Bus Connection Exhaust Tool to Prevent Gas Passage Blockage

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Solution Overview

Problem

During the assembly of a bus connection portion in a switching device, the gas removing tool tends to displace as the insulating plug is rotated, obstructing gas passage through the exhaust hole and preventing sufficient gas exhaustion.

Innovation Solution

The exhaust tool features a through-hole-shaped holding portion that restricts movement and ensures a gas passage, along with a cut-in portion that can be severed to extract the tool without leaving any part behind, thereby preventing displacement and ensuring efficient gas exhaustion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the gas removing tool is inserted between the insulating plug and connector and the insulating plug is rotated and fitted, then the bus connection portion is assembled, but the gas removing tool moves and follows rotation of the insulating plug, causing displacement that hampers gas passage through the exhaust hole

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidgas exhaustion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust tool is inserted into the exhaust hole before the insulating plug is rotated and fitted into the connector. This preliminary positioning ensures the exhaust hole remains open and gas passage is maintained throughout the assembly process, preventing tool displacement from blocking the exhaust path

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The exhaust tool acts as an intermediary element that maintains the exhaust hole open during assembly. By positioning the tool in the exhaust hole before final assembly, it serves as a temporary mediator that prevents the hole from being closed or blocked, ensuring continuous gas passage capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the exhaust tool is designed to remain in the bus connection portion after assembly, then gas passage is ensured, but the tool cannot be extracted from the electric apparatus

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas passage assuranceVSAvoidtool extraction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The exhaust tool is divided into two distinct parts: a holding portion that remains in the exhaust hole to ensure gas passage, and a body portion that can be extracted. The cut-in portion connects these two parts and is designed to be severed, enabling separation of the tool into functional segments after assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The body portion of the exhaust tool is designed to be extractable from the electric apparatus after serving its function. The cut-in portion is intentionally left unpenetrated to allow for clean separation, enabling removal of the body portion while leaving the holding portion in place to maintain exhaust capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3993192B1Exhaust tool and method for manufacturing a switching device using such tool
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3993192B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3993192B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3993192B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

Provided is an exhaust tool with which, in assembly of a bus connection portion provided to a switching device used for grid operation of power equipment, while an electric apparatus provided to the bus connection portion is assembled, gas remaining in the electric apparatus can be exhausted. In the exhaust tool which has a body portion and a tip portion at an end of the body portion, the tip portion is provided with a through-hole-shaped holding portion that allows a tightening portion in the electric apparatus to pass therethrough, and a cut-in portion which is not penetrated and is provided by being cut in adjacently to the holding portion. Thus, the exhaust tool can be prevented from being displaced while gas is exhausted, and can be extracted from the electric apparatus after gas is exhausted.