CABLE CENTER LINE ADAPTERS FOR SWITCHGEAR RETRO-FIT APPLICATIONS

• US 20190319414A1
• Filed: 02/18/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S&C Electric Company
• Original Assignee: S&C Electric Company
• Inventors: McDearmon, Bethany K., Bogacz, Karl M., Maroney, Michael R., Beseda, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,608,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/02 Flexible line connectors without frictional contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 13/005 Electrical connection between switchgear cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 13/0358 Connections to in or out conductors connectors in general H01R
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 3/00 Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture, assembly, or maintenance of boards or switchgear

Abstract

A cable adapter that is operable to electrically couple an existing switchgear cable used for old switchgear to a connection location on new switchgear. The adapter includes an elbow portion that is configured to be electrically coupled to a connector for the switchgear cable and an extension portion that is electrically coupled to the elbow portion. The adapter also includes a cylindrical connection portion electrically coupled to the extension portion and being configured to be electrically coupled to the new switchgear at the proper location. In one embodiment, the elbow portion, the extension portion and the connection portion combine as a single piece member including an internal conductor, a dielectric insulation rubber layer covering the internal conductor and an outer semi-conductive rubber layer covering the insulation layer, where the rubber layers are molded over the conductor.

Claims

1. A cable adapter comprising:

an elbow portion configured to be electrically coupled to a switchgear connector that is coupled to a switchgear cable;

an adapter extension portion electrically coupled to the elbow portion; and

a connection portion electrically coupled to the extension portion where the extension portion and the connection portion define a T-shape, said connection portion being configured to be electrically coupled to a cable attachment point of a new switchgear.

2. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the connection portion is cylindrical.

3. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the elbow portion, the extension portion and the connection portion include an internal conductor, a dielectric insulation layer covering the internal conductor and an outer semi-conductive layer covering the insulation layer.

4. The adapter according to claim 3 wherein the insulation layer is a rubber dielectric layer and the semi-conductive layer is a dielectric rubber layer.

5. The adapter according to claim 4 wherein the rubber layers are molded over the internal conductor.

6. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the adapter is a single piece member.

7. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the connection portion includes a cap that covers an opening in the connection portion that allows the adapter to be secured to the new switchgear.

8. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the switchgear connector has a T-shape or an L-shape shape.

9. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the switchgear connector is configured to be electrically coupled to a cable attachment point of an old switchgear.

10. The adapter according to claim 1 wherein the new switchgear is mounted on a concrete pad.

11. A connection assembly for connecting a switchgear cable to new switchgear, said assembly comprising:

a switchgear connector electrically coupled to the switchgear cable and including a switchgear connection portion configured to be coupled to old switchgear; and

a cable adapter including an adapter extension portion electrically coupled to the switchgear connection portion and an adapter connection portion configured to be electrically coupled to the new switchgear.

12. The assembly according to claim 11 wherein the cable adapter further includes an elbow portion electrically coupled to and between the switchgear connection portion and the adapter extension portion.

13. The assembly according to claim 11 wherein the adapter connection portion is cylindrical and wherein the adapter extension portion and the adapter connection portion define a T-shape.

14. The assembly according to claim 11 wherein the adapter extension portion and the adapter connection portion include an internal conductor, a dielectric insulation layer covering the internal conductor and an outer semi-conductive layer covering the insulation layer.

15. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein the insulation layer is a rubber dielectric layer and the semi-conductive layer is a dielectric rubber layer.

16. The assembly according to claim 15 wherein the rubber layers are molded over the internal conductor.

17. The assembly according to claim 11 wherein the adapter is a single piece member.

18. The assembly according to claim 11 wherein the adapter connection portion includes a cap that covers an opening in the adapter connection portion that allows the cable adapter to be secured to the new switchgear.

19. A cable adapter comprising:

an elbow portion configured to be electrically coupled to a switchgear connector that is coupled to a switchgear cable, wherein the switchgear connector is configured to be electrically coupled to a cable attachment point of an old switchgear;

an extension portion electrically coupled to the elbow portion; and

a cylindrical connection portion electrically coupled to the extension portion where the extension portion and the connection portion define a T-shape, said connection portion being configured to be electrically coupled to a cable attachment point of a new switchgear, wherein the elbow portion, the extension portion and the connection portion include an internal conductor, a dielectric insulation rubber layer covering the internal conductor and an outer semi-conductive rubber layer covering the insulation layer, where the rubber layers are molded and cured over the internal conductor so that the cable adapter is a single piece member.

20. The adapter according to claim 19 wherein the connection portion includes a cap that covers an opening in the connection portion that allows the adapter to be secured to the new switchgear.