CA1077100A - Disconnect contact assembly for metal-clad switchgear and the like - Google Patents
Disconnect contact assembly for metal-clad switchgear and the likeInfo
- Publication number
- CA1077100A CA1077100A CA284,663A CA284663A CA1077100A CA 1077100 A CA1077100 A CA 1077100A CA 284663 A CA284663 A CA 284663A CA 1077100 A CA1077100 A CA 1077100A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tubular insulator
- coating
- insulator
- tubular
- assembly
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 64
- 239000012212 insulator Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 50
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 36
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 230000005684 electric field Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000003989 dielectric material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 abstract 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 6
- HBMJWWWQQXIZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon carbide Chemical compound [Si+]#[C-] HBMJWWWQQXIZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 229910010271 silicon carbide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002305 electric material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 2
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical group [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920000877 Melamine resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000180 alkyd Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000008199 coating composition Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000002118 epoxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- IVJISJACKSSFGE-UHFFFAOYSA-N formaldehyde;1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine Chemical class O=C.NC1=NC(N)=NC(N)=N1 IVJISJACKSSFGE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- SLGWESQGEUXWJQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N formaldehyde;phenol Chemical compound O=C.OC1=CC=CC=C1 SLGWESQGEUXWJQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000011810 insulating material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001568 phenolic resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229910052573 porcelain Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001187 thermosetting polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000003672 ureas Chemical class 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
- H01H33/02—Details
- H01H33/24—Means for preventing discharge to non-current-carrying parts, e.g. using corona ring
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01F—MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
- H01F38/00—Adaptations of transformers or inductances for specific applications or functions
- H01F38/20—Instruments transformers
- H01F38/22—Instruments transformers for single phase AC
- H01F38/28—Current transformers
- H01F38/30—Constructions
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02B—BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02B11/00—Switchgear having carriage withdrawable for isolation
- H02B11/26—Arrangements of fuses, resistors, voltage arresters or the like
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S174/00—Electricity: conductors and insulators
- Y10S174/10—Bushing with current transformers
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Insulating Bodies (AREA)
- Insulators (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
This disconnect contact assembly comprises a tubular insulator projecting forwardly through a grounded metal plate and surrounding the usual bridging contact sub-assembly. A current transformer secondary assembly sur-rounds the tubular insulator. Two separate metallic coatings are provided on the tubular insulator, the first one on the outer peripheral surface of the insulator and the second one on the inner peripheral surface of the insulator. The first metallic coating is normally at ground potential and the second one is normally at the potential of said bridging contact subassembly. In addition, two semiconductor coatings, each having non-linear resistivity properties, are provided on the tubular insulator. The first semiconductor coating is disposed on the external surface of the tubular insulator at the forward end of said first metallic coating. The second semiconductor coating is disposed on the internal surface of the tubular insulator at the forward end of said second metallic coating.
The two metallic coatings act to confine the electric stress in the region of the current transformer secondary and the bridging contact subassembly to the solid die-lectric material of the tubular insulator, and the two semiconductor coatings act to grade the electric stresses at the forward ends or the metallic coatings where the equipotential lines of the electric field emerge from said dielectric material.
This disconnect contact assembly comprises a tubular insulator projecting forwardly through a grounded metal plate and surrounding the usual bridging contact sub-assembly. A current transformer secondary assembly sur-rounds the tubular insulator. Two separate metallic coatings are provided on the tubular insulator, the first one on the outer peripheral surface of the insulator and the second one on the inner peripheral surface of the insulator. The first metallic coating is normally at ground potential and the second one is normally at the potential of said bridging contact subassembly. In addition, two semiconductor coatings, each having non-linear resistivity properties, are provided on the tubular insulator. The first semiconductor coating is disposed on the external surface of the tubular insulator at the forward end of said first metallic coating. The second semiconductor coating is disposed on the internal surface of the tubular insulator at the forward end of said second metallic coating.
The two metallic coatings act to confine the electric stress in the region of the current transformer secondary and the bridging contact subassembly to the solid die-lectric material of the tubular insulator, and the two semiconductor coatings act to grade the electric stresses at the forward ends or the metallic coatings where the equipotential lines of the electric field emerge from said dielectric material.
Description
~ ~7 71~0 llTR-04183 This invention relates to a disconnect contact as-sembly for metal-clad switchgear and the like and, more particularly, relates to a contact assembly of this type which has improved ability to withstand high voltages without producing objectionable corona.
