High-Voltage Switch Drive Box With Universal Transmission Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional operating mechanisms for high voltage electrical equipment lack an integrated design for mechanical transmission units, leading to increased design complexity, additional effort, and costs due to separate support structures required for different configurations.

Innovation Solution

A support structure that can dynamically accommodate one or more stages of the mechanical transmission unit, allowing for minimal design and maintenance variations between manual and motorized operations, featuring adjustable mounting and alignment plates, and a common design that can be casted or assembled with fasteners to fit various configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate support structures are designed for different mechanical transmission unit configurations, then the operating mechanism can accommodate various configurations, but the design complexity and design time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of various mechanical transmission unit configurationsVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is designed with a universal configuration that can accommodate one or more stages of mechanical transmission units. The mounting plates and alignment plates are arranged to provide standardized interfaces that work for both single-stage and multi-stage configurations, eliminating the need for separate support structure designs for different configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical transmission unit is divided into modular stages that can be selectively mounted on the support structure. Each stage includes shafts and engaging elements that can be independently positioned and connected, allowing flexible configuration while using the same support structure framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate support structures are designed for different mechanical transmission unit configurations, then the operating mechanism can accommodate various configurations, but the design time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of various mechanical transmission unit configurationsVSAvoiddesign time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure uses standardized mounting plates and alignment plates that can be reused across different configurations. This universality allows designers to work from a single base design rather than creating separate designs for each configuration, significantly reducing design time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure is pre-configured with mounting plates and alignment plates in positions that accommodate future expansion from single-stage to multi-stage configurations. This preliminary arrangement of components allows for easy adaptation without requiring redesign or additional fabrication time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional operating mechanisms use separate support structures for different configurations, then each configuration can be optimized, but the manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration-specific optimizationVSAvoidmanufacturing costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting plates and alignment plates are merged into a single integrated support structure design. This consolidation allows the same components to serve multiple configuration needs, reducing the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, inventoried, and assembled, thereby lowering manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure components are designed to be multi-functional, serving both single-stage and multi-stage configurations. This universality allows manufacturers to produce a single set of support components rather than multiple configuration-specific sets, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Device complexity

If a unified support structure is used for manual and motorized operations, then design effort is reduced, but the structure must accommodate varying complexity requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign effortVSAvoidaccommodation of manual and motorized operation variations
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is designed with dynamic adaptability through adjustable mounting arrangements. The mounting plates and alignment plates can be positioned and configured to accommodate the specific requirements of manual operations (single stage) or motorized operations (one or two stages), allowing the same structure to adapt to varying complexity requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The unified support structure incorporates universal mounting interfaces and alignment features that work for both manual and motorized operations. This multi-functionality allows a single design to serve multiple operational modes without requiring separate optimization for each type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3806125B1Operating mechanism for a high voltage switching device
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3806125B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3806125B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3806125B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

An operating mechanism (100), that is, a drive box of an electrical switching device such as a disconnector, an earthing switch, etc., is provided. The operating mechanism (100) has a mechanical transmission unit having one or more transmission stages (101-102, 102-103), and a support structure (104) at least partially accommodating the mechanical transmission unit there-within. The support structure (104) is configurable based on the one or more transmission stages (101-102, 102-103), that is, based on a nature of drive of the operating mechanism (100) including manual and motorized drive.