Insulating cover for transformer brackets

• US 9,847,633 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2014
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Lenk, Dennis Wilbur, Comber, Michael Geoffrey, Brahma, Saroni
• Primary Examiner(s): Leja, Ronald W
• Application Number:
  US14/534,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20160133360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 361 40, 361117, 361118, 361127, 361131, 361132
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/02 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/04 for transformers

Abstract

The present disclosure provides insulating covers for mounting brackets used to secure arrester assemblies to transformers. The purpose of the insulating cover is to protect wildlife from electric shock, and to prevent power interruptions on high voltage distribution lines caused by the bridging of high voltage circuits by wildlife.

Claims

1. An arrestor assembly having an insulating cover for mounting brackets, comprising;

a fastener cover section, a bracket cover section, and an isolator cover section between the fastener cover section and the bracket cover section, wherein the bracket cover section includes at least two tabs adapted to releasably attach the bracket cover section with an interference fit between the at least two tabs and a mounting bracket.

2. The insulating cover according to claim 1, wherein the insulating cover is made of an insulating material capable of insulating conductive components in high voltage environments ranging between 2.55 kV and 38 kV.

3. The insulating cover according to claim 1, wherein the insulating cover is made of an insulating material having sufficient rigidity to withstand movement that may be caused by wildlife perched on the insulating cover, and being flexible to permit the insulating cover to be releasably secured to a mounting bracket.

4. The insulating cover according to claim 1, wherein the insulating cover is made of a flame resistant material.

5. The insulating cover according to claim 1, wherein the insulating cover is made of a UV stabilized low density polyethylene.

6. The insulating cover according to claim 1, wherein the insulating cover is made of a thermoplastic vulcanizate.

7. The insulating cover according to claim 6, wherein the thermoplastic vulcanizate comprises Santoprene®

.

8. The insulating cover according to claim 1, wherein the bracket cover section has a length that can range from between 0.6 inch and 4 inches.

9. The insulating cover according to claim 1, wherein the bracket cover section has a length of 3.6 inches.

10. The insulating cover according to claim 1, wherein the bracket cover section has a length between 1.2 inches and 1.3 inches.

11. The insulating cover according to claim 1, wherein the bracket cover section has a width that can range from between 1 inch and 3 inches.

12. The insulating cover according to claim 1, wherein the bracket cover section has a width of 1.25 inches.

13. An arrester assembly, comprising:

an arrester;

a mounting bracket for securing the arrester assembly to a transformer;

an isolator bracket connected to the arrester at one end and to the mounting bracket another end; and

an insulating cover releasably attached to the mounting bracket for insulating at least a portion of the mounting bracket and the connection point between the isolator bracket and the mounting bracket, wherein the insulating cover includes at least two tabs adapted to releasably attach the insulating cover with an interference fit between the at least two tabs and the mounting bracket.

14. The arrester assembly according to claim 13, wherein the insulating cover comprises;

a fastener cover section, a bracket cover section, and an isolator cover section between the fastener cover section and the bracket cover section, wherein the bracket cover section can be releasably attached to the mounting bracket.

15. The arrester assembly according to claim 14, wherein the bracket cover section has a length that can range from between 0.6 inch and 4 inches.

16. The arrester assembly according to claim 14, wherein the bracket cover section has a length of 3.6 inches.

17. The arrester assembly according to claim 14, wherein the bracket cover section has a length between 1.2 inches and 1.3 inches.

18. The arrester assembly according to claim 14, wherein the bracket cover section has a width that can range from between 1 inch and 3 inches.

19. The arrester assembly according to claim 14, wherein the bracket cover section has a width of 1.25 inches.

20. The arrester assembly according to claim 13, wherein the insulating cover is made of an insulating material capable of insulating conductive components in high voltage environments ranging between 2.55 kV and 38 kV.