The general type of disconnect contact assembly that I am concerned with is shown in U.S. Patents No.3,397,293 dated August 13, 1968 - Darrow et al (Fig. 8) and U.S.
Patent No. 3,461,348 dated August 12, 1969 Eichelberger, both assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
A disconnect contact assembly of this general type comprises a grounded metal plate having an opening therein, a first conductive stud extending through this opening, and a tubular insulator fixed to the first stud and interposed between the stud and the periphery of the opening. A
second conductive stud generally aligns with the first stud, and the ends of the two studs are electrically inter-connected by a bridging contact subassembly, which is located within the tubular insulator. An annular current transformer secondary assembly surrounds the tubular insulator in the region of the contact subassembly.
When such a disconnect contact assembly is used for high voltages, high electrical stresses tend to develop near the bridging contact subassembly and the current transformer assembly; and such stresses tend to produce corona and resultant dielectric breakdown. This problem is accentuated in a high current design where the studs and the bridging contact subassembly must be larger in order to carry the higher currents, thus decreasing the 30 available electrical clearances. It is possible to reduce the electrical stresses by increasing the size of the tubular insulator and the surrounding current transformer ~ llTR-04183 710C~
secondary assembly, but this solution is often not a very practical one because the available space is usually limited and because increased size usually results in increased cost.
Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a disconnect contact assembly which can be exceptionally compact despite high current and voltage ratings and yet has a high resistance to corona formation.
In carrying out the invention in one form, I provide two separate metallic coatings on that portion of the above-described tubular insulator that surrounds the bridging contact subassembly. The first metallic coating, which is at ground potential, is interposed between the tubular insulator and the current transformer secondary assembly and coats the outer periphery of the tubular in-sulator. The second metallic coating, which is normally at the potential of the first stud, coats the inner periphery of the tubular insulator and surronds the bridg-ing contact subassembly in radially-spaced relationship thereto. In addition, two semiconductor coatings, each having non-linear resistivity properties, are provided on the tubular insulator. The first semiconductor coating is disposed on the external surface of the tubular in-sulator at the forward end of said first metallic coating.
The second semiconductor coating is disposed on the in-ternal surface of the tubular insulator at the forward end of said second metallic coating.
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a disconnect contact assembly embodying one form of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 and illus-trating the approximate configuration of the electric field present when the assembly is energized.
llTRO-4183 - ~0771~30 Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 2 but illustrating a prior art disconnect contact assembly and the approximate configuration of the electrical field present therein when this assembly is energized.
Referring now to Fig. 1, the illustrated disconnect contact assembly comprises a stationary metal plate 10 at ground potential having a relatively large opening 12 ex-tending therethrough. Behind the metal plate 10 is a bus bar 16 having a conductive stud 18 projecting horizont-ally therefrom in a forward direction through the opening12. The free end 19 of stud 18 is located at the right hand side of metal plate 10.
Interposed between conductive stud 18 and and the peri-phery of opening 12 is a tubular insulator 22 preferably of procelain, having a radially-inwardly projecting flange 23.
This tubular insulator 22 surrounds the stud 18 and is fixed thereto by two annular metal abutments 24 and 26 on stud 18. Abutment 24 is fixed to the stud and abutment 26 is threaded on the stud. When abutment 26 is rotated on the threads to move toward abutment 24, the flange 23 is clamped between the abutments.
The tubular porcelain insulator 22 is supported on metal plate 10 by an adapter 30 of metal that surrounds insulator 22 and is secured thereto at the outer periphery of the insulator. Adapter 30 is shown with an internal shoulder 32 against which an external shoulder 34 on insulator 22 abuts. A suitable retainer, shown as a snap ring 35, holds these two shoulders 32 and 34 together. -~
Adapter 30 is suitably bolted to metal plate 10 in a manner soon to be described.
Surrounding tubular insulator 22 is the annular secondary assembly 40 of a current transformer. This ~77100 llTRO-4183 secondary assembly 40 is of a conventional design and, as such, comprises an iron core 42, a secondary winding 44 of insulation-covered wire suitably linked with the core, and a jacket 45 of solid insulating material surrounding the winding and core.
The jacket 45 includes at its outer surface radially-outwardly projecting lugs (not shown). Bolts 46 extend between these lugs and adapter 30, and when tightened, they clamp metal plate 10 between adapted 30 and current trans-former secondary asse~bly 40, thus fixing the secondaryassembly 40 and tubular insulator 22 to stationary metal plate 10. The details of this fastening means are not a part of my invention and can take the conventional form shown in the aforesaid Eichelberger or Darrow et al patents.
