The present invention relates to electrical cable connectors, such as loadbreak connectors and deadbreak connectors. More particularly, aspects described herein relate to an electrical cable connector, such as a power cable elbow or T-connector connected to electrical switchgear assembly.
Loadbreak connectors used in conjunction with 15 and 25 KV switchgear generally include a power cable elbow connector having one end adapted for receiving a power cable and another end adapted for receiving a loadbreak bushing insert or other switchgear device. The end adapted for receiving the bushing insert generally includes an elbow cuff for providing an interference fit with a molded flange on the bushing insert.
In some implementations, the elbow connector may include a second opening formed opposite to the bushing insert opening for providing conductive access to the power cable by other devices. Typically, the second opening is provided with an elbow cuff for providing an interference fit with a molded flange on the attached device, such as a loadbreak reducing bushing.
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.
As shown in
Consistent with implementations described herein, reducing T end 120 may include a contact receiving portion 127. As described in detail below, contact receiving portion 127 may include a substantially cylindrical bore for receiving a contact assembly therein. As shown in
Conductor receiving end 105 may extend substantially axially from connector 100 and may include a bore extending therethrough. First T end 115 and reducing T end 120 may project substantially perpendicularly from conductor receiving end 105, as illustrated in
In some implementations, combined power cable elbow connector 100 may include a semi-conductive outer shield 130 formed from, for example, a semi-conductive variant of a peroxide-cured synthetic rubber, commonly referred to as EPDM (ethylene-propylene-dienemonomer). Within shield 130, combined power cable elbow connector 100 may include an insulative inner housing 135, typically molded from an insulative rubber or epoxy material. Within insulative inner housing 135, combined power cable elbow connector 100 may include a conductive or semi-conductive insert 140 that surrounds the connection portion of power cable 110.
Conductor receiving end 105 of combined power cable elbow connector 100 may be configured to receive power cable 110 therein. As described below with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3A-3B, a forward end of power cable 110 may be prepared by connecting power cable 110 to a conductor spade assembly 145.
Rearward sealing portion 150 may include an insulative material surrounding a portion of power cable 110 about an opening of conductor receiving end 105. When conductor spade assembly 145 is positioned within connector 100, rearward sealing portion 150 may seal an opening of conductor receiving end 105 about power cable 110.
Crimp connector portion 155 may include a substantially cylindrical assembly configured to receive a center conductor 165 of power cable 110 therein. Upon insertion of center conductor 165 therein, crimp connector portion 155 may be crimped onto power center conductor 165 prior to insertion of cable 110 into conductor receiving end 105.
Spade portion 160 may be conductively coupled to crimp connector portion 155 and may extend axially therefrom. As shown in
In one exemplary implementation, combined power cable elbow connector 100 may include a voltage detection test point assembly 175 for sensing a voltage in connector 100. Voltage detection test point assembly 175 may be configured to allow an external voltage detection device, to detect and/or measure a voltage associated with connector 100.
For example, as illustrated in
A test point cap 182 may sealingly engage a portion of test point terminal 180 and outer shield 130. In one implementation, test point cap 182 may be formed of a semi-conductive material, such as EPDM. When test point terminal 180 is not being accessed, test point cap 182 may be mounted on test point assembly 175. Because test point cap 182 is formed of a conductive or semi-conductive material, test point cap 182 may ground test point terminal 180 when in position.
Consistent with implementations described herein, connector 100 may include a contact assembly 185 for insertion within contact receiving portion 127 of reducing T end 120. In some implementations, contact assembly may be formed of a conductive material, such as copper or aluminum. Configuration of power elbow connector 100 to include reducing T end 120 may facilitate connection of a second power elbow connector to connector 100 via contact assembly 185 without requiring an intermediate reducing plug. Known reducing plugs may include conductive contact assemblies enclosed therein. However, incorporation of such an enclosed contact assembly into reducing T end 120 may prevent or substantially impair visual alignment during insertion of conductor spade assembly 145 into power elbow connector 100.
By providing contact assembly 185 initially removed from reducing T end 120, a technician or installer may be provided with visual access to spade portion 160 of conductor spade assembly 145 during assembly of connector 100.
