Shared Drive Mechanism for Busbar Disconnector and Earthing Switch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high or medium voltage electrical switching devices with independent mechanical maneuvers for busbar and earthing disconnectors have a large footprint, are costly, and face challenges in achieving optimal dielectric cowling, especially at high voltages.
Innovation Solution
A control mechanism that uses a common drive system with interweaving translation strokes of movable contacts, featuring a rotation axis with integral levers and articulated pairs, allowing the busbar disconnector and earthing switch to be driven simultaneously, reducing the device's size and material requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate mechanical controls are used for busbar disconnector and earthing switch, then safety and reliability are improved, but device footprint and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate mechanical controls for busbar disconnector and earthing switch into a single integrated control mechanism. The control mechanism includes a common drive shaft that simultaneously actuates both switches through shared mechanical linkages, reducing the number of independent control systems while maintaining safety through interlocking provisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control mechanism is designed with multi-functionality to perform both busbar disconnector operation and earthing switch operation through a single unified system. The mechanism can selectively actuate either switch or both switches in sequence, providing universal control capability that reduces overall device complexity and footprint.
2Ease of operation
If separate mechanical controls are used for busbar disconnector and earthing switch, then operational independence is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate control mechanisms into a single integrated control system that uses a common drive shaft and shared linkages to actuate both the busbar disconnector and earthing switch. This consolidation reduces the number of independent control systems while maintaining operational independence through selective actuation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The control mechanism is segmented into modular functional components including the common drive shaft, individual levers for each switch, and interlocking devices. This segmentation allows the complex control function to be divided into manageable parts that can be independently analyzed and maintained while working together as a unified system.
3Force
If conventional drive mechanisms are used with high transmission ratio, then closing force is improved, but lateral forces on movable contacts increase causing pivoting risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved lever arms in the mechanical linkage system instead of straight rigid connections. The curved geometry of the levers connected to the common drive shaft distributes forces more favorably, reducing lateral components that could cause movable contact pivoting while maintaining adequate closing force through the mechanical advantage of the curved linkage geometry.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A
AI summary
The mechanism has a common actuating unit for actuating movable contacts (200, 210) of interrupters i.e. grounding disconnector (20) and busbar disconnector (21), to permit opening of one of the interrupters while maintaining closed state of the other interrupter and vice versa. Geometry, dimensions and arrangement of the contacts and the actuating unit permit crossing of straight line strokes of the contacts. The actuating unit has a piece (221) provided with levers (2210, 2211) and fixed on a rotatable shaft (220). An independent claim is also included for a medium and high voltage gas insulated switch including a metallic casing in which an envelope of an electrical switch apparatus is housed.