Transformer Grounding Device for Mining Machine Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
In construction and mining machines with diesel-electric drive systems, service personnel with limited electrical training face safety risks due to high powers and voltages, and residual charges can remain after shutdown, requiring specialized equipment for safe maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A manually actuable grounding device is integrated into the transformer, coupled with a cover latch to ensure automatic grounding before access, preventing accidental exposure to residual voltages, and an automatic discharge device to reduce voltages below safe levels for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If service personnel with limited electrical training perform maintenance on electrical drive components, then maintenance can be performed without specialized equipment, but safety hazards arise due to residual voltages and high powers
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding device is actuated before opening the cover to discharge residual voltages in advance. The coupling mechanism ensures that the grounding action precedes cover removal, eliminating residual charges before service personnel expose themselves to electrical components, thereby resolving the safety hazard while maintaining ease of maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The grounding device is integrated into the transformer housing and automatically coupled to the cover latching mechanism. Service personnel can perform grounding themselves without external equipment by simply actuating the integrated device, which then automatically discharges residual voltages through the coupling mechanism, making safety functions self-contained and accessible.
2Reliability
If a grounding device is integrated into the transformer with coupling to cover latching, then automatic grounding before access is ensured, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding device is merged with the cover latching mechanism into a single integrated assembly. The coupling between these two functions means that one structural element serves dual purposes: both securing the cover and ensuring grounding. This merging reduces the need for separate independent systems while maintaining reliable safety assurance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover latching mechanism is given multi-functionality by coupling it with the grounding device. The same mechanical structure that latches the cover also controls the grounding action, making the system more versatile. This universal design achieves reliable safety without proportionally increasing complexity, as one component performs multiple critical functions.
3Loss of energy
If residual charges are discharged through braking resistors, then some discharge occurs, but complete discharge is not achieved and residual voltages remain
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding device extracts and removes residual charges that the braking resistors fail to dissipate completely. By providing a dedicated grounding path through the coupled mechanism, residual voltages are fully discharged to ground potential, supplementing the braking resistor function and achieving complete energy dissipation for reliable safety.
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 safe replacement of electrical drive components by non-electrically trained personnel by ensuring grounding before access and automatically discharging residual voltages, reducing safety hazards and simplifying maintenance processes.
Implementation Method 1
a manually actuable grounding device is provided for grounding of the transformer and/or for short-circuiting of the at least one intermediate circuit
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a work machine, in particular to a construction machine and/or mining machine such as a crawler-type vehicle, a dump truck, mining device or the like, having an electric drive which comprises power electronics which have at least one transformer which has power connections covered by a cover for connecting power cables, wherein a manually actuable grounding device is provided for the all-pole grounding of the transformer and/or for short-circuiting an intermediate circuit connected thereto. The invention in this respect in particular also relates to such a transformer. In accordance with the invention, the manually actuable grounding device is coupled to a cover latch of the cover such that the cover can be unlatched by actuating the named grounding device.