Movable Circuit Breaker Assembly for MV Switchgear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medium voltage air insulated switchgear lacks flexibility in configuration, requiring complex kinematic chains and numerous components, leading to increased complexity, electrodynamic stresses, and high manufacturing, installation, and maintenance costs, while also limiting the ability to easily achieve different degrees of compartment segregation.
Innovation Solution
A medium voltage air insulated switchgear design featuring a movable circuit breaker assembly with an insulating base frame, actuator, and kinematic chain, which allows for easy adaptation to various segregation typologies, reduces electrodynamic stresses, and eliminates the need for earthing switches and associated mechanisms, using a linear current path and vertically aligned contacts to minimize components and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex kinematic chain with levers and pins is used to actuate movable partitioning walls, then the switchgear can achieve compartment segregation, but the device complexity and number of parts increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the movable partitioning wall actuation function from the complex kinematic chain and assigns it directly to the circuit breaker unit. The circuit breaker unit itself becomes the actuating mechanism, eliminating the need for separate levers, pins, and intermediate transmission components. This direct coupling reduces the number of parts while maintaining the compartment segregation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the circuit breaker unit with the movable partitioning wall actuation mechanism. The circuit breaker unit is designed to directly drive the partitioning walls through its own mechanical structure, combining two previously separate functions into a single integrated component. This reduces device complexity while achieving both circuit breaking and compartment segregation.
2Ease of operation
If contact arms perpendicular to the longitudinal axis are used in the circuit breaker, then the circuit breaker can connect to bus bar and feeder systems, but electrodynamic stress increases due to non-linear current path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the symmetric perpendicular arrangement of contact arms to an asymmetric linear arrangement aligned with the longitudinal axis of the circuit breaker. This asymmetric configuration optimizes the current path to be linear rather than non-linear, reducing electrodynamic stress while maintaining connectivity to bus bar and feeder systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent reorients the contact arms from a perpendicular (transverse) dimension to a longitudinal dimension aligned with the circuit breaker axis. This dimensional change transforms the current path from a non-linear transverse path to a linear longitudinal path, reducing electrodynamic stress while preserving electrical connectivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If earthing switches with manual or motor-operated mechanisms are added to the switchgear, then the switchgear functionality is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the circuit breaker unit to perform multiple functions: circuit breaking, movable partitioning wall actuation for compartment segregation, and earthing switch functionality. By making the circuit breaker unit universal and multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated mechanisms for each function, thereby reducing device complexity while improving overall switchgear functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the earthing switch function into the circuit breaker unit. The same mechanical structure that enables circuit breaking and partitioning wall actuation is also used to provide earthing functionality. This consolidation eliminates separate manual or motor-operated mechanisms, reducing complexity and manufacturing costs.
4Ease of manufacture
If the switchgear is designed with fixed compartment configuration, then manufacturing is simplified, but the ability to adapt to different segregation typologies is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic, movable partitioning walls that can be repositioned or reconfigured based on different segregation requirements. Instead of fixed compartments, the partitioning walls can move to create different compartment configurations, allowing the switchgear to adapt to various typologies while maintaining a relatively simple base manufacturing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the switchgear into modular compartments separated by movable partitioning walls. This segmentation allows each compartment to be independently configured and reconfigured. The modular design maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling high adaptability to different segregation typologies through the movable partitions.
Data Source
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AI summary
An air insulated medium voltage switchgear which comprises a casing defining an internal volume for housing at least a circuit breaker assembly and a bus bar assembly. The circuit breaker assembly is movable between at least two operative positions and comprises an insulating base frame supporting: an interruption unit, an actuator for actuating the opening/closing operation of said interruption unit and a kinematic chain operatively connecting said actuator to said interruption unit. The circuit breaker assembly further comprises, for each phase, at least a first and a second insertion contacts couplable and uncouplable to corresponding first and second fixed contacts by moving said circuit breaker assembly.