Visual Latching Indicator for Electrical Bushing Terminator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing interconnection method between a loadbreak elbow terminator and a bushing is difficult to verify as securely latched from a distance, posing safety risks due to the potential for incomplete engagement, which can lead to the bushing becoming dislodged.
Innovation Solution
The integration of visual indicators on the bushing and terminator, such as radially aligned edges or a contrasting color band, ensures positive latching is visually confirmed, allowing operators to verify secure connection without physical proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the latching arrangement is designed to secure the terminator to the bushing, then the connection reliability is improved, but the ability to visually detect latching status from a distance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color-coded visual indicators (such as colored bands or painted surfaces) on the latching components. When the terminator is properly latched to the bushing, the visual indicators align or change appearance to provide a clear color-based signal to operators, enabling remote visual verification of the latching status without requiring physical proximity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual indicator elements (such as colored bands, painted surfaces, or marker features) as intermediary elements between the mechanical latching components and the operator's observation. These indicators serve as mediators that translate the mechanical latching state into a visually detectable signal, allowing operators to verify connection status from a distance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the operator stands remotely from the terminator and bushing for safety, then operator safety is improved, but the ability to detect unlatched condition deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-coded visual indicators that provide clear visual contrast when properly latched. The color-based signaling system allows operators to safely remain at a distance while still being able to clearly distinguish between latched and unlatched states through visual observation of the color indicators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the detection capability from requiring close physical proximity (spatial dimension) to enabling remote detection through visual signaling. By adding visual indicator elements that can be observed from a distance, the system extends the detection capability across different spatial scales, allowing safe remote operation.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If visual indicators are added to indicate latching status, then the detectability of latching condition is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements visual indicators using simple color-coded elements such as painted bands or colored surfaces on existing latching components. This approach provides clear visual differentiation of latching status without requiring complex mechanical or electronic indicator mechanisms, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity while maximizing visual detectability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates visual indicators into the existing latching structure, making the same components serve both mechanical latching and visual indication functions. By combining these functions in existing components rather than adding separate indicator mechanisms, the patent minimizes the increase in device complexity while achieving the goal of improved visual detectability.
Data Source
AI summary
An elbow terminator has a socket in which an electrical probe is disposed. The terminator is insertable onto an electrical bushing such that a tongue of the bushing is received in the socket of the terminator, and the probe of the terminator is electrically coupled to a contact sleeve disposed within the tongue. A latching mechanism produces positive latching between the tongue and socket when the tongue has been inserted to a predescribed depth within the socket. In order to enable an operator to visually observe that the tongue has been inserted to the prescribed depth, the bushing carries a color band which becomes completely disposed (invisible) in the socket when positive latching occurs. Alternatively, the bushing can be provided with gauge tabs which become aligned with a witness line formed on the terminator when positive latching occurs.