The present invention relates to the field of electric power distribution, and, more specifically, to fast change transformer connectors, which enable changing a transformer without disconnecting electric cables from the connectors.
Transformers are key components presently in electric power distribution networks. Generally, electric power is distributed from electrical substations at high voltage typically in excess of 6,000 volts to minimize losses. Transformers are required to reduce the voltage down to lower levels, such as 120 volts, for local distribution to commercial and residential customers.
A transformer commonly used for this purpose is housed in a steel cabinet on a concrete platform or pad at ground level. The transformer itself includes primary and secondary coils housed in an oil-filled transformer well, the oil being provided to keep the coils cool. Typically, studs, to which cables, or in a general term, conductors, carrying high voltage power to the primary coils, and to which cables carrying reduced voltage from the secondary coils can be attached, protrude laterally outward from the transformer through the wall of the transformer well.
The studs are insulated from the wall of the transformer well by an insulating bushing or seal, which must be impermeable to the oil filling the transformer well. There are usually two to six studs for attaching incoming cables to the primary side, and three to four studs for attaching outgoing cables to the secondary side. Typically, there are a minimum of three studs required on the secondary side, one for each of two phases and one for a return or ground cable.
Transformers of this type may be used to deliver electric power to a relatively small number of end consumers. To supply each such consumer, one cable from each of the studs on the secondary side of the transformer is required. Typically, then, a number of cables are connected to each of the studs, one for each of the consumers being served.
Transformer connectors are used to attach the individual cables to the studs. One of the most commonly used transformer connectors is spade connector. A spade connector has a female connection end which is screwed onto a transformer stud through the screw threads on both of the stud and the spade connector. Each cable end encapsulated in a cable end lug is screwed onto the spade connector by a set of screw through one of the cable adapting ports of the spade connector.
With these traditional spade connectors, when a transformer needs to be replaced because it is no longer functioning, an electrician has to disconnect each of the cables, usually from three to thirty cables, before the spade connector can be taken off from the stud by rotating the spade connector around the stud. Moreover, each disconnected cable has to be grounded immediately for safety reasons. After the old transformer is replaced by a new transformer and the spade connectors are connected onto the studs of the new transformer, each one of the disconnected cables then has to be bolted onto the spade connector again.
Furthermore, the cable end lug closest to the stud on the spade connector are relatively difficult to access. To reach a set of bolt and nut for a cable end lug axially closest to the stud along the cable, the electrician must reach in toward the stud over a number of cables. Even worse, the inner set bolts may not be readily visible, forcing the electrician to work blindly. Moreover, as the three or four studs are often arranged one above the other on the wall of the transformer well, the electrician may often be required to reach between two layers of cables to adjust the blot of a cable attached close to a stud. Still further, bolts might have become corroded causing extreme difficulty in removing the cables.
It is apparent that this is a lengthy and labour intensive process. It usually takes from about two and half hours to about three hours to change a transformer that carries thirty electrical cables, mainly because the time required for disconnecting and connecting the cables to the spades.
Attempts have been made to address these problems. One such attempt is multi-tap stud connectors. A multi-tap stud connector has a block structure with a transformer stud port and a plurality of cable ports. A multi-tap stud connector is connected to a transformer stud through the transformer stud port and fastened by screws along the side of the transformer stud port. To disconnect the multi-tap stud connector, one loosens the screws, typically two, and detaches the multi-tap stud connector from the transformer stud without disconnecting electrical cables. The multi-tap stud connectors are currently used as an after market product, to replace spade connectors during replacement of a non-functioning transformer. Multi-tap stud connectors have certain disadvantages. As described above, a multi-tap stud connector is connected to a transformer stud through the transformer stud port and fastened by two screws along the side of the transformer stud port. Such a connection is not as secure as the connection of a traditional spade connector, which is directly bolted on to the transformer stud. Furthermore, multi-tap connectors are made of aluminum, which is different from the transformer stud material of brass. For a long term use, the connection between aluminum and brass tends to become loose, causing poor connection between the transformer and the connector. For most transformers, particularly the large transformers, spade connectors are still the most commonly used in the field.
Therefore, it is apparent that there exists a continuing need to provide improved transformer connectors that enable the rapid change of a transformer and reduce power supply downtime. The present invention represents a novel approach toward a solution of the problems associated with the lengthy and labor intensive process involved in changing transformers.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides transformer connectors which enable fast replacement of an electric transformer without disconnecting electrical cables. The transformer connector comprises a cable connector having a cable attachment body with a plurality of cable attachment ports, a connector extension with the first end connected to the cable attachment body, and a stud slide adaptor connected to a side of the connector extension near the second end; and a stud screw adaptor having a threaded opening complimentary to a transformer stud, for connecting the transformer stud and the stud slide adaptor of the cable connector.
