Vertical Busbar Support With Notched Strip Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vertical electrical busbar support systems face challenges in securely supporting the weight of stacked busbars and preventing separation due to short circuit forces, as they rely on friction and lack positive engagement to maintain busbar positioning.

Innovation Solution

A vertical electrical busbar support system featuring notched conductive strips engaging with horizontal pins within grooves on insulating support members, providing secure vertical support and reducing the need for excessive physical connections, which can enhance thermal performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If individual busbars are retained in grooves by friction and clamping, then the busbars are held in position, but there is no positive engagement to prevent movement along the groove and support the weight of vertically arranged busbars

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebusbar positioning stabilityVSAvoidsupport structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support member is divided into multiple vertical grooves, each engaging a separate busbar. The horizontal support member spans across these vertical grooves, creating segmented engagement points that collectively support the entire busbar stack without requiring a single complex structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from purely vertical engagement (friction-based) to adding horizontal engagement through the horizontal support member that spans across vertical grooves. This dimensional addition creates positive engagement in both vertical and horizontal directions, preventing busbar movement along the grooves while supporting weight.

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

2Reliability

If multiple physical connections are used to support busbars securely, then the busbars are well-supported, but thermal performance deteriorates due to excessive physical connections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebusbar support securityVSAvoidthermal performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

An insulating horizontal support member is introduced as an intermediary element that spans across the vertical grooves. This mediator provides structural support and positive engagement while being electrically insulating, thus minimizing thermal interference and maintaining thermal performance while ensuring secure busbar support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If friction-based retention is used in conventional support systems, then the structure is simple, but the busbars cannot be positively engaged to prevent movement along the groove

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport structure simplicityVSAvoidbusbar positioning reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges two engagement mechanisms: vertical engagement through grooves that engage the busbar edges, and horizontal engagement through the horizontal support member that spans across the grooves. This combination of vertical and horizontal engagement elements creates positive engagement in multiple directions while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2483980B1Vertical electrical busbar support systems
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP2483980B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2483980B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2483980B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A vertical electrical busbar support system includes a vertical busbar including a vertical conducting strip, a first support rail, a first vertical busbar support on the first support rail, the first vertical busbar support including an insulating body, a vertical groove, and a horizontal support member spanning the vertical groove, the vertical groove disposed to engage a first lateral edge of the vertical conducting strip and the horizontal support member disposed to engage a notch on the first lateral edge of the vertical conducting strip, a second support rail parallel to the first support rail, and a second vertical busbar support on the second support rail, the second vertical busbar support including an insulating body and a vertical groove disposed to engage a second lateral edge of the vertical conducting strip.