Vacuum Circuit Breaker Interlock Preventing Spring Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vacuum circuit breakers, the charged closing spring's elastic energy can cause accidents when the breaker body is moved between connection and disconnection positions, as it may discharge unexpectedly, potentially injuring users.
Innovation Solution
An interlock apparatus is introduced, comprising hindering units, first and second interlock bars, and return springs, which prevent the breaker body from moving to connection or disconnection positions when the closing spring is charged with elastic energy by adjusting the width of the breaker body to match or mismatch the spacing between hindering units, thereby locking or unlocking the motion based on the spring's state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the breaker body is made movable for connection and disconnection, then ease of operation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to risk of accidental discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The interlock apparatus applies preliminary anti-action by preventing the breaker body from moving to connection or disconnection positions when the closing spring is charged with elastic energy. The hindering units and interlock bars are positioned to block motion paths in advance, before any accidental discharge could occur, thereby neutralizing the harmful effect before it can manifest.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlock apparatus acts as an intermediary safety mechanism between the charged closing spring and the breaker body motion. The interlock bars and hindering units serve as mediating elements that detect the charged state and prevent direct interaction between the spring's stored energy and the breaker body movement, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while preserving operational functionality.
2Power
If the closing spring is charged with high elastic energy, then power is improved for instantaneous interruption, but safety deteriorates due to potential injury from discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The interlock apparatus applies preliminary anti-action by blocking the breaker body's motion paths with hindering units and interlock bars when the closing spring is charged. This prevents the conversion of stored elastic energy into harmful kinetic energy during unauthorized movement, while allowing full power utilization when proper operational procedures are followed.
3Reliability
If the breaker body width is adjusted to match hindering unit spacing, then reliability is improved by preventing unauthorized motion, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interlock apparatus is segmented into distinct functional components: hindering units fixed to the enclosure, first interlock bars on the breaker body, and a second interlock bar. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while working together as a cohesive safety system, making the complex mechanism more manageable and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The interlock bars serve as intermediary elements that mediate between the breaker body and the hindering units. These intermediate components translate the charged state of the closing spring into mechanical blocking actions, providing a reliable safety function while keeping the overall structure modular and relatively simple.
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
Prevents accidental discharge of the closing spring's energy by ensuring the breaker body cannot move to hazardous positions when the spring is charged, thereby enhancing user safety by maintaining control over the breaker's position based on the spring's energy state.
Implementation Method 1
a closing spring installed in the breaker body and having an extended position and a contracted position, the extended position where elastic energy is charged to move the breaker body to a closing position, and the contracted position where elastic energy is discharged
Data Source
AI summary
An interlock apparatus for a vacuum circuit breaker includes a pair of hindering units configured to allow or prevent a motion of a breaker body to an connection position or a disconnection position; a pair of first interlock bars configured to change a width of the breaker body to be greater than the predetermined spacing distance of the hindering units in a first position where the first interlock bars are spaced from each other, or to change the width of the breaker body to be smaller than the predetermined spacing distance; and a second interlock bar vertically movable to an up position and a down position, the up position for moving the first interlock bars to the first position, and the down position for returning the first interlock bars to the second position by being separated from the interposed position between the first interlock bars.