Disconnect Switch Anti-Icing Shield Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Disconnectors in high-latitude regions face reliability issues due to heavy ice coverage, as existing anti-icing solutions are either costly, complex, or ineffective in ensuring normal operation beyond 10mm ice thickness, leading to potential safety threats in electrical power systems.

Innovation Solution

A disconnector with an anti-icing arrangement featuring a main blade anti-icing shield and transmission arrangement, along with a static contact anti-icing shield, that shields the moving and static contacts from ice and snow, allowing reliable operation even with up to 20mm ice coverage, using a compact and universal design that can be easily integrated into existing disconnectors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a light energy ice-breaking auxiliary arrangement is used to break ice by heating, then ice-breaking capability is improved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveice coating on contactsVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the complex light energy ice-breaking auxiliary arrangement and heat ice-breaking auxiliary arrangements from the disconnector system. Instead of adding these complex heating devices, the invention uses the natural closing action of the disconnector to break ice through mechanical clamping and sliding, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining ice-breaking capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The disconnector's own closing operation is utilized to break ice on the contacts. The natural mechanical action of the moving contact closing against the static contact provides sufficient clamping force to break ice layers, eliminating the need for separate heating or light energy conversion systems. The system serves itself by using its operational movement to counteract the harmful ice accumulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If contact clamping force is increased to break thicker ice layers, then ice-breaking capability is improved, but contact wear increases and operating force requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveice layer thicknessVSAvoidcontact wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic sliding procedure during the closing operation where the moving contact slides along the static contact surface rather than simply clamping. This dynamic sliding action effectively breaks ice layers of various thicknesses (including up to 20mm) while distributing the mechanical stress, thereby reducing direct abrasive wear on the contact surfaces compared to static high-force clamping

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If existing ice-breaking methods are used, then some ice-breaking capability is achieved, but reliability for heavy icing (20mm or more) is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveice layer thicknessVSAvoidoperation reliability under heavy icing
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-icing action by designing the closing operation to include a sliding procedure that prevents ice accumulation from becoming too thick. The moving contact slides along the static contact during closing, which continuously breaks up forming ice layers before they can reach critical thicknesses that would prevent reliable operation. This preliminary mechanical action ensures the disconnector can reliably operate even in environments where ice layers reach 20mm or more

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3422380B1Disconnecting switch having Anti-icing device
Publication Date: 2020.10.28 ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
  • EP3422380B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3422380B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3422380B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

The present invention provides a disconnector with an anti-icing arrangement, comprising a main blade moving contact (1), a main blade arm (3), a main blade static contact (5), a main blade transmission arrangement (4) and a main blade anti-icing arrangement. The main blade transmission arrangement is adapted for driving the main blade arm to move. The main blade anti-icing arrangement includes a main blade anti-icing shield (2) and a main blade anti-icing shield transmission arrangement. The main blade anti-icing shield transmission arrangement is adapted for drive the main blade anti-icing shield such that the main blade anti-icing shield shields the main blade moving contact in an opened position to keep ice and snow and rainwater from covering a surface of the main blade moving contact, and moves away from the main blade moving contact in a closed position, to enable the main blade moving contact to be contacted with the main blade static contact. The disconnector of the present invention has simple structure, convenient installation and strong adaptability, which greatly improves stability and reliability of the disconnector in alpine regions.