JPS598261Y2 - contact assembly - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a contact assembly for electrically interconnecting electrical conductors, particularly a sliding type contact assembly for high current applications.

Many devices used in the transmission and distribution of electrical energy require sliding electrical transfer contacts.

Such devices include gas-insulated or air-type disconnectors;
Includes earth fault switches, high current busbar switches, and air or gas insulated transmission line joints.

Each of these devices has two electrical conductors that are movable relative to each other.

In the case of a switch, the two conductors are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position, in the open position the conductors are physically separated, and in the closed position the conductors are free of electrical energy. They are mechanically engaged so that they flow between them.

In the case of air or gas insulated power line joints, both conductors are movable relative to each other to allow thermal expansion of both conductors due to the heat generated during the transfer of electrical energy.

The problem that must be solved in all these devices is how to reduce the electrical resistance at the point of mechanical engagement.

This resistor generates Joule heating when current passes through it, thereby limiting the maximum amount of current that can safely flow.

A way to reduce this resistance is to provide multiple points of contact between the separable members and to provide contact pressure.

Although increasing the points of engagement between the separable members reduces resistance, it also increases the cost of the operating mechanism because the forces required to move the conductors relative to each other are significant.
Separate devices would have to be provided to compensate for thermal expansion.

Conventional devices include multiple spring-loaded contact fingers to provide multiple contact points.

Each of the contact points is subjected to a spring force in a direction perpendicular to the relative movement between the conductors.

One problem with conventional devices is the need to provide for when the two conductors are not aligned.

This is particularly important for air or gas insulated power line joints.

This is because the length of one section of the power line is 18. 3 m (
(up to 60 ft), making it difficult to move such sections to ensure accurate alignment.

The invention provides a contact assembly for electrically interconnecting first and second conductors, the contact assembly comprising: a cylindrical plug member having an external diameter and secured to the first conductor; a cylindrical hollow socket member having an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the member, the socket member being secured to the second conductor and having an annular recess therein to receive the plug member therein; a plurality of contact fingers disposed within the recess and pressed against a radial surface of the socket member; an annular holder axially spaced from the contact fingers within the recess; an annular axial projection provided on the holder and extending axially radially outwardly adjacent to the contact finger and spaced apart from the socket member; the axial projection of the holder and the socket member; an annular space formed between the contact fingers and the holder; a resilient biasing device arranged between the contact fingers and the holder and acting on each of the contact fingers; and an elastic biasing device connected to the socket member and attached to the holder. and a biasing device in physical contact biasing the biasing device to apply a force to the contact finger, the force having a radial component and a larger axial component. the radial force exerts a contact pressure between each of the contact fingers and the plug member, and the axial force exerts a contact pressure between the contact fingers and a radial surface of the socket member. give,
Each of the contact fingers has an aperture centered on an axis perpendicular to the force components, with a stabilizing ring extending through all of the apertures.

Briefly, the socket member receives the plug member therein and has an annular recess therearound.

A plurality of contact fingers are disposed within the recess and are pressed against the radial surface of the socket member.

An annular holder is axially spaced apart from the contact finger within the recess, and the holder has an annular axial projection extending axially radially outwardly and proximate the contact finger. .

The axial projection is spaced apart from the socket member and defines an annular space between the axial projection and the socket member.

A resilient biasing device is arranged between the contact fingers and the holder and acts on each of the contact fingers.

A biasing device biasing the biasing device to apply a force to the contact finger is connected to the socket member and physically contacts the holder.

The force has a radial component that provides a contact pressure between the contact finger and the plug member and an axial component that provides a contact pressure between the contact finger and the socket member.

Each contact finger has an opening centered on an axis perpendicular to both force components, all of which have stabilizing rings passed through them.

The invention will now be described according to preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, contact assembly 10 is used to electrically connect two electrical conductors 12 and 14.

The conductors 12.14 can be, for example, inner conductors of gas-insulated power lines, inner or outer conductors of air-insulated power lines, or fixed and movable contacts in high-current switchgears.

A plug member 18 is physically attached to one conductor 12, such as by welding 16.

Preferably, plug member 18 has an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of conductor 12.

Socket member 20 is physically attached to the other conductor 14 by a method such as welding 22.

Hollow, generally cylindrical socket member 20 has an interior diameter that is greater than the exterior diameter of plug member 18 , and plug member 18 is inserted into socket member 20 .

Conductors 12, 14, plug 18, and socket member 20
are made of good conductive materials such as copper or aluminum.

