Triple Motion Contact Arrangement for High Voltage Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
High voltage electrical switching devices face mechanical stress and increased costs due to the need for multiple contact fingers and complex actuation mechanisms, which lead to reduced lifespan and dielectric failures during high current and voltage operations.
Innovation Solution
A contact arrangement with a mechanical coupling that allows for differential acceleration and deceleration of contacts, using linkages and kinematic chains to simplify force transmission and reduce mechanical stress, enabling independent control of contact movement and reducing the need for additional actuators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional contact arrangements with multiple contact fingers are used to carry high nominal currents, then the current carrying capacity is sufficient, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The contact arrangement is divided into two separate contact groups (first and second), each handling specific functions. The first contact group includes first and third contacts, while the second contact group includes second and fourth contacts. This segmentation allows each group to be optimized independently, reducing the overall complexity while maintaining high current carrying capacity through the coordinated arrangement of these segmented contact groups.
2Reliability
If the closing and opening process is accelerated to limit arc damage time, then the arc exposure time is reduced, but the mechanical stress on moving parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic control mechanism that independently accelerates and decelerates the first and second contact groups during the switching process. By controlling the motion profiles dynamically, the contacts can be accelerated quickly to minimize arc exposure time, then decelerated smoothly using the independent kinematic chains, thereby reducing mechanical stress and impact forces while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The independent kinematic chains are designed to prepare the contact groups for their respective motions in advance. The first kinematic chain prepares the first contact group for closing/opening while the second kinematic chain simultaneously prepares the second contact group. This preliminary action allows for coordinated acceleration and deceleration profiles that minimize both arc damage time and mechanical stress.
3Ease of operation
If additional actuators are added to independently control contact acceleration and deceleration, then the contact motion control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions by coupling the two independent kinematic chains through a shared actuator mechanism. The first kinematic chain (with first and second levers) and the second kinematic chain (with third and fourth levers) are interconnected such that a single actuator can coordinate the motion of both contact groups. This merging approach maintains independent control capability while reducing the total number of actuators required.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator system is designed with multi-functionality, where the same actuator mechanism serves both the first contact group and the second contact group through the coupled kinematic chains. This universal actuator performs multiple functions: accelerating the first contact group, accelerating the second contact group, decelerating both groups, and coordinating their synchronized motion, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated actuators for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
A contact arrangement has a longitudinal axis (z) and comprises a first contact group (3a, 4a) with a first contact (3a) and a second contact (4a) and a second contact group (3b, 4b) with a third contact (3b) and a fourth contact (4b). The first contact (3a) interacts electrically and mechanically with the third contact (3b),and/or the second contact (4a) interacts electrically and mechanically with the fourth contact (4b), for closing and opening the contact arrangement. At least one mechanical coupling (2) is provided for transmitting an actuation force to the second contact group (3b, 4b) and thereby moving the second contact group (3b, 4b). The at least one mechanical coupling (2) is adapted to move the third and the fourth contact (3b, 4b) in such a way that their speeds differ along at least a portion of a travel path of the third contact (3b) or along at least a portion of a travel path of the fourth contact (4b).