Wedge-Shaped Ground Bar for Communication Towers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ground bars for communication towers have a square or rectangular shape with sharp bends in the electrical pathway, which can cause induced currents to jump off instead of taking the safe pathway to ground, posing risks of personal injury and equipment damage, especially at high voltages.
Innovation Solution
A wedge-shaped ground bar with a conductive planar body having upper and lower hole pairs aligned such that each upper hole pair intersects with the lower hole pair, providing straight electrical pathways and reducing the likelihood of current jumping off, along with optional texture grooves to direct arcs towards the grounding point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a square or rectangular ground bar is used with conventional hole pair arrangement, then the ground bar structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the electrical pathway has sharp bends that cause induced currents to jump off, reducing safety and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The ground bar transitions from a conventional symmetric square or rectangular shape to an asymmetric wedge shape with a broader top end and narrower bottom end. This asymmetric geometry is specifically designed to create straight electrical pathways from each upper hole pair through the conductive material to the lower hole pair, eliminating sharp bends that cause current jumping. The asymmetric form directly addresses the reliability issue while remaining manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dimensional arrangement of hole pairs from a conventional parallel configuration to an aligned configuration where imaginary lines through the hole centers intersect. This dimensional reorganization of the hole pairs within the wedge-shaped body creates straight electrical pathways without requiring complex external routing, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If hole pairs are arranged in parallel rows with sharp bends in electrical pathway, then the ground bar is easy to manufacture with standard hole drilling, but induced currents may jump off causing personal injury or equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge-shaped asymmetric geometry with aligned hole pairs creates straight electrical pathways that eliminate the sharp bends responsible for current jumping hazards. The design maintains manufacturing simplicity by using standard hole drilling techniques, but the asymmetric arrangement of holes within the wedge shape ensures safe current flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different functional qualities to different regions of the ground bar. The wedge shape creates varying material thickness and electrical pathway lengths across different locations, with each upper hole pair having a dedicated straight pathway to the lower hole pair. This local optimization of electrical pathways eliminates current jumping hazards while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional rectangular ground bar with parallel hole pairs is used, then the structure is simple and standard, but the electrical pathway has sharp bends that are problematic at high voltages
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric wedge shape with aligned hole pairs provides straight electrical pathways that are specifically adapted for high voltage applications where current jumping must be prevented. While the geometry is more complex than conventional rectangular bars, the design remains manufacturable and provides the necessary adaptability for safe high voltage operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the ground bar from conventional rectangular dimensions to a wedge shape with specific alignment relationships between hole pairs. This parameter change creates straight electrical pathways with appropriate lengths and angles, making the device adaptable to high voltage applications while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
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
The wedge-shaped design with aligned hole pairs ensures straight electrical pathways, reducing the risk of current jumping and enhancing safety and reliability by directing arcs effectively to the grounding point, thereby preventing personal injury and equipment damage.
Implementation Method 1
The planar body is constructed of an electrically-conductive material
Data Source
AI summary
A ground bar comprising a planar body having a wedge shape in that a width of a top end of the planar body is greater than a width of a bottom end of the planar body. The planar body is constructed of an electrically-conductive material. A plurality of upper hole pairs are defined in the planar body. Each of the first hole pairs is adapted to have a corresponding electrical wire to be grounded selectively affixed thereto.