DC Light Rail Adapter With Delayed Contacts to Reduce Arcing
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Solution Overview
Problem
DC power supplies in power tracks pose a risk of sparking or arcing when contacts are made or broken with conductors due to incomplete separation or contact, which is not a significant issue with AC power supplies.
Innovation Solution
A holding adapter with two contact parts for DC poles is designed to make initial contact with low current and subsequent full current contact, using a time delay and high ohmic resistance to minimize arcing, ensuring safe electrical connection and disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single contact part is used for DC poles in power tracks, then the device complexity is reduced, but the risk of sparking and arcing increases during contact making and breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The contact part is divided into two separate contact parts (first contact part and second contact part) that contact the DC conductor at different times. This segmentation allows the contact process to be staged, with the first contact part establishing initial contact and the second contact part completing the full electrical connection, thereby reducing sparking and arcing during contact making and breaking.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If two contact parts with time delay are used for DC poles, then the risk of sparking and arcing is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding adapter is designed to rotate during the contact process, creating a dynamic sequence where the first contact part contacts the DC conductor before the second contact part. This rotational movement provides the time delay between contacts dynamically, reducing sparking and arcing without requiring complex external control mechanisms.
3Productivity
If high current flows through the first contact part during initial contact, then the electrical connection is established quickly, but sparking and arcing occur
Solution Approach 1:
The contact process is segmented into two stages: the first contact part establishes initial contact with limited current flow, and the second contact part completes the full electrical connection. This segmentation allows the contact establishment to occur in a controlled sequence, preventing high current from flowing through a single contact point during initial contact and thereby reducing sparking and arcing.
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
Reduces the risk of sparking and arcing by controlling the current flow during contact and separation, maintaining a safe electrical connection with DC power tracks.
Implementation Method 1
the first contact part is electrically wired in the adapter in such a way that only a very small current can flow through it
Implementation Method 2
the holding adapter is designed in such a way that the contacts for one or both DC poles are designed in such a way that they consist of two contact parts which, as the contacts approach the associated conductors, contact them with a time delay
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A system comprises: - A DC voltage supply with an amplitude in the range from 200V to 1000V - A busbar (1) supplied from the DC voltage supply, - A rotatable holding adapter (5) for detachable electrical connection to conductors (6) in the busbar (1) and mechanical mounting in the busbar (1), wherein the holding adapter (5) has two associated contacts for at least one pole of the DC supply, which contacts the associated conductor in the busbar (1) during a rotary movement of the holding adapter (5) at different times. A rotatable holding adapter (5) for detachable electrical connection with conductors in the busbar (1) and mechanical mounting in a DC busbar (1), has connection contacts for rotary contacting of conductors (6) of the DC busbar (1), wherein the holding adapter (5) has two preferably spatially separated associated contact parts (K1, K2) for at least one pole of the DC supply.