Abstract: A camera-assisted collimated beam alignment system for aligning first, second and third insulators of an electric power disconnect switch. An emitter stage including an emitter is temporarily attached to the first insulator. An aperture stage including an aperture plate with alignment aperture is temporarily attached to the second insulator. A target stage including an alignment target is temporarily attached to the third insulator. A camera is positioned to capture an image of the aperture plate displays an alignment indicator projected by the emitter onto the aperture plate. A camera viewer spaced apart from the camera displays the image captured by the camera to assist a technician when adjusting alignment of the insulators.

Abstract: A ion pump vacuum monitored vacuum interrupter uses the voltage already applied to the interrupter to power the vacuum ion pump. A porcelain tube in fluid communication with the interrupter vacuum bottle provides high voltage isolation between the vacuum interrupter bottle and the vacuum ion pump to protect the pump. When connected to the porcelain tube, the ion pump maintains the purity of the vacuum medium inside the vacuum interrupter bottle, while failure of the ion pump indicates a vacuum failure. Failure of the ion pump triggers response actions, such as activating a visual indicator, activating other alarms, disabling the switch until the vacuum interrupter is repaired, and entering a maintenance order. This allows the life of the vacuum interrupter to be significantly increased while simultaneously improving the reliability and safety of operating vacuum interrupters.

Abstract: A line-of-sight quick-alignment linkage for a three-phase electric disconnect switch interconnects a drive pipe, actuator arm, and a calibration mechanism of the switch. The linkage includes a quick-alignment straight edge configured to be aligned with the line-of-sight from the pivot point of the drive pipe to the actuator arm when the drive pipe is in the fully closed drive pipe position. The calibration mechanism, the actuator arm, and other phase operating levers of the other phases are then set to their fully closed positions to calibrate the linkage. The quick-alignment straight edge may be positioned on the calibration mechanism along with a visual indicator parallel to quick-alignment straight edge.

Abstract: A line-of-sight quick-alignment linkage for a three-phase electric disconnect switch interconnects a drive pipe, actuator arm, and a calibration mechanism of the switch. The linkage includes a quick-alignment straight edge configured to be aligned with the line-of-sight from the pivot point of the drive pipe to the actuator arm when the drive pipe is in the fully closed drive pipe position. The calibration mechanism, the actuator arm, and other phase operating levers of the other phases are then set to their fully closed positions to calibrate the linkage. The quick-alignment straight edge may be positioned on the calibration mechanism along with a visual indicator parallel to quick-alignment straight edge.

Abstract: A collimated beam alignment system for aligning a receiving insulator, a guide insulator and a drive insulator of an electric power disconnect switch. The collimated beam alignment system includes an emitter stage temporarily attached to the receiving insulator, an aperture stage including an alignment aperture temporarily attached to the receiving insulator, and a target stage including an alignment target temporarily attached to the drive insulator. With the drive insulator rotated to a switch-closed position, proper alignment of the receiving insulator, the guide insulator and the drive insulator is indicated by a visible spectrum collimated beam from the emitter stage passing through the alignment aperture and illuminating the alignment target. Once the insulators are aligned, the alignment system is removed and the live components of the disconnect switch are attaches to the insulators.

Abstract: A quick-alignment linkage for a three-phase electric disconnect switch includes a drive pipe, a linkage pipe, and a linkage interconnecting the drive pipe and the linkage pipe. The linkage includes quick-alignment straight edge configured to be parallel to the centerline of the drive pipe when the drive pipe is in the fully closed drive pipe position. The quick-alignment straight edge is typically positioned adjacent to a calibration mechanism of the linkage when the drive pipe is in the fully closed drive pipe position. The drive pipe may also include a flat surface with an alignment indicator configured to be parallel to the quick-alignment straight edge when the drive pipe is in the fully closed drive pipe position. The alignment indicator is also positioned adjacent to the calibration mechanism and its quick-alignment straight edge when the drive pipe is in the fully closed drive pipe position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a test-boost electric power recloser that limits the duration of the test current imposed on the power line to less than two electric power cycles, and preferably less than one electric power cycle, when attempting to reclose into a fault. The test-boost recloser sends a test pulse causing a non-latching close followed by a boost pulse causing a latching close if waveform analysis based on the test close indicates that the fault has likely cleared. The test-boost approach can typically be implemented through a software and calibration upgrade to a conventional single-coil recloser, accomplishing results comparable to a dual-actuator recloser at a much lower cost. The recloser may perform iterative and feedback learning feedback processes to automatically improve its operation over time in response to measured fault and non-fault conditions and its success in predicting whether faults have cleared.

