Vacuum Circuit Breaker Plug Interlock for Stable Connector Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plug interlock apparatuses for vacuum circuit breakers often experience incomplete coupling between control power plugs and connectors due to tilting and assembly tolerance issues, leading to potential accidents and damage.
Innovation Solution
The proposed plug interlock apparatus includes a control power plug with a plug fixing member, a plug latch, a connector pivot link, and a slide link with a locking latch and magnet, which ensures firm coupling between the control power plug and connector by limiting pivot and sliding movements, preventing accidental disconnection during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the control power plug and connector are made detachable for maintenance convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential accidental disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The plug interlock apparatus is activated in advance when the circuit breaker body couples to the terminal. The plug fixing member engages with the pin and pin groove, and the hook closes the pin groove opening, preventing disconnection before operation begins. This preliminary locking action ensures reliability while maintaining detachability for maintenance.
2Device complexity
If the plug interlock apparatus uses a simple hook mechanism, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to assembly tolerance issues causing incomplete coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The hook guide hole is designed with an arc shape that guides the hook's pivot movement. This curved path compensates for assembly tolerances and ensures the hook properly engages the pin groove opening even with manufacturing variations. The arc-shaped guide hole transforms linear tolerance issues into a forgiving rotational path.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper pivots around a stopper hinge to change its position dynamically. During coupling, the stopper moves to allow hook engagement, then pivots to limit the hook's pivot range and prevent over-rotation. This dynamic parameter change accommodates assembly tolerances while ensuring complete coupling.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the hook pivot range is limited by an arc-shaped guide hole, then stability is improved by preventing over-rotation, but device complexity increases due to additional guiding structures
Solution Approach 1:
The hook guide hole is integrated into the connector body structure rather than being a separate component. The arc-shaped guide hole combines the functions of guiding hook movement, limiting pivot range, and compensating for tolerances within a single structural feature, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The stopper serves multiple functions: it limits the hook's pivot range, guides the coupling motion, and prevents over-rotation. This multi-functional design reduces the need for additional separate components, maintaining stability while minimizing device complexity.
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
This design maintains a firm coupling between the control power plug and connector, minimizing damage and malfunctions due to external forces or assembly tolerances, thereby enhancing the reliability of the vacuum circuit breaker.
Implementation Method 1
a slide link (240) having one end coupled to the connector pivot link (230), wherein the circuit breaker body (200) is coupled to the terminal (120) and receive voltage and current therefrom
Data Source
AI summary
A plug interlock apparatus for a vacuum circuit breaker, comprising: a control power plug having a plug fixing member formed on each side thereof; a switchboard including a plurality of terminals; a control power connector from which the control power plug is detached; a plug latch formed on the sides of the control power connector and fixing the plug fixing members; a circuit breaker body which includes a connector rotation link which rotates in association with the plug latch, and a slide link having one end coupled to the connector rotation link, and which is detached from the terminal and supplied with voltage and current; and a transfer cart for reciprocating the circuit breaker body along a rail installed on the bottom surface of the switchboard, wherein a locking latch detached from a rail groove formed on the rail is formed at the other end of the slide link.