Moreover, the transformer connector can further comprise an adaptor extension. The adaptor extension has an extension body having a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, a front side and a rear side. The extension body has an unthreaded opening at the first end portion for adapting to the transformer stud and engaging with the stud screw adaptor from the rear side; and an extension connection means at the second end portion for connecting the stud slide adaptor of the cable connector from the front side of the extension body.
In a further embodiment, the transformer connector of the present invention has a cable attachment section which comprises cable receiving body having a plurality of receiving slots, each thereof for receiving a cable; and a plurality of removable sliding cable fastening blocks disposed within the plurality of receiving slots. Each of the sliding cable fastening blocks can be slid in and out from the receiving slot for receiving and fastening a cable.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a transformer adaptor, which can, be used to connect an electrical cable connector to a transformer stud. The transformer adaptor comprises an inter-connector comprising a connecting shaft having screw threads at one end; and a stud slide adaptor connected to a side of the connecting shaft at the opposing end; and a stud screw adaptor having a threaded opening complimentary to a transformer stud, for connecting the transformer stud and the stud slide adaptor of the inter-connector. The transformer adaptor of the present invention can be used with existing transformer connectors, such as spade connectors, for conveniently detach the transformer connectors without disconnecting the electrical cables. Furthermore, the transformer adaptor can also comprise an adaptor extension, as described above, for connecting the inter-connector to the transformer.
The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Furthermore, a proper complimentary geometry shape, such as rectangular teeth shape, sine wave shape and triangular shape also provide an inter-locking mechanism between stud slide adaptor 50 and stud screw adaptor 60. The inter-locking interface facilities an electrician's assembling process, and ensures proper contact between stud slide adaptor 50 and stud screw adaptor 60.
The external shape and size of stud slide adaptor 50 and stud screw adaptor 60 can be the same, as shown in the
Preferably, cable connector 30 has an integrated structure having cable attachment body 32, connector extension 40, and stud slide adaptor 50 moulded together. An integrated structure provides structural strength, and reduces connection interfaces, which is desired for conducting electricity effectively. The cable connector 30 can be made of copper, iron, aluminum, and other suitable electrical conducting materials.
As shown in
The connector extension 40 as shown is a straight circular shaft with an enforcement rim. However, other suitable shapes and structures, such as a square shape at the cross section of the shaft, and with a certain angle along the shaft, can also be utilized for the purpose of the present invention. The length and diameter of the shaft can be determined depending on the structure of cable attachment body 32, the number of cables, and the weight that the transformer connector 30 carries.
The transformer connector of the present invention provides a convenient connection mechanism between the transformer and the electrical cables. To connect transformer connector 10 to transformer 2, an electrician first screws stud screw adaptor 60 onto transformer stud 4, then slides stud slide adaptor 50 onto transformer stud 4 and engages stud screw adaptor 60, and last screws on bolt nut 66 to tighten the connection between stud slide adaptor 50 and stud screw adaptor 60. To disconnect transformer connector 10 from transformer 2, the electrician simply reverses the process described above. Since no rotation is required to unscrew cable connector 30 around transformer stud 4, once electrical cables 20 are connected to cable connector 30, they do not need to be disconnected in the process of changing transformer. Moreover, when cable connector 30 is disconnected from transformer stud 4 during the change of transformer, only one time grounding of cable connector 30, instead of grounding of disconnected each cable, is required. This convenient connection mechanism, provided by the engagement of stud slide adaptor 50 and stud screw adaptor 60 with transformer stud 4, offers substantial reduction of time and labour involved in replacing a transformer. The estimated time for changing a transformer connected with thirty cables can be reduced from an original two and half to three hours down to thirty minutes to about one hour. With such a substantial reduction on the electrical power supply downtime, the impacts on financial recovery of consumers, particularly manufacturers, cost reduction of power suppliers, and consumer living conditions are enormous. Therefore, the transformer connector of the present invention has important economical, financial and social significance.
In the second embodiment, the present invention is related to a transformer adaptor. As shown in
The structures of stud slide adaptor 50 and stud screw adaptor 60 of transformer adaptor 70, and the mechanism of connection to transformer 2 are the same as those of transformer connector 10 described in detail in the first embodiment.