Abstract: An alternative gas current pause circuit interrupter with an internally switched resistor-varistor impedance. The varistor limits the voltage rise across the main contactor limiting restrikes, while the resistor limits the current through the interrupter. The values of the resistor and varistor are selected to creates a current pause in the current. In a representative embodiment, the current pause performance is less than 10% of the rated line current for at least 15% of the half-cycle period allowing a plain break butt impedance contactor to be utilized without excessive arcing. For another embodiment the current pause performance is less than 5% of the rated line current for at least 20% of the half-cycle period. SF6 free alternative gas current pause circuit interrupters using a 60% CO2 blend can achieve similar or improved transient voltage performance compared to similarly sized conventional SF6 gas interrupters operating at the same voltage rating.

Abstract: A system or method for monitoring an electric power lightning arrester including an arrester current sensor providing an arrester current measurement, and an arrester voltage sensor providing an arrester voltage measurement. The system detects a switching signature based on the arrester current measurement or the arrester voltage measurement distinguished from background noise and lightning signatures and computes a measured arrester impedance based on the arrester current and arrester voltage measurements. The system then compares the measured arrester impedance to a nominal or historical arrester impedance, determines that the arrester is faltering based on the comparison of the measured arrester impedance to the nominal or historical arrester impedance, and places an order for replacement of the arrester based on the determination that the arrester is faltering.

Abstract: An electric power disconnect switch and associated vacuum circuit interrupter with a modular, removable contactor unit housing a modular, removable vacuum bottle unit. The vacuum circuit interrupter may be mounted on a bracket adjacent to the jaws of a disconnect switch, where the blade of the disconnect switch moves the actuator arm of the vacuum circuit interrupter during operation of the disconnect switch. A technician carries a spare contactor unit to the disconnect switch location, where the technician removes and replaces the contactor unit. The vacuum circuit interrupter includes a separable connection between the drive unit housing and a contactor unit housing, which allows the contactor unit to be rotated with respect to the drive unit to unscrew the connecting rod of the contactor unit from the drive shaft of the drive unit. A replacement contactor unit is then installed and the circuit interrupter is returned to service.

Abstract: An alternative gas current pause circuit interrupter with an internally switched resistor-varistor impedance. The varistor limits the voltage rise across the main contactor limiting restrikes, while the resistor limits the current through the interrupter. The values of the resistor and varistor are selected to creates a current pause in the current. In a representative embodiment, the current pause performance is less than 10% of the rated line current for at least 15% of the half-cycle period allowing a plain break butt impedance contactor to be utilized without excessive arcing. For another embodiment the current pause performance is less than 5% of the rated line current for at least 20% of the half-cycle period. SF6 free alternative gas current pause circuit interrupters using a 60% CO2 blend can achieve similar or improved transient voltage performance compared to similarly sized conventional SF6 gas interrupters operating at the same voltage rating.

Abstract: A system or method for monitoring an electric power lightning arrester including an arrester current sensor providing an arrester current measurement, and an arrester voltage sensor providing an arrester voltage measurement. The system detects a switching signature based on the arrester current measurement or the arrester voltage measurement distinguished from background noise and lightning signatures and computes a measured arrester impedance based on the arrester current and arrester voltage measurements. The system then compares the measured arrester impedance to a nominal or historical arrester impedance, determines that the arrester is faltering based on the comparison of the measured arrester impedance to the nominal or historical arrester impedance, and places an order for replacement of the arrester based on the determination that the arrester is faltering.

Abstract: A high voltage electric switch includes contacts with graphite carbon electrode forming the arc gap. In addition, the carbon contacts are located in a chamber containing at least 60% carbon dioxide (CO2) as a dielectric gas to achieve improved arc interrupting performance. In conventional switches, the metallic contacts introduce metallic vapors into the arc plasma that inhibits the ability of the dielectric gas to interrupt high voltage, high current arcs. As the element carbon is inherently present in CO2 gas, the addition of vapors from the carbon electrodes into the dielectric gas does not significantly interfere with the dielectric arc-interrupting performance of the CO2 dielectric gas.

