High Voltage Discharging and Grounding Device with Toggle Lever
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high voltage power converters require lengthy capacitor discharging times, leading to prolonged device downtime, which contradicts the need for quicker grounding procedures while ensuring safety during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A combined high voltage discharging and grounding device employing a gear mechanism with a toggle lever, allowing for rapid insulation distance coverage and extended discharging time, using a movable member with a drive mechanism that decreases speed progressively, enabling quick and efficient grounding without complex electronics or multiple drives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a classic high voltage device uses a simple drive mechanism for the movable member, then the device complexity is reduced, but the speed of the movable member remains constant which is insufficient for achieving rapid insulation distance coverage followed by extended discharging time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by using a toggle lever mechanism that automatically changes the speed of the movable member during its operation. The mechanism transitions from a fast closing phase (covering insulation distance) to a slow discharging phase (extended grounding time) without requiring complex electronic control systems. The mechanical design inherently provides the required variable speed profile through the geometric properties of the toggle lever and gear mechanism.
2Loss of time
If the movable member moves quickly to cover the insulation distance, then the grounding time is reduced, but the discharging time becomes insufficient which compromises safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the movement of the movable member into two distinct phases: a first phase for quickly covering the insulation distance (rapid grounding) and a second phase for extended discharging time (safety grounding). This segmentation is achieved through the offset positioning of first and second electric contacts along the path of movement, allowing the drive mechanism to complete the insulation distance coverage quickly while subsequently maintaining contact for the required discharging duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The toggle lever mechanism dynamically adjusts the speed of the movable member, providing high speed during the insulation distance coverage phase and automatically slowing down during the discharging phase. This dynamic speed variation ensures both rapid grounding and sufficient discharging time without requiring complex control systems.
3Duration of action of moving object
If a gear mechanism with toggle lever is used to decrease speed progressively, then the discharging time is extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a toggle lever as an intermediary mechanical element that mediates between the drive mechanism and the movable member. This intermediary component enables progressive speed decrease during the discharging phase through pure mechanical action, eliminating the need for complex electronic speed control systems while achieving the required extended discharging time for safety.
4Duration of action of moving object
If the first electric contact is offset by a first distance with respect to the second contact, then the discharging and grounding operations are separated in time, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The offset positioning of the first electric contact relative to the second contact segments the operational sequence into distinct discharging and grounding phases. This spatial segmentation along the path of movement enables temporal separation of functions, allowing the system to complete insulation distance coverage quickly and then maintain extended contact for discharging, all through simple mechanical design without complex control systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves a balance between rapid grounding and extended discharging time, reducing device downtime, and is cost-effective by using a simple gear mechanism with a toggle lever, allowing for precise positioning without advanced control systems, and enabling quick operation even in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
The movable member is coupled to the drive by a gear mechanism comprising a toggle lever which is shaped such that a speed of the movable member decreases progressively when passing the intermediate position from an open position towards a closed position
Data Source
AI summary
Combined high voltage discharging and grounding device with a discharging unit with a first electric contact and a first counter-contact as well as a grounding unit with a second electric contact and a second counter contact. The first electric contact and the second electric contact are provided on a movable member which is movable by way of a drive along a path of movement from an open position to a close position. An electric contact between the first electric contact and the first counter-contact is established in an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position of the movable member when closing the discharging and grounding device in an operating state of the discharging and grounding device while the second electric contact is electrically still disconnected from the second counter contact.