W.S.G. Isaac Newton

For my internship assignment, I had to improve the auxiliary switch for the Xiria of Eaton. The Xiria is a ring main unit which ensures a continuous electrical power provision in case of power outage or maintenance. It also functions as a switchgear, which comes down to that it can safely and efficiently connect or disconnect a part of an electrical grid.

There are two key axles that actuate internal components through mechanical linkages. These axles need to be electronically measured for safety and functional means. These measurements previously were done using an auxiliary switch, which had an inefficient and overly complex design. During my internship, I designed new concepts which were able to improve the current design and add functionality to the measurement system.

Overall, it was a very educational experience to work in the R&D department at Eaton. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a machine which also delves deep into the electrical domain, which taught me a lot about differences and similarities between both mechanical and electrical practices. Also, being involved with a large international company such as Eaton Industries was an interesting experience, as it showed the inefficiencies and opportunities it gives.