Cooperating with stationary contact 18, 19 of the dis-connect contact assembly is a contact subassembly 48 mounted on a conductive stud 50 that is generally aligned with the first conductive stud 18. The contact subassembly 48 com-prises a plurality of finger contacts 52 disposed in a tubular array and having rounded inwardly-extending pro-jections 53 fitting in a retaining groove in stud 50. A
first garter spring biases the projections 53 into the groove. A second garter spring 56 biases the fingers 52 into engagement with the free end 19 of the stationary stud when the parts are in the position of Fig. 1. The contact fingers 52 act as bridging contacts between the studs 18 and 50 when the parts are in the position of Fig.
1.
When the apparatus of Fig. 1 is energized, studs 18, 50 and the contact subassembly 48 are at a relatively high potential, equal to line voltage, and the current trans-former secondary assembly 40 is basically at ground poten-77~ llTRO-4183 tial. For shaping and distributing the electric field resulting from this potential difference, I provide a first metallic coating 60 at ground potential on the ex-ternal cylindrical surface of the tubular insulator 22 and a second metallic coating 62 at line potential on the internal tubular surface of insulator 22. In the illustra-ted embodiment, the external metallic coating 60 is shown connected to ground through contact with the metal adapter 30, which is clamped to the grounded metal plate 10. The internal metal coating 62 is shown electrically connected to stud 18 through contact with metal abutments 24 and 26 on the stud. The internal coating 62 forces line potential to be present along the internal surface of tubular in-sulator 22, and the external coating 60 forces ground potential to be present along the external surface of insulator 22. Thus, the two coatings cooperate with each other to force the electric field in the region of sub-assemblies 40 and 48 to be confined to the solid di-electric of tubular insulator 22 which is located between the two coatings 60 and 62. Fig. 2 illustrates this relationship by showing the equipotential lines of the electric field in this region confined to the solid di-electric material of insulator 22.
As shown in Fig. 2, these equipotential lines of the field emerge from the solid dielectric material and enter the surrounding air adjacent the forward ends of the metal coating 60 and 62. For distributing the equipotential lines in this region where they emerge from the solid di-electric material, two voltage-grading coatings 66 and 68 of semiconductor material are provided on the external and internal surfaces, respectively, of the tubular insulator 22.
1~771~ llTRo-4l83 These voltage-grading coatings have non linear re-sistivity properties and, more specifically, a resistivity in any given region that varies inversely with respect to applied voltage. Thus, in regions of high-intensity elec-tric field, the resistivity of the voltage-grading coating is low, and in regions of low intensity electrical field, its resistivity is high. In the illustrated apparatus, the regions adjacent the end of metal coating 60 and 62 are regions of high intensity electric field where the coating resistivity is relatively low, and the regions adjacent the free ends of the voltage grading coatings 66 and 68 are regions of low intensity field where the resistivity is relatively high. There is a gradual transition in the resistivity of the material between these these two extreme regions.
The coatings 66 and 68 are preferably made of a suit-ably thermosetting resin mixed while in the liquid state with finely-divided particles of silicon carbide. By way of example, and not limitation, suitable resins are epoxides, epoxy-modified urea or melamine formaldehydes, phenolic-modified alkyds, and blends of polyvinylformal and phenol-formaldehyde. The silicon carbide is preferably a high-resistivity silicon carbide of the N-type, such as that used in electronic semiconductor devices. The percentage of silicone carbide present will depend upon the desired resistivity range of the coating. In one specific example, the high resistivity silicon carbide is present in an amount of about 25% by volume of the coating composition.
More detailed examples of such materials are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,210,460 dated October 5, 1965, Suelmann.
Other materials suitable for the semiconductor coat-ings are the silicon carbide-containing glazes disclosed ~ 7~ 11 TRO-4183 in and applied as claimed in U~S. Patent No. 3,982,048 dated September 21, 1976 - Zlupko, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. When such materials are used, the glaze-forming material is applied to the insulator and fired in place thereon, and thereafter the metallic coatings 60 and 62 are applied.
With these coatings 60, 62, 66 and 68 present, the equipotential lines of the electric field are prevented from concentrating in the art space adjacent either the current trans ormer secondary 40 or the bridging contact subassembly 48. The metal coatings 60, 62 serve to force -the equipotential lines away from the right-hand ends of the current transformer secondary 40 and the disconnect contact subassembly 48, preventing them from crowding around parts 40 and 48 in these areas and the non-linear semiconductor coatings 66 and 68 serve to prevent the equipotential lines, as they emerge from the solid die-lectric material, from crowding around the right hand, or forward, ends of the metal coatings.
