Abstract: A switchgear apparatus includes a vacuum interrupter assembly having a movable contact and a stationary contact, a main housing surrounding the vacuum interrupter assembly, and a first terminal electrically coupled to one of the movable contact and the stationary contact, the first terminal extending from the main housing along a first axis. The switchgear apparatus also includes a second terminal electrically coupled to the other of the movable contact and the stationary contact, the second terminal extending from the main housing along a second axis, and a mounting head couplable to the main housing in a plurality of orientations about the first axis.

Abstract: A switchgear apparatus configured for operation at voltages up to 72.5 kV includes a vacuum interrupter assembly having a fixed contact and a movable contact configured to move relative to the fixed contact between a closed position in which the movable contact is in contact with the fixed contact and an open position in which the movable contact is spaced from the fixed contact. The switchgear apparatus also includes an electromagnetic actuator configured to move the movable contact between the open position and the closed position, a manual trip assembly movable from an initial position to an actuated position to move the movable contact from the closed position to the open position, and a mechanical interlock assembly configured to prevent the movable contact from moving from the open position to the closed position when the manual trip assembly is in the actuated position.

Abstract: A switchgear apparatus configured for operation at voltages up to 72.5 kV includes a vacuum interrupter assembly including a vacuum bottle having an upper portion and a lower potion, a sleeve surrounding the vacuum bottle, a dielectric material surrounding the sleeve, a first terminal electrically coupled to the upper portion of the vacuum interrupter assembly, and an interchange coupled to a lower portion of the vacuum interrupter assembly. The dielectric material is molded around the sleeve and around at least a portion of the first terminal or the interchange. The sleeve may be molded around the vacuum bottle or pre-formed and slid around the vacuum bottle.

Abstract: A switchgear assembly includes an indicator assembly to indicate whether a movable contact is in an open or a closed position. The indicator assembly includes an indicator body having first and second sections. The indicator body is rotatable to display the first section in the open position and the second section in the closed position. The indicator assembly also includes a drive gear having a first helical spline and coupled to an actuator of the switchgear assembly such that operation of the actuator moves the drive gear, and an elongated driven gear having a second helical spline extending along a length of the driven gear and engaged with the first helical spline of the drive gear such that movement of the drive gear rotates the driven gear. The driven gear is coupled to the indicator body such that rotation of the driven gear causes rotation of the indicator body.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes an electrode extending along a longitudinal axis and a tubular section extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially surrounding the electrode such that the tubular section is radially spaced from the electrode, the tubular section including a first layer made of an electrically insulating material and having a first length, a second layer made of an electrically conductive material disposed on an inner surface of the first layer and having a second length, and a third layer made of an of electrically conductive material disposed on an outer surface of the first layer and having a third length. The sensor assembly also includes a mass of dielectric material at least partially enclosing the electrode and the tubular section. The mass of dielectric insulating material fills through openings in the tubular section, and the second length and the third length are coextensive.

Abstract: A switchgear apparatus configured for operation at voltages up to 72.5 kV includes a vacuum interrupter assembly including a vacuum bottle having an upper portion and a lower potion, a sleeve surrounding the vacuum bottle, a dielectric material surrounding the sleeve, a first terminal electrically coupled to the upper portion of the vacuum interrupter assembly, and an interchange coupled to a lower portion of the vacuum interrupter assembly. The dielectric material is molded around the sleeve and around at least a portion of the first terminal or the interchange. The sleeve may be molded around the vacuum bottle or pre-formed and slid around the vacuum bottle.

Abstract: A capacitive voltage sensor assembly includes a first electrode extending along a longitudinal axis, a tubular section surrounding a portion of the first electrode and positioned radially outward from the longitudinal axis and the first electrode, the tubular section including an insulating layer, an inner conductive layer, and an outer conductive layer, and a mass of dielectric insulating material at least partially enclosing the first electrode and the tubular section. The mass of dielectric insulating material fills through openings formed in the tubular section.

Abstract: An integrated assembly includes a switchgear apparatus for operation at voltages up to 72.5 kV and a mount assembly for coupling to a pole and to support the switchgear apparatus. The mount assembly includes a crossbar, a pole mount, a mounting bracket to support the switchgear apparatus, and a pair of crossbar mounts for supporting the mounting bracket on the crossbar at different positions. Each crossbar mount includes a first arm, a second arm spaced from the first arm and extending parallel to the first arm, a third arm extending between and coupled to a distal end of each of the first and second arms, and a flange extending between and coupled to a proximal end of each of the first and second arms. The flange extends parallel to the third arm. The first, second, and third arms and the flange form an enclosed space to receive the crossbar.

Abstract: A switchgear system operable at voltages up to 27 kV includes an enclosure containing atmospheric air and a loadbreak module disposed within the enclosure. The loadbreak module includes a loadbreak module housing made of a solid dielectric material, a vacuum interrupter enclosed within the loadbreak module housing and having a fixed contact and a movable contact, and an interchange electrically connected to the movable contact. The vacuum interrupter is operable to selectively break or establish an electrical pathway between the interchange and a terminal in response to movement of the movable contact relative to the fixed contact. The switchgear system further includes a bushing coupled to the enclosure and a disconnect switch electrically connected in series between the loadbreak module and the bushing. The disconnect switch includes a disconnect switch housing made of a solid dielectric material.

Abstract: A system and method for compensating for drift in a switch gear voltage sensor. The system includes a circuit, and an electronic processor. The circuit is configured to receive a first signal from a first capacitor of the voltage sensor and receive a second signal from a second capacitor of the voltage sensor. The circuit is further configured to generate a third signal and a fourth signal based on the first signal and the second signal. The electronic processor is configured to receive the third signal and the fourth signal and determine an angular frequency, a phase difference, a resistance value, a voltage across a compensation capacitor, an initial gain, a capacitance of the second capacitor, a capacitance and a voltage of the compensation capacitor, and a final gain.

