Withdrawable Interlock Device for Vacuum Circuit Breaker Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum circuit breakers lack a mechanism to prevent accidental separation of the circuit breaker body from the switchboard when the control power connector is coupled, leading to potential operator accidents and equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
A withdrawable interlock device with a link, link connector, levers, and a moving plate system that controls the movement of the circuit breaker body based on the attachment state of the control power plug to the control power connector, ensuring the circuit breaker body remains within the cradle when power is supplied and allows separation when power is blocked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the control power connector is detachably connected to the control power plug, then the circuit breaker body can be easily removed for maintenance and testing, but the circuit breaker body may be accidentally separated from the switchboard when power is supplied
Solution Approach 1:
The interlock device performs a preliminary action by detecting the power supply state through the power supply state detection component before allowing removal. When power is detected, the interlocking component is activated in advance to prevent the circuit breaker body from being removed, thus avoiding accidental separation while maintaining ease of operation when no power is present
Solution Approach 2:
The interlocking component serves as an intermediary mechanism between the power supply state detection component and the circuit breaker body. It translates the power supply state into a physical constraint that prevents removal when power is supplied, while allowing free movement when no power is present, thus reconciling the contradiction between ease of removal and safety
2Adaptability or versatility
If the circuit breaker body is allowed to move freely in the cradle, then it can be easily positioned for testing and operation, but it may be separated when the control power connector is coupled causing electrical damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the power supply state through the power supply state detection component before allowing positioning operations. When power is detected, the interlocking component is activated in advance to constrain the circuit breaker body, preventing separation and electrical damage while maintaining positioning flexibility when no power is present
Solution Approach 2:
The interlocking component acts as an intermediary that mediates between the positioning flexibility requirement and the electrical damage prevention requirement. It selectively constrains or releases the circuit breaker body based on the power supply state, allowing free positioning when safe and preventing separation when power is supplied
3Reliability
If an interlock device is added to prevent accidental separation, then operator safety and equipment protection are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interlock device is segmented into distinct functional components: a power supply state detection component that detects whether power is supplied, and an interlocking component that physically prevents or allows removal. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function with simple structure, reducing overall complexity while maintaining high reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The interlocking component serves as a simple intermediary mechanism that translates the power supply state into a physical constraint without requiring complex control systems. It uses straightforward mechanical or electromagnetic coupling to achieve safety protection with minimal structural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
As described above, a withdrawable interlock device of a vacuum circuit breaker according to the present disclosure may locate the second lever between the link and the moving plate, and thus the second lever may be engaged with an outer side of the first lever in a state that the control power connector is coupled to the control power plug not to move the moving plate through the second lever so as to maintain a state that the fitting protrusion is fitted into the fitting groove, thereby having an effect of preventing the circuit breaker body from being separated to the outside of the cradle in a state that the control power connector is coupled to the control power plug to supply power.