Once power elbow connector 100 has been placed on bushing 405 (with stud 415 extending through bore 170), contact assembly 185 may be inserted into contact receiving portion 127 of reducing T end 120. In one implementation, contact assembly 185 may include a stud receiving portion 190 (
As shown in
Consistent with implementations described herein, bushing well interface T end 520 may include a bushing receiving portion 527 and a stud receiving portion 529. Bushing receiving portion 527 may include substantially conical sidewalls for engaging exterior surfaces of a received bushing. As described in detail below, stud receiving portion 529 may include a substantially cylindrical bore for receiving a conductive stud therein. As shown in
Similar to conductor receiving end 105 of connector 100, conductor receiving end 505 may extend substantially axially from connector 500 and may include a bore extending therethrough. First T end 515 and bushing well interface T end 520 may project substantially perpendicularly from conductor receiving end 505, as illustrated in
In some implementations, combined power cable elbow connector 500 may include a semi-conductive outer shield 530 formed from, for example, a semi-conductive variant of a peroxide-cured synthetic rubber, such as EPDM. Within shield 530, combined power cable elbow connector 500 may include an insulative inner housing 535, typically molded from an insulative rubber or epoxy material. Within insulative inner housing 535, combined power cable elbow connector 500 may include a conductive or semi-conductive insert 540 that surrounds the connection portion of power cable 510.
Conductor receiving end 505 of combined power cable elbow connector 500 may be configured to receive power cable 510 therein. As described below with respect to
Rearward sealing portion 550 may include an insulative material surrounding a portion of power cable 510 about an opening of conductor receiving end 505. When conductor spade assembly 545 is positioned within connector 500, rearward sealing portion 550 may seal an opening of conductor receiving end 505 about power cable 510.
Crimp connector portion 555 may include a substantially cylindrical assembly configured to receive a center conductor 565 of power cable 510 therein. Upon insertion of center conductor 565 therein, crimp connector portion 555 may be crimped onto power center conductor 565 prior to insertion of cable 510 into conductor receiving end 505.
Spade portion 560 may be conductively coupled to crimp connector portion 555 and may extend axially therefrom. As shown in
Consistent with implementations described herein, a conductive stud 575 may be inserted into stud receiving portion 529 of bushing well interface T end 520. Configuration of power elbow connector 500 to include bushing well interface T end 520 may facilitate connection of a second reducing type device (not shown) without requiring an intermediate device. Known bushing well interface devices may include a conductive stud enclosed therein. However, incorporation of such an enclosed stud may prevent or substantially impair visual alignment during insertion of conductor spade assembly 545 into power elbow connector 500.
By providing stud 575 initially removed from bushing well interface T end 520, a technician or installer may be provided with visual access to spade portion 560 of conductor spade assembly 545 during assembly of connector 500.
Once power elbow connector 500 has been placed on bushing 705, conductive stud 575 may be inserted through stud receiving portion 529, bore 570, and into stud receiving portion 715 of bushing 705. In one implementation, stud receiving portion 715 of bushing 705 may include a female threaded interface for engaging a male threaded exterior surface of conductive stud 575.
As shown in
Consistent with implementations described herein, loadbreak reducing T end 820 may include a contact receiving portion 827. As described in detail below, contact receiving portion 827 may include a substantially cylindrical bore for receiving a contact assembly therein. As shown in
Conductor receiving end 805 may extend substantially axially from connector 800 and may include a bore extending therethrough. First T end 815 and loadbreak reducing T end 820 may project substantially perpendicularly from conductor receiving end 805, as illustrated in
In some implementations, combined power cable elbow connector 800 may include a semi-conductive outer shield 830 formed from, for example, a semi-conductive variant of a peroxide-cured synthetic rubber, such as EPDM. Within shield 830, combined power cable elbow connector 800 may include an insulative inner housing 835, typically molded from an insulative rubber or epoxy material. Within insulative inner housing 835, combined power cable elbow connector 800 may include a conductive or semi-conductive insert 840 that surrounds the connection portion of power cable 810.
Conductor receiving end 805 of combined power cable elbow connector 800 may be configured to receive power cable 810 therein. As described below with respect to
Rearward sealing portion 850 may include an insulative material surrounding a portion of power cable 810 about an opening of conductor receiving end 805. When conductor spade assembly 845 is positioned within connector 800, rearward sealing portion 850 may seal an opening of conductor receiving end 805 about power cable 810.
