Abstract: A triggerable ceramic gas tube voltage breakdown device, particularly adapted for use in an electrical circuit for controlling the light output of a photoflash lamp, includes means for reducing the attenuation of an electrical trigger pulse in the region of the electrode gap due to the ceramic spacer tube. The electric field intensity in the region of the electrode gap resulting from the trigger pulse may be enhanced by disposing annular conductive material in the region and by connecting that material to a source of the trigger pulses. Alternatively or in conjunction therewith, the configuration of the ceramic spacer tube may be altered by removing material from the ceramic spacer tube in the region of the electrode gap, thereby enhancing the electric field intensity in that region resulting from the trigger pulses.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing anchors in the earth using rotational power and axial thrust from a power source includes an elongated torque tube for enclosing a guy rod of an anchor and having a lower end portion adapted to drivingly engage the hub of the anchor. A drive coupling is provided for detachably interconnecting the power source to drive the torque tube and install the anchor, and the coupling includes a body having a socket for receiving an upper end portion of the torque tube and an upper end portion of the guy rod. The socket has flatted side walls formed with radial ports which are positioned to face apertures that are provided in a torque tube which has been inserted into the socket. Lock pins are slidably mounted in the radial ports and are biased toward the center of the socket. The lock pins are adapted to project into the apertures of a torque tube when fully seated in the socket and also engage and hold the guy rod of an anchor as it is driven into the earth.

Abstract: A high voltage vacuum-type circuit interrupter is disclosed that includes a single or one-piece ceramic insulating housing providing both the external solid insulation between a line terminal and a switch terminal and the external solid insulation between the line terminal and electrical ground. The ceramic housing is mounted on a metallic base by the wedging action of a spring disposed under tension on an exterior inclined surface at the lower longitudinal end of the insulating housing and on an interior inclined surface of the base. A solenoid operated toggle mechanism disposed in the base actuates an elongated operating rod that effectuates the opening and closing of a pair of switch contacts positioned in an evacuated ceramic casing that includes a relatively shallow recess formed about its internal periphery intermediate its longitudinal ends. A tubular metallic vapor shield is held in the ceramic casing by a plurality of metallic ring segments positioned in the recess.

Abstract: An improved hermetically sealed gas tube surge arrester includes at least a pair of gap electrodes separated by an insulating spacer to form an electrode gap and a separate trigger electrode disposed about the region of the electrode gap for increasing the electrical field intensity in the region of the electrode gap. Preconditioning means is provided to direct an impulse voltage surge to the trigger electrode, prior to being impressed across the gap electrodes, thereby to precondition the electrode gap to breakdown at a relatively low impulse breakdown voltage.

Abstract: A modular vacuum interrupter for controlling the application of single or polyphase electrical power to single or polyphase electrical apparatus includes a rigid base, a plurality of identical vacuum switch modules, an operating mechanism and cover. The base includes a pair of inclined surfaces that define a pair of tracks for capturing and retaining the plurality of vacuum switch modules and the cover therebetween and in contact with the base. Each of the vacuum switch modules includes first and second electrical terminals, an enclosed vacuum switch having a pair of electrical contacts in an evacuated environment, an operating plunger for moving contact into engagement with a stationary contact, a return spring for biasing the operating plunger and vacuum contacts to an OPEN position, a movable flexible shunt for electrically interconnecting the first terminal to the movable contact and an internally threaded insulating cap for isolating the vacuum switches mounted in adjacent vacuum switch modules.

Abstract: A connector for high tensile load attachment to an elongated rod, such as a resin bonded, glass reinforced rod, includes a high strength, elongated, metal cylindrical retainer having an internal shoulder formed at one longitudinal end and a plurality of outer peripheral threads formed at the other longitudinal end for the threaded attachment of a hook or other load bearing device. The connector further includes a plurality of metal collets or rings, whose inner peripheral profile configurations are that of a pair of truncated cones placed base-to-base, serially, longitudinally received within the retainer. The slopes of the cones of the collets received within the retainer are independently, variably preselectable to achieve optimum results. The junctions or edges defining the intersections of the bases of the cones are rounded off to avoid excessive stresses being transmitted to the rod.

