Magnetic Earth Clamp for Overhead Structures Without Earth Points
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable earthing solutions for overhead line equipment require structure-mounted earth attachment points, which are often absent or broken, limiting accessibility and increasing safety and time risks.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic earth clamp with a clamp frame and magnetic parts that attach to ferromagnetic surfaces, allowing attachment without dedicated earth points, featuring a mechanical actuation lever to detach, and compatible with existing live working poles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional earth clamps with earth attachment points are used, then reliable earthing connection is achieved, but accessibility is limited and work cancellation risk increases when attachment points are missing or broken
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the earth attachment point requirement from the earthing system by using magnetic attraction to the ferromagnetic structure itself, eliminating the need for separate attachment points and allowing direct attachment to the structure body
Solution Approach 2:
The earth clamp becomes universally applicable to any overhead line structure with ferromagnetic material, removing the limitation of requiring specific earth attachment points and enabling use across diverse structure types and conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If earth attachment points are installed at all structures, then portable earths can be applied universally, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The overhead line structure's own ferromagnetic material serves as the attachment mechanism, eliminating the need for additional earth attachment point infrastructure while maintaining universal applicability across all ferromagnetic structures
3Ease of operation
If long portable earths are used as alternative when attachment points are unavailable, then earthing can be achieved, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the need for long portable earths by enabling direct attachment to the structure through magnetic attraction, eliminating the intermediate long cable configuration and its associated safety hazards
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 safe, efficient, and visible earthing on multiple structures without earth attachment points, optimizing safety and time utilization in constrained environments.
Implementation Method 1
at least one magnetic part arranged to the clamp frame for magnetically attaching the clamp frame against a surface
Data Source
AI summary
An earth clamp for overhead line structures, including a clamp frame including a profile having a flat contact point at each end and a middle part at different height than each contact point, a magnetic part magnetically attaching the clamp frame against a surface. The magnetic part is towards the middle of the frame profile. The magnetic part moves relative to the frame between the level of the contact points and away from the level defined by the contact points towards the middle part, allowing the earth clamp to attach to a structure facilitating mechanical and electrical connection through the magnetic part and the contact points. Included is a unit to move the earth clamp frame and/or the magnetic part relative to the overhead line structure to counteract the magnetic force to the overhead line structure to release the clamp from the structure. A corresponding portable earth is presented.