Conical Contacting Device for High-Voltage Cable Shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contacting devices for high-voltage cable shields are complex, expensive, and subject the cable screen to significant stress, requiring substantial technical expertise and equipment for reliable current-carrying connections.
Innovation Solution
A contacting device with three conical contact elements, where the inner and outer surfaces widen conically from the receiving opening to the cable end, allowing for secure clamping with minimal bending of the cable shield and using screws through clamping rings for easy and reliable electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electric welding is used to connect the cable screen, then reliable current-carrying connection is achieved, but considerable know-how and technical equipment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the welding process (thermal/chemical system) with a mechanical clamping system consisting of contact elements that mechanically clamp the cable screen. This substitution eliminates the need for welding equipment and specialized know-how while achieving reliable electrical contact through direct mechanical pressure and conductive contact surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces contact elements as intermediary components between the cable screen and the connection system. These contact elements serve as mediators that provide both mechanical support and electrical conductivity, replacing the direct welding process with an intermediate clamping mechanism that simplifies the overall system requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If the cable screen is repeatedly cut and bent axially to form longitudinal strips, then the screen can be clamped between two discs, but the screen is subjected to considerable stress
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of cutting and bending the cable screen into longitudinal strips (complex deformation), the patent inverts the approach by using conical contact elements that radially encompass and clamp the screen in its natural tubular form. This inversion eliminates the need for extensive cutting and bending operations, reducing stress on the cable screen while achieving secure clamping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs conical (curved) contact elements with conical outer and inner surfaces that radially encompass the cable screen. This curved geometry allows the screen to be clamped in its natural tubular shape without requiring it to be flattened or bent into straight strips, thereby reducing mechanical stress while maintaining clamping effectiveness.
3Ease of operation
If conical contact elements with widening surfaces are used, then minimal bending of the cable shield is required, but the contact elements must be precisely conical from receiving opening to cable end
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the contact elements with pre-formed conical surfaces that are precisely manufactured in advance. The conical geometry is built into the contact elements during manufacturing, so that when installation occurs, the cable screen naturally follows the pre-defined conical path with minimal additional bending or deformation required. This preliminary preparation of the conical geometry transfers the precision requirement to the manufacturing stage rather than the installation stage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If three contact elements are used with separate bracing, then both metal and wire screens can be accommodated, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the contact elements with universal functionality to accommodate different types of cable screens (metal foil or wire mesh). The conical contact elements with both conical outer and inner surfaces can radially encompass various screen configurations, allowing a single standardized contact element design to serve multiple screen types without requiring specialized components for each screen variety.
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
Enables a secure, space-saving, and efficient connection of high-voltage cable shields with reduced effort, ensuring reliable electrical contact and minimal stress on the cable shield, while accommodating both metal and wire screens with separate bracing.
Implementation Method 1
first end portions of the cable screen (C) between the second conical outer surface (16) of the third contact element (G) and the conical inner surface of the second contact element (F) can be clamped
Implementation Method 2
clamping means, in particular screws (11), which clamp the outer, second contact element (10)
Implementation Method 3
enables secure clamping with minimal bending of the cable shield
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a contacting device (8) for contacting a cable shield (4) of a cable, in particular a high-voltage cable (1), comprising at least: a first contact element (9) with a conical outer surface (16), a second contact element (10) with a conical inner surface (22), and clamping means (11, 12, 14) for clamping the contact elements (9, 10), wherein end regions (4a) of the cable shield (4) can be received and contacted at the conical inner surface (22) and at the conical outer surface (16). It is provided that the conical inner surface (22) and the conical outer surface (16) widen conically from the receiving opening (19) to the other end. Screws can be provided as clamping means.