Ground Bus Layout for Switchboard Housing Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional switchboards require additional space for ground wire connection, which reduces the vertical housing space for electrical equipment, and the placement of the ground bus can hinder cable and bolt operations.

Innovation Solution

The ground bus is extended laterally and longitudinally within the housing, with attachment points provided in power cable housing spaces, allowing for ground wire connection without reducing the vertical space for the electrical equipment main unit housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the ground bus is arranged at a position far from the front side and rear side of the housing to allow ground wire connection from both sides, then ground wire connection is possible from front and rear sides, but the lowermost space must be secured in the vertical direction, reducing the electrical equipment main unit housing space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveground wire connectionVSAvoidelectrical equipment main unit housing space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The ground bus is extended in the left-right direction (horizontal dimension) rather than only in the front-rear direction, and the ground wire attachment part is positioned in the power cable housing space. This dimensional change allows ground wire connection without requiring additional vertical space, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and housing space volume.

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

2Volume of moving object

If the lowermost space is minimized in the vertical direction to maximize electrical equipment main unit housing space, then housing space is maximized, but insufficient space remains for ground wire connection work

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical equipment main unit housing spaceVSAvoidground wire connection work
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ground wire attachment part is positioned in the power cable housing space and the ground bus is extended in the left-right direction, utilizing the horizontal dimension rather than requiring additional vertical space. This allows ground wire connection work to be performed while maintaining minimal lowermost space, thus resolving the contradiction between housing space volume and ease of ground wire connection.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3270477B1Electric apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.10.13 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3270477B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(c)
  • EP3270477B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)
  • EP3270477B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

A ground bus (7) for grounding the electrical equipment main unit is constructed by a left and right extended ground bus (7LR) and a front and rear extended ground bus (7FR), the left and right extended ground bus (7LR) is located on a rear side position far from the electrical equipment main unit housing space (10) in the housing (8) and is disposed to be extended in a left and right direction as seen in a plan view, and the front and rear extended ground bus (7FR) is located on a side opposite to the electrical equipment main unit housing space (10) of the power cable housing space (11), is disposed to be extended in a front and rear direction as seen in a plan view, is connected to the left and right extended ground bus (7FR), and has a ground wire attachment part (9), thereby it is possible to arrange the ground bus(7) without reducing the electrical equipment main unit housing space (10) in the vertical direction.