Abstract: An electric power disconnect switch and associated vacuum circuit interrupter with a modular, removable contactor unit housing a modular, removable vacuum bottle unit. The vacuum circuit interrupter may be mounted on a bracket adjacent to the jaws of a disconnect switch, where the blade of the disconnect switch moves the actuator arm of the vacuum circuit interrupter during operation of the disconnect switch. A technician carries a spare contactor unit to the disconnect switch location, where the technician removes and replaces the contactor unit. The vacuum circuit interrupter includes a separable connection between the drive unit housing and a contactor unit housing, which allows the contactor unit to be rotated with respect to the drive unit to unscrew the connecting rod of the contactor unit from the drive shaft of the drive unit. A replacement contactor unit is then installed and the circuit interrupter is returned to service.

Abstract: A quick-set clevis joint for a three-phase electric disconnect switch linkage includes a clevis housing having a spring chamber axially aligned and disposed around a linkage pipe extending through the clevis housing. A spring positioned within the spring chamber provides play in the linkage. First and second thrust disks compress the spring in a first axial direction with the first thrust disk pushed against a first spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the first axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the first axial direction. In addition. the first and second thrust disks compress the spring in the second axial direction with the second thrust disk pushed against the second spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the second axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the second axial direction.

Abstract: A time-admittance fault detection and isolation system includes a series of time-admittance switches spaced apart along the power line, each including a respective time-admittance function. Together, the time-admittance functions define a cascade trip sequence in a downstream-to-upstream direction, which autonomously causes a closest upstream time-admittance switch to a fault to trip to isolate the fault on an upstream side of the fault without communication with the time-admittance switches. The fault detection and isolation system may also include a radio communicating a trip signal from the closest upstream time-admittance switch to the fault to a closest downstream time-admittance switch to the fault. The trip signal causes the closest downstream time-admittance switch to the fault to trip to isolate the fault on a downstream side of the fault. A tie switch closes to back-feed a portion of the electric power line downstream from the closest downstream time-admittance switch to the fault.

Abstract: A quick-set clevis joint for a three-phase electric disconnect switch linkage includes a clevis housing having a spring chamber axially aligned and disposed around a linkage pipe extending through the clevis housing. A spring positioned within the spring chamber provides play in the linkage. First and second thrust disks compress the spring in a first axial direction with the first thrust disk pushed against a first spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the first axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the first axial direction. In addition. the first and second thrust disks compress the spring in the second axial direction with the second thrust disk pushed against the second spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the second axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the second axial direction.

Abstract: A quick-alignment linkage for a three-phase electric disconnect switch includes a drive pipe, a linkage pipe, and a linkage interconnecting the drive pipe and the linkage pipe. The linkage includes quick-alignment straight edge configured to be parallel to the centerline of the drive pipe when the drive pipe is in the fully closed drive pipe position. The quick-alignment straight edge is typically positioned adjacent to a calibration mechanism of the linkage when the drive pipe is in the fully closed drive pipe position. The drive pipe may also include a flat surface with an alignment indicator configured to be parallel to the quick-alignment straight edge when the drive pipe is in the fully closed drive pipe position. The alignment indicator is also positioned adjacent to the calibration mechanism and its quick-alignment straight edge when the drive pipe is in the fully closed drive pipe position.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a test-boost electric power recloser that limits the duration of the test current imposed on the power line to less than two electric power cycles, and preferably less than one electric power cycle, when attempting to reclose into a fault. The test-boost recloser sends a test pulse causing a non-latching close followed by a boost pulse causing a latching close if waveform analysis based on the test close indicates that the fault has likely cleared. The test-boost approach can typically be implemented through a software and calibration upgrade to a conventional single-coil recloser, accomplishing results comparable to a dual-actuator recloser at a much lower cost. The recloser may perform iterative and feedback learning feedback processes to automatically improve its operation over time in response to measured fault and non-fault conditions and its success in predicting whether faults have cleared.

Abstract: A time-admittance fault detection and isolation system includes a series of time-admittance switches spaced apart along the power line, each including a respective time-admittance function. Together, the time-admittance functions define a cascade trip sequence in a downstream-to-upstream direction, which autonomously causes a closest upstream time-admittance switch to a fault to trip to isolate the fault on an upstream side of the fault without communication with the time-admittance switches. The fault detection and isolation system may also include a radio communicating a trip signal from the closest upstream time-admittance switch to the fault to a closest downstream time-admittance switch to the fault. The trip signal causes the closest downstream time-admittance switch to the fault to trip to isolate the fault on a downstream side of the fault. A tie switch closes to back-feed a portion of the electric power line downstream from the closest downstream time-admittance switch to the fault.