The preferred embodiments of the connector system for an insulated switch of the present invention, as well as other objects, features and advantages of this invention, will be apparent from the following detailed description, which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The present invention is a connector system for high voltage vacuum switches that provides a second set of contacts in series with the contacts of insulated switches in a vacuum bottle. The second set of contacts can be opened independently from the contacts of the insulated switch to provide confirmation of an open circuit. The present invention also provides a means for grounding the load side of the bottle and the load side cable for down stream safe hands-on maintenance in a confined space.
The connector system includes a conducting pin (also referred to herein as a “pull-pin”) that provides contact separation when it is removed. In contrast, prior art connector systems required the insulated connector component to be separated from the attached cable. One of the disadvantages of separating the insulated connector is that the large conductor cables that are typically connected to switchgear have limited flexibility. This makes it difficult to separate the two sections of the connector.
“Deadfront” vacuum switches are spring energy, load switching devices capable of making, carrying and interrupting load currents through about 600 amperes on 5-38 kV distribution systems. As used herein, the term “deadfront” refers to a switch having a molded rubber construction that insulates, shields and eliminates exposed live parts. Preferred embodiments of these switches combine vacuum switching with high dielectric strength EPDM rubber insulation and are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,667,060; 5,808,258; and 5,864,942 to Luzzi, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.
The connector system for a high voltage vacuum switch of the present invention includes two contacts connected in series. Typically, the first contact is an existing high voltage vacuum switch in a vacuum bottle that is contained in a switch housing. The second contact is external to the vacuum bottle and contained in a separate housing which is connected to the switch housing. However, the first and second contacts can be manufactured as an integrated unit that includes both contacts in a single housing. Preferably, the housing is constructed from a solid dielectric material, most preferably ethylene propylene diene monomer (“EPDM”) rubber. The connector system includes a voltage source connector for connecting the system to a high voltage source of at least 1 kV and a load connector for connection to a voltage load. The voltage source connector connects to the inlet side of the first contact and the outlet side of the first contact connects in series to the inlet side of the second contact. The outlet side of the second contact then connects to the load connector so that the voltage source is connected to the load through the first and second contacts.
The second contact can include a first separable interface and a second separable interface that are connected by a conducting pin. The conducting pin is made from electrically conductive material, such as copper and, preferably, can be removed when the first contact is open. After the conducting pin is removed, an insulating pin formed from an electrically non-conductive material can be installed between the first separable interface and the second separable interface to guarantee that the voltage source has been disconnected from the load. The status of the conducting and/or insulating pin can be monitored visually through a sight glass that extends through the housing. The sight glass allows the user to verify that the switch is open or closed. In preferred embodiments, the conducting pin and insulating pin are color coded to allow fast and easy visual identification.
The connector system can also include a first connector for the first separable interface and a second connector for the second separable interface. The first and second connectors are used for test connections and/or grounding connections. The first connector allows the user to conduct a voltage test to verify that the first contact in the vacuum bottle is open. After verifying that the first contact is open, a first grounding cable can be connected to the first connector. A voltage test can then be performed using the second connector and after the user verifies that the circuit is open, a second grounding cable can be attached. Grounding both sides of the second contact provides added safety for users conducting repairs and routine maintenance.
As an additional safety measure, the connector system can also have a key-lock system that includes a key and a pair of locks. The first lock is for a manual operating mechanism that actuates the first contact to an open or a closed position. The second lock is for a bracket that secures the conducting pin in the housing. One key operates both locks. The key must be in the first lock in order to operate the manual operating mechanism to close the first contact. The key cannot be withdrawn from the first lock as long as the first contact is closed. This ensures that the key cannot be used to unlock the bracket and remove the conducting pin from the housing while the voltage source is connected to the load. When the manual operating mechanism is in the open position, the key can be turned and withdrawn from the first lock. Turning the key locks the manual operating mechanism in the open position and it can only be switched to the closed position after the user has inserted and turned the key.
After the key is taken out of the first lock, it can be inserted in the second lock and used to unlock the bracket from the housing. The bracket secures the plug assembly, which includes the conducting pin or insulating pin, in the housing and the plug assembly cannot be removed without first removing the bracket. Removing the bracket allows the plug assembly to be withdrawn from the housing. When the switch is being disconnected, the plug assembly is taken out of the housing and the conducting pin is replaced by an insulating pin. The plug assembly is then reinserted into the housing and the insulating pin remains in position between the first separable interface and the second separable interface while the first contact is in the open position. Preferably, the conducting pin is made from an electrically conductive material and the insulating pin is made from an electrically non-conductive material. The preferred electrically conductive material is copper and the preferred electrically non-conductive material can be an elastomeric, plastic, ceramic or glass material.
The conducting pin has a first end that electrically connects to the first separable interface at a first contact point, a second end that connects to the plug, preferably with a threaded connection, and a midpoint. The conducting pin also has a second contact point between the second end and the midpoint that connects to the second separable interface. The conducting pin is sized so that its diameter varies along its length with the diameter of the first end less than the diameter of the second end. Preferably, the diameter of the first end at the first contact is small enough so that, when the conducting pin is inserted into the housing, it passes through the second separable interface, but large enough so that it snugly engages the first separable interface. The diameter of the conducting pin at the second contact point is selected so that it electrically engages the second separable interface when the conducting pin is inserted into the housing. The conducting pin can be tapered with the diameter gradually increasing from the first end to the second end. The conducting pin can also be designed so that the portion from the first end up to the second contact point has a first diameter and the portion of the conducting pin from (and including) the second contact point to the second end has a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is small enough to allow the first end to pass through the second separable interface. Preferably, the conducting has a first diameter at the first contact point and a second diameter, which is greater then the first, at the second contact point. The dimensions of the insulating pin are substantially the same as the dimensions of the conducting pin.
The description that follows is based on a single-phase switch for ease of description. However, the same description applies to a three-phase switch, which has three legs that are identical to a single phase switch connected to a common actuating mechanism.
Referring again to
Looking now at
The connector system 16 in
Referring to
The load 94 is reconnected to the source 90 by reversing the operation described above. First, the insulating pin 26 is removed and the conducting pin 22 is installed in the connector system 16. The second grounding elbow 82 is removed from the loadbreak tap plug 38 and the insulated cap 40 is installed. The first grounding elbow 80 is then removed from the connecting post 34 and the insulated cap 36 is installed. The switch handle 30 is moved into the closed position to close the switch contact 8 in the vacuum bottle 14 and reconnect the load 94 to the source 90.
In another preferred embodiment, an interlock system is used to ensure that the conducting pin 22 is not removed before the switch assembly 10 is in the open position. When the switch handle 30 is in the closed position, it captures a key 50 in a first lock 52 on the handle assembly 56. The key 50 cannot be removed from the first lock 52 until the switch handle 30 is moved to the open position. This same key 50 is then used to open a second lock 54, which secures a bracket 58 to the housing of the connector system 16 and prevents the plug 24 and the conducting pin 22 from being removed.
In a preferred embodiment, the conducting pin 22 shown in
Thus, while there have been described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that other embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to include all such further modifications and changes as come within the true scope of the claims set forth herein.
This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/809,695, filed on May 31, 2006.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60809695 | May 2006 | US |