Patent Application
20140110378
This application claims benefit under U.S.C. ยง119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/716,414, filed on Oct. 19, 2012, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
The embodiments described herein relate generally to gas circuit breakers and, more particularly, to systems and methods that facilitate the assembly of high voltage gas circuit breakers.
The arrangement of a typical dead tank high voltage gas circuit breaker includes a metallic tank that encloses a mechanical interrupting device which opens the current path in an electric power transmission system. The space around the interrupter is filled with a pressurized insulating gas, making the tank function as a pressure-containing vessel.
Construction of a gas circuit breaker typically involves inserting a semi-complete interrupter through the tank end(s) (See
Thus, it is desirable to provide improved systems and methods that reduce or eliminate the need for multiple tank openings and to perform work in the space enclosed by a circuit breaker tank to secure the interrupter, connect operating linkages, and complete miscellaneous assembly steps.
The embodiments provided herein are directed to systems and methods that facilitate the assembly of high voltage gas circuit breakers such as, e.g., 800 kV gas circuit breakers. To reduce or eliminate the need for a tank with multiple openings and to perform work in the space enclosed by a tank surrounding an interrupter of the circuit breaker, a tank is provided that is constructed in three segments. A short or compact center segment is fabricated to mount the interrupter and support the operating linkage, while two end sections are connected to the center segment with flange joints to surround the remainder of the interrupter device.
With this enhancement, assembly of the interrupter can take place within the center segment before the end segments are attached. The compact size and open ends of the center segment allow workers to perform assembly operations without placing significant portions of their bodies inside the tank. With convenient access to the center segment, the ability to clean and inspect is improved and, thus, the possible accumulation of dirt and particles is eliminated or significantly reduced.
The configuration and physical shape of the bolted flanges offers the added benefit of providing an area that traps foreign particles and contaminants that would harm the equipment if otherwise allowed to migrate freely.
Alternatively, a tank is provided that is constructed in two segments.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the example embodiments will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description.
The details of the example embodiments, including fabrication, structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely.
It should be noted that elements of similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative purpose throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the preferred embodiments.
The embodiments described herein are directed to systems and methods that facilitate the assembly of high voltage gas circuit breakers such as, e.g., 800 kV gas circuit breakers. To reduce or eliminate the need to perform work in a space enclosed by a tank enclosing an interrupter of the circuit breaker, this disclosure describes a tank that is constructed in three segments. As depicted in
The center segment 112 and two end segments 114 and 116 of the multi-piece tank 100 are assembled to form a single tank or pressure vessel similar to the conventional tank 10 of unitary construction shown in
With the enhancement of a multi-piece tank 100, assembly of the interrupter device 120 can occur within the center segment 112 of the tank 100 before the end segments 114 and 116 are attached to the center segment 112. The compact size and open ends of the center segment 112 enable workers to perform assembly operations, such as, e.g., mounting of the interrupter device 120, connecting operating linkages, and miscellaneous finishing operations without placing significant portions of their bodies inside the tank 100, i.e., place their bodies into what would otherwise be a significantly confining work space within the tank 100. This eliminates and/or minimizes the need for a) access ports in the tank walls 111, b) workers entering a long narrow tank 100, and/or c) complex tools to remotely perform assembly operations from outside the tank 100.
The end segments 114 and 116 of the tank 100 are added to enclose the interrupter device 120 within the tank 100 after internal mountings, assembly, and/or adjustments are complete.
Completion of the assembly of the interrupter device 120 prior to enclosing it with the tank end segments 114 and 116 a) minimizes the likelihood that foreign particles or contamination will be introduced during the assembly process, and b) facilitates the detection and removal of any contamination that may be present within the tank 100.
Because only a compact portion of the total tank 100 is present during insertion and finishing of the interrupter device 120, there is far less impingement on factory space, efficiency, and overall throughput than typically occurs during construction of a high voltage gas circuit breaker in the range of about 800 kV.
The configuration and physical shape of the bolted flanges 115 and 117 offers the added benefit of providing an area that traps foreign particles and contaminants that would harm the equipment if otherwise allowed to migrate freely. The flanges 115 and 117 of the separate tank segments 114 and 116 are configured to trap foreign particles and contaminants using methods, features, and /or geometries disclosed in U.S. patent application Publication No. 2011/0226503, which application is incorporated by reference.
In an alternative embodiment, one of the flange joints of the three-piece tank embodiment 100 is eliminated to create a two-piece tank 200. The two-piece tank 200 includes a first segment 212 with an open end adjacent a central region 213 housing an interrupter device 220. A second segment 214 is couplable with flange joints 215 to the first segment to surround the interrupting device 220.
The benefits of eliminating a joint include reduced tank cost, fabrication complexity, and potential for gas leakage. The manufacturing time to assemble the second joint is also eliminated. Although having open access to the interrupter device 220 from only one end of the first segment 212 decreases assembly flexibility, the associated consequences are negligible compared to the benefits.
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the reader is to understand that the specific ordering and combination of process actions shown in the process flow diagrams described herein is merely illustrative, unless otherwise stated, and the invention can be performed using different or additional process actions, or a different combination or ordering of process actions. As another example, each feature of one embodiment can be mixed and matched with other features shown in other embodiments. Features and processes known to those of ordinary skill may similarly be incorporated as desired. Additionally and obviously, features may be added or subtracted as desired. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61716414 | Oct 2012 | US |
