Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080254660 | High current switch and method of operation - An electrical switch which includes an insulative housing having a wall defining an axial bore therein, a first electrical contact disposed in the housing bore and a second electrical contact movably disposed in the housing bore between an open position and a closed position. When the contacts are in their open position, the second electrical contact is spaced apart from the first electrical contact and when the contacts are in their closed position, the second electrical contact is in electrical contact with the first electrical contact. The switch includes features to enhance safety and operation by reducing the possibility of arcing or flashover before and during the switching operation and to provide of visual indication of the state of the switch. | 10-16-2008 |
20090017667 | BUSHING WELL WITH IMPROVED COUPLING COMPONENTS - A bushing well, which generally includes a bushing well housing defining a conical inner cavity for receiving an end of a bushing insert and an electrically conductive insert disposed within the housing, wherein the insert has an installation tool engagement portion accessible by an installation tool via the inner cavity of the housing for attaching the bushing well to an electrical device. | 01-15-2009 |
20090233496 | Bushing well with improved coupling components - A bushing well, which generally includes a bushing well housing defining a conical inner cavity for receiving an end of a bushing insert and an electrically conductive insert disposed within the housing, wherein the insert has an installation tool engagement portion accessible by an installation tool via the inner cavity of the housing for attaching the bushing well to an electrical device. | 09-17-2009 |
20090245965 | TORQUE LIMITING DEVICE FOR INSULATED PLUG - The present invention includes an insulated plug for use in a high voltage device including a torque limiting bolt, including a first hex element, a second hex element, and a shearable shaft element. Alternatively, the invention provides an insulated plug assembly for use in a high voltage device including an insulated plug having a torque limiting bolt, where the torque limiting bolt includes a first hex element attached to the insulated plug and a second hex element attached to the first bolt head via a shearable connector, the assembly further including a separate BIP cap. | 10-01-2009 |
20090289037 | High current switch and method of operation - An electrical switch which includes an insulative housing having a wall defining an axial bore therein, a first electrical contact disposed in the housing bore and a second electrical contact movably disposed in the housing bore between an open position and a closed position. When the contacts are in their open position, the second electrical contact is spaced apart from the first electrical contact and when the contacts are in their closed position, the second electrical contact is in electrical contact with the first electrical contact. The switch includes features to enhance safety and operation by reducing the possibility of arcing or flashover before and during the switching operation and to provide of visual indication of the state of the switch. | 11-26-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110025342 | REMOTE TEST POINT FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - A voltage indicating assembly for medium and high voltage systems includes a semiconductive cap configured for mounting on a test point, the test point including a test point terminal element configured to capacitively receive a voltage associated with a electrical component, where the electrical component is mounted in a first location. The semiconductive cap includes a contact element mounted therein configured to electrically communicate with the test point terminal element when the semiconductive cap is mounted on the test point. A cable is electrically coupled to the contact element. A remote test point assembly is electrically coupled to the cable in a second location remote from the first location, and the remote test point assembly includes a remote test point terminal element. | 02-03-2011 |
20110217876 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH SACRIFICIAL APPENDAGE - An electrical connector assembly may include a yoke that includes an outer housing and a central conductor provided within the outer housing. The central conductor may include at least three outwardly extending portions. A first outwardly extending portion and a second outwardly extending portion maybe operatively coupled to first and second power cables, respectively. A third outwardly extending portion may include a sacrificial appendage configured to be cut through to confirm that the electrical connector is de-energized. | 09-08-2011 |
20110256746 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING ALIGNMENT MECHANISM - An electrical connector assembly may include a connector body having a conductor receiving end and first and second connector ends formed substantially perpendicularly to an axial direction of the conductor receiving end. The connector body includes a first axial bore that communicates with each of a second axial bore and a third axial bore in the first and second connector ends, respectively. The electrical connector assembly may include a conductor spade assembly received in the first axial bore, wherein the conductor spade assembly includes a spade portion extending between the second axial bore and the third axial bore. A removeable contact may be received within the second axial bore to conductively engage the spade portion of the conductor spade assembly. | 10-20-2011 |
20120018217 | ROTATABLE FEEDTHRU INSERT - An electrical connector feedthru insert assembly may include a connector body having a first leg projecting from the body in a first direction and second and third legs projecting from the body in a second direction substantially opposing the first direction. The first leg may be configured for insertion into a bushing well in a transformer, the bushing well including a conductive stud therein. The first leg may include a longitudinal bore extending therethrough configured for alignment with the conductive stud in the bushing well upon insertion of the first leg into the bushing well, the longitudinal bore having a bolt passage portion and a first shoulder portion. The feedthru insert assembly may further include a bolt sized for insertion into the longitudinal bore and including a tool engagement shoulder portion to engage the first shoulder portion of the longitudinal bore. Application of rotational force to the tool engagement shoulder portion may cause the bolt to threadingly engage the conductive stud. | 01-26-2012 |
