Medium Voltage Circuit Breaker Control Box Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The production process of medium voltage circuit breakers is complex and time-consuming due to the large number of mechanical parts and separate assembly of auxiliary devices, requiring extensive manpower and complicated wiring.
Innovation Solution
A medium voltage circuit breaker design featuring an insulating base frame that supports a pole assembly and actuator, with a control and diagnostic unit having a co-moulded casing for pre-assembling and testing auxiliary devices, reducing the need for separate wiring and mechanical parts, and incorporating a control box with co-moulded connections and a local human machine interface for simplified assembly and diagnostics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If auxiliary devices are separately assembled and wired on the main assembly line, then each device can be individually installed, but the production process becomes long and complicated with extensive wiring operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple auxiliary devices (coils, auxiliary contacts, spring charging motor) into a single integrated control box assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate wiring operations for each device, as they are pre-wired and pre-assembled together within the control box, thereby simplifying the overall assembly process and reducing production time.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary devices are pre-assembled and pre-wired into the control box before being installed on the main assembly line. This preliminary action of preparing the control box in advance allows for faster installation during final assembly, eliminating time-consuming on-line wiring operations and reducing production complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of separate components are used in the base frame assembly, then the structure can be flexibly assembled, but the number of mechanical parts increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the control box as a single modular unit that can be mounted on the base frame along with the pole assembly and actuator. This merging of multiple auxiliary devices into one compact control box reduces the total number of separate mechanical parts while maintaining assembly flexibility through modular mounting options.
3Reliability
If dedicated coils are provided for each operation (shunt, tripping, undervoltage, blocking), then each function can be reliably controlled, but the number of coils and wiring complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control box serves as a universal housing that accommodates multiple different types of coils (shunt, tripping, undervoltage, blocking) and auxiliary contacts within a single integrated structure. This multi-functional design allows all control functions to be reliably performed while consolidating the number of separate coil assemblies and reducing overall wiring complexity through centralized connection points.
Data Source
AI summary
A Medium Voltage circuit breaker which comprises an insulating base frame supporting: a pole assembly having, for each phase, an interruption unit housing a fixed contact and a movable contact reciprocally couplable/uncouplable between an open and a closed position; an actuator to actuate the opening and closing operation of said circuit breaker; and, a control and diagnostic unit comprising a control box having a casing housing a plurality of accessory devices of said circuit breaker.