Grounded surface distribution apparatus

• US 3,915,534 A
• Filed: 02/22/1974
• Issued: 10/28/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1967
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joslyn Corp. (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Edward H. Yonkers
• Inventors: Yonkers, Edward H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lake, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, DeWalden W.
• Application Number:
  US05/445,294
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 339/14R,14L,14P,14T,19,59R,59L,59M,6R,6C,6M,61R,61C,61M,111 174/71R,72R,73R,74R,75R 240/1T
• US Class Current: 439/95
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0225 Means for preventing discharge, e.g. corona ring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/77 wherein the break is in air at atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/042 General constructions or structure of high voltage fuses, i.e. above 1000 V
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 7/08 Underground substations
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/06 Cable terminating boxes, frames or other structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/064 with devices for relieving electrical stress
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/10 protected by boxes, e.g. by distribution, connection or junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/103 with devices for relieving electrical stress
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/921 Transformer bushing type or high voltage underground connector

Abstract

A grounded surface distribution apparatus and system is provided including elastomer encapsulated cable terminals, joints, taps, load-break switches, current limiting fuses and surge protectors, each enclosed completely within a metal sheath combined in various arrangements to perform operational functions required in loop and radial underground distribution systems. The cable terminals include a soft dielectric filler making a void-free interfacial engagement with the surface of a hard dielectric filler of a mating component. To provide for breaking a coupling under load, an arc-quenching follower is retractable into an axial cavity in the coupling components of the system and projectable therethrough upon breaking of the circuit and disconnecting of the components to provide an improved arcquenching function. Thus, there is provided an underground system having security, operational safety and convenience.

Claims

1. In combination, a manifold in a high voltage system comprising a plurality of fixedly spaced-apart risers, each of said risers comprising enclosure means having a generally conically-shaped outer surface open at one end, said enclosure means comprising solid insulating means having a central opening, and current-carrying coupling means disposed in said central opening including an elongated conductive member defining a pin cavity, siad elongated conductive member having a first longitudinal end portion for releasably receiving and conductively engaging s mating current-carrying coupling means of a terminating end of a high voltage cable and a second oppositely disposed, longitudinal end portion, elongated conductive means for electrically interconnecting said plurality of risers by electrically interconnecting said second longitudinal end portions of said conductive members of said coupling means of said plurality of risers. enclosing means for said elongated conductive interconnecting means formed of solid insulating material and conductive means for maintaining the outer surface of said enclosing means at a reference potential;

and a terminating end of a high voltage cable releasably electrically connected to one of said plurality of risers through the releasable receipt and conductive engagement of the coupling means of said terminating end by the first longitudinal end portion of said conductive member of said coupling means of said one of said plurality of risers such that the voltage applied to said one of said plurality of risers from said terminating end is also applied to each remaining one of said plurality of risers.

2. A manifold in a high voltage system comprising a plurality of fixedly spaced-apart risers, each of said risers comprising enclosure means having a generally conically-shaped outer surface open at one end, said enclosure means comprising solid insulating means having a central opening, and current-carrying means disposed in said central opening including an elongated conductive member defining a pin cavity, said elongated conductive member having a first longitudinal end portion for releasably receiving and conductively engaging a mating current-carrying coupling means of a terminating end of a high voltage cable and a second oppositely disposed, longitudinal end portion, elongated conductive means for electrically interconneCting said plurality of risers by electrically interconnecting said second longitudinal end portions of said conductive members of said coupling means of said plurality of risers, enclosing means for said elongated conductive interconnecting means formed of solid insulating material, and conductive means for maintaining the outer surface of said enclosure means at a reference potential.

3. A manifold as defined in claim 2 wherein said plurality of fixedly spaced-apart risers comprises at least three fixedly spaced-apart risers.

4. A manifold as defined in claim 2 further comprising a conductive material surrounding said connecting means and affixed to the inner surface of said enclosing means for preventing the occurrence of corona in the region of the connecting means within said manifold.

5. A manifold in a high voltage electrical distribution system comprising a plurality of risers, each of said risers comprising enclosure means having a generally conically-shaped outer surface open at one end, said enclosure means comprising solid insulating means having a central opening, current-carrying coupling means disposed in said central opening including a conductive member defining a pin cavity, said pin cavity extending longitudinally inwardly from an end of said member, and means for effecting the internal cooling and the expansion of gases within said riser, means for electrically connecting said plurality of risers, enclosing means for said connecting means formed of solid insulating material, and conductive means for maintaining the outer surface of said enclosing means at a reference potential.