20120088393 | CAM CLAMP FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - A connector may include a first member having a first bore therethrough. A second member having a second bore therethrough may be configured to align with the first bore in the first member. A cam clamp may be provided for securing the first member to the second member. The cam clamp may include a pin having a head and a shaft, wherein the shaft extends through the first bore and the second bore. A compression element may be positioned between the first bore and a head on the pin. A cam member may be rotatably mounted to an end of the shaft opposing the head and configured to move between a first position and a second position. The cam clamp may be configured to secure the second member to the first member when the cam member is rotated from the first position to the second position. | 04-12-2012 |
20120202392 | TRIPLE CAM-OPERATED LINK - A high voltage link apparatus may include a link assembly that includes an insulated bushing portion; a first feed thru junction bushing portion; and a second feed thru junction bushing portion. The insulated bushing portion is electrically isolated from the first feed thru junction bushing portion and the second feed thru junction bushing portion. The first feed thru junction bushing portion is conductively coupled to the second feed thru junction bushing portion. First, second, and third bushing interfaces are provided for conductively coupling to first, second, and third power cables, respectively. Each of the first, second, and third bushing interfaces include link receiving portions configured to receive the link assembly therein. The link assembly is installable in the first, second, and third bushing interfaces in first and second, reversible orientations. | 08-09-2012 |
20120214336 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH SACRIFICIAL APPENDAGE - An electrical connector assembly may include a connector body for receiving a power cable and having at least one T-end having a bore therein. An adapter is configured to be received within the bore in the at least one T-end, wherein the adapter comprises a conductive core coupled to the power cable. A sacrificial cap is configured to engage a portion of the adapter extending from the at least one T-end. The sacrificial cap comprises a sacrificial conductor that is coupled to the conductive core of the adapter and configured to be cut through to confirm that the electrical connector assembly has been de-energized. | 08-23-2012 |
20120264321 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH SACRIFICIAL APPENDAGE - A device includes a sacrificial cap configured for mounting on a direct access port of an electrical connector. The sacrificial cap includes an insulated body and a sacrificial probe conductor projecting from the insulated body. The sacrificial probe conductor is configured to conductively couple with a conductor in the electrical connector via the direct access port when the sacrificial cap is installed on the direct access port. The sacrificial cap includes a portion configured to be physically severed to confirm that the electrical connector is de-energized. | 10-18-2012 |
20130122740 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH SACRIFICIAL COMPONENT - An electrical connector assembly includes a housing body that includes a cable receiving end having a first bore extending therethrough and at least one equipment end projecting perpendicular to the cable receiving end. The at least one equipment end includes a second bore extending therethrough that communicates with the first bore in the cable receiving end. A sacrificial bar is configured to be received within the cable receiving end and includes a first end for coupling to an end of a prepared electrical power cable and a second end configured to project into the second bore and conductively couple with an electrical device received within the at least one equipment end. The housing body and sacrificial bar are configured to be cut through to confirm that the electrical connector is de-energized. | 05-16-2013 |
20140024241 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING GROUNDING MECHANISM - An elbow-type power cable electrical connector includes a connector body having a bushing receiving end projecting substantially perpendicularly from the connector body and a connection end projecting substantially perpendicularly from the connector body and oriented substantially opposite to the bushing receiving end, wherein the bushing receiving end is configured to receive a switchgear bushing therein. A grounding device is configured for insertion into the connection end of the connector, wherein the grounding device is configured to conductively connect to the switchgear bushing. The grounding devices include an exposed conductive portion configured to engage a grounded hot line clamp, during grounding of the electrical connector assembly. An insulated cap is provided to cover the exposed conductive portion of the grounding device during normal operation of the electrical connector. | 01-23-2014 |
20140065867 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH SACRIFICIAL APPENDAGE - An electrical connector assembly may include a yoke that includes an outer housing; and a central conductor provided within the outer housing, wherein the central conductor comprises at least three outwardly extending portions. A first outwardly extending portion and a second outwardly extending portion are operatively coupled to first and second power cables, respectively. A third outwardly extending portion comprises a tap configured to interchangeably interface with a sacrificial appendage and a grounding element. When the sacrificial appendage is installed on the tap, the sacrificial appendage is configured to be cut through to confirm that the electrical connector assembly is de-energized. When the grounding element is installed on the tap, the grounding element is configured for attachment to a grounded hot line clamp to ground the electrical connector assembly. | 03-06-2014 |
20140346023 | AUTOMATED GROUNDING DEVICE WITH VISUAL INDICATION - A grounding device for switchgear includes a connector and a body. The body includes (1) a male interface portion including an electrically conductive bus with a first bore and a spade connector; (2) a conductive housing including a second bore that is axially aligned with the first bore, and a grounding terminal to receive a grounding wire; (3) a pin assembly including a non-conductive tip, and a conductive pin, wherein the pin assembly is configured to move axially within the first and second bores between a closed position that provides an electrical connection between the bus and the conductive housing and an open position that provides no electrical connection; (4) a communications receptacle to receive signals from a controller outside the device body; and (5) a motor configured to selectively drive the pin assembly between the open position and the closed position, based on a signal from the controller. | 11-27-2014 |