Crimp connector portion 855 may include a substantially cylindrical assembly configured to receive a center conductor 865 of power cable 810 therein. Upon insertion of center conductor 865 therein, crimp connector portion 855 may be crimped onto power center conductor 865 prior to insertion of cable 810 into conductor receiving end 805.
Spade portion 860 may be conductively coupled to crimp connector portion 855 and may extend axially therefrom. As shown in
Consistent with implementations described herein, connector 800 may include a contact assembly 875 for insertion within contact receiving portion 827 of loadbreak reducing T end 820. Configuration of power elbow connector 800 to include loadbreak reducing T end 820 may facilitate connection of a loadbreak device to connector 800 via contact assembly 875 without requiring an intermediate reducing plug. Known loadbreak reducing plugs may include conductive contact assemblies enclosed therein. However, incorporation of such an enclosed contact assembly into loadbreak reducing T end 820 may prevent or substantially impair visual alignment during insertion of conductor spade assembly 845 into power elbow connector 800.
By providing contact assembly 875 initially removed from loadbreak reducing T end 820, a technician or installer may be provided with visual access to spade portion 860 of conductor spade assembly 845 during assembly of connector 800.
Once power elbow connector 800 has been placed on bushing 1005 (with stud 1015 extending through bore 870), contact assembly 875 may be inserted into contact receiving portion 827 of loadbreak reducing T end 820. In one implementation, contact assembly 875 may include a stud receiving portion 880 for conductively engaging stud 1015 in bushing 1005. For example, an inside diameter of stud receiving portion 880 may be sized slightly smaller than an outside diameter of stud 1015. In other implementations (not shown), stud 1015 and stud receiving portion 880 may include correspondingly threaded surfaces for engaging one another and retaining connector 800 to bushing 1005.
By providing an effective and easy to use mechanism for visually confirming alignment of a conductor spade assembly within a combined power cable elbow, installing personnel may be able to more easily identify alignment issues, thereby preventing damage to equipment caused by misalignment.
The foregoing description of exemplary implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments described herein to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the embodiments. For example, implementations may also be used for other devices, such as other high voltage switchgear equipment, such as any 15 kV, 25 kV, or 35 kV equipment.
For example, various features have been mainly described above with respect to elbow power connectors. In other implementations, other medium/high voltage power components may be configured to include the visible open port configuration described above.
Although the invention has been described in detail above, it is expressly understood that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that the invention may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various changes of form, design, or arrangement may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the above-mentioned description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.
No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.
This application claims priority under 35. U.S.C. §119, based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/325,848 filed Apr. 20, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3576493 | Tachick | Apr 1971 | A |
4722694 | Makal et al. | Feb 1988 | A |
4776089 | Schoenwetter et al. | Oct 1988 | A |
4799895 | Borgstrom | Jan 1989 | A |
4857021 | Boliver et al. | Aug 1989 | A |
5562485 | Hoyte et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
5795180 | Siebens | Aug 1998 | A |
6491548 | Stepniak et al. | Dec 2002 | B2 |
6504103 | Meyer et al. | Jan 2003 | B1 |
6520795 | Jazowski | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6790063 | Jazowski et al. | Sep 2004 | B2 |
6830475 | Jazowski et al. | Dec 2004 | B2 |
6843685 | Borgstrom et al. | Jan 2005 | B1 |
6984791 | Meyer et al. | Jan 2006 | B1 |
7044769 | Zhao et al. | May 2006 | B2 |
7182647 | Muench et al. | Feb 2007 | B2 |
7381103 | Luzzi | Jun 2008 | B2 |
7431599 | Luzzi | Oct 2008 | B2 |
7501598 | Stepniak et al. | Mar 2009 | B2 |
7517260 | Luzzi | Apr 2009 | B2 |
7579571 | Siebens et al. | Aug 2009 | B2 |
7591693 | Hughes | Sep 2009 | B2 |
7938682 | Su | May 2011 | B2 |
8018707 | Yaworski et al. | Sep 2011 | B2 |
8043102 | Lu et al. | Oct 2011 | B2 |
20080166913 | Siebens et al. | Jul 2008 | A1 |
20080311779 | Brassell et al. | Dec 2008 | A1 |
20090215307 | Hughes | Aug 2009 | A1 |
20100279543 | Nguyen et al. | Nov 2010 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20110256746 A1 | Oct 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61325848 | Apr 2010 | US |