Puffer Earthing Switch with Rotating Slit for Arc Cancellation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-speed puffer-type earthing switches experience reduced operating energy in the latter half of the opening operation due to gas leakage, affecting their arc-cancelling capability and actuating speed.
Innovation Solution
A puffer-type earthing switch design featuring a container filled with insulating gas, a movable contact unit, a puffer cylinder, and a release mechanism that controls pressure in an arc cancelling chamber to optimize gas flow and minimize energy consumption during actuation, enabling faster operation and enhanced arc-cancelling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If insulating gas is stored in the guide cylinder and leaks through the slit during opening operation, then operating energy is lowered in the latter half cycle, but arc-cancelling capability and actuating speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the slit position movable rather than fixed. The slit is formed in a lever that can rotate, allowing the slit's position relative to the guide cylinder to change dynamically during operation. In the first half cycle, the slit is positioned to allow gas leakage and reduce operating energy. In the second half cycle, the lever rotates to reposition the slit away from the gas flow path, maintaining gas pressure for arc-cancelling capability and fast actuating speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through the cyclic rotation of the lever that forms the slit. The lever rotates periodically between two positions: one where the slit enables gas leakage for energy reduction, and another where the slit is repositioned to maintain gas pressure. This periodic repositioning allows the system to alternately optimize for operating energy reduction and arc-cancelling performance throughout the actuation cycle.
2Reliability
If gas pressure is maintained throughout the full stroke, then arc-cancelling capability is improved, but operating energy increases in the latter half cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic repositioning of the slit through lever rotation allows the system to maintain gas pressure where needed for arc-cancelling capability while preventing unnecessary energy loss. By moving the slit out of the gas flow path in the latter half cycle, the system maintains pressure in the guide cylinder without the energy penalty of continuous leakage, thus improving reliability without excessive energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selectively controlling gas pressure in different regions and at different times. The movable slit allows gas to leak locally at specific positions during the first half cycle to reduce energy loss, while maintaining pressure locally in the guide cylinder during the second half cycle to ensure arc-cancelling capability. This localized control optimizes both energy efficiency and reliability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the slit extends only to halfway of the piston stroke range, then operating energy is reduced, but arc-cancelling performance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the slit throughout the full stroke range, the patent uses a dynamically repositioned short slit. The slit extends only to halfway of the piston stroke range, but the lever's rotation dynamically changes the slit's spatial position. This allows the short slit to effectively control gas flow during the first half cycle while being repositioned away from the critical gas flow path during the second half cycle, maintaining arc-cancelling performance without the energy loss of a long fixed slit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent solves the limitation of a short slit by adding a rotational dimension to the lever. Rather than extending the slit linearly along the entire stroke path, the slit is positioned in one location but given spatial flexibility through lever rotation. This dimensional change allows a short slit to effectively serve the function of a long slit by changing its position in space throughout the operation cycle.
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
The solution ensures higher arc-cancelling capability and faster actuation speed by managing gas pressure effectively, addressing the energy loss issue in conventional switches and improving overall performance.
Implementation Method 1
the puffer piston slides along the inner wall surface of the puffer cylinder in the axial direction so as to exert puffering function by causing insulating gas to be absorbed into the arc cancelling chamber via a clearance between the movable contact unit and the stationary contact unit and also by causing the insulating gas in the arc cancelling chamber to blow out via the clearance
Implementation Method 2
a release mechanism that releases pressure stored in the puffer type arc cancelling chamber by releasing the chamber at a predetermined area toward the stationary contact unit during a full stroke extent of the movable contact unit
Data Source
AI summary
In an earthing switch a release mechanism releases pressure stored in a puffer type arc cancelling chamber by releasing the chamber at a predetermined area toward a stationary contact unit during a full stroke extent of a movable contact unit so that the puffering operation can be deterred from execution.