Portable Actuator for Remote Disconnect Switch Operation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disconnect switches require manual operation, posing safety risks during sudden failures and requiring operators to be close to the equipment, as they lack remote operation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A portable actuator device with an electric motor and pivoting arms that can rotate to engage and move the disconnect handle to open, closed, or tripped positions, coupled with a controller and operator interface for remote operation, allowing safe distance operation without modifying existing equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual operation of disconnect switches is used, then the device complexity is low, but personnel safety is compromised due to proximity requirements during operation
Solution Approach 1:
A portable actuator device serves as an intermediary between the operator and the disconnect switch. The actuator includes an electric motor that drives actuating arms to engage and move the disconnect handle, allowing the operator to remain at a safe distance while still controlling the switch operation through remote or automated control signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation of the disconnect switch is replaced with an automated electromechanical system. The portable actuator uses an electric motor to provide the mechanical force needed to move the disconnect handle, substituting human physical interaction with an automated motor-driven mechanism that can be controlled remotely.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If remote operation capability is added to disconnect switches, then personnel safety is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional actuation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating arms are designed with pivot points that allow dynamic movement between different positions. The arms can pivot to engage the disconnect handle and then pivot back to a retracted position, providing the flexibility needed for safe remote operation while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure through controlled motion sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable actuator device is designed to be universally applicable to various disconnect switch configurations. The actuating arms can engage with different handle types and positions, and the device can perform multiple functions including opening, closing, and resetting tripped switches, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices.
3Productivity
If the actuator arms are pre-positioned to match disconnect handle position, then the operation speed is reduced, but the precision of engagement is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating arms are pre-configured with pivot points and engagement geometries that are designed to automatically align with the disconnect handle position. This preliminary design of the mechanical linkage allows the arms to self-align during the actuation process, eliminating the need for precise pre-positioning while maintaining fast operation speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for adjustment of operational parameters such as the range of motion of the actuating arms and the engagement force. By optimizing these parameters, the system achieves both fast operation speeds and reliable engagement without requiring extremely precise pre-positioning of the arms, balancing productivity and manufacturing tolerances.
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 and efficient remote operation of disconnect switches, reducing personnel risk during catastrophic failures by allowing all necessary actions to be performed from a safe distance without altering existing equipment designs.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor having a drive shaft that can be controlled to rotate about a longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 2
The first arm is capable of pivoting at the proximal end about the axis when the drive shaft is rotated... so that the distal end is moved about the axis
Data Source
AI summary
A portable actuator system enables the remote operation of electrical disconnect switches with a portable actuator device that is temporarily installed at the disconnect switch location. An embodiment, among others, of the portable actuator device has an electric motor having a drive shaft that can be controlled to rotate about a longitudinal axis. The actuator device also has elongated movable first and second arms that are controlled by the drive shaft. The first arm engages and moves the disconnect handle in a first rotational direction so that the disconnect handle is switched to the open position. The second arm engages and moves the disconnect handle in a second rotational direction so that the disconnect handle is switched to the closed position.