In a preferred form of my invention, as shown in Fig. 2, the inner metallic coating 62 extends in a for-ward direction (i.e., to right) slightly beyond the for-wardly located (or right-hand) end of the bridging contact subassembly 48 so as to provide the desired electrical stress-relief adjacent this forwardly-located end. Simil-arly, the outer metallic coating extends to the right slightly beyond the right-hand end of the current-trans-former secondary assembly 40.
Although I prefer to make the coatings 66 and 68 as two discrete coatings separated by concoated procelain at the forward end of the tubular insulator 22, it is within my invention in its broader aspects to extend the -- llTRO-4183 1~7~
coatings around the forward end of the tubular insulator so that they, in effect, form a single coating.
The manner in which the coatings shape and distribute the electric field can be more clearly understood by com-paring Fig. 2 to Fig. Fig. 3 shows as assembly corres-sponding to that of Fig. 2 except without the coatings 60, 62 and 66, 68 and with a small clearance space between the inner periphery of the current transformer secondary as-sembly and the tubular insulator 22. It will be noted that in Fig. 3 the equipotential lines of the electric field in the region of the current transformer assembly 40 and the contact subassembly 48 are not confined to the solid dielectric of insulator 22, as is the case in Fig. 2. It will also be noted that the 80% equipotential line is located closely adjacent the contact subassembly 48 and crowds in closely around the right-hand end of this sub-assembly, producing a region of high electric stress con-centration at this end. Similarly the 20% equipotential line crowds in closely around the inner right hand edge of the current transformer assembly 40, producing a region of high electric stress at this edge. It will be appreci-ated that the coatings of Fig. 2 greatly reduce the stresses in these crucial regions, thus enabling the as-sembly to withstand higher voltage without the formation of objectionable corona.
It is to be understood that the illustrated electric field configurations are intended to be approximate only.
They are shown primarily to illustrate the general concept of the invention rather than the precise configuration of the fields.
Although Figs. 1 and 2 show no air gap between the outer periphery of metal coating 60 and the inner periphery llTRO-4183 1(3771~0 of insulating jacket ~5 of the current transformer secondary, it is to be understood that such an air gap can be present, if desired. The coatings 60 and 66 of Figs~ 1 and 2 will remove any significant electric stress from such an air gap.
The present of such an air gap will not significantly affect the configuration of the equipotential lines, as compared to the configuration present without the air gap.
While I have shown and described a particular embodi-ment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention in its broader aspects; and I, therefore, intend herein to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.
The general type of disconnect contact assembly that I am concerned with is shown in U.S. Patents No.3,397,293 dated August 13, 1968 - Darrow et al (Fig. 8) and U.S.
Patent No. 3,461,348 dated August 12, 1969 Eichelberger, both assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
A disconnect contact assembly of this general type comprises a grounded metal plate having an opening therein, a first conductive stud extending through this opening, and a tubular insulator fixed to the first stud and interposed between the stud and the periphery of the opening. A
second conductive stud generally aligns with the first stud, and the ends of the two studs are electrically inter-connected by a bridging contact subassembly, which is located within the tubular insulator. An annular current transformer secondary assembly surrounds the tubular insulator in the region of the contact subassembly.
When such a disconnect contact assembly is used for high voltages, high electrical stresses tend to develop near the bridging contact subassembly and the current transformer assembly; and such stresses tend to produce corona and resultant dielectric breakdown. This problem is accentuated in a high current design where the studs and the bridging contact subassembly must be larger in order to carry the higher currents, thus decreasing the 30 available electrical clearances. It is possible to reduce the electrical stresses by increasing the size of the tubular insulator and the surrounding current transformer ~ llTR-04183 710C~
secondary assembly, but this solution is often not a very practical one because the available space is usually limited and because increased size usually results in increased cost.
Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a disconnect contact assembly which can be exceptionally compact despite high current and voltage ratings and yet has a high resistance to corona formation.
In carrying out the invention in one form, I provide two separate metallic coatings on that portion of the above-described tubular insulator that surrounds the bridging contact subassembly. The first metallic coating, which is at ground potential, is interposed between the tubular insulator and the current transformer secondary assembly and coats the outer periphery of the tubular in-sulator. The second metallic coating, which is normally at the potential of the first stud, coats the inner periphery of the tubular insulator and surronds the bridg-ing contact subassembly in radially-spaced relationship thereto. In addition, two semiconductor coatings, each having non-linear resistivity properties, are provided on the tubular insulator. The first semiconductor coating is disposed on the external surface of the tubular in-sulator at the forward end of said first metallic coating.
