Abstract: A method of regenerating a desiccant in a breather communicating with a vessel includes creating a temperature signal that is a temperature associated with at least one of the vessel and the breather for a plurality of cycles, each cycle having a predetermined duration, and regenerating the desiccant when the second derivative of the temperature signal reaches a peak value.

Abstract: The invention provides a sensor assembly for determining the concentration of hydrogen in an insulating fluid in electric power generation, transmission, and distribution equipment. The assembly includes a housing having an opening therein communicating with the fluid, a hydrogen sensor disposed in the housing and responsive to the concentration of hydrogen in the fluid and generating a signal related to the concentration of hydrogen, and a pressure sensor disposed in the housing responsive to the fluid and generating a second signal indicative of the pressure of the fluid in the equipment. The assembly further includes a signal processor disposed in the housing and connected to the hydrogen sensor and the pressure sensor and responsive to the first and second signals for generating a third signal representing the concentration of hydrogen in the fluid.

Abstract: A port assembly is receivable in an opening allowing access to the interior of a transformer. The port assembly includes a body and a port cover. The body is receivable in the opening and has a substantially axial opening therethrough. The axial opening allows access to the interior of the transformer through the port. The port cover is disposed on the interior of the transformer and is movable relative to the body between a sealed position sealing the axial opening and an open position allowing access to the interior of the temperature well. The port cover is biased toward the sealing position and moves to the open position upon being acted upon by an elongate tool inserted into the temperature well through the axial opening in the port.

Abstract: A method of regenerating a desiccant in a breather communicating with a vessel includes creating a temperature signal that is a temperature associated with at least one of the vessel and the breather for a plurality of cycles, each cycle having a predetermined duration, and regenerating the desiccant when the second derivative of the temperature signal reaches a peak value.

Abstract: A housing sensor having a semiconductor element for measuring hydrogen concentration in an insulating fluid in equipment having a mounting flange on the equipment providing access to the interior of the equipment provided with a plurality of bolt receiving openings arranged on the mounting flange in a first pattern which includes a first flange having at least one or more openings and an outer periphery. The sensor also includes a tubular housing support member having one end received in one of the openings, a plurality of bolt receiving apertures arranged in a pattern corresponding to the first pattern within the outer periphery of the first flange. The sensor further includes at least one wire receiving opening extending through the housing body, a cover closing an end of the housing body distal from the one end, a first seal disposed between the first flange and the tubular housing support member, a second seal disposed on the first flange for engaging the mounting flange.

Abstract: The invention provides a housing for a sensor having a semiconductor element for measuring hydrogen concentration in an insulating fluid in electric power generation, transmission, and distribution equipment having a mounting flange on the equipment providing access to the interior of the equipment and provided with a plurality of bolt receiving openings arranged on the mounting flange in a first pattern, which includes a first flange having at least one or more openings for receiving one or more semiconductor hydrogen sensors and an outer periphery, a plurality of bolt receiving apertures arranged in a pattern corresponding to the first pattern within the outer periphery of the first flange, a second flange having a second plurality of bolt receiving apertures arranged in a pattern corresponding to the first pattern within the periphery of the second flange.

Abstract: The invention provides a sensor assembly for a sensor having a semiconductor element for measuring hydrogen concentration in an insulating fluid in electric power generation, transmission, and distribution equipment having a temperature well that has a tubular portion extending into the equipment providing access to the interior of the equipment, the temperature well having a movable valve at an end of the tubular portion. The tubular portion includes a first flange, a tubular housing member attached to the first flange having one end adapted to be telescopically received in the temperature well. The tubular portion further includes a housing body having one end thereof connected to the tubular housing member having a substantially uniform cross section extending from the tubular housing member wherein at least one wire receiving opening extends through the housing body.

Abstract: The invention provides a housing for a sensor having a semiconductor element for measuring hydrogen concentration in an insulating fluid in electric power generation, transmission, and distribution equipment having a mounting flange on the equipment providing access to the interior of the equipment and provided with a plurality of bolt receiving openings arranged on the mounting flange in a first pattern, which includes a first flange having at least one or more openings for receiving one or more semiconductor hydrogen sensors and an outer periphery, a plurality of bolt receiving apertures arranged in a pattern corresponding to the first pattern within the outer periphery of the first flange, a second flange having a second plurality of bolt receiving apertures arranged in a pattern corresponding to the first pattern within the periphery of the second flange.

Abstract: A housing sensor having a semiconductor element for measuring hydrogen concentration in an insulating fluid in equipment having a mounting flange on the equipment providing access to the interior of the equipment provided with a plurality of bolt receiving openings arranged on the mounting flange in a first pattern which includes a first flange having at least one or more openings and an outer periphery. The sensor also includes a tubular housing support member having one end received in one of the openings, a plurality of bolt receiving apertures arranged in a pattern corresponding to the first pattern within the outer periphery of the first flange. The sensor further includes at least one wire receiving opening extending through the housing body, a cover closing an end of the housing body distal from the one end, a first seal disposed between the first flange and the tubular housing support member, a second seal disposed on the first flange for engaging the mounting flange.

