Gas Accomodation By Relatively Moving Parts Patents (Class 439/185)
  • Patent number: 11258350
    Abstract: A grounding arrangement for a Voltage Source Converter (VSC) in a power transmission system is provided. The VSC comprises at least one converter branch (20) comprising at least one module (221-22N), each module comprising a plurality of serially connected sub-modules (241-248) that can be controllably switched to generate a controlled voltage across the module (221-22N) and each module including a first sub-module (241) at one end thereof and a last sub-module (248) at an opposite end thereof. Each sub-module (241-248) includes a first terminal (381), a second terminal (382), an energy storage element (30) and a switching arrangement (32, 34), wherein at least one of the first (381) or second terminals (382) is coupled to a terminal of the energy storage unit (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Phillip Stephen Jones, Michael Evans
  • Patent number: 11239610
    Abstract: An electrical plug includes a plug housing having a first outer housing part and a second outer housing part separate from the first outer housing part, an earthing contact disposed in the plug housing, and an earthing connection element separate from the earthing contact and disposed in the plug housing. The first outer housing part and the second outer housing part are each at least partly metallic. The earthing connection element is electrically connected to the earthing contact, the first outer housing part, and the second outer housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TE Connectivity Industrial GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Edenhofer, Philipp Moncher, Josef Achatz
  • Patent number: 11043758
    Abstract: A bushing adapter comprises an insert having a bore extending through the insert along a length direction of the insert and a fastening member extending through the bore. The insert is configured to be attached to a bushing conductor of a bushing. The fastening member has an operating portion positioned outside of the bore at a bushing internal end of the fastening member and a fastening portion positioned outside of the bore at a bushing external end of the fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics Kaycnem GmbH, Carrier Kheops BAC, Tyco Electronics UK Ltd
    Inventors: Martin Hofmann, Hervé Cheron, Torsten Friedrich, Yves Cadoret, Laurence Mortimer
  • Patent number: 10971842
    Abstract: A loadbreak electrical connector includes a connector body having first and second passages therewithin and a safety probe configured to be installed within the first passage. The safety probe includes a conductive probe body extending between first and second ends, the probe body having a probe aperture at the second end and a probe pin connected to the probe body via the probe aperture. The safety probe includes an arc quenching section located at a distal end of the probe pin and has a resistance section located between the second end of the probe body and the arc quenching section. The resistance section is made of a highly resistance material which reduces current flow through this section of the safety probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Stanley S. Szyszko, Daniel L. Gardner, William Longcor, IV, Elvan Ozdemir
  • Patent number: 8764467
    Abstract: Disclosed is an external connector for a solid insulated load break switchgear. A semi-conductive layer for uniformly distributing an inner field is formed in a body part of a connector to uniformly distribute an inner field. This may prevent partial lowering of an insulating performance of the connector to enhance the insulating performance of the connector. Furthermore, a semi-conductive layer for uniformly distributing an outer field is formed between the connector and a bushing coupled to an upper end of the connector, and between the connector and a plug coupled to a lower end of the connector. This may allow an electric field to be uniformly distributed to a part connected to a ground surface of an arc extinguishing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Gul Lee
  • Patent number: 7942682
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a socket that is configured to provide a current path between a connection terminal and a contact pin inserted into the socket during a standard connection. A slider component of the electrical connector is configured to move relative to the socket to make contact with the contact pin and provide a current path between the connection terminal and the contact pin during a fault condition connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Dudley Copper, Henry O. Herrmann, Jr., Edward O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7708576
    Abstract: A high-voltage electrical connector system comprises a bushing with a longitudinal axis, a shoulder, a first end, and a second end, wherein the shoulder is between the first end and the second end; a ring arranged circumferentially around a first outside diameter of the bushing, the ring disposed between the shoulder and the second end, the ring including a channel therein defining a circumferential extension extending axially toward the first end; a ground shield disposed on a second outside diameter of the bushing between the ring and the second end, the ground shield comprising one or more of conductive material and semiconductive material; and an insulative portion adjacent the ring and disposed circumferentially over a portion of the ground shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: David Charles Hughes, Marie Way, Mark Kadow
  • Patent number: 7632120
    Abstract: A separable loadbreak connector and system includes a connector having a contact tube with an axial passage therethrough, and a contact member slidably mounted within the axial passage and movable therein during a fault closure condition. The contact member is axially movable within the passage with the assistance of an arc quenching gas during the fault closure condition, and a shock absorbent stop element is mounted to the contact tube and limiting movement of the contact member in the fault closure condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: David Charles Hughes, Paul Michael Roscizewski
  • Patent number: 7591693
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for joining separable insulated connectors employs a plurality of finger contacts to create an interference fit with an electrode probe of an elbow connector. The electrode probe enters a cylindrical grouping of the plurality of finger contacts and a projection causes an interference fit between the finger contacts and the electrode probe. The finger contacts latch the connectors together and require a removal force greater than the latching force required to latch the connectors. The latching mechanism provides a multi-point current path between an elbow connector and a power transmission or distribution apparatus and provides operator feedback to indicate the latching of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: David C. Hughes
  • Patent number: 7341468
    Abstract: A separable loadbreak connector and system includes a connector having a contact tube with an axial passage therethrough, and a contact member slidably mounted within the axial passage and movable therein during a fault closure condition. The contact member is axially movable within the passage with the assistance of an arc quenching gas during the fault closure condition, and a shock absorbent stop element is mounted to the contact tube and limiting movement of the contact member in the fault closure condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: David Charles Hughes, Paul Michael Roscizewski