The second semiconductor coating is disposed on the in-ternal surface of the tubular insulator at the forward end of said second metallic coating.
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a disconnect contact assembly embodying one form of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 and illus-trating the approximate configuration of the electric field present when the assembly is energized.
llTRO-4183 - ~0771~30 Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 2 but illustrating a prior art disconnect contact assembly and the approximate configuration of the electrical field present therein when this assembly is energized.
Referring now to Fig. 1, the illustrated disconnect contact assembly comprises a stationary metal plate 10 at ground potential having a relatively large opening 12 ex-tending therethrough. Behind the metal plate 10 is a bus bar 16 having a conductive stud 18 projecting horizont-ally therefrom in a forward direction through the opening12. The free end 19 of stud 18 is located at the right hand side of metal plate 10.
Interposed between conductive stud 18 and and the peri-phery of opening 12 is a tubular insulator 22 preferably of procelain, having a radially-inwardly projecting flange 23.
This tubular insulator 22 surrounds the stud 18 and is fixed thereto by two annular metal abutments 24 and 26 on stud 18. Abutment 24 is fixed to the stud and abutment 26 is threaded on the stud. When abutment 26 is rotated on the threads to move toward abutment 24, the flange 23 is clamped between the abutments.
The tubular porcelain insulator 22 is supported on metal plate 10 by an adapter 30 of metal that surrounds insulator 22 and is secured thereto at the outer periphery of the insulator. Adapter 30 is shown with an internal shoulder 32 against which an external shoulder 34 on insulator 22 abuts. A suitable retainer, shown as a snap ring 35, holds these two shoulders 32 and 34 together. -~
Adapter 30 is suitably bolted to metal plate 10 in a manner soon to be described.
Surrounding tubular insulator 22 is the annular secondary assembly 40 of a current transformer. This ~77100 llTRO-4183 secondary assembly 40 is of a conventional design and, as such, comprises an iron core 42, a secondary winding 44 of insulation-covered wire suitably linked with the core, and a jacket 45 of solid insulating material surrounding the winding and core.
The jacket 45 includes at its outer surface radially-outwardly projecting lugs (not shown). Bolts 46 extend between these lugs and adapter 30, and when tightened, they clamp metal plate 10 between adapted 30 and current trans-former secondary asse~bly 40, thus fixing the secondaryassembly 40 and tubular insulator 22 to stationary metal plate 10. The details of this fastening means are not a part of my invention and can take the conventional form shown in the aforesaid Eichelberger or Darrow et al patents.
Cooperating with stationary contact 18, 19 of the dis-connect contact assembly is a contact subassembly 48 mounted on a conductive stud 50 that is generally aligned with the first conductive stud 18. The contact subassembly 48 com-prises a plurality of finger contacts 52 disposed in a tubular array and having rounded inwardly-extending pro-jections 53 fitting in a retaining groove in stud 50. A
first garter spring biases the projections 53 into the groove. A second garter spring 56 biases the fingers 52 into engagement with the free end 19 of the stationary stud when the parts are in the position of Fig. 1. The contact fingers 52 act as bridging contacts between the studs 18 and 50 when the parts are in the position of Fig.
1.
When the apparatus of Fig. 1 is energized, studs 18, 50 and the contact subassembly 48 are at a relatively high potential, equal to line voltage, and the current trans-former secondary assembly 40 is basically at ground poten-77~ llTRO-4183 tial. For shaping and distributing the electric field resulting from this potential difference, I provide a first metallic coating 60 at ground potential on the ex-ternal cylindrical surface of the tubular insulator 22 and a second metallic coating 62 at line potential on the internal tubular surface of insulator 22. In the illustra-ted embodiment, the external metallic coating 60 is shown connected to ground through contact with the metal adapter 30, which is clamped to the grounded metal plate 10. The internal metal coating 62 is shown electrically connected to stud 18 through contact with metal abutments 24 and 26 on the stud. The internal coating 62 forces line potential to be present along the internal surface of tubular in-sulator 22, and the external coating 60 forces ground potential to be present along the external surface of insulator 22. Thus, the two coatings cooperate with each other to force the electric field in the region of sub-assemblies 40 and 48 to be confined to the solid di-electric of tubular insulator 22 which is located between the two coatings 60 and 62. Fig. 2 illustrates this relationship by showing the equipotential lines of the electric field in this region confined to the solid di-electric material of insulator 22.
