With Line Supporting Insulator Patents (Class 361/132)
  • Patent number: 11469013
    Abstract: A combination includes: an electricity conducting element and a connector cable. The electricity conducting elements includes: a body of insulating material; an electrical conductor extending through the body; at least one passive electrical sensor embedded or integrated in the body of insulating material; and at least one shielded connector with one or more terminals arranged on an outer surface of the body, the at least one shielded connector being electrically connected to the at least one passive electrical sensor. The connector cable includes: a first shielded connector with one or more terminals for connecting with the at least one shielded connector; a second shielded connector with one or more terminals for connecting with an appliance or a further connector cable; and electrical components arranged closely to the first shielded connector and electrically connected to the terminals of the first shielded connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Gerard Schoonenberg, Arend Lammers, Elisabeth Morskieft, Amritendu Das, Ranjit Jadhav
  • Patent number: 8050007
    Abstract: An air terminal/point base has an air terminal/point plate with upper and lower surfaces and apertures. The upper surface has an upstanding cylinder with a threaded aperture. An air terminal/point has a threaded base coupled to the threaded aperture. A conductive cable couples the air terminal/point to a ground. A patch of roofing material having upper and lower surfaces is in a configuration corresponding to the air terminal/point plate. The patch has a plurality of apertures in axial alignment with the apertures of the air terminal/point plate. A rivet extends through the apertures of the air terminal/point plate and each patch coupling the lower surface of the air terminal/point plate to the upper surface of an associated patch. The method includes the step of cohering the patch to the material through the application of pressure applied for 3 to 5 seconds and heat at a temperature of 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventors: Wayne P. DeGurski, David R. Cordoves, Rick A. Caruso
  • Patent number: 7701688
    Abstract: A structure for installing a lightning arrester between the cross arm mounted to the upper end of an electric pole and a power line is disclosed. A dead end clamp, the lightning arrester and an insulation reinforcing insulator are connected in series, an end of the insulation reinforcing insulator is connected to the cross arm by a shackle, a disconnector is connected to the voltage outlet portion of the lightning arrester, a grounding wire for diverting abnormal voltage to the ground is connected to the disconnector, and an insulation cover surrounds the dead end clamp and the voltage inlet portion of the lightning arrester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: Yoo Cheor Jeon
  • Patent number: 7064267
    Abstract: The present invention combines sensor portions 22, 23 of the device for measuring either current flowing through the line from the power inlet to the power outlet or voltage, or both, and bushings 150, 160 installed at either the power inlet or the power outlet, or both, so as to reduce the size of the gas insulating apparatus. Specifically, the above-mentioned sensor portions 22, 23 are installed in the space inside the porcelain tube 15 that constitutes the bushings 150, 160. As this space, it is preferable to use the space on the outer-periphery side of the electric field relaxation member 21 provided inside the porcelain tube 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuro Kato, Tomoaki Utsumi, Fumihiro Endo, Kazuo Kobayashi, Kazuhiro Saito
  • Patent number: 6853528
    Abstract: The present invention combines sensor portions 22,23 of the device for measuring either current flowing through the line from the power inlet to the power outlet or voltage, or both, and bushings 150, 160 installed at either the power inlet or the power outlet, or both, so as to reduce the size of the gas insulating apparatus. Specifically, the above-mentioned sensor portions 22,23 are installed in the space inside the porcelain tube 15 that constitutes the bushings 150, 160. As this space, it is preferable to use the space on the outer-periphery side of the electric field relaxation member 21 provided inside the porcelain tube 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuro Kato, Tomoaki Utsumi, Fumihiro Endo, Kazuo Kobayashi, Kazuhiro Saito
  • Patent number: 6850399
    Abstract: The present invention combines sensor portions 22,23 of the device for measuring either current flowing through the line from the power inlet to the power outlet or voltage, or both, and bushings 150, 160 installed at either the power inlet or the power outlet, or both, so as to reduce the size of the gas insulating apparatus. Specifically, the above-mentioned sensor portions 22,23 are installed in the space inside the porcelain tube 15 that constitutes the bushings 150, 160. As this space, it is preferable to use the space on the outer-periphery side of the electric field relaxation member 21 provided inside the porcelain tube 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuro Kato, Tomoaki Utsumi, Fumihiro Endo, Kazuo Kobayashi, Kazuhiro Saito
