UHF Sensor Holding System for High-Voltage Substation Portholes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing UHF sensor installation systems for high-voltage substations are cumbersome, require specialized tools, and lack protection against weather conditions, making them unsuitable for outdoor installations and incompatible with certain substation configurations.

Innovation Solution

A holding system for UHF sensors that allows for tool-free installation on high-voltage substation portholes, featuring a fixing element with a locking mechanism and hermetic sealing to protect against weather, designed for easy adaptation to various substation shapes and configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a stud system is used to fasten the holding system to the support, then the holding system can be securely attached, but it becomes incompatible with downward-facing windows and requires specialized tools for installation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidcompatibility with different window orientations and configurations
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The holding system is divided into separate functional components: a fixing element that attaches to the support, a holding piece that secures the sensor, and a locking member that connects them. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling the locking member to engage from multiple directions and making the system compatible with downward-facing windows without compromising attachment strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a stud system that requires fastening from above, the locking member is designed to engage and lock the holding piece to the fixing element from any orientation. The locking mechanism inverts the traditional fastening approach by using a detachable locking member that can be manually engaged without specialized tools, thereby achieving both secure attachment and versatility across different window configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the UHF sensor is exposed externally on the porthole, then access to the porthole is maintained, but the sensor lacks protection against weather conditions and is at risk of damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to portholeVSAvoidweather protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holding piece is designed to partially house the UHF sensor within its structure, creating a nested configuration where the sensor is protected by the holding piece while still allowing acoustic signals to pass through to the porthole. This nesting provides weather protection for the sensor without blocking access to the porthole, as the holding piece's material and geometry are optimized to transmit UHF frequencies while shielding the sensor from environmental factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a complex fixing element is designed to accommodate various substation configurations, then adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with various substation shapesVSAvoidfixing element structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing element is designed with a universal interface that can attach to different support types and configurations through standardized mounting features. The combination of the fixing element, holding piece, and locking member creates a multi-functional assembly that can accommodate various substation shapes and orientations without requiring custom-designed components for each configuration, thereby achieving adaptability while controlling complexity.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3387722B1Holding system and uhf sensor device
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 GENERAL ELECTRIC TECH GMBH
  • EP3387722B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3387722B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4B
  • EP3387722B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a system (10) for holding an ultra-high-frequency (UHF) sensor (140) on a view port (6) of a high-voltage electrical station (1). The holding system (10) comprises at least one attachment element to be attached to the electrical station (1), facing the support (5); a part for holding the UHF sensor (140) designed to at least partially house the UHF sensor (140), the holding part also being designed to be placed in an opening (119) of the attaching element; and at least one first locking body (130) designed to allow the manual locking of the holding part (120) in position in the opening (119) of the attachment element (110). The invention also relates to an assembly of UHF sensors, an electrical station (1), and a method for attaching a UHF sensor (140) to a view port (6) of an electrical station (1).