Busbar Assembly Separation Plate for Switchgear Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical switchgear assemblies lack adaptability for changes or upgrades in circuit breakers and control circuits, and pose safety risks due to direct access to live busbars during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional separation plate integrates dropper busbar holders and plug-bases, eliminating hazardous openings and allowing for flexible positioning of dropper busbars and plug-bases, enhancing safety and maintenance accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional separation plates with openings are used to allow electrical connections, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but safety risk increases due to direct access to live busbars
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary insulating plate structure that mediates between the busbar compartment and device compartment. The plate contains integrated busbar holders and plug-base holders that provide electrical connections through insulated pathways, eliminating direct access to live busbars while maintaining connectivity. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by providing both electrical connectivity and safety isolation simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation plate is constructed as a composite structure combining insulating material with integrated metal holders for busbars and plug-bases. The insulating plate body provides safety isolation, while the integrated metal holders enable electrical connections. This composite approach allows the single structure to fulfill both safety and connectivity functions, resolving the contradiction between safety risk and electrical connectivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components (dropper busbar holders, plug-bases, separation plate) are used, then functional requirements are met, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges dropper busbar holders, plug-base holders, and the separation plate into a single integrated insulating plate structure. The plate simultaneously provides compartment separation, busbar support, plug-base support, and electrical connectivity functions. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components while maintaining all necessary functional capabilities, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating plate is designed as a multi-functional universal structure that performs multiple functions: compartment separation, mechanical support for busbars and plug-bases, electrical insulation, and facilitation of electrical connections. This single universal component replaces multiple specialized components, reducing overall system complexity while preserving full functional capability.
3Ease of operation
If dropper busbars are positioned close to device compartment for connectivity, then electrical connection is facilitated, but maintenance space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions dropper busbars vertically through the insulating plate structure, utilizing the thickness dimension of the plate to bridge the horizontal gap between busbar compartment and device compartment. This vertical arrangement through the plate allows electrical connections to be made through the plate thickness without occupying excessive horizontal maintenance space, resolving the contradiction between connection ease and maintenance space availability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is an integration of plug-bases, dropper busbar holders and compartment separation adapted in electric switchgear assemblies or panel boards; and is an assembly of a rigid rectangular main embodiment (1) and an auxiliary embodiment (50). The main embodiment (1) has a configuration of plug-holes (12) which allow the plugs, particularly in-coming plugs, to be directly contacted with dropper busbars (2) installed in the vertical recessed channels (33) in the rear surface (30) of the said embodiment (1); thus, the invention provides high adaptability to a wide range of plugs. Self-tapping screw holes (16 & 34) are arranged in rows on the front and the rear surfaces (10 & 30) of the embodiment (1) in order to facilitate mounting of plug-bases and dropper busbar supporting holders, respectively. The parallel recessed channels (33) and the array of self-tapping screw holes (34) on the rear surface (30) further assures the easy switching of dropper busbars (2). The projected male clips (8) on the top horizontal edge and the receptacle female clips (9) on the bottom horizontal edge of the main embodiment (1) are clipped together to extend the separation according to the requirement of the frame structure of the switchgear assembly/panel board. The protection against accidental insertion of objects has been significantly reduced by a shutter palate assembly (20) installed on the front surface (10) of the main embodiment (1).