  • Patent number: 6735067
    Abstract: A high-voltage spark gap device for operation in conjunction with a high-power electric generator and including an electric trigger system and at least two mutually spaced spherical main electrodes that cooperate pairwise and face each other, means for closing the current loop that are separated by a dielectric from the electrodes, the electric trigger system having as many trigger electrodes as there are main electrodes, the trigger electrodes being fitted with an insulating protector received in each main electrode of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Etat Francais Represente par la Delegue General pour l'Armement
    Inventor: Philippe Monjaux
  • Patent number: 6356428
    Abstract: A suspension device for a line arrester in an air-insulated transmission line including two suspension parts which support the line arrester such that its longitudinal axis deviates from the vertical line. One of the suspension parts includes a disconnecting device which, when releasing, permits the line arrester a swinging motion under the influence of a force of gravity caused by the weight of the line arrester itself. And, one of the suspension parts includes a damping member which influences the line arrester with a force directed against the swinging motion during at least part of the swinging motion. The damping member may include a damping plate, one or more friction linings, or a flexible wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Abb AB
    Inventors: Sven Akervall, Roger Siljeholm
  • Patent number: 6014306
    Abstract: An electrical device has a housing with an internal cavity lined with insulating material. An electrical component is mounted in the cavity between the opposite ends of the housing. An electrically conductive probe is mounted in the cavity at one housing end. An end connector is mounted in the cavity at another housing end. The electrical component is electrically connected to the end connector and to the probe. The electrical component connection to the probe includes wedge insert engaging the component inner end and engaging an inner surface of the lining of insulating material to form a seal between them. Gas generated by the electrical component will not flow past the wedge insert in the direction of the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Viorel Berlovan, John D. Sakich, Hatim H. Taj
  • Patent number: 5991141
    Abstract: A failure indicator device for a surge arrester (2) employs a conventional explosive disconnector (10). Operation of the disconnector (10) due to earth fault current passing through the arrester (2) causes an arc to be formed. Movement of the disconnector (10) away from the arrester (2) is guided and limited by a support arrangement (18, 20) that subsequently provides a solid and permanent conductive path to earth (6) from the arrester terminal (12), thus extinguishing the arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Raychem GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Mikli, Steffen Bohrisch
  • Patent number: 5400207
    Abstract: An arrester assembly for protecting a circuit from electrical switching and lightning surges includes an isolator and a surge arrester. The isolator has one electrically conductive terminal connected to a power line conductor. The other isolator electrically conductive terminal is connected by a flexible electrical conductor to one terminal of the surge arrester. The opposite electrical terminal of the surge arrester is connected by a conductive support to ground. The isolator, flexible conductor and surge arrester are connected in sequence and in series between the power line conductor and ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: John A. Krause
  • Patent number: 5317473
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surge arrester assembly with a plurality of parallel-connected arrester units (1) with polymer casing mounted in a rack. The lower and upper parts of the rack consist of bars (4a, 4b) of, for example, aluminium, which are included in the electric circuit. The bars are retained by, for example, support insulators (6) of porcelain or polymer material. The mechanical retention of the stacks of ZnO blocks of the arrester units (1) and the necessary contact pressure between the blocks are ensured by the rack structure. The electrical connections (23, 24) to the rack are arranged in such a way that, if a fault causing a short circuit in one of the block stacks occurs, the arc produced is blown by the current forces along the bars to the opposite end, where arcing horns (38) of a current-resistant material, for example steel, are arranged and where the arc may burn in a controlled manner without involving a risk to the environment. (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AB
