Contact Alignment Structure for High-Voltage Circuit Breakers
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-voltage dead tank circuit breakers face misalignment issues with stationary contacts during installation, leading to improper arcing and potential damage due to lack of adjustment in side-to-side and front-to-back positions.
Innovation Solution
A contact alignment structure comprising a tube clamp assembly and rocker assembly that allows for two degrees of freedom adjustment of the stationary contact relative to a resistor tube, ensuring proper alignment with the movable contact during installation and securing it in the operating position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the conductor is supported only at the base, then the structure is simpler, but the contact position cannot be adjusted leading to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor support structure is transformed from a fixed rigid support to a dynamic adjustable support. The tube clamp assembly allows rotation about the resistor tube axis, and the rocker assembly provides pivoting motion, enabling the contact position to be adjusted in multiple degrees of freedom while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into separate functional components: the tube clamp assembly for radial adjustment and rotation, the rocker assembly for angular positioning, and the fixed base support. This segmentation allows each component to provide specific adjustment capabilities while keeping the overall structure manageable and installable
2Manufacturing precision
If the contact position is fixed during installation, then the manufacturing is easier, but the alignment precision with movable contact deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanisms are pre-installed on the conductor and support structures during manufacturing, allowing for precise alignment adjustments to be made in the field during installation. The tube clamp and rocker assemblies are prepared in advance with adjustment capabilities built in, so that final contact alignment can be optimized on-site without requiring complex rework
3Reliability
If the conductor is rigidly fixed at multiple points, then the contact position is stable, but the ability to correct misalignment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The support system transitions from a static rigid fixation to a dynamic system that provides both stability and adjustability. The tube clamp assembly secured to the resistor tube provides a stable reference point, while the rocker assembly and conductor connection allow controlled movement for alignment correction. Once adjusted, the system maintains stable contact positioning
Data Source
AI summary
Contact alignment structure aligns a contact of a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes the contact fixed to a conductor, and a resistor tube having a longitudinal axis. The contact alignment structure includes a tube clamp assembly for selectively coupling to a periphery of the resistor tube. A rocker assembly is coupled with the tube clamp assembly and with the conductor so that the conductor is supported by the rocker assembly only at one end of the conductor. When the rocker assembly is coupled to the conductor, the tube clamp assembly can be rotated about the periphery of the resistor tube to change a position of the contact in a first degree of freedom, and a portion of the rocker arm assembly can be moved to change a position of the contact in a second degree of freedom that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the resistor tube.