Gas-Insulated Switchgear Asymmetric Drive Axis Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

In compact gas-insulated switchgear, connecting drive elements to the drive is challenging due to limited installation space, often requiring spatially offset or different coupling elements to avoid interference.

Innovation Solution

The design features three axially symmetric encapsulating housings with drive elements and coupling elements arranged such that their axes are parallel or perpendicular, allowing for a simple and space-saving configuration using either rotational or translational coupling elements, with the option of separate or common drives for independent or synchronous operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If coupling elements are arranged to connect drive elements to the drive in compact gas-insulated switchgear, then the switching contacts can be actuated, but the coupling elements may interfere with each other due to limited installation space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation of switching contactsVSAvoidarrangement of coupling elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The third encapsulating housing is rotated 180 degrees about its axis of symmetry compared to the other two housings. This asymmetric arrangement positions the drive axis of the third housing on the opposite side of the symmetry axis plane, allowing coupling elements to be arranged without interference while maintaining identical housing designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The solution utilizes the third dimension by arranging drive axes at different lateral positions relative to the symmetry axis plane. Two drive axes are positioned on one side of the plane while the third is positioned on the other side, creating spatial separation that prevents coupling element interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If different or spatially offset coupling elements are used to avoid interference, then coupling element interference is prevented, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling element arrangementVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

All three encapsulating housings are designed with identical construction and the same drive element arrangement. The standardized design allows universal coupling elements to be used across all phases, simplifying the overall system while the selective rotation of one housing provides the necessary spatial variation.

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

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than using different coupling elements for each phase, the invention applies asymmetric arrangement only to the position of the third housing (rotated 180 degrees). This minimal asymmetric modification to the symmetric housing design prevents coupling interference without requiring complex or different coupling elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP3834219B1Gasinsulated switchgear
Publication Date: 2022.08.17 SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3834219B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3834219B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a gas-insulated switchgear installation (1) comprising three physically identical encapsulation housings (3, 4, 5) and, for each encapsulation housing (3, 4, 5), a drive element (9), which can be driven for opening and closing a switching contact, and a coupling element (17, 18, 19) which is coupled to the drive element (9). Each encapsulation housing (3, 4, 5) is substantially axially symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry (7). Each drive element (9) extends in the encapsulation housing (3, 4, 5) along a drive axis (11) which runs parallel to the axis of symmetry (7) and at a distance from the axis of symmetry (7). The axes of symmetry (7) of all three encapsulation housings (3, 4, 5) run parallel to one another in an axis of symmetry plane (27). The drive axes (11) of two encapsulation housings (3, 4) run in a drive axis plane (29) which is parallel to the axis of symmetry plane (27). The drive axis (11) of the third encapsulation housing (5) runs at the same distance from the axis of symmetry plane (27) as the drive axis plane (29) on another side of the axis of symmetry plane (27) to the drive axis plane (29).