Curved Insulating Support Assembly for Compact Circuit Breakers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-voltage circuit breaker interrupters require insulation supports that maintain electrical insulation, alignment, and mechanical support across the interrupter gap, while minimizing the radial dimension of the interrupter and tank.
Innovation Solution
A circuit breaker insulation arrangement featuring an insulating support assembly with a curved vacuum-casted epoxy resin strut and metallic shields, providing mechanical support, alignment, and electrical insulation between circuit breaker components while maintaining a minimum radial dimension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tubular insulation elements with screw connections are used, then electrical insulation and mechanical support are provided, but the radial dimension of the interrupter and tank increases due to external metallic shields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the metallic shields and the insulating strut into a single integrated assembly. The shields are positioned at the ends of the curved strut, creating a unified structure that provides both insulation and field control without requiring separate components, thereby reducing the overall radial dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating strut is designed with a curved configuration instead of a straight tubular form. This curvature allows the strut to bend away from radial lines, enabling the metallic shields to be positioned closer to the center while still providing effective field control, thus reducing the radial dimension of the interrupter and tank.
2Reliability
If multiple struts are arranged along a circumference, then insulation support is provided, but the device complexity and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating strut assembly is designed as a universal component that can be used in various positions and configurations within the circuit breaker. The curved design and integrated shields make it a multi-functional element that provides insulation, mechanical support, and field control in a single assembly, reducing the need for multiple specialized components.
3Reliability
If external metallic shields are added to control field peaks, then electrical field control is improved, but the interrupter diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a straight-line (one-dimensional) arrangement of shields to a curved (multi-dimensional) configuration. The shields are positioned along the curved path of the strut, allowing them to control field peaks in three-dimensional space without increasing the radial dimension, effectively using spatial dimensionality to resolve the contradiction.
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
The solution effectively reduces the radial dimensions of the interrupter and tank, enhances performance under polluted conditions by increasing strike and creepage distances, and allows for cost reduction by minimizing component sizes.
Implementation Method 1
an elongated main body made of a vacuum casted epoxy resin
Implementation Method 2
the main body is continuously curved with a curvature (18) extending from one end to the other end of the main body
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
It relates to an insulating support assembly (12; 22) configured to provide mechanical support and electrical insulation between two components (1; 2) of a circuit breaker (100). The assembly comprises a strut (120; 122) and two metallic shields (15). The strut comprises an elongated main body (3) and two metallic inserts, each being partially embedded in its respective end of the main body. The main body comprises a curved portion and each end of the main body is configured to face a radial direction of the component on which it is to be fixed; each metallic shield is configured to be assembled to its respective end of the main body through its respective metallic insert and affixed to the outer surface of its respective component (1; 2) by means of fixing elements, each metallic shield being shaped to accommodate the outer surface of its respective component.