Conductive Clip Assemblies for Bus Stack Safety

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Electrical power distribution systems pose safety concerns for operators due to exposure to live components, and existing technologies fail to effectively improve the establishment of contact between conductive devices and load-side devices, leading to potential safety hazards during maintenance and service operations.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a bus stack arrangement with conductive bus bars and insulators that include safety features such as projections and gaps, which resist insertion of foreign objects while allowing conductive clip assemblies to establish electrical connections, thereby enhancing safety and preventing contact with live components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional open bus bar arrangements are used, then ease of operation and installation is improved, but operator safety deteriorates due to exposure to live components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoidoperator safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bus stack is segmented into multiple insulated sections with bus bars separated by insulating materials and protective barriers. Each bus bar is individually isolated within its own insulating structure, allowing operators to work on one section without exposing them to all live components simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Insulating materials and protective barriers serve as intermediaries between the live bus bar components and operators. These intermediary elements provide physical separation and electrical isolation, allowing installation and maintenance operations to proceed safely without direct operator contact with live parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If protective barriers and insulating materials are added to prevent contact with live components, then operator safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple protective functions are merged into integrated bus bar assemblies. The insulating materials, protective barriers, and bus bar supports are combined into unified structures that provide both mechanical support and electrical isolation simultaneously, reducing the number of separate components needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bus stack arrangement uses universal insulating materials and protective structures that serve multiple functions: electrical isolation, mechanical support, physical protection, and ease of assembly. These multi-functional elements reduce overall system complexity despite providing comprehensive safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If gaps are created to prevent foreign object insertion, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to restricted access

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidaccessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective structure features local variations in gap size and configuration. Critical areas have smaller or blocked gaps to prevent foreign object insertion, while areas requiring operator access have larger openings. This localized differentiation of gap characteristics provides both safety and operational accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If conductive clip assemblies are designed to establish secure contact with bus bars, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidclip assembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive clip assemblies incorporate self-aligning features and resilient contact elements that automatically adjust to bus bar position variations and maintain reliable electrical connection without requiring precise manual adjustment. The clips self-regulate their contact pressure and positioning during installation and operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11289861B2Power panels including conductive clip assemblies and bus stack arrangements incorporating safety features

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG

AI summary

A power panel of an electrical distribution system including a bus arrangement with a plurality of conductive bus bars. At least one electrical accessory is coupled to the plurality of bus bars and a plurality of clip assemblies are coupled to the plurality of bus bars and the at least one electrical assembly to establish an electrical connection there between. The clip assembly for use with the bus stack arrangement includes a metallic clip with a tang and a C-shaped section interconnected with and arranged opposite the tang and a biasing element coupled to the tang.