Medium-Voltage Contact Assembly With Removable Sensor Belt Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Medium Voltage switch contact assemblies require dedicated designs for insulating and conductive parts, necessitate disassembly for sensor installation, and involve additional components, increasing complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A modular switch contact assembly with a sensing device arrangement that uses a fixing belt to removably attach sensors to the conductive elongated body, allowing easy installation and removal without disassembling the contact arm or insulating protection, compatible with both over-moulded and assembled insulating protections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a temperature sensor is embedded into the conductive elongated body of the contact arm, then the sensor can detect operative conditions, but it requires a dedicated design of the insulating protection casing and conductive elongated body, increasing design complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is separated from the contact arm structure and mounted on an external bracket that attaches to the insulating protection casing. This segmentation allows the sensor to be installed independently without modifying the conductive elongated body or requiring dedicated sensor housings integrated into the contact arm.
Solution Approach 2:
An external bracket serves as an intermediary component between the sensor and the contact arm assembly. The bracket mounts to the insulating protection casing and provides a mounting position for the sensor, eliminating the need for direct integration into the conductive body and allowing standard insulating casings to be used.
2Reliability
If a temperature sensor is embedded into the conductive elongated body, then the sensor can monitor temperature, but it necessitates disassembly of the contact arm for sensor installation after commissioning
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is segmented into independent components (sensor, bracket, mounting hardware) that can be installed separately. The bracket attaches to the external surface of the insulating protection casing, allowing sensor installation without disassembling the contact arm or removing the insulating protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is pre-designed and pre-positioned on the insulating protection casing during manufacturing, creating a ready-made mounting structure. This preliminary preparation enables straightforward sensor installation later without requiring complex disassembly procedures.
3Reliability
If a temperature sensor is embedded into the conductive elongated body, then the sensor can be positioned internally, but it requires additional components such as silicon rings and o-rings, increasing cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is extracted from the internal embedding approach and positioned externally on the bracket. This eliminates the need for sealing components like silicon rings and o-rings that would be required to protect an internally embedded sensor, reducing both component count and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The external bracket mounting system uses simple, inexpensive fastening components (screws, clips, or adhesive mounts) instead of expensive specialized sealing components. The bracket itself can be a simple metal or plastic piece that provides adequate sensor positioning without requiring complex protective features.
Data Source
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AI summary
A Medium Voltage switch contact assembly (1) comprising: - a contact arm (2) comprising: - a conductive elongated body (21) developing along a longitudinal axis (50) and having a first end (211) connected to an electrical terminal and a second end (212) opposite to said first end (211); - an insulating protection (22) enclosing at least a portion of said elongated body (21); - a contact element (3) positioned at the second end (212) of said conductive elongated body (21) and adapted to couple with/uncouple from a corresponding counter-contact with a linear movement along said longitudinal axis (50), - a sensing device arrangement (4). The sensing device arrangement (4) comprises a sensor device (41) which is provided with a fixing belt (42) forming a loop wrapped around said conductive elongated body (21) and removably fixing said sensing device arrangement (4) onto said conductive elongated body (21)