITY OF CIRCUIT BREAKER COMPONENTS CAN BE IMPROVED BY UTILIZING THE SUPERIOR MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY. THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A SHAPE MEMORY ACTUATED MECHANISM IS EXPECTED TO SHOW LARGE IMPROVEMENTS TO SHOCK RESISTANCE WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER THEMO-MECHANICAL DEVICES. THE PERSONNEL CHOSEN FOR THIS PROJECT ARE SPECIALISTS IN THE DESIGN OF SHAPE MEMORY DEVICES AND MECHANISMS AND HAVE EXPERIENCE IN CIRCUIT BREAKER DESIGN. MARINE, AEROSPACE, TRANSPORTATION AND DEFENSE INDUSTRIES SHARE A NEED FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF SHOCK-RESISTANT CIRCUIT BREAKER MECHANISMS.