Rotatable Latching Bolt for Hydromechanical Spring Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydromechanical spring energy store drives for high-voltage circuit breakers face issues with undesired switching off due to pressure loss, leading to potential damage and inefficiency in maintenance operations, as existing latching mechanisms can engage counterproductively and require time-consuming activation and deactivation.
Innovation Solution
A locking apparatus with a latching bolt and spring energy store arrangement, featuring a first and second pressure region under elevated pressure and a third unpressurized region, where the latching bolt is pushed away from the working piston, and in case of pressure loss, the spring force engages the latching apparatus into a cutout, allowing the rotatably mounted element to roll over the piston surface, preventing damage and eliminating the need for manual deactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a latching bolt is used to prevent undesired switching off during pressure loss, then reliability is improved, but the device becomes unusable during maintenance work or slow switching operations where the piston must be moved without pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The latching bolt is made rotatable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically change its engagement state. During normal operation, it engages to prevent undesired switching. During maintenance, it can be rotated to disengage, allowing piston movement without pressure. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction between reliability during pressure loss and ease of operation during maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing pressure differential and spring force to automatically control the latching bolt's engagement state. When pressure is present, the latching bolt is pushed away from the piston. When pressure is lost, the spring force automatically engages the latching bolt into the cutout, providing self-protection without requiring external intervention.
2Reliability
If the latching bolt is engaged to protect against pressure loss, then reliability is improved, but time is lost due to required activation and deactivation during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The latching bolt automatically engages and disengages based on the presence or absence of pressure, eliminating the need for manual activation and deactivation during maintenance operations. The spring force and pressure differential self-regulate the latching state, saving maintenance time while maintaining protection against undesired switching off.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides automatic feedback control where the pressure state directly controls the latching bolt position. When pressure is detected, the bolt disengages; when pressure is lost, the bolt engages. This automatic feedback mechanism eliminates manual intervention and reduces maintenance time while ensuring reliability.
3Reliability
If the latching bolt prevents movement during maintenance, then protection is improved, but damage risk increases when operated incorrectly
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable latching bolt allows operators to disengage the latch before maintenance operations, preventing damage from attempted movement. The dynamic capability to rotate and disengage the bolt eliminates the harmful factor of damage while maintaining protection during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically engages the latching bolt in advance when pressure is lost, preventing undesired movement before it can cause damage. This preliminary protective action reduces the risk of damage during incorrect operation while maintaining system protection.
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 prevents damage from faulty operations and reduces maintenance time by allowing the latching bolt to move without friction, ensuring the hydromechanical drive remains operational and safe during pressure loss scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
a spring force of the spring energy store arrangement will act on the latching bolt
Implementation Method 2
an element that is rotatably mounted and located on the latching bolt and configured to roll over a surface of the working piston
Implementation Method 3
a hydraulic pressure can be applied to the pressure volume in the working cylinder, such that the piston rod can be moved into a corresponding position
Data Source
AI summary
A locking apparatus for a hydromechanical spring energy store drive for actuating a medium-voltage or high-voltage circuit breaker is disclosed, the spring energy store drive includes a working piston, which is guided in an axial cutout in a pressure housing or working cylinder, and a spring energy store arrangement. The locking apparatus includes a first pressure region and a second pressure region, which are under elevated pressure when the circuit breaker is closed, and a third pressure region, which is unpressurized. The latching bolt can be arranged perpendicular to the working piston, via a latching apparatus, which can be arranged on a side of the latching bolt, which is to point towards the working piston and via the spring energy store arrangement, which is to be pushed away from the working piston.