As illustrated in
With transformer adaptor 70 of the present invention, one can continue to use existing spade or other connectors without disconnecting electrical cables from these connectors. As shown in
To disconnect spade connector 90 from transformer 2 for replacing transformer, the electrician can simply disconnect transformer adaptor 70 from transformer stud 4 by taking off bolt nut 66, and sliding stud slide adaptor 50 out from transformer stud 4. Cables 20 do not need to be disconnected from spade connector 90. As discussed previously, the convenient connection mechanism provided by the present invention enables a fast change of a transformer by eliminating the steps of disconnecting individual cables.
The screw threads at cable end 84 of inter-connector 80 should be complimentary to the female screw threads of a specific connector of which the transformer adaptor 70 is used for. The material and structural features of transformer adaptor 70 are similar to those described previously for transformer connector 10.
In the field work of repairing faulted transformer and cables, when the cables are shorted, it is more time saving to cut the end of the shorted cables, instead of changing the cables. In this situation, the cut cables can be a few inches shorter to allow the transformer connector to be attached to the transformer stud in the manner described above. In a further embodiment, the present invention provides an adaptor extension for meeting such a need.
Referring now to
In the embodiment shown in
As described previously, stud slide adaptor 50 has a contact surface 54 around unthreaded opening 52, in perpendicular to the center axis of unthreaded opening 52; and stud screw adaptor 60 also has a contact surface 64 around threaded opening 62, in perpendicular to the center axis of threaded opening 62. Adaptor extension 110 has a contact surface 121 around unthreaded opening 120 at rear side 119, in perpendicular to the center axis of unthreaded opening 120 for interlockingly engaging with contact surface 64 of stud screw adaptor 60. Adaptor extension 110 further has a contact surface 123 around threaded shaft 124 at front side 118 for interlockingly engaging with contact surface 54 of stud slide adaptor 50.
As shown in
The adaptor extension has been described above to interface with a transformer adaptor, however, it should be understood that the adaptor extension can also be used with the transformer connector described in the first embodiment.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a transformer connector 140 as shown in
Cable attachment section 160 comprises a cable receiving body 162 that has a plurality of receiving slots 170, each thereof for receiving a cable (not shown); and a plurality of removable sliding cable fastening blocks 190 disposed within receiving slots 170. Each receiving slot 170 has an upper open end 172 and a lower open end 174, two opposing side walls 176, a rear wall 178 and a front opening 180. Each side wall 176 has a locking groove 182 near front opening 180. Each sliding cable fastening block 190 has a front surface 192 and a rear surface 194, two side portions 196, and fastening means 210 for fastening the cable. Each side portion 196 has a protruding rim 198 which is disposed within locking groove 182. The structures and dimension of locking groove 182 and protruding rim 198 are complementary to each other to provide a proper interface between the two components. Each sliding cable fastening block 190 can be moved in and out from receiving slot 170 by sliding along locking grooves 182 through upper open end 172.
As shown in
In use, the field electrician removes sliding cable fastening block 190 from a receiving slot 170, pushes a cable, in a direction transverse from the direction of the cable, into receiving slot 170 through front opening 180, and then slides the sliding cable fastening block 190 back into receiving slot 170 through locking grooves 182 and fastens the cable by screwing in threaded bolts 214. The transformer connector 140 is particularly convenient to use in the field when one handles very large cables. In this situation, it is very difficult to bend the cables and then insert them into the attachment ports of a spade connector or a block connector. Such an operation has often caused accidental injuries of the field workers. Using transformer connector 140, one does not need to bend the cable, instead, the cable can be pushed into the receiving slot sideways.
Preferably, to provide a stable interface between the cable and receiving slot 170, real wall 178 can have a curvature complementary to the circular external shape of the cable, as shown in
Furthermore, preferably each sliding cable locking block 190 has retainer means for retaining the vertical position of sliding cable locking block 190 inside locking grooves 182 without sliding out from lower open end 174. This assists in releasing the electrician's hands for operation. As shown in
As shown in
While the present invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present invention, but rather as an exemplification of preferred embodiments thereof. It will be apparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be made within the spirit and the scope of this invention as described in the above specification and defined in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
This application is a continuation-in-part application of patent application Ser. No. 10/305,859, filed Nov. 27, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,754 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3876279 | Underwood | Apr 1975 | A |
6612879 | Zahnen | Sep 2003 | B1 |
6663443 | Smith et al. | Dec 2003 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10305859 | Nov 2002 | US |
Child | 10987490 | US |