Electrical connector device including heat transfer device and method of manufacturing same

• US 10,453,624 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2015
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Tu, Zhiyu, Wang, Wei, Ren, Xuhui
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F
• Application Number:
  US15/744,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20180261405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 439251, 439485, 439487, 16510426
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/62 Heating or cooling of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/52 Cooling of switch parts cooling of contacts H01H1/62
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/56 Cooling; Ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 11/04 Isolating-contacts, e.g. mountings or shieldings

Abstract

An electrical connector device for connecting a bus bar to one or more electrical contacts of a circuit interrupting device is provided. The electrical connector device includes an electrically conductive body having a first end configured to engage the one or more electrical contacts of the circuit interrupting device, and a second end configured to engage the bus bar. The electrically conductive body includes a central portion and an outer portion, and has a cavity defined therein between the central portion and the outer portion. The electrical connector device also includes an evaporative heat transfer device including a wick and a working fluid each disposed within the cavity defined within the electrically conductive body. The heat transfer device is configured to facilitate heat transfer from the first end of the electrically conductive body to the second end.

Claims

1. An electrical connector device for connecting a bus bar to one or more electrical contacts of a circuit interrupting device, said electrical connector device comprising:

an electrically conductive body having a first end configured to engage the one or more electrical contacts of the circuit interrupting device, and a second end configured to engage the bus bar, said electrically conductive body defining a ventilation opening extending longitudinally from said first end to said second end, said electrically conductive body including a central portion and an outer portion and having a cavity defined therein between said central portion and said outer portion, said cavity extending circumferentially around said ventilation opening; and

an evaporative heat transfer device comprising a wick and a working fluid each disposed within the cavity defined within said electrically conductive body, said heat transfer device configured to facilitate heat transfer from said first end to said second end.

2. An electrical connector device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive body includes an inner surface and an outer surface, each of said inner surface and said outer surface at least partially defining the cavity within said electrically conductive body, wherein said inner surface defines a first heat exchange interface between said electrically conductive body and said heat transfer device, and said outer surface defines a second heat exchange interface between said electrically conductive body and said heat transfer device.

3. An electrical connector device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive body includes an outer heat transfer surface and an inner heat transfer surface, said inner heat transfer surf ace defined by said central portion of said electrically conductive body.

4. An electrical connector device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said inner heat transfer surface at least partially defines the ventilation opening and is in thermal communication with the ventilation opening.

5. An electrical connector device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wick comprises sintered copper.

6. An electrical connector device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive body is constructed from a monolithic piece of conductive material.

7. An electrical connector device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cavity is hermetically sealed and completely enclosed within said electrically conductive body.

8. An electrical connector device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cavity is an annular cavity.

9. An electrical connector device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive body comprises copper.

10. An electrical connector device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the working fluid comprises water.

11. An electrical switchgear system comprising:

a circuit breaker comprising at least one electrical contact;

a bus bar; and

an electrical connector device configured to conduct electrical current between said bus bar and said circuit breaker, said electrical connector device comprising;

an electrically conductive body having a first end releasably coupled to said at least one electrical contact, and a second end coupled to said bus bar, said electrically conductive body defining a ventilation opening extending longitudinally from said first end to said second end, said electrically conductive body including a central portion and an outer portion, and having a cavity defined therein between said central portion and said outer portion, said cavity extending circumferentially around said ventilation opening; and

an evaporative heat transfer device comprising a wick and a working fluid each disposed within the cavity defined within said electrically conductive body, said heat transfer device configured to facilitate heat transfer to said bus bar.

12. An electrical switchgear system in accordance with claim 11, further comprising an insulating sleeve defining an enclosed space, wherein said at least one electrical contact and said electrical connector device are disposed within the enclosed space defined by said insulating sleeve.

13. An electrical switchgear system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said circuit breaker includes an internal trip mechanism configured to interrupt an electrical connection between said bus bar and a branch circuit electrically coupled to said bus bar via said circuit breaker.

14. An electrical switchgear system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said at least one electrical contact comprises at least one finger contact, wherein said at least one finger contact is biased into engagement with said electrical connector device.

15. An electrical switchgear system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said electrically conductive body includes an inner surface and an outer surface, each of said inner surface and said outer surface at least partially defining the cavity within said electrically conductive body, wherein said inner surface defines a first heat exchange interface between said electrically conductive body and said heat transfer device, and said outer surface defines a second heat exchange interface between said electrically conductive body and said heat transfer device.

16. A method of manufacturing an electrical connector device including an evaporative heat transfer device, said method comprising:

forming a cavity in an electrically conductive body such that the cavity is defined between a central portion of the electrically conductive body and an outer portion of the electrically conductive body;

forming a ventilation opening in the electrically conductive body such that (i) the cavity extends circumferentially around the ventilation opening and (ii) the ventilation opening extends longitudinally from a first end of the electrically conductive body to a second end of the electrically conductive body; and

forming an evaporative heat transfer device within the electrically conductive body, wherein forming the evaporative heat transfer device comprises;

providing a wick within the cavity;

providing a working fluid within the cavity; and

sealing the cavity.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein forming the cavity comprises forming an annular cavity that surrounds the central portion of the electrically conductive body.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein providing the wick comprises adhering a conductive powder to at least one internal surface of the electrically conductive body and sintering the conductive powder.