Patent Application
20240413594
The present disclosure relates to an electrical load receptacle.
Conventionally, utility line maintenance must be performed by trained utility line crews. In order to ensure the safety of crew members and protection of utility line equipment, crew members must be trained to take a variety of safety precautions and follow safety protocols and procedures. For example, to avoid the possibility of electrocution of crew members, branches of utility circuits being serviced by the crew members are typically grounded prior to servicing. In some instances, capacitive test points within utility equipment may be used to indicate to crew members whether a particular branch of the utility circuit is safe. In some instances, crew members are instructed to deactivate utility circuits prior to circuit grounding to safeguard against harming crew members.
Utility line maintenance, however, is performed based on a variety of assumptions prior to a determination being made as to whether performing the maintenance is safe or not. In cases where capacitive test points are used, for example, an assumption must be made that the capacitive test point is functioning properly to thereby provide a reliable indication to the crew members. Reliance on safety procedures often requires assumptions that one or more other crew members have performed safety procedure steps, such as an assumption that a remote crew member has completed deactivation of a utility circuit.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved utility line maintenance safety and utility line devices.
An electrical load receptacle comprising a first end with a first conductor receiving opening, a second end with a second conductor receiving opening, and a first conductive connector arranged in the first end and configured to electrically connect a first utility conductor to a fuse. A second conductive connector is arranged in the second end and configured to electrically connect a second utility conductor to the fuse. A grounding interface is configured to receive a grounding pin for grounding the second conductive connector.
Subject matter of the present disclosure will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. All features described and/or illustrated herein can be used alone or combined in different combinations. The features and advantages of various implementations will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate the following:
Aspects of the present disclosure include load receptacles for providing electrical connections in utility lines. In an embodiment, a load receptacle is provided which is configured for permanent installation in a buried utility line and facilitates safe maintenance during servicing of the buried electrical utility line. In particular, an integrated grounding interface is provided in a load receptacle to provide an improved level of safety to the load receptacle. A cap is provided over the integrated grounding interface to allow for direct testing of a utility circuit. In some embodiments, the various advantages described herein may also be realized in a load receptacle which is installed in an above-ground utility line, such as on or near a utility pole. Aspects of the present disclosure also include methods for determining that a utility circuit is deactivated so that a grounding accessory can be installed via the grounding interface, and methods for performing maintenance on a utility line using a load receptacle with an integrated grounding interface.
Aspects of the present disclosure provide a load receptacle that is smaller in terms of its length and other outer dimensions than conventional load receptacles. Furthermore, the shape and design of the load receptacle according to aspects of the present disclosure, such as an elbow-shaped load receptacle, minimizes overall stack height within a pad mount electrical transformer and also protects utility equipment. In applications where space is at a premium, aspects of the present disclosure thus provide the necessary protection to utility equipment while maintaining a smaller physical footprint and at lower cost. Aspects of the present disclosure also provide a load receptacle that provides added protection to maintenance workers, as safe operational state of the utility line and the receptacle can be confirmed and/or ensured without requiring communication with remote utility workers and/or systems and without reliance on safety assumptions.
The load receptacle 100 includes a pulling eye 110 arranged at a corner formed by the elbow-like shape of the receptacle 100. The pulling eye 110 is arranged at the corner to facilitate removal of the receptacle from an installation point or carrying of receptacle 100 from one location to another. The pulling eye 110 is therefore configured to have sufficient strength and dimensions to withstand a force at least equivalent to the weight of the receptacle 100, together with a safety factor. In some embodiments, the pulling eye 110 is further configured with sufficient dimensional and material strength to withstand a forces required not only to carry the receptacle 100, but to dislodge it from an installation position or from within a motion-resistant environment, such as from within earth in which the receptacle 100 is at least partially buried.
The load receptacle 100 includes a grounding interface 112, the particular features of which will be described hereafter with reference to
The load receptacle 100 also includes a first testing point 114 and a second testing point 116 on substantially opposing ends of the receptacle. The particular features of the first and second testing points 114, 116 will be described in greater detail hereafter with reference to
As illustrated in
In some embodiments, the grounding interface 112 of the receptacle is configured to be compliant with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F855 or one or more standards for temporary protective grounds. The grounding interface 112 includes a pulling aperture 134 that is part of a grounding interface outer shield 135. The grounding interface outer shield 135 surrounds a grounding interface cap 136 that is made of an insulative material. The grounding interface 112 is configured such that if a sufficient force is applied to the pulling aperture 134, the grounding interface outer shield 135 and grounding interface cap 136 may be removed from the receptacle, thereby exposing the grounding chamber 138 and/or components inserted therein. A grounding conductor 139 is arranged in the grounding chamber 138 such that it is electrically connected to the second end connector 132.
