Abstract: An encapsulated high voltage switch has an elastomeric housing made of a first high dielectric strength resilient material such as EPDM. A generally tubular reinforcing element is formed or press fitted in intimate contact with the first elastomeric material. A vacuum contact assembly having a fragile ceramic vacuum bottle is disposed inside the reinforcing element, and a filler material different from the first material is disposed between the outer wall of the sub-atmospheric bottle for the coacting contacts in the switch assembly and the inner wall of the reinforcing element. A trip mechanism extends from the exterior into the elastomeric housing and is connected through a lost motion linking mechanism with the coacting contacts to move the contacts from closed to open position and vice versa. Additionally, a method is described for encapsulating the high voltage switch and to safeguard the sub-atmospheric switch assembly in assembled position.

Abstract: To provide durable elbow seating indicator for high voltage elbow on a high voltage bushing a band of highly contrasting color is formed on or added to an annular recess on the conductive jacket of the bushing.

Abstract: An actuator for a high voltage switch has a bellcrank and a rocker pivotally mounted to a frame and connected to one another by opening and closing springs. The bellcrank is linked to the movable actuating element of a high-voltage switch. During switch closing, a catch holds the bellcrank in it open position while the operator pivots the rocker towards a closed position, thereby stretching the closing spring and storing energy in it, while allowing the opening spring to go slack. When the rocker reaches a closing unlatch position, the bellcrank is released and moves rapidly toward its closed position, thus closing the switch. The opening action is similar. The bellcrank and rocker may cooperatively define channels for constraining the springs.

Abstract: A diaphragm for the contact insulating housing of a mechanically operated high voltage switch. The diaphragm has a central portion through which the shaft from the mechanical operating mechanism to the movable contact passes. The walls of the diaphragm about the central portion are mechanically joined or chemically bonded to the shaft. The diaphragm is made of such materials, is dimensioned and configured so that the diaphragm moves with the shaft and prevents relative motion therebetween. The outer rim of the diaphragm is mechanically joined or chemically bonded to the switch housing. The quality of the diaphragm and the seals permits them to withstand the application of the full operating voltage of the switch.

Abstract: To be able to determine from ground level the ratings and proper assembly of separable components of a high voltage system placed at groud level, below ground level, in a cable vault or above ground supported by utility towers a series of colored bands are placed about such components. Grooves are molded in the component housing and colored bands are placed in these grooves. A first set of colored bands would be covered when the components are properly assembled but the second set would remain exposed so that the ratings could be determined at all times.

Abstract: A pre-molded insert for a high voltage cable accessory is formed near its entry with an interior annular recess or notch which permits the insert end to be deflected towards the central axis. The insert end in conjunction with a properly sized mandrel allows the same insert to be used with high voltage cables having a range of exterior diameters.

Abstract: A mandrel having a tapered surface expanding from a first dimension at a first end to a larger dimension at its second, but having a central bore larger than the diameter of a high voltage cable, is forced into the bore of a premolded or extruded high voltage component to expand, at least a portion of such bore to the diameters of such mandrel. A locking device is fixed to the component to retain the mandrel in place. In use the cable is inserted through the mandrel bore into the cover bore and the locking device released. As the cover returns substantially to its former dimensions, the hoops forces applied to the tapered mandrel force the mandrel out from the cover and it may be removed from the cable if desired.

Abstract: A series connected capacitive graded high voltage cable terminator and suspension insulator made up of a number of individual modules each made by molding an insulating material between and around two flat, parallel plates molded of conductive material. The modules are connected in series by stacking them and the cable shield is introduced at one end while the bare conductor emerges from the stack cap. The electrical stress is uniformly divided by the number of capacitors in the series. The stack can also be used to suspend a bare high voltage conductor from a grounded tower.

Abstract: A mandrel having a tapered surface expanding from a first dimension at a first end to a larger dimension at its second, and having a central bore larger than the diameter of a high voltage cable, is forced into the bore of a premolded or extruded high voltage component to expand, at least a portion of such bore to the diameters of such mandrel. A locking device is fixed to the component to retain the mandrel in place and retain the premolded or extruded component in its expanded state. In use the cable is inserted through the mandrel bore into the cover bore and the locking device released. As the cover returns substantially to its former dimensions, the hoops forces applied to the tapered mandrel force the mandrel out from the cover bore and it may be removed from the cable if desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for permanently boiling a 200 AMP cable to a bushing well stud and permitting a second cable to be selectively connected or removed. A bushing well stud extender is added to a bushing well stud and one arm of a T-shaped housing with reinforcement is placed within the bushing well. A high voltage cable with a connector having an unthreaded aperture in its lug is placed within the central vertical leg in line with the second end of the bushing well stud extender. An insert placed in the second arm has a threaded stud to fix the cable lug between the extender and the insert. The free end of the insert has loadbreak contacts and is shaded to receive an elbow connected to a second high voltage cable.

Abstract: Fault gas seals to prevent the ejection of a surge arrester from a loadbreak bushing due to the generation of such gas in response to the failure of arrester devices in such surge arrester. A metal O-ring support is bonded to the conductive insert of the arrester housing or added as a retrofit to such housing. Annular grooves in the loadbreak probe are fitted with O-rings which are compressed against the support to provide a gas-tight passage along the probe surface. An additional annular groove can be used to receive a fastener to hold the retrofit in position.

