Breakaway Base Sensor for Electrical Pole Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breakaway bases for electrical poles rely on wire terminal strength to disconnect power, leading to potential electrical shock or fire risks due to extended wire lengths and reliance on wire stretching, and lack efficient maintenance power control.
Innovation Solution
An electro-mechanical breakaway sensor system that de-energizes power using a microswitch and lever mechanism, allowing for directional independence and quick power restoration, housed in a pancake junction box, which disconnects power upon collision or maintenance activation without requiring wire stretching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wire terminal strength is used to pull wires apart during collision, then power disconnection is achieved, but extended wire lengths remain energized causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the safety hazard by removing the extended energized wire lengths from the system. The sensor disconnects power at the source (conduit level) rather than relying on wire terminal separation, effectively taking out the dangerous extended wire portions that could cause electrical shock or fire.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary sensor device that acts as a mediator between the power source and the pole. This sensor disconnects power at the conduit level before electricity can reach extended wire lengths, preventing the harmful effects without relying on wire terminal strength.
2Reliability
If wire pull apart disconnect is used, then power stops flowing to pole, but wiring at foundation remains energized creating danger
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the hazard by removing power disconnection from the wire terminal level and relocating it to the conduit level. This ensures that when power is disconnected, the wiring at the foundation remains de-energized, eliminating the danger of electrical shock or fire from exposed wires.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor serves as an intermediary that interrupts power flow at the conduit level, preventing electricity from reaching both the pole and the foundation wiring. This intermediary action ensures complete power disconnection without leaving any energized wires exposed.
3Ease of operation
If conventional breakaway base is used, then vehicle impact reduces severity, but power disconnection is unreliable due to wire terminal dependence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire pull-apart system with an electro-mechanical sensor system. Instead of relying on mechanical wire terminal strength to disconnect power during vehicle impact, the sensor detects the collision and triggers power disconnection at the conduit level, providing reliable power interruption independent of wire terminal conditions.
4Device complexity
If wire stretching is required for power disconnection, then simple mechanical disconnect is achieved, but extended wire lengths create safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention takes out the safety problem by disconnecting power at the conduit level before wires can be stretched or exposed. This eliminates the need for wire stretching mechanisms while preventing the creation of extended energized wire lengths that would pose safety risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor acts as an intermediary that interrupts power flow at the source, preventing the need for mechanical wire stretching disconnect mechanisms. This intermediary action stops power before it can create dangerous extended wire lengths.
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 system effectively reduces the risk of electrical shock and fire by ensuring power disconnection upon impact or maintenance, with rapid and efficient power restoration, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an electro-mechanical breakaway sensor that de-energizes power or stops the flow of electricity to a pole upon a vehicle colliding with the pole or otherwise activation of the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A device and method that contains an electro-mechanical break away sensor that de-energizes power or stops the flow of electricity to a pole upon a vehicle colliding with the pole or otherwise activation of the sensor. The sensor is omni directional and operates regardless of direction of impact from the vehicle or activation and has the ability to disconnect power when the pole falls due to a shear impact such as when there is a collision or the pole falls due to tension created by wind or weight failure. The sensor may also be activated by an authorized user such as one that is performing maintenance on the pole.