The grounding interface 112 further includes a ring 140 configured to support and secure the grounding interface cap 136 in place. The ring 140 may be comprised of a thermoplastic material. As illustrated in
The receptacle 100 may further include injection ports 142, 144 via which the material forming the insulative inner housing 126 may be injected into the receptacle 100 during manufacturing of the receptacle 100.
As illustrated in
In a method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the operational state of the receptacle 100 may be tested by removing the insulating cover from each of the first and second testing points 114, 116 by applying a force to each of the pulling apertures 118, 120. Subsequently, a capacitive testing probe is inserted into each of the testing spaces 122, 124 to determine whether a conductor in proximity to each of the testing points 114, 116 within the receptacle is live (i.e. conducting electricity) or dead (i.e. not conducting electricity). If one of the first and second testing points 114, 116 is live and the other is dead, then this is indicative of the fuse 128 having blown (i.e. rendered inoperable by exposure to an electrical current above a threshold current of the fuse). If both testing points 114, 116 are live, then the fuse is fully operational. If both testing points 114, 116 are dead, this may indicate an electrical fault either somewhere within the receptacle 100 or within utility line infrastructure elsewhere either upstream and/or downstream of the receptacle 100.
In a method according to an embodiment of the present invention, grounding of a conductor may be performed by removing the grounding interface cap 136 of a receptacle 100 to expose a grounding chamber 138 within the receptacle 100. A grounding pin 300 is then inserted and secured to a grounding conductor 139 arranged at least partially within the grounding chamber 138. An end of the grounding pin 300 protruding from the receptacle is then interfaced with a grounding material to de-energize a conductor within the receptacle connected to a utility line. In some embodiments, the grounding material is earth in which the receptacle is configured to be at least partially buried.
In a method according to an embodiment of the present invention, maintenance of a utility line may be carried out by first checking testing points to confirm whether a fuse housed within a load receptacle is operable or has failed. If it is determined that the fuse has failed based on the measurements obtained via testing points of the load receptacle, the load receptacle is arranged in a transformer parking stand. If, through testing of the testing points, it is determined that the load receptacle is safe for repair, the grounding interface can be removed and one side of the load receptacle can be grounded (although the grounded side is not yet live) by insertion of a grounding pin into the grounding interface. This ensures that if the load receptacle is made live for any reason, that it will remain safe for a maintenance worker. Then, the load receptacle can be disassembled for removal and replacement of the fuse or other maintenance tasks may be performed. Once maintenance is complete, the receptacle is re-assembled with the new fuse, the grounding pin is removed, and the grounding interface cap is re-installed.
Embodiments of the present invention are particularly advantageous in that they provide greater safety to maintenance workers, as at least partially described above. In particular, the first and second testing points 114, 116 of the receptacle enable a maintenance worker to directly measure and confirm the operational state of the conductors within the receptacle, allowing the worker to confirm with greater certainty whether the receptacle or one side of the utility line is safe to interact with. In conventional receptacles, a maintenance worker may be required to contact a remote worker or interact with a remotely controlled system to shut down part of the utility line being maintained. Without a direct means for confirming whether the shutdown has been implemented, or whether the shutdown has proceeded for long enough to cause de-energization of the receptacle and/or utility line being maintained, a worker may be required to make a variety of unsafe assumptions before proceeding with maintenance. For example, the worker may have to assume that a remote worker who received instructions de-energized the correct utility line, or that a de-energization command to a control system was properly executed. Embodiments of the present invention, by eliminating the need for some such assumptions, therefore provide increased maintenance work safety. Maintenance procedures can also be carried out more efficiently, as certain safety precautions that were necessitated by safety assumptions are no longer required.
Embodiments of the present invention also provide a receptacle that is more versatile due to its smaller size and its configuration that allows for a simplified fuse replacement procedure. Smaller fuses may thus also be utilized in the load receptacle according to embodiments of the invention.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
