Pivoting Anti-Tipping Roller Support for Wheeled Electrical Equipment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wheeled electrical equipment, such as circuit breakers, have a high center of gravity due to the placement of mass at the upper portion, leading to a tipping risk during movement, especially on uneven surfaces, which can cause damage to the equipment and operators.

Innovation Solution

An anti-tipping device with a pivotally mounted wheel mount and roller system that can transition between a folded and unfolded position, providing auxiliary support to prevent toppling, comprising a support structure, a pivotally mounted wheel mount, and a retaining device using tension springs for stabilization, allowing the rollers to adapt to inclined surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the main mass is located at the upper portion of the wheeled electrical equipment, then the structural design is simplified, but the center of gravity position becomes high causing tipping risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural designVSAvoidcenter of gravity position
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a counterweight mechanism consisting of a counterweight block and counterweight rod that extends downward from the upper portion of the equipment. This counterweight structure compensates for the high center of gravity caused by placing main mass at the upper portion, thereby reducing the tipping risk while maintaining the simplified structural design benefit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Stability of the object's composition

If a fixed support structure is used to prevent tipping, then stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability during movementVSAvoidsupport structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic support structure with a wheel mount that can pivot between a folded position (adjacent to the equipment) and an unfolded position (extending outward). This movable structure provides stability during movement when needed, while remaining compact and simple when not in use, thus improving stability without permanently increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure is divided into separable components: a wheel mount, rollers, and a counterweight mechanism. These segmented parts can be deployed independently when needed for stability and retracted when not required, allowing the system to maintain simplicity while providing enhanced stability during critical operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The anti-tipping device effectively reduces the risk of equipment toppling during movement by providing additional support, ensuring stability and safety without hindering the operation of the electrical equipment, even on uneven surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

The retaining device may comprise a tension spring, one end of which is attached to the support and the other end of which is attached to the wheel mount

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the wheel mount is away from the electrical equipment to enable the rollers to roll relative to a support surface at a predetermined distance from the electrical equipment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4354679A1Anti-tipping device for wheeled electrical equipment and wheeled electrical equipment
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP4354679A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4354679A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4354679A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an anti-tipping device for a wheeled electrical equipment and a wheeled electrical equipment. The anti-tipping device (200) comprises: a support (210) adapted to be mounted to the electrical equipment (100); a wheel mount (220) pivotally mounted to the support (210); and a roller device (230) mounted to the wheel mount (220) and comprising a roller (232); wherein the wheel mount (220) is movable between a folded position at which the wheel mount (220) is configured to be adjacent to the electrical equipment (100) and an unfolded position at which the wheel mount (220) is away from the electrical equipment (100) to enable the rollers (232) to roll relative to a support surface at a predetermined distance from the electrical equipment (100). In this way, auxiliary support may be provided for the electrical equipment, preventing or eliminating a toppling risk of the electrical equipment during movement process of the electrical equipment.