Slide Bar Interlocking Device for Multi-Group Switch Actuator Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interlocking devices are limited to preventing simultaneous throwing of only two contiguous switch actuators, failing to address scenarios where multiple actuators in close proximity need to be constrained, particularly in applications with two groups of switch actuators where all but one actuator in the first group should be inhibited when any actuator in the second group is actuated.
Innovation Solution
A novel slide bar interlocking device with a movable plate and base plate configuration, featuring elongate and truncate slots, allows only one actuator from a first group to be thrown in conjunction with any actuator from a second group by aligning specific switches with truncate slots while keeping others misaligned, effectively constraining multiple actuators in the first group.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple switch actuators are positioned in close proximity for convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of simultaneous throwing of multiple actuators increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable plate is segmented with multiple elongate slots, each containing truncate slots positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the interlock mechanism to independently control multiple switch actuators (first group and second group) through a single movable plate, enabling one actuator from the first group to be thrown while preventing simultaneous throwing of multiple actuators across both groups.
2Reliability
If interlocking devices are designed to prevent simultaneous throwing of two contiguous switches, then reliability is improved, but the device becomes obsolete for applications requiring control of multiple actuators in larger groups
Solution Approach 1:
The movable plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides elongate slots that can accommodate multiple truncate slots at different positions, allowing a single device to control interlocking for multiple switch actuators in both the first and second groups. This multi-functional design makes the device universally applicable to various multi-actuator configurations without requiring separate interlocking mechanisms for each pair of switches.
Data Source
AI summary
A slide bar interlocking device includes a first group of constrained switch actuators and a second group of unconstrained switch actuators. Only one unconstrained actuator in the first group may be thrown in combination with any switch actuator in the second group and any combination of switch actuators in the second group. A base plate has a fixed position and a movable plate is slideably mounted to the base plate. A plurality of elongate slots is formed in the movable plate and at least one truncate slot is formed in each of the elongate slots. The movable plate has first, second, third, and fourth positions where a switch actuator in the first group is in alignment with a truncate slot so that the aligned switch actuator can be thrown and where all other switch actuators in the first group cannot be thrown.