20140349500 | GELATINOUS DIELECTRIC MATERIAL FOR HIGH VOLTAGE CONNECTOR - A connector device includes a device body and a pin assembly. The connector device includes a bushing portion with a conductive bus having a first bore, a conductive housing with a second bore that is axially aligned with the first bore, an internal chamber separating the first bore and the second bore, and a gelatinous silicone material enclosed within the internal chamber. The pin assembly includes a non-conductive tip and a conductive pin secured to the non-conductive tip. The pin assembly is configured to move axially, within the first and second bores, between a closed position that provides an electrical connection between the conductive bus and the conductive housing and an open position that provides no electrical connection between the conductive bus and the conductive housing. The gelatinous silicone material inhibits voltage arcing across a surface of the non-conductive tip when the pin assembly is in the open position. | 11-27-2014 |
20150027986 | FLEXIBLE DIELECTRIC MATERIAL FOR HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH - An electrical switch includes a tubular housing having a conductor receiving end and an operating end opposite the conductor receiving end. The tubular housing also includes a conductive interface positioned intermediate the conductor receiving end and the operating end. An operating rod extends through the operating end toward the conductor receiving end. The operating rod is moveable between a first position to engage the electrical switch and a second position to disengage the electrical switch. A gelatinous dielectric material is provided within a portion of the tubular housing, and around the operating rod, in the operating end to prevent voltage from the conductive interface from arcing to the operating end. The gelatinous dielectric material is configured to deform to maintain contact with the operating rod in the first position and the second position. | 01-29-2015 |
20150087171 | Permanent Ground Point for Splicing Connectors - A permanent ground point for a splicing connector is provided. The ground point is comprised of a ground rod that is permanently attached to a port on the splicing connector. A grounding clamp may then be attached to the ground point after the system is de-energized in order to provide a safe connection to system ground. | 03-26-2015 |
20150118892 | Grounding Rod for Sacrificial Appendage - A grounding rod for a sacrificial appendage of an electrical cable connector, such as a splicing connector for joining two or more electrical cables, is provided. The sacrificial appendage is comprised of a feature for enabling personnel to ensure that the connector is de-energized, and once this is confirmed, the sacrificial appendage may be removed and replaced with a ground rod to which a grounding device can be connected to ground the system. | 04-30-2015 |
20150132979 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING GROUNDING MECHANISM - An elbow-type medium or high voltage electrical device includes a longitudinal body, a first connector end formed substantially perpendicularly to an axial direction of the longitudinal body, and an integral grounding element end substantially perpendicularly to the axial direction of the longitudinal body and opposing the first connector end. The first connector end includes a first axial bore configured to receive a bushing element therein. The grounding element end includes a second axial bore formed therein for receiving a conductive grounding element therein. The grounding element, when inserted into the second axial bore includes an exposed portion projecting above a surface of the grounding element end. The exposed portion of the grounding element is configured for attachment by a grounded hot line clamp to ground the electrical connector assembly. | 05-14-2015 |
20150262768 | SWITCHGEAR HAVING VISIBLE BREAK WINDOW - A switchgear assembly includes a first body housing a circuit breaker and a first control enclosure connected to the first body. The first control enclosure includes a first operating handle that opens and closes the circuit breaker. The switchgear assembly also includes a second body and a second control enclosure. The second body is coupled to the first body, includes a viewing window and houses a switch. The second control enclosure is connected to the second body and includes a second operating handle. The second operating handle is interlocked with the first operating handle to prevent the switch from being opened when the circuit breaker is closed. The viewing window displays an open connection for the switch when the second operating handle is in the open position and displays a closed connection for the switch when the second operating handle is in the closed position. | 09-17-2015 |
20150270087 | FUSE INSULATING SUPPORT BRACKET WITH PRE-MOLDED SHED - A support bracket for a fuse cutout may include an insulating rod with a first threaded standoff at a top end of the insulating rod and a second threaded standoff at a bottom end of the insulating rod. One or more shed sleeves may be secured over an outside surface of the insulating rod between the first threaded standoff and the second threaded standoff. The interior surface of the one or more shed sleeves forms a dielectric interface between the outside surface of the insulating rod and the interior surface of the shed sleeve. A mounting bracket may be secured to a portion of the support bracket between the first threaded standoff and the second threaded standoff. The one or more shed sleeves may be pre-molded prior to installation over the insulating rod. | 09-24-2015 |
20150293146 | LAMINATE STRUCTURE AND CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR FAULTED CIRCUIT INDICATOR - A faulted circuit indicator (FCI) device for installation on a power line includes a housing, a laminate structure fastened to the housing and configured to receive the power line, and a clamp mechanism pivotally fastened to the housing and configured to secure the housing to the power line. The clamp mechanism includes a pair of opposing clamp arms each having a curved configuration. The curved configuration of the clamp arms maintains the power line in a centered relationship within the laminate structure when the clamp arms are engaged on the power line over a range of power line diameters. | 10-15-2015 |