Mining Vehicle Transformer Voltage Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rock drilling rigs are limited by the need for different voltage levels in various work sites, making it impractical to transfer them between sites with different electric network voltages, as existing solutions require large and difficult-to-handle transformers or modifications to electric components.
Innovation Solution
A mining vehicle with a transformer that can adjust voltage levels to match the nominal voltage, allowing operation across different electric network voltages, using a single-winding transformer with tapping points to maintain efficiency and reduce size, enabling easy transfer between sites without needing multiple voltage-compatible devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a transformer is used to transform voltage levels to enable operation at different work sites, then the mining vehicle can be transferred between sites with different voltage levels, but the transformer becomes large in size and difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the transformer into two separate units: a portable transformer unit that can be easily transported and a stationary transformer unit that remains at the work site. This segmentation allows the mobile mining vehicle to use a small, lightweight transformer while the larger transformation capacity is provided by the stationary unit, resolving the contradiction between voltage adaptability and transformer portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coupling device as an intermediary between the portable and stationary transformer units. This coupling device enables the two transformer units to work together as a unified system, allowing the mobile vehicle to benefit from the combined transformation capacity without carrying the entire transformer system, thus maintaining both adaptability and portability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the transformer is made large enough to handle various voltage levels, then voltage transformation capability is improved, but the difficulty to handle and subsequent costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the transformer system into portable and stationary units, the patent enables full voltage transformation capability through the combined system while the mobile unit remains small and easy to handle. The stationary unit provides the heavy-duty transformation capacity that would be impossible to transport, thus resolving the contradiction between transformation capability and ease of handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a dynamic system where the portable transformer unit can be connected to or disconnected from the stationary unit depending on the specific work site requirements. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt its transformation capacity to match the needs of different voltage levels while keeping the mobile portion always easy to handle.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different voltage levels are supported by using multiple electric components, then voltage compatibility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the portable transformer unit universally compatible with multiple voltage levels by designing it to work with the stationary transformer unit across different voltage configurations. This multi-functionality approach allows a single portable unit design to serve multiple voltage compatibility requirements without requiring different electric components for each voltage level, thus reducing overall system complexity.
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 the mining vehicle to operate consistently across various voltage levels, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs, allowing the same components to be used across different sites, and allowing voltage adjustments to meet customer needs.
Implementation Method 1
a transformer (22) arranged to transform the voltage level of the alternating current network (18) into the nominal voltage
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A mining vehicle comprises electric components, devices or machines (23, 24) operating at alternating voltage and having a specific nominal voltage (UN). Power is fed to the mining vehicle from an alternating current network (18) with a specific voltage level (U1, U2). The mining vehicle further comprises a transformer (22) arranged to transform the voltage level (U1, U2) of the alternating current network (18) into the nominal voltage (UN). When a voltage higher than the nominal voltage is fed to the transformer (22), the transformer (22) lowers this higher voltage to the nominal voltage. When a voltage lower than the nominal voltage is fed to the transformer (22), the transformer (22) raises the voltage to the nominal voltage. The transformer (22) is arranged to feed the electric component, device or machine (23, 24) both when a voltage lower than the nominal voltage is fed to the transformer (22) and when a voltage higher than the nominal voltage is fed to the transformer (22).