Insulator Cap Shielding Against Bird Droppings on High-Voltage Lines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pollution protection devices for high-voltage insulators are costly, complex to install, and can compromise mast statics, especially in adverse weather conditions, while providing limited protection against bird droppings and earth faults.

Innovation Solution

A pollution protection device attached to the insulator cap of high-voltage insulators, featuring a fastening area with a feed-through opening and a radial protective shield that extends around the insulator, with pivotable tabs for secure attachment and easy assembly, ensuring comprehensive coverage without requiring structural changes or additional fastening elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If roofs are provided directly on the high-voltage pylon above the high-voltage insulators, then bird droppings are kept away from the insulators, but the pylon's structural stability is negatively impacted and maintenance work becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebird droppings contaminationVSAvoidpylon structural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The protective function is segmented from the pylon structure itself and transferred to a separate, attachable device that can be easily installed and removed without compromising the pylon's structural integrity. The pollution protection device is a self-contained unit with its own protective shield and fastening mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A pollution protection device serves as an intermediary element between the pylon and the insulator, providing protection against bird droppings without requiring direct modification of the pylon structure. This intermediary device can be easily attached and removed, maintaining pylon stability while preventing contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If complex protective devices are attached to the high-voltage insulator, then protection against contamination is improved, but the assembly process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination protectionVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional elements are merged into a single integrated pollution protection device: the protective shield, fastening area, and tabs are combined into one unit that can be attached to the insulator cap as a single component, simplifying the assembly process while maintaining comprehensive protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tabs are designed with pivotal fastening capability, allowing them to move from a folded position during assembly to an extended position for securing the device. This dynamic feature enables simple snap-in closure without requiring complex assembly tools or procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If additional fastening elements are used to secure the protective device, then attachment reliability is improved, but the assembly process requires more tools and becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pollution protection device is designed to be self-securing through the snap-in closure mechanism formed by the tabs and their counterparts. The tabs pivot into place and automatically lock without requiring external fastening elements, tools, or complex assembly procedures, yet provide reliable attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3552285B1Protection against contamination for high voltage insulators
Publication Date: 2024.01.31 BAYERNWERK NETZ GMBH
  • EP3552285B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3552285B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3552285B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~2c

AI summary

The invention relates to a contamination protection device (10) for high-voltage insulators (3) and an arrangement consisting of the contamination protection device (10) and a high-voltage insulator (3). The contamination protection device (10) for high-voltage insulators (3) according to the invention is designed to be mounted on the insulator cap (5) of the high-voltage insulator (3) and comprises for this purpose a mounting region (20), which is designed to be interlockingly connected to the insulator cap (5) and comprises a through-opening (21) for the connecting element (7) of the insulator cap (5). A protective shield (30) is furthermore provided, which extends radially around the mounting region (20) in order to cover the high-voltage insulator (3). The arrangement comprises a high-voltage insulator (3) with an insulator cap (5) and a contamination protection device (10) disposed on the insulator cap (5), wherein the contamination protection device (10) is designed according to the invention and is connected to the insulator cap (5) by means of an interlocking connection.