Convertor plant roller contact connector for convertor plant

• US 5,117,346 A
• Filed: 04/18/1991
• Issued: 05/26/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AB (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AB (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Gard, Inge
• Primary Examiner(s): STERRETT, JEFFREY L
• Application Number:
  US07/686,999
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 174/69, 307/151, 361/332, 363/35, 363/51, 363/68, 363/125, 363/126, 363/129, 363/144
• US Class Current: 363/51
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/00 Flexible or turnable line connectors , i.e. the rotation angle being limited rotary current collectors, distributors H01R39/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

When dimensioning electrical plants for high voltages for regions exposed to earthquakes, it is necessary to design the current paths between the different apparatuses in such a way that the apparatuses in case of great oscillations are not subjected to abnormally great forces at the points of connection. The problem arises particularly in connection with convertor plants for high-voltage direct current designed with suspended valves, since the oscillating amplitudes there may become considerable. The invention relates to a current path intended for such plants, which is flexible its longitudinal direction and comprises at least two parallel, non-insulated straight conductors which are each connected to a respective end of the current path and electrically interconnectd via roller contact elements, the contact force of which is individually resilient.

Claims

1. A converter plant comprising at least one valve assembly comprising one or several electrically series-connected valves, said valve assembly being suspended from a supporting structure by a suspension device arranged at an upper end of the assembly, and a transformer connected to the valve assembly by a flexible connector, wherein said connector comprises at least two parallel, non-insulated straight conductors, one of said conductors being fixed to the valve assembly and the other of said conductors being fixed to the transformer, said conductors being electrically interconnected via at least one roller contact element comprising two contact rollers arranged on a common shaft, said contact rollers being pressed by means of at least one spring against the conductors, said connector further comprising two coaxial, electrically conducting tubes arranged in axially spaced relationship to each other, the confronting ends of said tubes each being fixed to a respective one of said conductors.

2. A plant according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises four or a greater even number of parallel conductors, which are arranged so as to form the contour of a tube.

3. A plant according to claim 1, wherein a stiffening tube, arranged coaxially with the two conducting tubes for mechanically stiffening the connector, extends between the two conducting tubes and projects into the conducting tubes and is supported against each one of the conducting tubes by means of two spacers, respectively, arranged in spaced relationship to each other in each conducting tube, said spacers surrounding the stiffening tube with slip fit.

4. A plant according to claim 1, wherein the ends opposite said confronting ends of the tubes are provided with universal joints for mechanically attaching the connector.

5. A plant according to claim 1, wherein the conductors project into the confronting ends of the tubes and are each electrically connected to a respective one of the tubes via a circular metal disc, respectively, fixed in the respective tube, the periphery of said disc making contact with the inner surface of the connecting tube.

6. A plant according to claim 1, wherein electrically insulating discs with guide holes for said conductors are arranged at the confronting ends of the tube.