Abstract: A capacitive voltage sensor assembly includes a first electrode extending along a longitudinal axis, a second electrode surrounding a portion of the first electrode and positioned radially outward from the longitudinal axis and the first electrode, the second electrode including a flexible tubular portion, and a mass of dielectric insulating material at least partially encapsulating the first electrode and the second electrode. The flexible tubular portion is configured to move during solidification of the mass of dielectric resin, and the mass of dielectric resin fills through openings formed in the second electrode and forms a unitary insulating carrier structure for the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a low-power voltage transformer (LPVT). Systems include a capacitive voltage divider and a variable capacitance device connected to the capacitive voltage divider. A parameter of the variable capacitance device is adjusted to minimize the ratio error of the LPVT. Methods include connecting a variable capacitance device to a capacitive voltage divider of the LPVT system, measuring a ratio error of the LPVT system based on an output of the variable capacitance device, and adjusting a parameter of the variable capacitance device.

Abstract: A switchgear assembly includes an indicator assembly to indicate whether a movable contact is in an open or a closed position. The indicator assembly includes an indicator body having first and second sections. The indicator body is rotatable to display the first section in the open position and the second section in the closed position. The indicator assembly also includes a drive gear having a first helical spline and coupled to an actuator of the switchgear assembly such that operation of the actuator moves the drive gear, and an elongated driven gear having a second helical spline extending along a length of the driven gear and engaged with the first helical spline of the drive gear such that movement of the drive gear rotates the driven gear. The driven gear is coupled to the indicator body such that rotation of the driven gear causes rotation of the indicator body.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a connecting bar extending along a longitudinal axis and a tubular body extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially surrounding the connecting bar such that the tubular body is radially spaced from the connecting bar. The tubular body includes a first skirt portion, a first plurality of cantilevered tabs extending from the first skirt portion in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, a second skirt portion, and a second plurality of cantilevered tabs extending from the second skirt portion in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A capacitive voltage sensor assembly includes an electrode extending along a longitudinal axis, the electrode having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a tubular shield surrounding and spaced radially outward from a portion of the electrode. The tubular shield includes a plurality of through holes. The sensor assembly also includes a circular sensor element positioned radially inward of the tubular shield and including a first layer made of electrically conductive material and a second layer made of electrically insulating material. The circular sensor element includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced gaps.

Abstract: A method for controlling a power distribution network includes receiving, via an electronic processor, a fault indication associated with a fault from a first isolation device of a plurality of isolation devices. The processor identifies a first subset of a plurality of phases associated with the fault indication and a second subset not associated with the fault indication. The processor sends a first open command to each member of a set of downstream isolation devices for each phase in the first subset. The processor identifies a plurality of tie-in isolation devices to be closed to restore power. Responsive to identifying a first potential loop configuration, for each of the plurality of tie-in devices, the processor sends a close command to the tie-in isolation device for each of the plurality of phases and sends a second open command to the associated downstream isolation device for each phase in the second subset.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a connecting bar extending along a longitudinal axis and a tubular body extending along the longitudinal axis and at least partially surrounding the connecting bar such that the tubular body is radially spaced from the connecting bar. The tubular body includes a support member made of insulating material. The tubular body also includes a first section with an electric field sensor comprising a first layer of electrically conductive material on an inner surface of the support member to detect an electric field produced by the connecting bar. The first section also includes a first electric screen comprising a second layer of electrically conductive material on an outer surface of the support member to shield the electric field sensor from outside electrical interference. A second section disposed adjacent the first section includes a second electric screen. A dielectric material at least partially encloses the tubular body.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a recloser voltage measurement system. In one example, the recloser voltage measurement system includes a voltage divider and a voltage adjustment circuit. The voltage divider is electrically coupled to a recloser. The voltage adjustment circuit is electrically coupled to an output of the voltage divider. The method includes determining a first voltage measurement at a high voltage input to the recloser. The method also includes determining a second voltage measurement at an output of the voltage adjustment circuit. The method further includes calculating a difference between the first voltage measurement and the second voltage measurement. The method also includes determining a target voltage gain based on the determined difference between the first voltage measurement and the second voltage measurement. The method further includes adjusting a voltage ratio of the voltage divider by setting the voltage adjustment circuit to the target voltage gain.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling a power distribution network are provided. An electronic processor receives, a fault indication associated with a fault from a first isolation device of a plurality of isolation devices. The processor identifies a first subset of a plurality of phases associated with the fault indication and a second subset of the plurality of phases not associated with the fault indication. The processor identifies a downstream isolation device downstream of the fault. The processor sends send a first open command to the downstream isolation device for each phase in the first subset. The processor sends a close command to a tie-in isolation device for each of the plurality of phases. The processor sends a second open command to the downstream isolation device for each phase in the second subset. Responsive to identifying a potential loop configuration, the processor sends the second open command prior to the close command.

Abstract: A processor receives an indication of a fault from a first isolation device. The processor sends a first open command to a downstream isolation device downstream of the fault, identifies a tie-in isolation device, and identifies a line section without current monitoring positioned between the tie-in isolation device and the downstream isolation device. The line section has a plurality of line segments, each having a load rating. The processor receives incoming and exiting current measurements for the line section and estimates a first current load for each of the line segments in the line section based on the incoming and exiting current measurements and the load ratings. The processor selects an intermediate isolation device between the tie-in isolation device and the downstream isolation device based on the first current loads, sends a second open command to the intermediate isolation device, and sends a close command to the tie-in isolation device.