    Inventors: Jan Lundquist, Lennart Stenstrom, Sven Akervall
  • Patent number: 5309313
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Amerace Corporation
    Inventors: Harry G. Yaworski, Larry N. Siebins
  • Patent number: 5237482
    Abstract: A high voltage surge arrester includes first, second and third terminals. Arrester components, including one or more arrester valve blocks, are serially disposed in an insulating arrester housing between the first and second terminals. A first current carrying conductor is connected between the second and third terminals by way of a disconnector. If the arrester fails, the disconnector will disengage the first current carrying conductor to provide a visible indication that the arrester has failed. At the same time, a second current carrying conductor then reestablishes the connection between the second and third terminals. Thus, a current carrying conductive path is maintained between the first and third terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Joslyn Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Osterhout, Steven P. Hensley
  • Patent number: 5216570
    Abstract: An arresting insulator is provided which includes an insulator body made of an insulative material and a non-linear resistor. The insulator body includes a head for linking the insulator to an adjacent insulator, and a shed formed integrally with the head. The resistor is secured in the insulator body and has a non-linear relation between residual voltage and current. More specifically, the resistor has a characteristic that satisfies the equation:V.sub.NmA /H.gtoreq.300 V/mmwherein V.sub.NmA is a threshold reference voltage that causes a current of at least N milliamps to start flowing across the resistor to cause the resistor to perform a surge absorbing function. N is an arbitrary value in the range of 1 to 10, and H is the axial length of the resistor along a direction of electric field in millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignees: Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc., NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuruo Yorozuya, Keiji Wakamatsu, Takashi Irie, Takashi Ohashi
  • Patent number: 5124872
    Abstract: A high tension circuit breaker comprising at least one circuit-breaking chamber and, in parallel with the circuit-breaking chamber, firstly a varistor in series with an interrupter, and secondly a tension-distributing capacitor. The circuit breaker has a linear resistor having a resistance lying in the range range 30 ohms to 300 ohms inserted in series with the varistor. The invention is particularly suitable for reactance circuit breakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom SA
    Inventors: Van Doan Pham, Joseph Martin, Robert Deville
  • Patent number: 4991053
    Abstract: A surge arrester comprises a molded insulative support bracket for mounting the arrester to a metallic bracket. The insulative bracket includes at least two stringers that form at least one aperture between them. The aperture promotes the draining and drying of the insulative bracket. Baffles formed on the stringers increase the creepage distance across the insulative bracket and increase the rigidity and strength of the insulative bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Joslyn Corporation
    Inventor: Francis V. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 4972291
    Abstract: The insulative support bracket of a surge arrester includes a concentric annular concavity formed at one or both ends of a bolt hole. A washer, when pressed concentrically to the concavity, contacts the insulative bracket only, at least initially, at surfaces adjacent the outer diameter of the washer. An annular convexity, surrounding the concavity, will mate with the central portion of an external tooth lockwasher to prevent the full penetration of the teeth of the lockwasher into the insulative bracket. The ability of the insulative bracket to withstand the mechanical forces tansmitted to the insulative bracket by the washers is thereby enhanced. The concavity may be formed either in a surface of the insulative bracket or in a surface of the washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Joslyn Corporation
    Inventor: Francis V. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 4864455
    Abstract: A surge arrester disconnecting device which includes a fixed electrode, a movable electrode, and a latch device for holding the two electrodes in engagement. A trigger device, associated with a first spring and a fusible wire stretched between the movable electrode and the trigger device, releases the latch when the fusible wire is melted by continuation current therethrough. Upon trigger actuation and latch release, a second spring assists in the non-explosive disconnection of the movable electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuro Shimomura, Katsufusa Tanaka, Mikio Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 4782423