6. A manifold as defined in claim 5 wherein said effecting means comprises a plurality of spaced, longitudinal slots defining ventilating passages for said gases.

7. A manifold as defined in claim 5 wherein said member includes a plurality of spaced, deflectable finger portions biased inwardly by a circular tension ring that encompasses the deflectable finger portions.

8. A manifold in a high voltage system comprising a plurality of risers, means for electrically connecting said plurality of risers, enclosing means for said connecting means formed of solid material and conductive means for maintaining the outer surface of said enclosing means at a reference potential, each of said risers including enclosure means having a generally conically-shaped outer surface open at one end, said enclosure means comprising solid insulating means having a central opening, coupling means disposed in said central opening including a member defining a pin cavity, said pin cavity extending longitudinally inwardly from an end of said member, a sleeve of arc-quenching material and means for effecting the cooling and the expansion of gases formed within said riser, said effecting means comprising a plurality of spaced, longitudinal slots defining ventilating passages for said gases and a predetermined separation between one end of said sleeve and said end of said member providing passage means for gases formed within said riser.

9. A manifold as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said risers further comprises means adjacent said separation and said slots for internally receiving said gases formed within said riser.

10. Apparatus for connecting two cables in a high voltage system comprising a first terminating means adapted to be connected to one of said two cables and including:

enclosure means having a generally conically-shaped outer surface open at one end, said enclosure means comprising solid insulating means having a central opening, coupling means disposed in said central opening and including a conductive member defining a pin cavity, said pin cavity extending longitudinally inwardly from an end of said member, a sleeve of arc-quenching material positioned in said central opening and means for effecting the internal cooling and the expansion of gases within said Terminating means, said effecting means comprising a predetermined separation between one end of said sleeve and said end of said member;

a second terminating means adapted to be connected to the other of said two cables and including;

pin means insertable in said pin cavity for disengageably but conductively engaging said coupling means, and solid insulating means for enclosing said pin means and having a surface complimentarily-shaped to said outer surface of said enclosure means; and

means for releasably securing the engagement of said first terminating means with said second terminating means, whereby said two cables are electrically connected upon the secure engagement of said first terminating means with said second terminating means and are electrically open-circuited upon the disengagement of said first terminating means from said second terminating means.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said effecting means further comprises a plurality of spaced, longitudinal slots defining ventilating passages for said gases.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said member includes a plurality of spaced, deflectable finger portions biased inwardly by a circular tension ring that encompasses the deflectable finger portions.

13. Apparatus for connecting two cables in a high voltage system comprising a first terminating means adapted to be connected to one of said two cables and including:

enclosure means having a generally conically-shaped outer surface open at one end, said enclosure means comprising solid insulating means having a central opening, coupling means disposed in said central opening and including a member defining a pin cavity, said pin cavity extending longitudinally inwardly from an end of said member, a sleeve of arc-quenching material, means for effecting the cooling and the expansion of gases formed within said terminating means, said effecting means comprising a plurality of spaced, longitudinal slots defining ventilating passages for said gases and a predetermined separation between one end of said sleeve and said end of said member providing passage means for gases formed within said first terminating means, and means adjacent said separation and said slots for internally receiving gases formed within said first terminating means;

a second terminating means adapted to be connected to the other of said two cables and including;

pin means insertable in said pin cavity for disengageably but conductively engaging said coupling means, and solid insulating means for enclosing said pin means; and

means for releasably securing the engagement of said first terminating means with said second terminating means, whereby said two cables are electrically connected upon the secure engagement of said first terminating means with said second terminating means and are electrically open-circuited upon the disengagement of said first terminating means from said second terminating means.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said gas receiving means comprises an elongated cavity disposed within said central opening.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 further comprising electrically conductive means overlying at least a major portion of the inner peripheral surface of said enclosure means circumscribing said elongated cavity and means for electrically connecting said overlying electrically conductive means with said coupling means.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein one of said terminating means assumes a generally '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'L'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' shape.

17. In combination, a terminal in a high voltage system, said terminal comprising enclosure means having a generally conically-shaped outer surface open at one end, said enclosure means comprising a first solid insulating means having a first central opening, and current-carrying coupling means disposed in said central opening including an elongated conductive member defining a pin cavity, and a protecTive device releasably engageable with said terminal, said protective device comprising means for releasably securing said protective device into engagement with said terminal, second solid insulating means having a second central opening and an outer surface, conductive means for maintaining the outer surface of said second solid insulating means at a reference potential and means within said second central opening for protecting said terminal from abnormally high voltage surges and for shunting said surges to said reference potential.