Cable Stripping Verification Device for Electrical Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing electrical equipment, such as electricity meters, lack a reliable and cost-effective method to ensure the correct stripping length of power cables, which is crucial for safety to prevent electric arcs due to either excessive or insufficient cable exposure, posing risks during installation and operation.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a verification device directly on the housing part of the electrical equipment, specifically a terminal cover, which forms a cavity and edge abutment/mark system to visually confirm the stripped cable length against a reference length, eliminating the need for additional tools and ensuring accurate stripping without compromising the verification process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional external verification tools are used to check cable stripping length, then verification accuracy can be achieved, but device complexity and cost increase, and ease of operation decreases due to tool management requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable stripping length verification accuracyVSAvoidverification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The verification device is integrated directly into the terminal cover of the electrical equipment, merging the verification function with the existing housing structure. This eliminates the need for separate external verification tools, reducing device complexity while maintaining verification accuracy through the built-in reference markings and reception spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal cover itself serves as the verification device, using its own structural features (reception spaces, abutments, and markers) to verify cable stripping length. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external verification tools and simplifies the overall system while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If external verification tools are used, then cable stripping verification can be performed, but ease of operation deteriorates due to tool forgetting or loss by operators

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification process reliabilityVSAvoidoperator convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal cover performs the verification function itself, eliminating the need for operators to manage external tools. The built-in reception spaces and reference markers provide immediate verification capability at the installation location, ensuring operators never forget or lose verification tools while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The verification device is pre-integrated into the terminal cover structure during manufacturing, with reception spaces and reference markings already in place. This preliminary preparation ensures that verification capability is always available without requiring operators to bring or remember external tools, improving both reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If cable stripping length is not precisely controlled, then installation speed increases, but safety deteriorates due to risk of electric arcs from improper stripping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable installation speedVSAvoidelectric arc risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal cover provides pre-defined reception spaces with reference markings that indicate the correct cable stripping length before connection. This preliminary guidance allows operators to quickly verify proper stripping without complex measurements, maintaining high installation speed while ensuring safety by preventing electric arcs through accurate stripping control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with a simple visual comparison method using reference markings and reception spaces on the terminal cover. This substitution maintains safety by ensuring accurate stripping length control while improving productivity through faster, tool-free verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3671980B1Electrical equipment comprising a device for verifying the stripping of a cable and method of connecting a cable to an electrical equipment
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 SAGEMCOM ENERGY & TELECOM SAS
  • EP3671980B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3671980B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3671980B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Electrical equipment (1) comprising a housing part (4) on which is formed a verification device (10) of a length of the stripped portion of a cable, the verification device comprising a first reception space (12) delimited by a stop and by a mark which are separated by a reference length, the verification device being arranged so that, when the stripped portion is positioned in the first reception space (12) and a first cable element from the free end of the cable and the shoulder of the cable comes to rest against the stop, a second cable element from the free end and the shoulder of the cable is positioned relative to the mark so as to allow a visual comparison between the position of the second cable element and the position of the mark, and therefore between the length of the stripped portion of the cable and the reference length.