Relay Tester Emergency Stop via Wearable Current Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing safety measures for protecting individuals working with electrical systems, such as emergency stop switches, rely on the presence of another person to activate in case of an accident, which is not always feasible, leading to potential risks of electric shock and delayed response in emergencies.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an emergency signal input in relay testers that can be activated by a wearable protective device detecting electrical body currents, allowing for automatic shutdown of the testing device and simultaneous notification of a remote location for quicker assistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an emergency stop switch is provided for safety, then safety against electric shock is improved, but the protection depends on the presence and awareness of another person, which reduces reliability in isolated work scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety protection reliabilityVSAvoiddependency on another person
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device worn by the person detects electrical body current directly and autonomously triggers the emergency stop signal without requiring another person's intervention. The system serves itself by having the affected person's own body current detection initiate the safety response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The protective device continuously monitors the person's electrical state and provides real-time feedback. When dangerous body current is detected, the system immediately sends a signal to the relay tester to activate the emergency stop, creating a closed-loop safety feedback mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If manual emergency stop activation is required, then device complexity is reduced, but response time in emergency situations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency response effectivenessVSAvoidemergency response time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device is pre-configured and continuously monitoring before any accident occurs. When electrical body current is detected, the emergency stop signal is automatically transmitted immediately without requiring any manual activation delay, enabling preliminary protective action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical emergency stop operation is replaced by an automated electrical detection and signaling system. The protective device uses electrical sensing and electronic communication to trigger the emergency stop, substituting mechanical human intervention with automated electro-mechanical response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 enhances safety by enabling automatic emergency stop activation independent of another person's presence and facilitates quicker response to electrical accidents, reducing the risk of electric shock and improving response times.

Implementation Method 1

The emergency signal is generated with a protective device for detecting an electrical body current, which is worn by the person and which emits an emergency signal in the event of a detected body current

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical body current detection: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3588717B1Relay test device with protection against discharge
Publication Date: 2022.03.02 ADAPTIVE REGELSYST
  • EP3588717B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3588717B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3588717B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

To increase safety against electric shocks when a person (8) uses a relay test device (10) connected to a device under test of an electrical installation (12), it is provided that the relay test device (10) is additionally equipped with an emergency signal input (21) which, upon receiving an external emergency signal (S) at the emergency signal input (21), actuates the disconnecting unit (23), that the person (8) wears a protective device (1) for detecting an electric current in the body, and that the protective device (1) comprises a garment (2) and an evaluation unit (6), wherein the person (8) wears the garment (2) and the garment (2) is equipped with at least one sensor (3) for detecting the electric current in the body.and the evaluation unit (6) evaluates a signal detected by the at least one sensor (3) and, in the event of a detected impermissible body current, outputs an emergency signal (S) and transmits it to the emergency signal input (21) of the relay test device (10), and that the protective device (1) includes a unit (72) for determining the position or location of the person (8).