Tiltable Underground Cabinet With Counterweight Torque Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing subsurface manhole designs for electrical equipment face challenges such as protruding access points, difficult maintenance due to small internal spaces, sensitivity to environmental factors, and complex installation requirements, which limit their usability and safety.
Innovation Solution
A tiltable cabinet structure with a movement-aiding part-unit that balances torque using a counterweight connected to the cabinet structure, allowing easy extraction and relocation of heavy electrical equipment without auxiliary energy, using a unique axis of rotation and counterbalancing mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gas springs are used as movement-aiding part-unit to counterbalance the weight of the fitting cabinet, then the cabinet can be turned out easily, but the structural unit becomes sensitive to environmental impacts (contamination, temperature, humidity) and may become faulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic gas spring component from the system and replaces it with a mechanical counterweight system. The counterweight is directly connected to the cabinet structure through a rotation axle, eliminating the need for gas springs and their associated environmental sensitivity issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a counterweight mechanism where a weight is attached to the cabinet structure on the opposite side of the rotation axle. This counterweight balances the torque required to turn the cabinet, making it easy to operate without using environmentally sensitive gas springs.
2Device complexity
If human force is used to turn out the cabinet structure with a drawbar, then the structure is simple, but the dimensions and weight of electrical equipment are significantly limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a counterweight to the cabinet structure that balances the torque required for rotation. This mechanical advantage allows heavy electrical equipment to be accommodated while maintaining structural simplicity and avoiding complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the cabinet structure in a dimensional sense by adding the counterweight component, which provides mechanical advantage through torque balancing. This allows the system to handle heavier loads without increasing operational complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the cabinet structure is completely turned out above ground surface for maintenance, then maintenance is simple and quick, but the internal space of the subsurface manhole must be large enough to accommodate the turning motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cabinet structure into parts that can rotate around the rotation axle. The counterweight is positioned to balance the torque during this rotational movement, enabling the cabinet to be turned out for maintenance while accommodating spatial constraints of the manhole.
4Force
If counterweight is connected to the cabinet structure with rotation axle not passing through corner, then the torques from cabinet weight and counterweight essentially balance each other, but the connection points must be carefully positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the counterweight and rotation axle to create torque balance. The rotation axle is strategically positioned so that the torques from the cabinet weight and counterweight essentially balance each other, minimizing the force needed for operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a balanced torque system where the cabinet structure and counterweight are positioned to achieve equipotentiality in terms of rotational force. This balancing minimizes the energy required to turn the cabinet while maintaining stable operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and safe maintenance of heavy electrical equipment with minimal human force, reduced risk of accidents, and simplified installation and maintenance, while accommodating larger and heavier equipment without the need for specialized knowledge or energy.
Implementation Method 1
the torque exerted onto the rotation axle as a result of the weight of the cabinet structure, and the torque exerted onto the rotation axle as a result of the weight of the counterweight of the movement-aiding part-unit essentially balance each other
Implementation Method 2
the torque exerted onto the rotation axle as a result of the weight of the counterweight
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a facility for protecting electrical equipment which contains a house (10) enclosing a receiving space (18) as well as a tiltable cabinet structure (20) located in the receiving space (18) of the house (10) and suitable for accommodating the electrical equipment (1), a movement-aiding part-unit (30) facilitating the turning of the tiltable cabinet structure (20) is inserted between the tiltable cabinet structure (20) and the house (10), where the movement-aiding part-unit (30) has a rotation axle (31) and an axle support (32) cooperating with the rotation axle (31). The characteristic feature of the invention is that the movement-aiding part-unit (30) is coupled with a counterweight (40), where the counterweight (40) is connected to the cabinet structure (20), furthermore of the axle support (32) and the rotation axle (31) of the movement-aiding part-unit (30), the one is connected to the house (10) and the other is connected to the cabinet structure (20) at a position different to the corners (25) of the cabinet structure (20).