Curved Viewing Window Assembly for Bus Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Retrofitting existing housings with standard flat or planar viewing windows for curved electrical equipment, such as cylindrical bus ducts, often results in unsatisfactory outcomes due to environmental leakage and debris intrusion, as well as suboptimal field of view, requiring a specialized and time-consuming process.
Innovation Solution
A curved viewing window assembly with a lens assembly and grilles that are transparent to infrared, ultraviolet, and visible light, designed to fit seamlessly on curved surfaces, including a pivoting door for selective access, ensuring optimal alignment and sealing to prevent leakage and debris intrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standard flat or planar viewing windows are used on curved housings, then installation is simpler, but environmental leakage and debris intrusion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the viewing window assembly to match the curved surface of the housing. The curved viewing window assembly includes a curved lens and curved grilles that conform to the cylindrical or curved shape of the housing, eliminating gaps that cause environmental leakage and debris intrusion while maintaining reliable sealing performance.
2Productivity
If standard flat viewing windows are retrofitted to curved surfaces, then the process is faster, but field of view is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The curved viewing window assembly is designed with a curved lens and curved grilles that match the housing curvature, providing an optimal field of view for monitoring electrical equipment. The curved geometry allows cameras to capture images across the curved surface without distortion or limited angles, maintaining high inspection quality.
3Reliability
If curved viewing window assembly is used, then sealing and field of view are optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved viewing window assembly is segmented into multiple components including a curved lens, curved grilles with viewing apertures, and sealing elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while assembling to form a complete sealed unit that conforms to curved housing surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved grilles serve as intermediary structures that support the curved lens and provide sealing interfaces with the housing. The grilles with viewing apertures mediate between the need for optical access and the need for environmental sealing, creating a balanced solution that maintains both field of view and sealing performance.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If curved viewing window assembly is used, then debris intrusion is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved viewing window assembly with its curved lens and curved grilles conform to the curved housing surface, creating continuous sealing interfaces that prevent debris intrusion. The curved geometry eliminates gaps and discontinuities that would allow environmental contaminants to enter the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly is divided into sealable segments with gaskets or sealing elements at the interfaces between the curved grilles and housing. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing while maintaining continuous sealing around the curved perimeter to prevent debris entry.
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 provides a clear and sealed field of view for monitoring electrical equipment, preventing environmental leakage and debris entry while allowing for efficient imaging of critical components, enhancing inspection capabilities without the need for extensive retrofitting.
Implementation Method 1
the lens assembly including a curved lens transparent to at least one of infrared (IR) light, ultraviolet (UV) light, or visible light
Data Source
AI summary
A curved viewing window assembly for an electrical assembly having a non-flat curved surface such as an isophase bus duct or electrical motor housing, includes a curved lens assembly having a lens section disposed between a curved front grille and a curved rear grille and is transparent to infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), or visible light. The curved lens assembly is attached to an aperture disposed through a curved wall of the bus duct at a point proximate to the location in which electrical equipment within the bus duct is to be monitored. Disposed through each at the front and rear grilles is a plurality of viewing apertures permitting the IR, UV, or visible light from the electrical equipment or components to pass therethrough. A curved door is pivotably attached to the front grille to allow selective access to the curved infrared viewing window.