Abstract: A terminator for a shielded high voltage cable comprising a thin-walled, flexible, elongate, insulating, elastomeric housing having a bore therethrough from a substantially closed first end providing a seal to an open second end having a skirt to protect the exposed neutral conductors of jacketed concentric neutral (JCN) cable and a plurality of rain sheds formed on the outer surface thereof. The bore has specified zones of different inner diameters to provide a seal about at least a portion of the exposed cable insulation and accept cable of various diameters while minimizing the installation forces encountered when installing the terminator. Various auxiliary devices can be employed to expand the terminator bore for installation and allow cold shrink of the terminator upon removal or repositioning of such devices after installation of the terminator on the cable.

Abstract: Devices for use with high voltage system components for the safe expulsion of conductive moisture within such components include elbow and T-shaped connector bodies composed of insulating elastomeric bodies covered with conductive elastomer layers. The horizontal legs include all components normally found in such components. The bore of the vertical leg provides a circuitous passage from the horizontal leg to a container or the soil for the collection of such moisture. The circuitous path prevents the moisture from leaving as a stream and the grounded metal cap at the vertical leg extremity discharges any charge carried by the moisture. The circuitous path can be provided by modules each having a curved, linear or combined path such that the total path is longer than the length of the vertical leg. A vacuum access port can provide a means to draw out the moisture if gravity is insufficient to withdraw the moisture from the high voltage system components.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the provision of an external shield about the periphery of the housing of a surge arrester containing one or more arrester devices to provide an expansion limiting device which permits the housing to expand to a degree necessary to permit the expulsion of arc-generated gases within the housing while serving to help to limit the total expansion to a level below the elastic limit of the housing to prevent its destruction and permit its recovery after the gases have been dissipated. The shield may be made of metal, elastomeric materials, reinforced elastomeric materials or plastic, and the shield may be supported about the housing by an external strap of metal, plastic or elastomeric materials or may be supported by a plurality of fins arranged along the periphery of the housing and engaging an edge of the shield on its internal surface.

Abstract: A connector for connecting a high voltage electrical cable to a high voltage electrical terminal. A generally L-shaped elbow housing of a resilient insulating material with a central bore therethrough provides a cable receiving leg and a terminal receiving leg. A fastening means captivated within the terminal receiving leg, but free to rotate, is operated by an external tool inserted through a selectively capped access to join a terminated high voltage cable inserted through the closely fitting bore of the cable receiving leg to a terminal inserted in the terminal receiving leg. The fastening means engaging its captivating lock acting to assist in the assembly or disassembly of connector to said terminal.

Abstract: To control the direction of movement and prevent random scattering of fragments of MOV blocks resulting from the catastrophic failure of such blocks during overvoltage incidents, a stack of such MOV blocks with end fittings attached is placed within a rigid filament-wound epoxy-impregnated tube formed as one continuous tube or a tube made up of aligned tube segments positioned so as to establish a preferred failure direction; the interstices between the interior of such tube and the exterior of said blocks and end fittings are filled with a dielectric insulative material which extends beyond and engulfs said tube and said end fittings to seal and further rigidify said component stack and provide an air-free non-electrically ionizable environment about said component stack.

Abstract: A media injection fitting for the insertion or removal of a media from the interior of a high voltage separable connector component having an access to the interior of the component. The fitting is comprised of a central body portion having a passage from an exterior side surface to the bore of a pin extending beyond the fitting for insertion into the bore of the access. A skirt extends from one end of the body portion so proportioned and configured as to be positionable upon the outer surface of the component access with a locking means on the interior surface of the skirt to fix the fitting upon the access. A pulling eye extends from the second end of the body portion to permit installation and removal of the fitting from the surface of the access. A coupling on the exterior side surface connected to the passage permits the insertion or removal of a media from the component or the venting of gases contained therein.

Abstract: A high voltage cable is fixed to the single leg of a 600-Amp "T" connector having a first of its cross bar arms mounted upon an insulating bushing fixed to a wall of the apparatus housing it is to serve. Spaced apart from such insulating bushing and mounted upon the same wall is an apparatus bushing to which is connected a bushing extender. An "h" shaped link member is employed to couple the cable via the other of its "T" connector cross bar arms to the apparatus bushing via the bushing extender. One of the short arms of the link member contains a pin/socket arrangement to make an electrical connection with the cable. The remaining short arm contains a screw-operated member operated by a tool inserted through the single long arm to make and break electrical and mechanical connections between the link member and the bushing extender. When removed, the link member not only interrupts the circuit but provides a visual indication thereof.

Abstract: The invention is the provision of an access to the interior of a high voltage separable connector component by providing a projection of insulating elastomeric material integral with the insulating material of the body of the component and in engagement with the conductive elastomeric material shield of such component. A bore extends through the projection from a free, remote face to the component interior. The bore can be straight walled and if desired can be fitted at its remote end with appropriate fittings to permit external devices or internals to interact with the elements within said component body.

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.