Abstract: A disconnector for a surge arrester explosively separates an electrical lead wire, normally a ground lead wire, from the arrester to prevent a permanent fault and to provide an indication of a failed arrester. The disconnector includes an elongated, frangible insulating housing having an elongated opening disposed along and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insulating housing; a first electrically conductive terminal disposed at a first end of the opening; a second electrically conductive terminal disposed at a second end of the opening; means for forming an arc gap disposed between the first and second terminals, including an arc gap spacer and an arc electrode being either generally flat or including a raised portion; and an explosive cartridge disposed between the first and second terminals and in contact with the arc electrode.

Abstract: A connector for high tensile load attachment to an elongated rod, such as a resin bonded, glass reinforced rod, includes a high strength, elongated, metal cylindrical retainer having an internal shoulder formed at one longitudinal end and a plurality of outer peripheral threads formed at the other longitudinal end for the threaded attachment of a hook or other load bearing device. The connector further includes a plurality of metal collets or rings, whose inner peripheral profile configurations are that of a pair of truncated cones placed base-to-base, serially, longitudinally received within the retainer. An organic potting compound, for example an epoxy resin, is poured into the space between the rod and the collets and is allowed to cure.

Abstract: A cable termination connector assembly for physically receiving and securely retaining the bared end of a current carrying center conductor of a high voltage power cable and for making an external electrical connection to the center conductor includes a multi-barrel connector for use with many different sizes of high voltage power cables. A plurality of elongated, generally axially extending apertures are formed in the connector for receiving the wire strands of a segmented or nonsegmented center conductor of a high voltage power cable. In a specific embodiment, the apertures are canted or inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the center conductor and the multi-barrel connector to minimize the length of cable insulation that is cut away or stripped back and thereby increase the dielectric strength or reduce the size of the termination assembly and facilitate insertion of the wire strands.

Abstract: An organic composite electrical insulator system includes one or more modular ethylene propylene copolymer elastomeric molded insulators or sheds bonded by a thin line bond to an epoxy or polyester resin bonded fiberglass structural member. In one embodiment, the organic composite insulator system may take the form of a suspension insulator used to support a high voltage power cable from a transmission tower. The suspension insulator includes a pair of metallic end connectors mechanically attached to opposite longitudinal ends of an elongated polyester resin bonded fiberglass core rod. The space between the end connectors along the rod is filled with a plurality of modular ethylene propylene elastomeric molded insulators or sheds having inner diameters smaller than the outside diameter of the rod in order to obtain a slip fit and thereby compressively load the interface surfaces between the sheds and the rod during the manufacture of the rod.

Abstract: A composite sucker rod string for connecting a subsurface well pump to a surface pumping unit utilizes a plurality of relatively elastic sucker rods, such as, polyfilament reinforced, resin bonded sucker rods in conjunction with a plurality of relatively inelastic sucker rods, such as, steel sucker rods, with the lengths and other parameters of the relatively elastic and relatively inelastic portions of the sucker rod string being selected to provide optimum pumping performance within the constraints imposed by the characteristics of the well and pumping equipment.

Abstract: A current limiting spark gap for use in a high voltage valve type lightning or surge arrester includes a plurality of insulating gap plates assembled together in a vertical stack to define a generally horizontally extending arc elongation and cooling chamber between adjacent plates. Series gap electrodes are disposed along opposite sides of each plate and are double electrodes formed by a unitary piece of wire preformed to slide into position onto each plate. A gap spacer is provided in each arc chamber interfitting with the series gap electrodes and the insulating plates for accurately defining and enclosing the series gap and for maintaining the spark gap as an assembly. A new and improved spark initiator with two, resilient, ionizing arms is provided in each arc chamber for consistently achieving low impulse voltage sparkover.

Abstract: An applique or attachment for a station protector spark gap device includes an insulated enclosure housing a gas tube spark gap device together with fail safe shorting means located circumferentially therearound. Auxiliary gaps in parallel with the gas tube spark gap device are provided as back up should the gas tube vent. Wire leads welded to end plates within the enclosure make connection with the ends of the gas tube spark gap device, the fail safe shorting mechanism and the auxiliary gaps.

