Methods and apparatus for rendering electrical cables safe

• US 10,454,219 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magnetic Pumping Solutions
• Original Assignee: Michael Yuratich
• Inventors: Yuratich, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Riyami, Abdullah A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kratt, Justin M
• Application Number:
  US16/133,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20190052022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 439411, 439412, 439413, 439417, 439425, 439431
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/128 Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/596 Connection of the shield to an additional grounding conductor, e.g. drain wire
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/655 with earth brace
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/65912 for shielded multiconductor cable coaxial cables with one conductor surrounded by shield H01R9/05; flat shielded cables H01R12/594
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2408 actuated by clamping screws
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/44 Clamping areas on both sides of screw
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/48185 adapted for axial insertion of a wire end
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/031 for multiphase cables, e.g. with contact members penetrating insulation of a plurality of conductors insulation penetrating contact members in general H01R4/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/105 connected to the cable shield only H02G15/107 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/32 using mounting clamps
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/40 Structural association with grounding devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132

Abstract

A “safe grounding apparatus” (SGA) for safely grounding or neutralizing the electrical conductors for permanent magnet motor (PMM) powered artificial lift systems and methods of practicing the same are disclosed. The SGA of the present invention ameliorates some of the dangers associated with PMM'"'"'s. Methods of shorting, grounding, testing and monitoring the electrical conductors of a permanent magnet motor in order to safely manipulate the conductors are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A safe grounding apparatus for attachment to a motor lead end electrically coupled to a permanent magnet motor comprising:

the motor lead end including a plurality of electrical conductors enclosed within a layer of insulation;

a plurality of clamps adapted to pierce the layer of insulation and be selectively electrically coupled to the plurality of electrical conductors of the motor lead end;

a plurality of shorting conductors adapted to electrically couple to the clamps and extend therefrom; and

the shorting conductors adapted to electrically couple to a bus bar to electrically short the shorting conductors.

2. The safe grounding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor lead end is overwrapped with a metallic armor, the apparatus further comprising a conductor adapted to electrically couple to the metallic armor and the bus bar.

3. The safe grounding apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a grounded conductor adapted to connect to the bus bar and extend therefrom and electrically ground the shorting conductors to earth.

4. The safe grounding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamps include a plurality of teeth disposed within the clamps adapted to pierce the layer of insulation and contact the electrical conductors and thereby electrically couple the power cables and the shorting conductors.

5. The safe grounding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the bus bar mounted within a module, the module further comprising at least one monitoring device adapted to monitor at least one condition of the motor lead end and the permanent magnet motor.

6. The safe grounding apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one monitoring device measures a voltage, a current or an impedance.

7. The safe grounding apparatus of claim 6, wherein the module includes a display, an indicator or an annunciator coupled to the at least one monitoring device.

8. The safe grounding apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one condition includes a speed of the permanent magnet motor.

9. The safe grounding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shorting conductors coupled to the bus bar is adapted to produce a braking torque in the permanent magnet motor.

10. A method for rendering a motor lead end coupled to a permanent magnet motor safe, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of clamps;

selectively electrically coupling the clamps to a plurality of electrical conductors of a plurality of power cables of the motor lead end;

electrically coupling the clamps to a plurality of shorting conductors;

electrically coupling the shorting conductors to a bus bar; and

monitoring at least one condition of at least one of the motor lead end and the permanent magnet motor.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising electrically grounding the shorting conductors to earth.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the electrical conductors include an insulation, the method further comprising the clamps piercing the insulation contacting the electrical conductors and thereby electrically coupling the power cables and the shorting conductors.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one condition includes a current, a voltage, or an impedance.

14. The method of claim 10, further including displaying, indicating or annunciating a condition related to the at least one condition.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of power cables are overwrapped by a metallic armor, the method further comprising electrically coupling the metallic armor to the shorting conductors shorting the metallic armor.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein electrically coupling the shorting conductors to the bus bar produces a braking torque in the permanent magnet motor.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising terminating the motor lead end at an uphole end such that the plurality of clamps are positioned between the uphole end and the permanent magnet motor.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising preparing the motor lead end for splicing after the terminating step.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the terminating step comprises sawing the motor lead end.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the monitoring at least one condition comprises determining if a hazard is present.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the hazard comprises a shock, a sparking, or an earth fault.