Rear Insulation Cover for Fuse Switch Disconnectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuse switch disconnectors often lack adequate insulation on rear panels, leading to increased device height and complex structures when separate insulation is integrated, and may not meet requirements for higher operating voltages or dielectric strength.

Innovation Solution

A retrofittable insulating cover with a snap connection mechanism, made of insulating plastic, that can be easily attached and detached to provide additional insulation without altering the conventional fuse switch disconnector, featuring windows for hooks and L-shaped cover caps to ensure compatibility with rotated hooks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate insulation is integrated into the rear wall of the fuse switch disconnector, then insulation performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation performanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulation is segmented from the main device structure and implemented as a separate rear wall insulating cover that can be attached independently. This allows the insulating function to be added without redesigning the entire fuse switch disconnector structure, thereby improving insulation performance while minimizing increases in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If clearances and creepage distances are increased to provide insulation, then insulation performance is improved, but device height increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation performanceVSAvoiddevice height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing insulation distances in the vertical dimension (which would increase device height), the solution transitions to providing insulation in the horizontal dimension by attaching an insulating cover to the rear wall. This dimensional shift allows adequate insulation performance to be achieved without increasing the overall height of the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If a retrofittable insulating cover is added to the rear of the fuse switch disconnector, then insulation performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation performanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating function is extracted as a separate, removable cover component rather than being integrated into the main device structure. This extraction allows the insulation to be added retroactively to existing devices without modifying their fundamental structure, improving insulation performance while keeping the overall system complexity manageable through modular addition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the insulating cover includes windows for hooks and cover caps, then compatibility with rotated hooks is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with rotated hooksVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional elements (windows for hook passage, cover caps for hook insulation, and attachment mechanisms) are merged into a single integrated insulating cover component. This consolidation improves compatibility with rotated hooks by providing a complete solution in one piece, while the use of standard manufacturing processes like injection molding keeps manufacturing complexity manageable despite the multi-functional design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP1755134B1Rear side insulation cover for a fuse load disconnecting switch
Publication Date: 2008.03.12 SIEMENS AG
  • EP1755134B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1755134B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1755134B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The plate (10) has a plate body (12) made of insulating material fastened to a rear-side of a circuit-breaker. The body includes hooks for fixing the plate to a bus bar. A window (14) and a cap are provided for each hook in the body at the rear-side of the circuit breaker. Each hook is guidable through the respective window. The cap (16) is fixed at an edge of the window for covering the hooks. An independent claim is also included for a safety circuit breaker with an insulating cover plate fixed at its rear side.