Rotary Auxiliary Contact Device for Switchgear Position Signalling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional auxiliary contact devices for low voltage (LV) or medium voltage (MV) switchgears are large, complex, and expensive to assemble, requiring two distinct signalling chains that complicate the manufacturing process and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A compact electro-mechanical signalling arrangement using a single rotational auxiliary contact device with a rotating shaft that interacts with actuation mechanisms and motion transmission means to provide position signals, eliminating the need for dedicated signalling circuits for intermediate positions and simplifying the kinematic chains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional auxiliary contact devices with two distinct signalling chains are used, then position indication reliability is improved, but device size and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate auxiliary contact devices into a single integrated device that uses one rotating shaft to control multiple contact groups. This single device can indicate multiple positions (insertion, withdrawal, intermediate) through different contact configurations, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining position indication reliability through the unified rotational mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The single auxiliary contact device is designed with multiple contact groups that can indicate various positions of the switching unit through different contact configurations. The rotating shaft mechanism provides universal position detection capability for insertion, withdrawal, and intermediate positions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated signalling circuits for each position.
2Measurement precision
If traditional auxiliary contact devices with two distinct signalling chains are used, then position indication accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging two separate signalling chains into one integrated auxiliary contact device, the patent reduces the number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled. The single rotating shaft with multiple contact groups can be produced as one unit, significantly reducing assembly time and manufacturing cost while maintaining position indication accuracy through the precise rotational positioning mechanism.
3Device complexity
If a single rotational auxiliary contact device is used, then device size and assembly complexity are reduced, but position indication reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic rotating shaft mechanism that can assume different angular positions corresponding to different switching unit positions. This dynamic configuration allows a single device to provide reliable position indication for multiple states (insertion, withdrawal, intermediate) by mechanically positioning contact groups to establish appropriate electrical connections, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A switchgear apparatus (1) comprising a switching unit (2) comprising one or more electric poles (21), a truck assembly (4), on which said switching unit is mounted, said truck assembly being movable with respect to a supporting frame (3), actuation means (5) for moving said truck assembly, said switching unit being reversibly movable between an insertion position (A), at which said switching unit is electrically connected to an electric line, and a withdrawal position (B), at which said switching unit is electrically disconnected from said electric line and an electro-mechanical signalling arrangement (6) that is mounted on said truck assembly, said electromechanical signalling arrangement interacting with said actuation means to provide electric signals indicative of the position of the switching unit at said insertion position (A), at said withdrawal position (B) or at an intermediate position (C) that is different from said insertion position and said withdrawal position.The electro-mechanical signalling arrangement comprises an auxiliary contact device (7) of the rotational type and a first and second signalling mechanism (8, 9) to actuate said auxiliary contact device.