As shown in Fig. 2, these equipotential lines of the field emerge from the solid dielectric material and enter the surrounding air adjacent the forward ends of the metal coating 60 and 62. For distributing the equipotential lines in this region where they emerge from the solid di-electric material, two voltage-grading coatings 66 and 68 of semiconductor material are provided on the external and internal surfaces, respectively, of the tubular insulator 22.
1~771~ llTRo-4l83 These voltage-grading coatings have non linear re-sistivity properties and, more specifically, a resistivity in any given region that varies inversely with respect to applied voltage. Thus, in regions of high-intensity elec-tric field, the resistivity of the voltage-grading coating is low, and in regions of low intensity electrical field, its resistivity is high. In the illustrated apparatus, the regions adjacent the end of metal coating 60 and 62 are regions of high intensity electric field where the coating resistivity is relatively low, and the regions adjacent the free ends of the voltage grading coatings 66 and 68 are regions of low intensity field where the resistivity is relatively high. There is a gradual transition in the resistivity of the material between these these two extreme regions.
The coatings 66 and 68 are preferably made of a suit-ably thermosetting resin mixed while in the liquid state with finely-divided particles of silicon carbide. By way of example, and not limitation, suitable resins are epoxides, epoxy-modified urea or melamine formaldehydes, phenolic-modified alkyds, and blends of polyvinylformal and phenol-formaldehyde. The silicon carbide is preferably a high-resistivity silicon carbide of the N-type, such as that used in electronic semiconductor devices. The percentage of silicone carbide present will depend upon the desired resistivity range of the coating. In one specific example, the high resistivity silicon carbide is present in an amount of about 25% by volume of the coating composition.
More detailed examples of such materials are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,210,460 dated October 5, 1965, Suelmann.
Other materials suitable for the semiconductor coat-ings are the silicon carbide-containing glazes disclosed ~ 7~ 11 TRO-4183 in and applied as claimed in U~S. Patent No. 3,982,048 dated September 21, 1976 - Zlupko, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. When such materials are used, the glaze-forming material is applied to the insulator and fired in place thereon, and thereafter the metallic coatings 60 and 62 are applied.
With these coatings 60, 62, 66 and 68 present, the equipotential lines of the electric field are prevented from concentrating in the art space adjacent either the current trans ormer secondary 40 or the bridging contact subassembly 48. The metal coatings 60, 62 serve to force -the equipotential lines away from the right-hand ends of the current transformer secondary 40 and the disconnect contact subassembly 48, preventing them from crowding around parts 40 and 48 in these areas and the non-linear semiconductor coatings 66 and 68 serve to prevent the equipotential lines, as they emerge from the solid die-lectric material, from crowding around the right hand, or forward, ends of the metal coatings.
In a preferred form of my invention, as shown in Fig. 2, the inner metallic coating 62 extends in a for-ward direction (i.e., to right) slightly beyond the for-wardly located (or right-hand) end of the bridging contact subassembly 48 so as to provide the desired electrical stress-relief adjacent this forwardly-located end. Simil-arly, the outer metallic coating extends to the right slightly beyond the right-hand end of the current-trans-former secondary assembly 40.
Although I prefer to make the coatings 66 and 68 as two discrete coatings separated by concoated procelain at the forward end of the tubular insulator 22, it is within my invention in its broader aspects to extend the -- llTRO-4183 1~7~
coatings around the forward end of the tubular insulator so that they, in effect, form a single coating.
The manner in which the coatings shape and distribute the electric field can be more clearly understood by com-paring Fig. 2 to Fig. Fig. 3 shows as assembly corres-sponding to that of Fig. 2 except without the coatings 60, 62 and 66, 68 and with a small clearance space between the inner periphery of the current transformer secondary as-sembly and the tubular insulator 22. It will be noted that in Fig. 3 the equipotential lines of the electric field in the region of the current transformer assembly 40 and the contact subassembly 48 are not confined to the solid dielectric of insulator 22, as is the case in Fig. 2. It will also be noted that the 80% equipotential line is located closely adjacent the contact subassembly 48 and crowds in closely around the right-hand end of this sub-assembly, producing a region of high electric stress con-centration at this end. Similarly the 20% equipotential line crowds in closely around the inner right hand edge of the current transformer assembly 40, producing a region of high electric stress at this edge. It will be appreci-ated that the coatings of Fig. 2 greatly reduce the stresses in these crucial regions, thus enabling the as-sembly to withstand higher voltage without the formation of objectionable corona.
