Movable Fuse Holder for Vacuum Switchgear Accessibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing switchgear, fuses for high currents are often difficult to access due to their arrangement in hard-to-reach areas such as cable compartments, posing challenges for maintenance and operation.

Innovation Solution

A movable fuse holder is integrated with the circuit breaker and/or load switch, allowing it to be positioned between operating and test positions via stop mechanisms, ensuring electrical connectivity or disconnection with the contact arm and pole connection, thereby optimizing accessibility and secure positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If fuses are arranged in the cable compartment or switch device compartment for space reasons, then space utilization is improved, but accessibility for maintenance and operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidaccessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fuse holder is made movable relative to the circuit breaker, allowing it to be positioned in different locations. The fuse holder can be moved along the circuit breaker body to accessible positions for maintenance while maintaining electrical connection, thus resolving the contradiction between space utilization and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the fuse holder is fixed in position, then structural simplicity is maintained, but accessibility and maintainability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fuse holder is designed with movable capability along the circuit breaker body through a guide structure, allowing it to be repositioned to accessible locations without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms. This provides a balance between improved accessibility and minimal structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the circuit breaker is removed from the switchgear compartment, then maintenance access is improved, but the stop mechanisms must be removed or detached

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessVSAvoidremoval complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stop mechanisms are designed as separate, detachable components that can be independently removed from the circuit breaker. This allows the circuit breaker to be easily removed from the switchgear compartment for maintenance while the stop mechanisms remain attached to the circuit breaker body, simplifying the maintenance process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3747095B1Movable fuse holder
Publication Date: 2021.11.17 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3747095B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3747095B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3747095B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a fuse holder for a power switch and/or load switch, wherein the power switch and/or load switch is a vacuum switch with one or more vacuum switch tubes, wherein the switch can be arranged in a switch device compartment in a movable or slidable manner between an operating position and a test position, and the fuse holder is arranged on the power switch and/or load switch such that a first contact of the fuse holder is connected to a first contact arm of the power switch and/or load switch in an interruptible manner and a second contact of the fuse holder is connected to a pole connection in an interruptible manner.