Abstract: Arresters for protecting electrical equipment from damage or destruction due to overvoltage surges, for example overvoltage surges caused by lightning strokes, are provided that are fabricated or assembled integrally with cable taps, cable joints, separable insulated connector apparatus, and overhead arrester assemblies. Arresters are also provided for insertion in arrester receptacles which are integrally provided with cable taps, joints, separable insulated connector apparatus or cable receptacle devices. The arresters include a laminated enclosure for excluding the atmosphere, air and moisture, along the outer surfaces of arrester components and along the outer surface of an insulating housing layer, as well as along interfaces with insulated power cable and separable insulated arrester components. The housing is either fabricated by coating or molding onto the arrester components or by inserting the arrester components in an interference fit relationship into a premolded elastomeric enclosure.

Abstract: An improved grouted earth anchor having a modified end configuration that reduces undesirable tensile stress in the grout ball. The reduction in tensile stress is accomplished by locating the enlarged end section of the end configuration of the anchor rod away from the bottom of the grout ball, and by shaping the enlarged end section in a predetermined manner in order to make the compressive stress trajectories between the surface of the enlarged end section and the surface of the grout ball as straight as possible.

Abstract: An electrical insulation system includes a new and improved monolithic, polymeric, porous, open cell, fully impregnable, dielectric solid and an impregnating substance that may be applied to the dielectric solid either at the factory prior to shipment or in the field prior to or during installation. The dielectric solid is preformed to enable the quick and easy field installation of the insulation system in electrical apparatus. In addition, the porous, open cell nature of the dielectric solid in which very small communicating open cells are substantially evenly distributed throughout substantially all of the dielectric solid enables a dielectric fluid, such as a dielectric oil, to pass through the dielectric solid and thereby impart the self-healing characteristic of impregnated layered paper insulation to the new and improved insulation system. In a fluid dielectric system, the impregnating substance may be a dielectric oil or other dielectric liquid.

Abstract: A spark gap protector includes a gas tube spark gap device received in a supporting base. A failsafe device for permanently shorting the spark gap protector to ground after an extended discharge includes a spring biased cage and a solder pellet. An extended surge current fuses the solder pellet resulting in movement of the shorting cage to a failsafe, shorted condition. The cage normally grasps a conducting ring spaced from a shorting contact member by a thin insulating spacer defining an auxiliary gap thereacross. In case the spark gap device vents so as to become substantially inoperative, and the cage does not operate to short the device, the auxiliary gap provided backup protection at a breakdown voltage somewhat greater than ordinarily supplied by the gas tube spark gap device.

Abstract: A surge protector or arrester for providing surge protection for relatively low voltage or secondary equipment, circuits and systems includes a vertically stacked, parallel arrangement of two, independent, spark gap and valve block assemblies, the components of which are generally horizontally disposed within a triangularly shaped surge protector housing. The triangular shape of the housing enables maximum spacing of the three electrode contacts associated with the two assemblies to prevent their flashover while maintaining minimum exterior housing dimensions. The components of the two assemblies are disposed horizontally within the housing after a sealing and insulating compound has been applied to the entrance portions of the three contacts. Each of the three contacts includes an integrally formed crimp contact, an integrally formed lead-in electrode and an integrally formed spring contact.

Abstract: An entrance fitting assembly is disposed at an interface between a high voltage power cable and a high pressure oil filled cable termination to physically and electrically terminate the power cable skid wires, to seal the power cable pipe system to the cable termination and to filter the dielectric liquid flowing between the power cable pipe system and the cable termination. The entrance fitting assembly includes a centering and support plate for receiving and securing the cable skid wires, an elastomeric semi-stop or oil seal and an oil filter. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oil filter is formed by a monolithic, polymeric, porous, open cell solid in a configuration of a thin annular disc.

Abstract: A fault locator of the earth potential gradient type for locating faults in underground, unshielded, insulated, electrical power cables includes a high voltage pulsing unit for generating and applying high voltage pulses to a faulted power cable. The pulses pass through the power cable, out of the electrical fault, through the earth and back to the pulsing unit. The passage of the pulses through the earth forms potential differences between locations in the earth. These potential differences are monitored by a monitoring unit formed by a fault locator meter and a pair of probes inserted into the earth. The fault locator meter includes a galvanometer for indicating the potential differences and a control circuit that has high gain, automatic gain control, automatic needle centering, automatic earth potential offset compensation and a momentary contact switch to reduce the power drain.