Portable Camera for Gas Insulated Switchgear Optical Check
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas insulated switching devices require a separate camera for each switchgear panel, which is inefficient and costly, as direct optical control of switch positions is not always necessary.
Innovation Solution
A portable camera system with complementary magnetic elements and a support element allows temporary, centralized, and reproducible positioning on the switchgear housing, enabling a single camera to be used across multiple panels, along with a portable display and light source housed in a transport case.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate camera is fixed to each switchgear panel, then the switch position can be observed, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A single portable camera system with magnetic attachment capability can be used across multiple switchgear panels instead of requiring dedicated cameras for each panel. The camera attaches to the front of the switchgear via magnetic elements, allowing one camera to serve multiple functions and multiple panels, thereby reducing overall device complexity and cost while maintaining observation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic attachment system as an intermediary between the portable camera and the switchgear panel. This magnetic coupling mechanism enables temporary, reversible attachment of the camera to the switchgear front, allowing the same camera to be moved between different panels as needed, thus avoiding the need for permanent installation on each panel.
2Ease of manufacture
If a portable camera system is used for multiple panels, then cost-effectiveness improves, but the ease of operation may be reduced due to setup requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic attachment system provides a counterbalancing force that automatically holds the portable camera in position on the switchgear front without requiring additional fastening mechanisms or complex mounting procedures. The magnetic force counteracts gravity and positioning forces, making the camera easy to attach and detach while maintaining stable positioning during use.
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
This solution reduces the need for multiple cameras by allowing a single portable camera system to be used for several switchgear panels, enhancing cost-effectiveness and ease of use while maintaining precise observation of contact positions.
Implementation Method 1
the camera and the support element are provided with complementary magnetic elements, in such, that the portable camera can be attached to the support temporarily
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a gas insulated switching device with a gastight housing, wherein switching means are mounted in the housing, provided with an optical window on which an external camera can be positioned outside the housing on a support element in such, that the contacts and/or the contact positions of a switch or of switches can be displayed by this camera on a display screen, and with a switchable light source, which is illuminating the aforesaid area the camera is focused on to display the contact positions of a switch or switches, as well as a camera system for that, according to the preamble of claims 1 and 6. In order to use a camera system in a easier and cost effective way, considering, that direct optical control of specific switch positions are not desired oftenly, the invention is, that the camera is a portable camera which is positionable only temporarily, and the support element as well as the camera itself are provided with complementary means for the temporarily positioning of the portable camera to the support.