Abstract: The invention provides a sensor assembly for determining the concentration of hydrogen in an insulating fluid in electric power generation, transmission, and distribution equipment. The assembly includes a housing having an opening therein communicating with the fluid, a hydrogen sensor disposed in the housing and responsive to the concentration of hydrogen in the fluid and generating a signal related to the concentration of hydrogen, and a pressure sensor disposed in the housing responsive to the fluid and generating a second signal indicative of the pressure of the fluid in the equipment. The assembly further includes a signal processor disposed in the housing and connected to the hydrogen sensor and the pressure sensor and responsive to the first and second signals for generating a third signal representing the concentration of hydrogen in the fluid.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a method of sensing hydrogen gas in a liquid comprising: providing a measuring device comprising a hydrogen sensing chamber and a palladium hydrogen sensor mounted in contact with said chamber, positioning a hydrogen permeable membrane between the liquid and the hydrogen sensor and creating a headspace, selectively providing air to the sensor headspace, thereby bringing air into contact with said palladium sensor to refresh the palladium, after the palladium sensor is refreshed shutting off air flow to the sensor headspace, bringing liquid into said chamber, allowing hydrogen to pass through the membrane and reach equilibrium, and reading the hydrogen concentration.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a method of sensing hydrogen gas in a liquid comprising: providing a measuring device comprising a hydrogen sensing chamber and a palladium hydrogen sensor mounted in contact with said chamber, positioning a hydrogen permeable membrane between the liquid and the hydrogen sensor and creating a headspace, selectively providing air to the sensor headspace, thereby bringing air into contact with said palladium sensor to refresh the palladium, after the palladium sensor is refreshed shutting off air flow to the sensor headspace, bringing liquid into said chamber, allowing hydrogen to pass through the membrane and reach equilibrium, and reading the hydrogen concentration.

Abstract: A pressure relief device for electrical equipment housing, includes a valve body having a pedestal that projects above a mounting flange and a table on the pedestal that supports a two-stage valve assembly that can be sized in diameter independently of the working area of the flange beneath the table. The design is particularly applicable to retrofit applications for large power distribution equipment with the footprint of the pressure relief device fixed by the design of the equipment housings. The first-stage valve opening can be sized substantially as large as vent openings in the housings and the second-stage valve openings can be sized in the desired relationship with the first-stage opening for optimizing valve performance independently of the constraints imposed by the footprint of the device.

Abstract: An enclosure for a pressure relief device, particularly pressure relief devices mounted on electrical equipment housings, is pre-assembled together with the pressure relief device. The enclosure, which provides for temporarily confining and directing fluids discharged from the pressure relief device, is pre-assembled leaving a clearance space so that the pressure relief device can be mounted on the housing with the enclosure system in place. A peripheral shield with an opening for attaching the enclosure to a discharge pipe or other duct work remains rotatable until deliberately secured in place. Components can be shared between the enclosure and the pressure relief device to provide a more efficient and cost effective design.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pressure relief valve for attachment to a closed vessel having an opening to vent gas and liquids from the housing should the internal housing pressure rise to unacceptable levels. The pressure relief valve includes a single gasket that seals between a valve disk and a collar disposed about the opening. The gasket is fixed to the collar by a single retaining ring and effects seals with the disk valve in two planes, one seal is in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the opening and a second seal is in a plane generally normal to the plane of the opening. Moreover, the second seal remains in tact for a short time after the first seal is broken to permit the rapid separation of the disk valve from the gasket to vent gas and liquids from the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pressure relief valve for attachment to a closed vessel having an opening to vent gas and liquids from the housing should the internal housing pressure rise to unacceptable levels. The pressure relief valve includes a single gasket that seals between a valve disk and a collar disposed about the opening. The gasket is fixed to the collar by a single retaining ring and effects seals with the disk valve in two planes, one seal is in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the opening and a second seal is in a plane generally normal to the plane of the opening. Moreover, the second seal remains in tact for a short time after the first seal is broken to permit the rapid separation of the disk valve from the gasket to vent gas and liquids from the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an adapter for communicating the turning output of a voltage regulator tap change mechanism to a tap position indicator. The adapter has a receptor that axially receives the turning output of the change mechanism and includes an intermediate gear that meshes with the input to the position indicator. This reverses the turning direction of the change mechanism output as applied to the position indicator. The adapter and position indicator have cooperating nesting members that align the adapter and position indicator to accomplished the meshing of the intermediate gear with the input to the position indicator.

Abstract: A shield for a pressure relief device for containing and deflecting released fluids is described. The shield includes an enclosure for surrounding the pressure relief device, the enclosure having a first port for engaging the enclosure to a relief duct while permitting the shield to be positioned in a necessary orientation on the device.