Externally Exposed Connections for Electrical System Commissioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commissioning electrical systems in industrial and data center settings poses safety risks due to the need for human agents to physically interact with high-voltage equipment, leading to potential electrical shocks and errors in testing and data collection.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with externally exposed connections on electrical equipment allows for safe monitoring and testing of internal power system wiring without opening panels, using networked devices for automated data collection and control, reducing human intervention and enhancing safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If panels are removed to expose internal power system electrical wiring for testing and commissioning, then accessibility for connecting test devices is improved, but safety risk of electrical shock to human commissioning agents increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility for connecting test devicesVSAvoidelectrical shock risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary device (communication circuit board with externally accessible communication circuitry) that mediates between the external test devices and the internal power system electrical wiring. This intermediary provides electrical isolation, allowing commissioning agents to connect test devices safely without directly exposing them to high-voltage internal wiring, thus resolving the contradiction between accessibility and safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of physically opening panels and directly connecting test devices to internal wiring with an electrical/communication-based approach. Test devices connect through standardized communication ports to the communication circuit board, which then interfaces with the internal power system wiring, eliminating the need for physical panel removal and direct electrical contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If panels are kept closed during commissioning, then safety of commissioning agents is improved, but accessibility for connecting test devices to internal wiring deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety of commissioning agentsVSAvoidaccessibility for connecting test devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The communication circuit board is pre-installed inside the electrical equipment during manufacturing, with its communication circuitry positioned to be externally accessible through the equipment housing. This preliminary action ensures that test device connections can be made through externally accessible ports without requiring panel removal during commissioning, thus maintaining both safety and accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual connection and disconnection of test devices to internal wiring is performed, then flexibility in testing is improved, but risk of human error and injury increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in testingVSAvoidrisk of human error and injury

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The communication circuit board serves as a mediator that standardizes the interface between test devices and the power system wiring. This intermediary provides consistent, standardized connection points that reduce variability in human operations, thereby reducing human error while maintaining testing flexibility through programmable communication protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters from manual physical connection/disconnection to automated communication-based interaction. Test devices communicate with the power system through standardized protocols, allowing flexible testing configurations to be implemented through software control rather than manual wiring changes, thus reducing human error while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10389172B2Externally exposing connections to internal electrical components inside electrical system equipment

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Aspects of the invention extend to an apparatus (e.g., a panel or a device) including externally exposed connections (e.g., ports) to internal power system electrical wiring inside a piece of electrical equipment. In one aspect, during manufacture of a piece of electrical equipment, a panel is integrated into an external surface of the piece of electrical equipment. In another aspect, a panel or device is fitted to an external surface of a piece of electrical equipment at a facility. A panel or device includes one or more ports externally exposing internal power system electrical wiring inside the piece of electrical equipment. Each of the one or more ports is wired to a portion of the internal power system electrical wiring. Connecting external devices to the internal power system wiring at the ports increases safety during electrical system commissioning.