It is to be understood that the illustrated electric field configurations are intended to be approximate only.
They are shown primarily to illustrate the general concept of the invention rather than the precise configuration of the fields.
Although Figs. 1 and 2 show no air gap between the outer periphery of metal coating 60 and the inner periphery llTRO-4183 1(3771~0 of insulating jacket ~5 of the current transformer secondary, it is to be understood that such an air gap can be present, if desired. The coatings 60 and 66 of Figs~ 1 and 2 will remove any significant electric stress from such an air gap.
The present of such an air gap will not significantly affect the configuration of the equipotential lines, as compared to the configuration present without the air gap.
While I have shown and described a particular embodi-ment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention in its broader aspects; and I, therefore, intend herein to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.
Claims (4)
1. A disconnect contact assembly for metal clad switchgear and the like, comprising:
a. a metal plate at ground potential having an opening therein, b. a first conductive stud extending forwardly through said opening in readilly-spaced relationship to the periphery of said opening and terminating in a free end, c. a tubular insulator surrounding and fixed to said first stud and also extending through said opening, said tubular insulator having a forward tubular portion that surrounds and is radially spaced from said free end of said first stud, d. a second conductive stud generally aligned with said first stud and having an end portion surrounded in readilly-spaced relationship by said forward portion of said tubular insulator, e. a bridging contact subassembly bridging the ends of said studs and conductively inter-connecting said ends, said bridging contact subassembly being located in a position surrounded by said forward portion of said tubular insulator and radially spaced from said forward portion of said tubular insu-lator, f. an annular current transformer secondary assembly surrounding said portion of said tubular insulator, g. a first metallic coating normally at ground potential surrounding said portion of said tubular insulator and said secondary as-sembly, and coating the outer periphery of said portion of said tubular insulator, h. a second metallic coating normally at the potential of said first stud coating the inner periphery of said forward portion of said tubular insulator and surrounding said bridging contact subassembly in radially-spaced relationship thereto, i. a first semiconductor coating having non-linear resistivity properties on the external surface of said tubular insulator at the forward end of said first metallic coating, and j. a second semiconductor coating having non-linear resistivity properties on the internal surface of said tubular insulator at the forward end of said second metallic coating.
a. a metal plate at ground potential having an opening therein, b. a first conductive stud extending forwardly through said opening in readilly-spaced relationship to the periphery of said opening and terminating in a free end, c. a tubular insulator surrounding and fixed to said first stud and also extending through said opening, said tubular insulator having a forward tubular portion that surrounds and is radially spaced from said free end of said first stud, d. a second conductive stud generally aligned with said first stud and having an end portion surrounded in readilly-spaced relationship by said forward portion of said tubular insulator, e. a bridging contact subassembly bridging the ends of said studs and conductively inter-connecting said ends, said bridging contact subassembly being located in a position surrounded by said forward portion of said tubular insulator and radially spaced from said forward portion of said tubular insu-lator, f. an annular current transformer secondary assembly surrounding said portion of said tubular insulator, g. a first metallic coating normally at ground potential surrounding said portion of said tubular insulator and said secondary as-sembly, and coating the outer periphery of said portion of said tubular insulator, h. a second metallic coating normally at the potential of said first stud coating the inner periphery of said forward portion of said tubular insulator and surrounding said bridging contact subassembly in radially-spaced relationship thereto, i. a first semiconductor coating having non-linear resistivity properties on the external surface of said tubular insulator at the forward end of said first metallic coating, and j. a second semiconductor coating having non-linear resistivity properties on the internal surface of said tubular insulator at the forward end of said second metallic coating.
2. The disconnect contact assembly of claim 1 in which said two metallic coatings act to confine the elec-trical stress in the region of said current transformer secondary assembly and said bridging contact subassembly to the solid dielectric material of said tubular insulator, and said semiconductor coatings act to grade the electric stresses at the forward ends of the metallic coatings where the equipotential lines of the electric field emerge from said dielectric material.
3. The disconnect contact assembly of claim 1 in which said second metallic coating extends forwardly of said tubular insulator slightly beyond the forwardly-located end of said bridging contact subassembly.
