Adaptor assembly for electrical connector

• US 8,282,410 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Siebens, Larry N., Borgstrom, Alan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, PHUONG K
• Application Number:
  US12/900,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20110092088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 439/333, 439/185, 439/372, 439/921, 174/152.R
• US Class Current: 439/362
• 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: H01R 13/6395 for wall or panel outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly may include a deadbreak-to-loadbreak bushing having a first end and a second end, and an annular shoulder portion located between the first end and the second end. The first end may include a loadbreak interface for connecting to a loadbreak device and the second end may include a deadbreak interface for connecting to a deadbreak bushing. A bailing element may be provided for securing the deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter bushing to a housing in which the deadbreak bushing is installed via a securing force applied to the shoulder portion of the deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter bushing.

Claims

1. A deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly, comprising:

a deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter bushing having a first end and a second end, and an annular shoulder portion located between the first end and the second end,

wherein the first end comprises a loadbreak interface for connecting to a loadbreak device and the second end comprises a deadbreak interface for connecting to a deadbreak bushing; and

bailing means for securing the deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter bushing to a housing in which the deadbreak bushing is installed via a securing force applied to the shoulder portion of the deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter bushing.

2. The deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter bushing comprises a 15 kilovolt bushing, a 25 kilovolt bushing, or a 35 kilovolt bushing.

3. The deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the loadbreak device comprises a loadbreak elbow, a loadbreak tee connector, or a loadbreak insulating cap.

4. The deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the deadbreak interface includes a cavity for receiving a projecting end of the deadbreak bushing.

5. The deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end, the second end, and the shoulder portion comprise substantially cylindrical configurations, and wherein the shoulder portion projects from the first end to form a rearward surface having an annular width sufficient to receive the bailing means thereon.

6. The deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly of claim 5, wherein the annular width comprises approximately 3/16 inches.

7. The deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly of claim 5, wherein the bailing means further comprises:

an adapter collar having a forward surface configured to abut the rearward surface of the shoulder portion; and

bailing elements to securely connect the adapter collar to a bailing structure associated with the deadbreak bushing.

8. The deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly of claim 7, wherein the adapter collar comprises a substantially ring-like configuration having an aperture therethrough for receiving the first end of deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter bushing.

9. The deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly of claim 7, wherein the adapter collar includes a number of apertures formed in a periphery thereof, wherein the apertures in the periphery are configured to receive the bailing elements.

10. The deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly of claim 7,

wherein the bailing elements comprise bailing rods, each of the bailing rods having a threaded end and a hooked end,

wherein the threaded ends of the bailing rods are received in the apertures in the periphery of the adapter collar, and

wherein the hooked ends of the bailing rods are configured to be received in the bailing structure associated with the deadbreak bushing.

11. The deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly of claim 1, wherein the bailing means further comprises:

a number of apertures formed in a periphery of the shoulder portion; and

bailing elements to securely connect the deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter bushing to a bailing structure associated with the deadbreak bushing via the number of shoulder apertures.

12. A system, comprising:

a transformer housing;

a deadbreak bushing affixed to the transformer housing via a mounting ring,

an adapter bushing comprising;

a first end;

a second end distal from the first end; and

an annular shoulder portion located between the first end and the second end and extending radially from the first end to form a rearward surface,

wherein the first end comprises a loadbreak interface for connecting to a loadbreak device and the second end comprises a deadbreak interface for connecting to a deadbreak bushing; and

a bailing device for securing the adapter bushing to the transformer housing.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second end of the adapter bushing includes a cavity for receiving a portion of the deadbreak bushing.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the adapter bushing includes arc confining and extinguishing elements.

15. The system of claim 12,

wherein the mounting ring is welded to the transformer housing and wherein the mounting ring includes a number of spaced apart bailing tabs extending therefrom, and

wherein the bailing device is configured to secure the adapter bushing to the transformer housing via the bailing tabs.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the bailing device further comprises:

an adapter collar having a forward surface configured to abut the rearward surface of the shoulder portion; and

bailing elements to securely connect the adapter collar to the bailing tabs.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the adapter bushing comprises a 15 kilovolt bushing, a 25 kilovolt bushing, or a 35 kilovolt bushing.

18. A high voltage deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter, comprising:

an adapter bushing that includes a deadbreak end and a loadbreak end,

wherein the deadbreak end includes a deadbreak interface for receiving a deadbreak bushing therein, and

wherein the loadbreak end includes a loadbreak interface for connecting to a loadbreak device; and

a bailing device for securing the adapter bushing to a housing in which the deadbreak bushing is installed,

wherein the bailing device comprises;

an adapter collar configured to abut a portion of an outer surface of the adapter bushing, wherein the adapter collar includes a number of apertures spaced about a periphery thereof;

a number of bailing rods, each having a threaded end and a hooked end,

wherein the threaded end of each bailing rod is configured to extend through a corresponding one of the number of apertures in the adapter collar,

wherein the hooked end of each bailing rod is configured to engage the housing in which the deadbreak bushing is installed; and

a number of nuts configured to thread on the threaded ends of the number of bailing rods upon insertion through a corresponding one of the number of apertures in the adapter collar, wherein tightening of each of the number of nuts secures the adapter bushing to the housing via the number of bailing rods.

19. The high voltage deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter of claim 18, wherein the adapter bushing includes an outer surface formed of a semiconductive material.