Laminated Busbar Connector for Front-Only Switchgear Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connecting and disconnecting laminated busbars in switchgears with limited rear access is difficult and can cause damage, requiring multiple workers and access from the rear side, which is often not feasible in installed switchgear sections.
Innovation Solution
A conductor with a movable rear part and pressure clamps, utilizing a bolt to move the rear part relative to the front part without rear access, allowing preassembly and easy connection/disconnection, protected by a spring and holder system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If access from the rear side of the switchgear is required for connecting laminated busbars, then the connection can be properly secured, but the operation becomes impossible when rear access is limited or blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional connection approach by enabling the connection operation to be performed from the front side instead of the rear side. The conductor is designed with a front part that can be accessed and operated from the front of the switchgear, eliminating the need for rear access while maintaining secure electrical connection between laminated busbars.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductor acts as an intermediary element that bridges the laminated busbars without requiring direct access to their rear contact areas. The conductor with its pressure clamps and bridging sheets creates an indirect connection path that can be established from the front side, mediating the electrical connection between busbars in a way that bypasses the rear access limitation.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple workers are used to hold and position the conductor, then proper alignment can be achieved, but the complexity and time required for assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor is pre-assembled with pressure clamps and conductive bridging sheets in the correct configuration before installation. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the conductor is inserted from the front side, all components are already in their proper positions and orientations, eliminating the need for multiple workers to manually align and hold parts during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure clamps are designed to be movable during insertion, allowing the conductor to be guided into position dynamically. Once in place, the pressure clamps can be secured to maintain the connection. This dynamic approach simplifies the assembly process by allowing single-operator manipulation rather than requiring static positioning by multiple workers.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional conductors are used requiring rear access, then connection can be made, but disassembly becomes difficult or impossible without damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional connection approach by enabling the connection operation to be performed from the front side instead of the rear side. The conductor is designed with a front part that can be accessed and operated from the front of the switchgear, eliminating the need for rear access while maintaining secure electrical connection between laminated busbars.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductor is segmented into distinct components including pressure clamps and conductive bridging sheets that can be independently manipulated. This segmentation allows the conductor to be disassembled and reassembled multiple times without damage, enabling easy repair and reconfiguration by front-side operators.
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
Enables easy and damage-free connection/disconnection of laminated busbars without rear access, reducing the need for multiple workers and simplifying on-site assembly/disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
protected by a spring and holder system
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a bolt to move the rear part relative to the front part
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A conductor (1) to electrically connect two neighbored laminated busbars (2a, 2b) of a switchgear, comprising a front part (3) and a rear part (4) and pressure clamps (5, 6) to press the front part (3) and the rear part (4) against said laminated busbars (2a, 2b), wherein the front part (3) comprises at least one front conductive bridging sheet (3a) and wherein the rear part (4) comprises at least one rear conductive bridging sheet (4a), characterized in that the rear part (4) is movable relative to the front part (3), wherein the front part (3) comprises an actor (8), which is couplable with a counterpart (9) of the rear part (4) and wherein moving the actor (8) moves the rear part (4) to the front part (3), achieves the object to allow an electrically conductive connecting and disconnecting of laminated busbars in situations where access from a rear side of a switchgear or switchboard is limited, and to prevent damages of the laminated busbars and the switchgear or switchboard.