Grounding Device Single Actuator Safety Sequence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for grounding electrical conductors of medium or high voltage overhead lines do not adequately prevent improper handling, insufficient clamping, and the risk of electric arcs, due to lack of mechanisms to ensure safe and appropriate attachment and detachment procedures.
Innovation Solution
A grounding device with a vice and clamp system that includes a single removable control member, locking mechanisms, and holding means to ensure the vice is tightened to the ground before allowing operation, preventing actuation unless the vice is securely attached, and maintaining clamping force to prevent electric arcs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a removable actuating member is used to operate the clamp and vice, then the device can be manipulated by an operator, but the operator may handle the device inappropriately causing injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preliminary action by requiring the vice to be clamped and locked onto the grounded element before the actuating member can be removed to operate the clamp. The locking mechanism of the vice includes a lockable actuating member that must be in a locked position (indicating proper clamping) before the removable actuating member can be detached. This sequence prevents operators from accidentally energizing the clamp before establishing a safe ground connection.
2Ease of manufacture
If the actuating member is removable and can be separated from the clamp and vice, then the device can be assembled and disassembled, but checking for presence of all parts becomes necessary and separation can be problematic when the clamp is hooked on a conductor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the actuating functions of both the clamp and the vice into a single removable actuating member. This unified actuator must be sequentially used: first to operate the vice clamping mechanism, then (after the vice is locked) to operate the clamp clamping mechanism. This integration reduces the number of separate components, eliminates the need to check for multiple actuating members, and simplifies the recovery process since only one actuating member needs to be accounted for.
3Reliability
If the locking means of the gripper operating means is locked in the vacuum clamping position, then the gripper is totally unusable before tightening the vice, but this prevents inappropriate clamping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preliminary action sequence where the vice must first be clamped and locked onto the grounded element before the clamp can be operated. The locking mechanism of the vice actuating member serves as a prerequisite condition that must be satisfied (vice properly grounded) before the clamp becomes operational. This ensures that safety grounding is established before any work on the conductor begins, preventing inappropriate or unsafe clamping operations.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~5
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for grounding an electrical conductor (30) of an overhead power line (3), comprising a single removable component for separately and successively bringing about, on the one hand, locking of the clamp locking means (4) in a clamped position on the element (20) on the ground (2) and the unlocking of the means of locking of the gripper (5) and, on the other hand, the locking of the means of locking of the gripper (5) in the empty clamped position and the unlocking of the means of locking of the clamp (4).