Sacrificial Appendage Electrical Connector for Safe De-energization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for de-energizing high and medium voltage electrical connectors, such as spiking or cutting cables, are costly and time-consuming, as they require replacing or extending cables to reconnect after de-energization.
Innovation Solution
The development of a power cable splicing connector with a sacrificial appendage or adapter that can be safely cut to confirm de-energization, allowing for safe work on electrical systems without damaging the cables, and can be easily replaced when re-energization is needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cable is spiked or cut to confirm de-energization, then personnel safety is ensured, but the cable is damaged and requires costly replacement or extension
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the cable system into two separate components: the main cable and a sacrificial appendage. The sacrificial appendage is a separate, disposable component that can be safely cut or spiked to confirm de-energization, while the main cable remains intact and reusable. This segmentation allows the safety function to be isolated to a sacrificial element rather than the valuable cable itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The sacrificial appendage is designed as a disposable, low-cost component that is intentionally meant to be damaged or removed during de-energization verification. After use, the appendage is discarded and replaced with a new one when the cable needs to be re-energized, eliminating the need to replace expensive cables while maintaining safety protocols.
2Reliability
If traditional de-energization methods are used, then safety confirmation is achieved, but time and resources are lost due to cable replacement
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the safety verification function from the main cable through the sacrificial appendage, the system eliminates time-consuming cable replacement operations. The appendage can be quickly removed and replaced without affecting the main cable or requiring complex splicing operations, dramatically reducing downtime for maintenance activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The sacrificial appendage is designed to be discarded after a single use in the de-energization verification process. When re-energization is needed, instead of recovering or repairing the damaged cable, a new sacrificial appendage is simply attached to the intact cable, enabling rapid recovery of system operation with minimal time loss.
3Loss of substance
If the connector includes a replaceable sacrificial appendage, then cable damage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While segmentation does increase structural complexity by adding the sacrificial appendage component, this complexity is localized to a disposable element. The main cable and connector remain simple and unchanged. The added complexity is justified because it prevents much more costly and complex cable replacement operations, representing a trade-off that favors overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sacrificial appendage absorbs the complexity of the replaceable component design. As a low-cost, disposable element, it is economically and practically acceptable to have a more complex connector structure that accommodates this appendage, since the appendage itself is simple to manufacture and replace compared to the value and complexity of the main cable system.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly may include a yoke that includes an outer housing and a central conductor provided within the outer housing. The central conductor may include at least three outwardly extending portions. A first outwardly extending portion and a second outwardly extending portion maybe operatively coupled to first and second power cables, respectively. A third outwardly extending portion may include a sacrificial appendage configured to be cut through to confirm that the electrical connector is de-energized.