Plug-in joint for high current conductors in gas-insulated transmission system

• US 3,886,301 A
• Filed: 04/12/1974
• Issued: 05/27/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brown Boveri Electric Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: James C. Cron, John C. Cronin
• Inventors: Cronin, John C., Cron, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grimley, Arthur T.
• Application Number:
  US05/460,537
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 174/21JS,21R,21C,21CA,13,28 339/9E,64R,64M
• US Class Current: 174/21.00C
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 5/002 Joints between bus-bars for compensating thermal expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 5/063 filled with oil or gas

Abstract

A plug type connection for connecting two high current conductors in a gas-filled housing has main telescoping connectors which make sliding contacts with one another. One of the telescoping connectors is connected to one of the high current conductors to be joined to another high current conductor. The other telescoping connector is electrically connected to the other high current conductor by flexible, braided current carrying conductors, and is mechanically supported by telescoping members, one of which is mechanically connected to the said other high current conductor. A spring biases the mechanical telescoping members away from one another. When the plug-in or telescoping conductors engage, a high current connection is formed through a wiping contact arrangement. Once the current connection is made, all further mechanical changes in position of the high current conductors, due to temperature change or the like, is accommodated by the expansion and contraction of the mechanical concentric tube arrangement and in the flexing of the flexible conductors. No sliding connection exists in the telescoping connectors after the initial connection is made so that no metallic scrapings are produced and the joint can be connected remotely even though the connection cannot be visually observed.

Claims

1. A sliding connection joint for connecting adjacent sections of a gas-insulated transmission line;

each of said sections of said gas-insulated transmission line comprising a central conductor, a grounded outer housing extending coextensively with said central conductor, insulator means supporting said central conductor within its said grounded outer housing, and a dielectric gas under pressure sealed within said grounded housing;

said adjacent sections being aligned end to end with their said central conductors connected to one another and with their said outer housings connected to one another;

said connection joint comprising a first cylindrical conductive sleeve mechanically and electrically secured directly to one end of a first conductor of one of said adjacent sections and a second cylindrical conductive sleeve electrically connected to an end of a second conductor of one of said adjacent sections which is adjacent said end of said first conductor;

said first and second cylindrical conductive sleeves being telescoped relative to one another and being in contact with one another over at least one annular contact area between their adjacent cylindrical surfaces;

flexible mechanical support means connected between said end of said second conductor and said second conductive sleeve for normally physically supporting said second conductive sleeve coaxially with said second conductor and for biasing said second sleeve away from the end of said second conductor; and

flexible conductor means electrically connected between said second conductive sleeve and said second conductor, whereby, when said outer housings of said adjacent sections are brought toward one another, said second sleeve is physically presented for sliding, telescoping contact relative to said first sleeve, thereby to electrically connect said first and second conductors, while thermally induced relative movement between said first and second conductors is absorbed by movement of said flexible mechanical support means and said flexible conductor means without sliding motion between said first and second conductive sleeves.

2. The connection joint of claim 1 wherein said flexible mechanical support means comprises first and second telescoping tubes slidable relative to one another and mechanically connected to said end of said second conductor, and to said second sleeve, respectively.

3. The connection joint of claim 2 wherein said flexible conductor means comprises at least one braided conductor extending parallel to and exteriorly of said first and second telescoping tubes.

4. A connection joint for enabling the plug-in connection between the first end of a first conductor and the second end of a second conductor which is coaxial with said first conductor while preventing sliding at said plug-in connection, after the connection is made;

said connection joint comprising a first cylindrical conductive sleeve mechanically and electrically secured directly to said first end of said first conductor, and a second cylindrical conductive sleeve electrically connected to said second end of said second conductor;

flexible mechanical support means connected between said second end and said second conductive sleeve for normally physically supporting said second conductive sleeve coaxially with said first and second conductors, and for biasing said second sleeve away from said second end; and

flexible conductor means electrically connected between said second conductive sleeve and saId second end;

said first and second cylindrical conductive sleeves having dimensions which would allow them to telescope relative to one another while making low resistance electrical contact between their adjacent inner and outer surfaces when they are fully telescoped into one another.

5. The connection joint of claim 4 wherein said flexible mechanical support means comprises first and second telescoping tubes slidable relative to one another and mechanically connected to said end of said second conductor, and to said second sleeve, respectively.

6. The connection joint of claim 5 wherein said flexible conductor means comprises at least one braided conductor extending parallel to and exteriorly of said first and second telescoping tubes.

7. A connection joint construction for a length of a gas-insulated transmission line;

said length of gas-insulated transmission line comprising an elongated outer housing filled with a dielectric gas under pressure, and an elongated conductor insulatingly suspended within said outer housing;

said elongated conductor having first and second ends;

said connection joint construction comprising a first cylindrical conductive sleeve mechanically and electrically secured directly to said first end of said first conductor, and a second cylindrical conductive sleeve electrically connected to said second end of said second conductor;

flexible mechanical support means connected between said second end and said second conductive sleeve for normally physically supporting said second conductive sleeve coaxially with said conductor, and for biasing said second sleeve away from said second end; and

flexible conductor means electrically connected between said second conductive sleeve and said second end;

said first and second cylindrical conductive sleeves having dimensions which would allow them to telescope relative to one another while making low resistance electrical contact between their adjacent inner and outer surfaces when they are fully telescoped into one another.

8. The sliding connection joint of claim 1 wherein said first and second sleeves have beveled ends opposing one another to guide said sleeves into telescoping engagement with one another as said sleeves are moved toward one another.

9. The sliding connection joint of claim 4 wherein said first and second sleeves have beveled ends opposing one another to guide said sleeves into telescoping engagement with one another as said sleeves are moved toward one another.

10. The sliding connection joint of claim 1 wherein the interiormost telescoping sleeve of said first and second conductive sleeves has low resistance contact means formed around the outer surface thereof for making low resistance contact to the interior surface of the outermost of said first and second conductive sleeves.

11. The sliding connection joint of claim 4 wherein the interiormost telescoping sleeve of said first and second conductive sleeves has low resistance contact means formed around the outer surface thereof for making low resistance contact to the interior surface of the outermost of said first and second conductive sleeves.