Power factor correction capacitors

• US 9,496,086 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2015
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AmRad Manufacturing, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Radionic Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Stockman, Robert M., Stockman, Richard W., Tricano, Michael B., Charles, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): HA, NGUYEN T
• Application Number:
  US14/663,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20150255218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 361/301.5, 361303-305, 361328-329
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 2/106 Fixing the capacitor in a housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/012 Form of non-self-supporting electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/224 Housing; Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/228 Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/232 electrically connecting two or more layers of a stacked or rolled capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/236 leading through the housing, i.e. lead-through
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/32 Wound capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 4/38 Multiple capacitors, i.e. structural combinations of fixed capacitors

Abstract

An apparatus includes a case capable of receiving a plurality of capacitive elements, each capacitor element having at least two capacitors, and each capacitor having a capacitive value. The apparatus also includes a cover assembly with a peripheral edge secured to the case. The cover assembly includes, for each of the plurality of capacitive elements, a cover terminal that extends upwardly from the cover assembly generally at a central region of the cover assembly. Each cover terminal is connected to one of the at least two capacitors of the respective one of the plurality of capacitive elements. The cover assembly also includes, for each of the plurality of capacitive elements, a cover terminal that extends upwardly from the cover assembly at a position spaced apart from the cover terminal generally at the central region of the cover assembly.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a case capable of receiving a plurality of capacitive elements, each capacitive element having at least two capacitors, each capacitor having a capacitive value; and

a cover assembly with a peripheral edge secured to the case, the cover assembly comprising;

for each of the plurality of capacitive elements, a first cover terminal that extends upwardly from the cover assembly, wherein each first cover terminal is connected to one of the at least two capacitors of the respective one of the plurality of capacitive elements,

for each of the plurality of capacitive elements, a second cover terminal that extends upwardly from the cover assembly at a position spaced apart from the first cover terminal, wherein each second cover terminal is connected to another of the at least two capacitors for the respective one of the plurality of capacitive elements,

a common insulation barrier mounted to the cover assembly, wherein one of the first cover terminals extends through the common insulation barrier, and

a separate insulation barrier mounted to the cover assembly, wherein one of the second cover terminals extends through the separate insulation barrier.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two capacitors have equivalent capacitance values.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two capacitors for each of the plurality of capacitive elements have equivalent capacitance values.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, each of the capacitive elements comprises a cylindrically wound capacitive element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an insulating fluid in the case at least partially surrounding the plurality of capacitive elements.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first cover terminal has a first size and the second cover terminal has a second size, different from the first size.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first size is a first diameter and the second size is a second diameter.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of capacitive elements are connected in a delta configuration.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two capacitors are connected in parallel by connecting the first cover terminal and the second cover.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a first KVAR value for the first cover terminal being disconnected from the second cover terminal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a first KVAR value for the first cover terminal being disconnected from the second cover terminal, and, the apparatus has a second KVAR value for the first cover terminal being connected to the second cover terminal.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a case capable of receiving a plurality of capacitive elements, each capacitive element having at least two capacitors, each capacitor having a capacitive value; and

a cover assembly with a peripheral edge secured to the case, the cover assembly comprising;

for each of the plurality of capacitive elements, a first cover terminal that extends upwardly from the cover assembly, wherein each first cover terminal is connected to one of the at least two capacitors of the respective one of the plurality of capacitive elements,

for each of the plurality of capacitive elements, a second cover terminal that extends upwardly from the cover assembly at a position spaced apart from the first cover terminal, wherein each second cover terminal is connected to another of the at least two capacitors for the respective one of the plurality of capacitive elements,

a common insulation barrier mounted to the cover assembly, wherein one of the first cover terminals extends through the common insulation barrier, and

a separate insulation barrier mounted to the cover assembly, wherein one of the second cover terminals extends through the separate insulation barrier;

wherein the apparatus is configured to supply reactive power to a load, the apparatus having a first KVAR value for the first cover terminal being disconnected from the second cover terminal, and, the apparatus having a second KVAR value for the first cover terminal being connected to the second cover terminal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least two capacitors have equivalent capacitance values.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least two capacitors for each of the plurality of capacitive elements have equivalent capacitance values.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, each of the capacitive elements comprises a cylindrically wound capacitive element.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an insulating fluid in the case at least partially surrounding the plurality of capacitive elements.