ELECTRICAL DISCONNECT

• US 3,711,818 A
• Filed: 11/09/1970
• Issued: 01/16/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joslyn Corp. (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raymond J. Swehla
• Inventors: Swehla, Raymond J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Staab, Lawrence J.
• Application Number:
  US05/087,791
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 339/59-61,75,91,143,177
• US Class Current: 439/89
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/085 contact separation effected by removing contact carrying element
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/53 Bases or cases for heavy duty; Bases or cases for high voltage with means for preventing corona or arcing

Abstract

A high-voltage, electrical disconnect including an axially elongated terminal adapted to make and break contact with a fixed contact upon axial movement relative thereto. An annular elastomeric insulating filler is provided around said terminal and is formed with an open-ended recess in coaxial alignment with said terminal for receiving an insulating member around said fixed contact. Radial compression means is provided around said insulating filler for establishing void-free, interfacial contact between said insulating member and the surface of the recess in the elastomeric insulating filler when said terminal and the fixed contact are connected together.

Claims

1. A high-voltage disconnect including an axially elongated center terminal adapted to make and break contact with a cooperating fixed terminal assembly upon axial movement relative thereto, an annular elastomeric insulating filler around said center terminal formed with an open-ended recess in coaxial alignment with said center terminal for receiving an insulating member of said cooperating terminal assembly, said open-ended recess being of a frustoconical shape having an enlarged outer end for receiving said fixed insulating member, and radial compression means around said insulating filler for establishing void-free, interfacial contact between said fixed insulating member and the surface of said recess in said elastomeric filler when said center terminal and said cooperating terminal assembly are axially thrust together into contact, said radial compression means including a conductive, radially contractable, annular, ground shell around said annular elastomeric insulator, and ring means around said shell biasing the same to contract radially inwardly toward said annular, elastomeric, insulating filler, said ground shell being frustoconical in shape and tapered in a direction opposite that of said recess, said shell being split longitudinally to permit radial contraction.

2. The high-voltage disconnect of claim 1 wherein said ring means comprises a C-ring spaced intermediate opposite ends of said shell, and spaced-apart projections on said shell for retaining said spring against movement longitudinally thereof toward the smaller end.

3. A high-voltage disconnect including an axially elongated center terminal adapted to make and break contact with a cooperating fixed terminal assembly upon axial movement relative thereto, an annular elastomeric insulating filler around said center terminal formed with an open-ended recess in coaxial alignment with said center terminal for receiving an insulating member of said cooperating terminal assembly, said open-ended recess being of a frustoconical shape having an enlarged outer end for receiving said fixed insulating member, and radial compression means around said insulating filler for establishing void-free, interfacial contact between said fixed insulating member and the surface of said recess in said elastomeric filler when said center terminal and said cooperating terminal assembly are axially thrust together into contact, said radial compression means including a conductive, radially contractable, annular, ground shell around said annular elastomeric insulating filler, ring means around said shell biasing the same to contract radially inwardly toward said annular, elastomeric, insulating filler, grounding shell means around a portion of said elastomeric insulating filler away from said open-ended recess, and ring means electrically connecting said grounding shell means and an annular portion of said conductive shell.

4. A high-voltage disconnect comprising in combination male and female center terminals movable axially between connected and disconnected positions, an annular, elastomeric, insulating filler around one of said terminals including an open-ended socket at one end;

a rigid, annular, insulating member around the other of said terminals adapted to seat within said socket in void-free, interfacial contact with said elastomeric insulating filler when said terminals are connected, and radial compression means around said elastomeric insulating filler for squeezing the same radially inwardly toward said rigid insulating member seated in said socket to maintain said void-free, interfacial contact, and a contact formed of semiconducting elastomeric material, said contact being embedded in said filler in contact with said center terminals and including a recess forming an extension of said socket in said filler for receiving a portion of said rigid insulating member.

5. The disconnect of Claim 4 wherein said semiconducting contact and said rigid insulating member include detent means for maintaining engagement therebetween upon axial connection of said male and female terminals.

6. The disconnect of claim 5 wherein said filler is formed with an elongated cable receiving recess in communication with said semiconducting contact.

7. The disconnect of claim 6 including connector means for interconnecting said contact with a power cable inserted into said cable-receiving recess.

8. A high-voltage cable termination including a cable guide for concentric neutral cable, said cable guide being formed of an inner end portion attached to said termination, a central portion comprising a hollow sleeve having an outwardly flared outer end flange for guiding said cable into said termination and having an outer surface for contacting the concentric neutrals of said cable when said cable is inserted in said sleeve, and clamping means for securing the concentric neutrals around said sleeve inwardly of said outwardly flared outer end flange for preventing detachment of said neutrals from said central portion.