Cable Shield Contact Arrangement Using Conical Clamping Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-voltage cable shield connections, typically requiring specialized equipment and skills for reliable welding, pose risks of fire and inefficiencies in installation space usage, especially when connecting multiple cables.
Innovation Solution
A contact arrangement using cylindrical contact elements with a protective tube and screw connections allows for easy, tool-free electrical contact of the cable shield, minimizing installation space and enabling flexible adaptation to different cable types through various receptacle configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electric welding is used to connect the cable shield, then a reliable current-carrying connection is achieved, but considerable know-how and technical equipment are required, increasing device complexity and installation difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the welding process (thermal/chemical system) with a mechanical clamping system consisting of contact elements and clamping screws. This substitution eliminates the need for welding equipment and specialized know-how while achieving reliable electrical contact through mechanical pressure and conductive contact surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive clamping components (contact elements, screws, and clamping mechanisms) that can be easily installed and removed without specialized equipment. These components provide sufficient reliability for the application while being far simpler and cheaper than welding equipment.
2Reliability
If electric welding is used to connect the cable shield, then a reliable current-carrying connection is achieved, but the risk of fire increases during installation
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the welding process with a mechanical clamping system, the patent eliminates the source of fire risk (heat generation during welding) while maintaining reliable electrical connection through mechanical contact and clamping force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of welding (fire risk) into a beneficial cold-connection system that inherently avoids thermal hazards while achieving the same electrical connection reliability through mechanical means.
3Reliability
If conventional shield connection methods are used, then reliable electrical contact is achieved, but considerable installation space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nested contact elements where the second contact element fits over the first contact element, and both are installed over the cable shield. This nested arrangement minimizes the radial and longitudinal space required while maintaining reliable electrical contact through the clamping mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional linear/side-by-side cable arrangements to a concentric/nested dimensional arrangement where cables are connected in the radial dimension through overlapping contact elements, significantly reducing the installation footprint.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cables are connected using conventional methods, then all cables can be connected, but the required installation space increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the contact elements and protective tube as universal components that can accommodate multiple cables simultaneously. The protective tube serves as both a protective enclosure and a structural framework for mounting multiple contact elements, enabling one system to perform multiple connection functions in a compact arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges multiple cables and their corresponding contact elements in a nested/concentric configuration within the protective tube, allowing multiple connections to share the same spatial envelope rather than requiring separate installation spaces for each cable connection.
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
The solution provides a reliable, space-efficient, and safe method for connecting high-voltage cable shields without the need for welding, ensuring consistent electrical contact and adaptability for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
The contact elements are clamped together using clamping screws and in this way establish electrically conductive contact with the cable shield
Implementation Method 2
The receptacle is set up to establish an electrically conductive connection to the further cable
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An arrangement for contacting the electrical shield of a cable is proposed. The cable has a conductor surrounded by the shield. The arrangement comprises a first contact element (107) having a conical outer surface (119). A second contact element (108) is also provided, having a conical inner surface (123) adapted to the conical outer surface (119) of the first contact element (107) such that an end region of the shield (104) can be clamped between the conical outer surface and the conical inner surface using clamping means. The two contact elements (107, 108) contact the shield (104). A receptacle (201) for at least one further cable (203) is provided in the first and/or second contact element (108). Furthermore, a shield connection is proposed, comprising a cable with a conductor and a shield, and an arrangement for contacting the shield.Finally, a method for establishing the shield connection is proposed.