DC Power Supply Distribution Board with Shared Central Bus-Line

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional DC power supply distribution boards require four vertical bus-lines, leading to increased size, insufficient insulation distance, and the need for a dedicated design/assembly line, while also increasing material costs and assembly time.

Innovation Solution

A DC power supply distribution board design where two breakers share a central vertical bus-line, reducing the number of bus-lines to three, allowing for a downsized structure with unified components and reduced assembly hours, and decreased material costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If four vertical bus-lines are provided for two horizontally arranged breaker units, then each unit can be independently inserted or removed, but the distribution board increases in size and requires a dedicated design/assembly line

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependence of breaker unitsVSAvoidsize of distribution board

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the bus-line configuration by providing three vertical bus-lines that serve both left and right breaker units. The left-side contactor connects to the left vertical bus-line and the right-side contactor connects to the right vertical bus-line, while both units share the central vertical bus-line structure, reducing the total from four bus-lines to three while maintaining unit independence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The central vertical bus-line structure serves as a shared resource for both left and right breaker units. The control circuit is designed to universally control both left-side and right-side contactors through a single control relay, making the control system multi-functional rather than requiring separate dedicated circuits for each unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If four vertical bus-lines are arranged in limited space, then two units can be horizontally disposed, but the insulation distance between bus-lines becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehorizontal arrangement of unitsVSAvoidinsulation distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement of four bus-lines to a three-dimensional configuration where bus-lines are arranged vertically and horizontally. The vertical bus-lines extend in the vertical direction while being spaced apart horizontally, and the contactors are positioned at different vertical levels to achieve proper insulation distances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If four vertical bus-lines are used, then two breaker units can be provided, but the number of components and assembly man-hours increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of breaker unitsVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines control functions by using a single control relay to control both left-side and right-side contactors. The control circuit is configured so that the control relay can switch both contactors through shared control wiring, reducing the number of control components from what would be required with four separate bus-lines and independent control circuits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control relay is designed with multi-functionality to control both left and right contactors. The control circuit universally handles both units through a single control element, reducing component count and simplifying the control system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If four vertical bus-lines are provided, then two breaker units can be accommodated, but material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of breaker unitsVSAvoidmaterial cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the bus-line infrastructure by providing three shared vertical bus-lines instead of four separate ones. The left and right breaker units both connect to this shared bus-line structure, reducing the total quantity of bus-line material required while maintaining full functionality of both units

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10439373B2DC power supply distribution board

Publication Date: 2019.10.08 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP

AI summary

There is adopted a shape in which the portions, at the central side of a distribution board, of left and right unit bases on which respective breakers are mounted can be arranged in a staggered manner, so that there is realized a structure in which units can be horizontally arranged while the units share a central vertical bus-line. Alternatively, two insertion-type breakers are horizontally arranged on one and the same unit base and wiring is performed from a contactor provided on the unit base to the primary-side terminal of each of the breakers, so that the left and right breakers share the central vertical bus-line.