4. The disconnect contact assembly of claim 3 in which said first metallic coating extends forwardly of said current transformer secondary assembly slightly beyond the forwardly-located end of said secondary assembly.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US05/719,044 US4104497A (en) | 1976-08-30 | 1976-08-30 | Disconnect contact assembly for metal-clad switchgear and the like |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1077100A true CA1077100A (en) | 1980-05-06 |
Family
ID=24888562
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA284,663A Expired CA1077100A (en) | 1976-08-30 | 1977-08-11 | Disconnect contact assembly for metal-clad switchgear and the like |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4104497A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1077100A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2362407A1 (en) | 2010-02-23 | 2011-08-31 | ABB Research Ltd. | A nozzle for a breaker, and a breaker having such a nozzle |
Families Citing this family (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS5740225U (en) * | 1980-08-18 | 1982-03-04 | ||
| DE3166324D1 (en) * | 1981-04-28 | 1984-10-31 | Sprecher & Schuh Ag | Current transformer with annular case to be built in a metal cast high-tension switchgear installation |
| CH660095A5 (en) * | 1983-06-30 | 1987-03-13 | Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie | CONTROL PANEL. |
| DE3608391A1 (en) * | 1985-11-15 | 1987-09-17 | Messwandler Bau Ag | HIGH VOLTAGE CURRENT TRANSFORMER |
| BR8700893A (en) * | 1986-03-13 | 1987-12-22 | Messwandler Bau Ag | COMBINED HIGH VOLTAGE AND HIGH VOLTAGE CURRENT TRANSFORMER |
| EP0768684B1 (en) * | 1994-02-05 | 2000-06-07 | Alstom Ag | Current transformer with annular core to be built in a metal cast high-tension switchgear installation |
| WO1999001874A1 (en) * | 1997-07-02 | 1999-01-14 | The Regents Of The University Of California | A method for improving performance of highly stressed electrical insulating structures |
| US6346677B1 (en) * | 1999-09-08 | 2002-02-12 | Electro Composites, Inc. | High-voltage bushing provided with external shields |
| DE10025691A1 (en) * | 2000-05-24 | 2001-11-29 | Abb Patent Gmbh | Insulating piece for a pipeline |
| DE20112356U1 (en) * | 2001-07-17 | 2001-10-18 | Siemens AG, 80333 München | Feed-through converter for an electrical switchgear |
| EP1339081B1 (en) * | 2002-02-21 | 2004-06-02 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Leadthrough for a conductor through a housing wall |
| US6908348B2 (en) * | 2002-11-27 | 2005-06-21 | Alcoa Fujikura Limited | Box terminal with extended contact surfaces and controlled damage location during high voltage arcing with and without suppression under a magnetic field |
| CN102779680A (en) * | 2012-07-17 | 2012-11-14 | 江苏尔悦电力设备有限公司 | Solid-sealed polar pole with internally casting current transformer |
| US8913370B2 (en) * | 2012-12-27 | 2014-12-16 | Eaton Corporation | Switchgear spout design |
| WO2020110059A1 (en) * | 2018-11-30 | 2020-06-04 | Abb Schweiz Ag | A switchgear equipment with a shutter assembly |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2082055A (en) * | 1936-03-27 | 1937-06-01 | Ohio Brass Co | Bushing insulator |
| FR897128A (en) * | 1942-04-07 | 1945-03-13 | Secheron Atel | Ceramic insulator for compressed gas insulated electrical appliances |
| US3210461A (en) * | 1962-10-12 | 1965-10-05 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Electrical stress-grading coatings |
| US3210460A (en) * | 1963-07-15 | 1965-10-05 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Terminating means for shielded electrical conductors |
| NL6503344A (en) * | 1964-03-20 | 1965-09-21 | ||
| US3397293A (en) * | 1965-08-13 | 1968-08-13 | Gen Electric | Metal-clad switchgear employing vacuum type circuit interrupters |
| US3398348A (en) * | 1965-09-08 | 1968-08-20 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | High voltage electrical converter apparatus and pulse transformer therefor |
| US3646251A (en) * | 1970-12-08 | 1972-02-29 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Electrical bushing having stress-grading layer disposed within solid insulation including a ground layer term inated at each end with a layer of material having a voltage-dependent resistivity |
-
1976
- 1976-08-30 US US05/719,044 patent/US4104497A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1977
- 1977-08-11 CA CA284,663A patent/CA1077100A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2362407A1 (en) | 2010-02-23 | 2011-08-31 | ABB Research Ltd. | A nozzle for a breaker, and a breaker having such a nozzle |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US4104497A (en) | 1978-08-01 |
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