    Abstract: A lightning arrester for discharging electricity from an electrode in a container of the ground voltage level filled with electric insulation fluid when an excessive voltage is imposed on the electrode. The arrester has characteristic elements for selectively discharging electricity and an insulation tube for enclosing the characteristic elements. The insulation tube is so arranged as that part of the characteristic elements are inserted in the container and some of them project out. The characteristic elements are connected to the electrode in the container, and selectively connected and disconnected to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kunihiko Takagi, Masaki Ikuta, Takao Takeshina
  • Patent number: 4774622
    Abstract: A connecting apparatus includes a connecting conductor for connecting a supporting insulator supporting an overhead transmission line and a lightning arrester through a disconnecting member. The connecting conductor includes at least first and second conductor segments having given lengths. The first conductor segment connected to the lightning arrester is greater in bending strength than the second conductor segment connected to the disconnecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shingo Shirakawa, Shigeo Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 4761707
    Abstract: A lightning-conducting insulator is disclosed, which comprises an insulator body consisting of a shed portion, a plurality of rib portions provided inside the shed portion, and a cup-like cylindrical head portion at a central upper portion of the shed portion, and a metal cap put and fixed onto the head portion, and a metal pin inserted and fixed inside the head portion. A cylindrical fitting section with a through hole is provided in the shed portion. At least one current-limiting element having a non-linear voltage-current characteristic is inserted into the through hole of the cylindrical fitting section. The cylindrical fitting section is sealed with a glass- and ceramics-bonding metal solder such that the upper and lower end faces of the current-limiting element and the end faces of the cylindrical fitting section may be continuously sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignees: The Tokyo Electric Co., Inc., NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Wakamatsu, Tetsuya Nakayama, Jun Atsumi
  • Patent number: 4725917
    Abstract: A current limiting horn device for a transmission line supported by sets of insulators suspended from arms of steel towers. The device includes horns located respectively at charging and earthing portions of each set of the insulators and spaced horizontally apart a predetermined distance from a vertical axis of the set of the insulators. At least one of the horns is provided with an arrester element of a resistance having a non-linearity. According to the invention, a ratio Z/Zo of a distance Z between the horns to a total length Zo of the one set of insulators is not more than 0.5, thereby when extraordinary voltage caused by lightening surge is applied to the transmission line, securely causing flash-over between horns to prevent any earthing accident which would otherwise occur in the transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadao Mori, Yoshio Hasegawa, Takashi Irie
  • Patent number: 4542363
    Abstract: An open fuse cutout has a built-in lightning arrester. A supporting insulator has an attachment hole extending substantially perpendicularly to the axis thereof with the lightning arrester element fixedly fitted in the attachment hole. The lightning arrester element has a charging electrode held in abutment against either one of upper and lower electrodes, and a grounding electrode confronting a grounding member across a spark gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignees: NKG Insulators, Ltd., Takamatsu Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Kato, Yuzo Nishi
  • Patent number: 4541033
    Abstract: A power switch assembly has a horizontal supporting base, a circuit disconnector including a first supporting porcelain insulator vertically disposed on the supporting base, a stationary contactor supported by the free end of the first insulator, and a rod-shaped movable contactor separably engaged by the stationary contactor and pivotally secured to an operating mechanism located within a hollow terminal disposed at the free end of a second supporting porcelain insulator vertically disposed on the supporting base, and a circuit breaker disposed on the hollow terminal to be tilted to be remote from the movable contactor, while two driving rods extend through the second insulator and are connected to the driving source to open and close the circuit disconnector through the operating mechanism and the circuit breaker through a linkage located within the hollow terminal. The power switch assembly may have further a porcelain clad lightning arrester substituted for the first insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: S. Soga & Co.
