Electrical Enclosure Module With Shared Protection and Flexible 6U Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical connection enclosures require multiple expensive protection units for each monitoring-and-control unit, leading to high costs and a lack of modularity, making it difficult to adapt to varying installation needs.
Innovation Solution
A functional module that includes a common protection unit for multiple monitoring-and-control units, a computer bus segment, external connection modules, input-output modules, and a support structure, allowing for flexible combinations of monitoring-and-control units and easy integration into an electrical enclosure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each monitoring-and-control unit is equipped with its own protection unit, then the reliability of each unit is improved, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple protection functions into a single common protection unit that can protect multiple monitoring-and-control units simultaneously. This reduces the total number of protection units from N (one per monitoring unit) to 1 (shared by all), thereby reducing cost and device complexity while maintaining protection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The common protection unit is designed with multi-functional capability to protect multiple different monitoring-and-control units through a single device. This universal protection approach allows one protection unit to perform the role of multiple dedicated protection units, reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple protection units are used for each monitoring-and-control unit, then the electrical protection is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple protection functions into a single common protection unit, reducing the bill of materials from N protection units to 1 protection unit. This merging approach directly reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining the electrical protection function across all monitoring-and-control units.
3Ease of manufacture
If the electrical connection enclosure is designed with fixed architecture, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the adaptability to different installation needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical connection enclosure into modular functional units: a common protection unit, multiple monitoring-and-control units, and connection units. This segmentation allows flexible configuration where different numbers and types of monitoring-and-control units can be combined under a single common protection unit, providing adaptability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic architecture where the number and configuration of monitoring-and-control units can be adjusted based on installation requirements, while the common protection unit remains a stable, reusable component. This dynamic configurability allows the system to adapt to different installation needs without requiring complete redesign.
Data Source
AI summary
A functional module (200) for an electrical connection enclosure comprises one or more monitoring-and-control units (138), a protection unit (140) common to all the monitoring-and-control units (138), supplying electrical power to all the monitoring-and-control units and electrically protecting all the monitoring-and-control units, a segment of computer bus (204) connecting all of the monitoring-and-control units to an industrial computer, just as many external connection modules (208) and input-output modules (206) as monitoring-and-control units, and a support structure. The height of the monitoring-and-control units can be equal to 1U, 2U, 3U, 4U, 5U or 6U, “U” designating a unit height corresponding to a base height of a monitoring-and-control units, and the functional module has a main height (H4) equal to 6U and can accommodate any technically permissible combination of monitoring-and-control units, depending on the height of these control units.