Cable Duct Bus Branching for Secure Switchgear Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication arrangements for switchgear combinations, such as those in EN61439, face challenges in cost-effectiveness and flexibility due to the high cost and limited availability of custom housings for distributors, which are not mass-produced and often come in unsuitable shapes and sizes, making it difficult to economically integrate communication buses and secure branch boards within the switchgear.
Innovation Solution
A communication arrangement featuring a wired communication bus divided into sections with a branch board connected via a branch line, housed within a cable duct with elastic side walls and a cover, allowing for easy installation and protection of components like sensors, using commercially available and cost-effective cable ducts, and detachable connections for quick assembly and reduced risk of slipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If custom housings are used for distributors, then protection and secure mounting are improved, but cost and availability worsen due to non-mass-production and limited shapes/sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the distributor housing function with the existing cable duct, eliminating the need for separate custom housings. The cable duct serves dual purposes: guiding cables and housing the distributor with branch board, thereby reducing component count and cost while maintaining protection and mounting security.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable duct is designed to perform multiple functions: cable guidance, structural support, and housing for the distributor. This multi-functional design replaces the need for specialized custom housings, leveraging an existing component's versatility to reduce manufacturing complexity and cost.
2Productivity
If detachable connectors are used, then installation speed and flexibility are improved, but connection stability may worsen due to potential slipping
Solution Approach 1:
The cable duct acts as an intermediary structure that mechanically constrains the detachable connectors and branch board. By providing physical boundaries and support within the duct, the system maintains connection stability while preserving the ease of detachable installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable duct provides a flexible yet constraining environment for the detachable connectors. The duct's structure allows for easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining secure positioning during operation, balancing flexibility with stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a communication arrangement for a switching device assembly. The communication arrangement comprises a wired communication bus (19, 20) divided into at least a first and a second bus section (19, 20), a branch board (1) connected between the first and the second bus sections (19, 20), and a component connected to the branch board (1) via a branch line (18). According to the invention, the communication arrangement also comprises a cable duct (10) which has a body (13) extending along a main direction (11) with a base surface (15) and two opposing elastic side walls (14) adjoining the base surface (15), and a cover (12). The body (13) is configured to hold the cover (12) positively (and optionally also frictionally) with the side walls (14). The side walls (14) have a plurality of openings (16).The first and second bus sections (19, 20) run along the main direction of extension (11) in the cable duct (10). The branch board (1) is located in the cable duct (10). The branch line (18) is routed from the branch board (1) through one of the openings (16) in one of the side walls (14) of the housing (13) out of the cable duct (10) to the component.