  • Patent number: 7258585
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for joining separable insulated connectors employs a plurality of finger contacts to create an interference fit with an electrode probe of an elbow connector. The electrode probe enters a cylindrical grouping of the plurality of finger contacts and a projection causes an interference fit between the finger contacts and the electrode probe. The finger contacts latch the connectors together and require a removal force greater than the latching force required to latch the connectors. The latching mechanism provides a multi-point current path between an elbow connector and a power transmission or distribution apparatus and provides operator feedback to indicate the latching of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: David C. Hughes, Frank J. Muench
  • Patent number: 7216426
    Abstract: A method for forming a separable electrical connector having an electrical interface surface includes the steps of molding an interface shell from a thermoplastic, placing the interface shell against an electrical interface portion of a mold cavity and molding a housing within the mold cavity. When placed in the mold cavity, the interface shell provides a barrier to the mold cavity interface portion, wherein the housing is isolated from the electrical interface potion of the mold cavity by the interface shell. The shell has an inner surface and an outer surface and the housing is bonded to one of the inner and outer surfaces, wherein the other of the inner and outer surfaces of the shell defines the electrical interface surface of the electrical connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. Borgstrom, Frank M. Stepniak
  • Patent number: 6926547
    Abstract: An arc quenching electrical connector has a male pin terminal which inserts longitudinally into a receptacle or terminal having a gassing wall engaged concentrically about the receptacle. During “hot unplugging” of the electrical connector, an arc is carried between a tip of the male pin and a contact surface of a leading end of the receptacle. The gassing wall extends over and is directly engaged to a portion of the contact surface. Because the gassing wall is also preferably an electrical insulator, the arc communicates electrically with the exposed contact surface and is biased directly against the gassing wall. The gassing wall, when heated by the adjacent arc, quenches or reduces the energy of the arc by releasing gas which eliminates arc erosion of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Schoepf, Rafil Basheer, Ismat Abu-Isa
  • Patent number: 6051337
    Abstract: A miniature galvanic cell employing a cup-insulating member-current collector assembly, preferably a plastic insulating member and low surface area current collector, to prevent or minimize the formation of gases, such as hydrogen, on the current collector member. A process for producing such a cell is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry Heinz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5359654
    Abstract: Modules integral with the body of the assembly include one for drop wire connections, one for subscriber wire connections, one for an electronics interface, and one for a network interface device. Protective sealant material within the assembly protects contacts from corrosion and other deterioration, and from shorting. Sealant plungers and a chamber containing a compressed gas impose compressive forces upon the sealant material. Shunt plugs associated with two of the modules permit signal transmission across the modules at desired times, and when removed eliminate the possibility of a subscriber being shocked or transmitting a spark when accessing subscriber components of the assembly. The main body and the modules of the assembly preferably are integrally connected and form a unitary sealed assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Raychem Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Jensen, Thomas M. Baum, John E. Francis, John C. Mason, Jack A. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4913658
    Abstract: A series of lanced sections are provided at the end of a movable female contact assembly in a loadbreak bushing insert to limit its extent of travel during fault closure conditions and prevent its unwanted removal from the insert housing. A locking ring is added ahead of the lanced sections to cause same to become locks by displacement from their normal positions making resetting of the female contact assembly impossible and providing a visual indication that the bushing has been involved in a fault closure situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Amerace Corporation
    Inventors: Borgstrom Alan D., George R. Hydock
  • Patent number: 4863392
    Abstract: A simplified electrical high voltage loadbreak bushing insert connector is disclosed which provides an improved electrical current path between a bushing well and a male probe contact during fault and activated closure while eliminating the usual prior art internal conductive sleeve contact. A solid contact, directly coupled to a bushing well stud, electrically engages a tubular extension of the movable female contact assembly during movement of the assembly over its entire range. In a first group of embodiments, contact is made with the interior of the tubular extension while in others with the exterior. Various stop member arrangements are disclosed to limit movement of the female contact assembly and of joining the solid contact to the insert body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Amerace Corporation
    Inventors: Alan D. Borgstrom, Frank M. Stepniak, Andrew A. Kominiak
  • Patent number: 4773872
    Abstract: In a high-voltage bushing insert having a moving, piston-operated, female contact assembly electrically coupled to an interior metallic sleeve by means of a louvered contact ring, the improvement comprising a static metallic contact member providing an alternative electrical path from said female contact assembly to said metallic sleeve. The static contact member is generally circular and substantially closed at a first end and is multiply slotted adjacent its second end to provide a series of bulbous, spring fingers thereat. The spring fingers making intimate electrical contact with the interior of the female contact assembly in its static position and for a portion of its travel away from the closed end of the metallic sleeve. An exterior ring at the contact's first end assures good electrical contact with the metallic sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Amerace Corporation
    Inventors: Alan D. Borgstrom, Frank M. Stepniak
  • Patent number: 4713018
    Abstract: A first connector is used in connecting or disconnecting a high voltage circuit by engagement or disengagement of the first connector with a second connector supporting a second connector contact element. The first connector comprises an insulative housing having an axial passage including an electrically conductive surface fixedly secured within the housing, and a contact assembly disposed in the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: RTE Corporation
    Inventor: Quinten H. Sutton