21. The arrester assembly according to claim 13, wherein the insulating cover is made of an insulating material having sufficient rigidity to withstand movement that may be caused by wildlife perched on the insulating cover, and being flexible to permit the insulating cover to be releasably attached to the mounting bracket.

22. The arrester assembly according to claim 13, wherein the insulating cover is made of a flame resistant material.

23. The arrester assembly according to claim 13, wherein the insulating cover is made of a UV stabilized low density polyethylene.

24. The arrester assembly according to claim 13, wherein the insulating cover is made of a thermoplastic vulcanizate.

25. The arrester assembly according to claim 24, wherein the thermoplastic vulcanizate comprises Santoprene®

.

26. A transformer assembly, comprising:

a transformer; and

an arrester assembly attached to the transformer, the arrester assembly having an arrester, a mounting bracket for attaching the arrester assembly to the transformer, an isolator bracket connected to the arrester at one end and to the mounting bracket another end, and an insulating cover for insulating at least a portion of the mounting bracket and the connection point between the isolator bracket and the mounting bracket, wherein the insulating cover includes at least two tabs adapted to releasably attach the insulating cover with an interference fit between the at least two tabs and the mounting bracket.

27. The transformer assembly according to claim 26, wherein the insulating cover comprises;

a fastener cover section, a bracket cover section, and an isolator cover section between the fastener cover section and the bracket cover section, wherein the bracket cover section can be releasably attached to the mounting bracket.

28. The transformer assembly according to claim 27, wherein the bracket cover section has a length that can range from between 0.6 inch and 4 inches.

29. The transformer assembly according to claim 27, wherein the bracket cover section has a length of 3.6 inches.

30. The transformer assembly according to claim 27, wherein the bracket cover section has a length between 1.2 inches and 1.3 inches.

31. The transformer assembly according to claim 27, wherein the bracket cover section has a width that can range from between 1 inch and 3 inches.

32. The transformer assembly according to claim 27, wherein the bracket cover section has a width of 1.25 inches.

33. The transformer assembly according to claim 26, wherein the insulating cover is made of an insulating material capable of insulating conductive components in high voltage environments ranging between 2.55 kV and 38 kV.

34. The transformer assembly according to claim 26, wherein the insulating cover is made of an insulating material having sufficient rigidity to withstand movement that may be caused by wildlife perched on the insulating cover, and being flexible to permit the insulating cover to be releasably attached to the mounting bracket.

35. The transformer assembly according to claim 26, wherein the insulating cover is made of a flame resistant material.

36. The transformer assembly according to claim 26, wherein the insulating cover is made of a UV stabilized low density polyethylene.

37. The transformer assembly according to claim 26, wherein the insulating cover is made of a thermoplastic vulcanizate.

38. The transformer assembly according to claim 37, wherein the thermoplastic vulcanizate comprises Santoprene®

.

39. An arrestor assembly having an insulating cover for transformer mounting brackets, comprising a bracket cover surface, a first side wall extending from the bracket cover surface and a first tab extending from the first side wall, and a second side wall extending from the bracket cover surface and a second tab extending from the second side wall, wherein the first tab and second tab are adapted to releasably attach the insulating cover with an interference fit between the at least two tabs and a transformer mounting bracket, wherein the insulating cover is made of an insulating material capable of insulating conductive components in high voltage environments ranging between 2.55 kV and 38 kV.

40. The insulating cover according to claim 39, wherein the bracket cover surface has a length that can range from between 0.6 inch and 4 inches.

41. The insulating cover according to claim 39, wherein the bracket cover surface has a length of 3.6 inches.

42. The insulating cover according to claim 39, wherein the bracket cover surface has a length between 1.2 inches and 1.3 inches.

43. The insulating cover according to claim 39, wherein the insulating cover is made of a flame resistant material.

44. The insulating cover according to claim 39, wherein the insulating cover is made of a UV stabilized low density polyethylene.

45. The insulating cover according to claim 39, wherein the insulating cover is made of a thermoplastic vulcanizate.