    Inventor: Toru Saito
  • Patent number: 4540968
    Abstract: An open fuse cutout has a built-in lightning arrester. The open fuse cutout includes a supporting insulator with a protective cap fixed to an upper end thereof and containing the lightning arrester disposed laterally or vertically. The lightning arrester element has a charging electrode confronting an upper electrode across a first spark gap and a grounding electrode confronting a grounding member across a second spark gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd., Takamatsu Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Kato, Tomio Washizu
  • Patent number: 4535253
    Abstract: A mobile electrical apparatus comprises a main electrical apparatus and three lightning arresters mounted on the vehicle. The electrical devices are so arranged that they are moved to the retracted positions during transportation and are moved in the extended positions during operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Ootsuka, Yoshikazu Miyake
  • Patent number: 4524404
    Abstract: The invention relates to an outdoor high voltage insulator, wherein the flashover due to the effect of external layers or deposits of pollution is prevented or at least shifted in the direction of higher degree of pollution. A resistance element (1) is connected in series with the insulator itself (2), with the leakage current prior to flashover producing a voltage drop over the resistance element (1). This voltage drop reduces the voltage on the insulator and prevents or retards flashover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1985
    Inventor: Manoranjan P. Verma
  • Patent number: 4502132
    Abstract: A supporting insulator (9) to support the driving mechanism (6) of a disconnect switch part (100) and a supporting insulator (9) of a breaker (10) are unified. The heights of the fixed contact (4) and the driving mechanism (6) of the disconnect switch part (100) as well as the height of the upper end of the common supporting insulator (9) supporting the breaker (10) are substantially the same. Setting area is thus decreased, while ensuring a high spatial insulation distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nishikawa, Toru Saito, Kenichi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 4467387
    Abstract: An elongated, insulative tube of high mechanical strength is equipped with fittings at each end for electrical connection with a high voltage transmission line and a grounded tower. An external spark gap is provided between a first arcing ring mounted in electrical connection with one end fitting and a second arcing ring mounted to the tube intermediate its ends and electrically connected with a contact member disposed within the tube. The portion of the tube interior between the contact member and the other end fitting is packed with a series array of varistor discs. The tube maintains the line in spaced relation with the tower, while the varistor array and spark gap absorb voltage surge differentials between the line and tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel D. Bergh, Robert E. Koch, John A. Timoshenko
  • Patent number: 4410796
    Abstract: A picket or zig-zag type heater for use in high temperature furnaces, such as are used for crystal growing for example, is constructed from a plurality of like graphite cylindrical shell segments assembled into a cylindrical shell having uniform resistance heating characteristics by graphite connector elements which also function to couple the electric current source to the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Ultra Carbon Corporation
    Inventor: Harvey J. Wilsey
  • Patent number: 4320432
    Abstract: A high voltage transformer bushing having an inner conductor extending from a lower end to a point spaced from an upper end and having a side terminal at that point connected to a fuse link which is in turn connected to a high voltage line connector supported on the upper end of the bushing. A lightning arrester supported by and grounded to the transformer casing has an upper end spaced from the high voltage line connector to provide a spark gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1982
    Assignee: San Angelo Electric Service Company
    Inventor: Clarence G. Duenke
  • Patent number: 4308566
    Abstract: A lightning arrester device for power transmission line comprises a lightning arrester comprising a sintered product made of a main component such as zinc oxide; a serial connection of a reactor and a fusible wire connected to the lightning arrester in series and a gap connected in parallel with the serial connection. The lightning arrester is disconnected from a power transmission line when the lightning arrester is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsumasa Imataki, Kazuo Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 4270160
    Abstract: Lightning arresters comprising each non-linear resistor made of a main component of zinc oxide and the other minor component are connected between a steel tower and a power transmission cable supported on the steel tower by an insulator and between the power transmission cables in different phases whereby the lightning resistance of the aerial power transmission system is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1981
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuo Nagai
  • Patent number: 4201883
    Abstract: A guard for a high voltage terminal bushing includes a generally circular planar isolating member of an electrically insulating material which is mounted on the upper surface of the bushing and provided with a plurality of openings through which wind and rain may freely pass. A radial diameter of the isolating member is sufficient to prevent small animals from contacting a high voltage cable connected to the bushing and ground potential. A cylindrical section extends downwardly from the isolating member to support the guard on the upper surface of the bushing. A second cylindrical member extends downwardly and surrounds the upper portion of the bushing to form a cap to protect and shield the terminal end of the bushing. A lightning arrestor may be included which extends from adjacent the high voltage terminal to a point adjacent a transformer housing or ground potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Inventor: William E. Shepherd