The socket member 20 preferably has an annular recess 26 on its inner side, preferably on the side of the shaft end section 24 axially remote from the conductor 14 .

A plurality of contact fingers 2, each of which is separate from the other.
8 are arranged within the annular recess 26 in a substantially annular arrangement.

Each contact finger 28
It has an opening 30 therethrough through which an annular metallic stabilizing ring 32 extends.

During assembly, the contact fingers 28 are arranged on the stabilizing ring 32 like beads on a rosary.

The ends of the stabilizing ring 32 are shaped so that they are slightly enlarged to prevent the contact fingers 28 from sliding off.

In addition to aiding in the assembly of the device, the stabilization ring 32 provides lateral stability during use of the contact assembly 10 by holding the contact fingers 28 close together and This prevents the fingers 28 from sliding.

Also disposed within the annular recess 26 is a generally annular holder 34 axially spaced from the contact finger 28 .

The holder 34 includes an annular axial protrusion 36,
The protrusion 36 extends axially adjacent the contact finger 28 and radially outwardly from the contact finger 28 .

The axial projection 36 of the holder is spaced from the socket member 20, and more particularly from the tip 38 of the socket member 20 which is outside the annular recess 26.

Because of this spacing, the socket member tip 38 and the holder projection 36 define an annular space 40 therebetween.

The holder 34 has a circumferential groove 42 shaped in its radial surface and each contact finger 28 has a spring seat 46 recessed therein.

A plurality of helical springs 48 are arranged as biasing devices for each contact finger between the contact fingers 28, in particular in their spring receptacles 46, and the holder 34.

Preferably, the diameter of each spring 48 is greater than the radial diameter of the spring receiver 46 such that the spring 48 is inserted from the side of the spring receiver 46 by an automated mechanical process (this causes the contact finger 28 to be attached to the stabilizing ring 32 This is done before passing.

), the spring 48 is diametrically compressed within the spring receiver 46 and stretched perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

The spring 48 is thus securely retained by the spring receiver 46 and will not fall out or loosen during assembly or during use of the contact assembly 10.

The other end of the spring 48 is placed within the circumferential groove 42 of the holder 34 and securely attached thereto by means such as a flexible adhesive material.

Each of the contact fingers 28 is disposed proximate an end surface 50 that presses against a radial surface 52 of the socket member 20 (see FIG. 2) and an axial projection 36 of the holder 34. a bottom surface 54.

End surface 50 and bottom surface 54 intersect at an angle 56 of less than 90 degrees.

The compressive force of spring 48 causes contact finger 28 to press against radial surface 52 of the socket member at point 58 .

As can be seen, the engagement point 58 is offset from the line of action of the spring 48.

Therefore, the force of the spring 48 is resolved into a force component parallel to the direction of relative movement between the plug member 18 and the socket member 20 and a force component perpendicular thereto.

In this way, the contact pressure between the contact finger 28 and the socket member 20 is maintained at the engagement point 58, and the contact pressure between the protruding surface 61 of the contact finger 28 and the plug member 18 is maintained at the point 60.

By adjusting the distance between the line of action of the spring pressure and the point of engagement 58, the relative contact pressure can be adjusted in any way.

The biasing device 62 is in physical contact with the holder 34 and the helical spring 4 is configured to exert a force on the contact finger 28.
8 is supported.

The energizing device 62 includes an annular retainer 64 fixed to the end of the socket member 20, a holder 34, and a retainer 64.
4 and a retaining ring 66 disposed within the recess 26.

A plurality of bearing members 68 are used to prevent excessive lateral pressure from being applied to the contact fingers 28 by the plug member 18.

Although any number of bearing members 68 may be used, it has been found that contact assembly 10 works satisfactorily with three bearing members 68 spaced 120 degrees apart about retaining ring 66.

Contact assembly 10 is useful when the two conductors 12.14 are not axially aligned.

An annular space 40 is provided in such a way that any unparallelism between the axes of the conductors 12.14 can be accommodated within this space.

If the plug member 18 is misaligned within the socket member 20, the contact fingers 28 and ring of the holder 34 will move radially to compensate for the misalignment.

As a result, the annular space 40 becomes smaller on the one hand and larger on the other hand.

Holder 34 and contact finger 2 due to misalignment
The radial force exerted on contact finger 28
and socket member 20 by the required distance radially outwardly to compensate for misalignment substantially equal to the radial depth of annular space 40.

As can be seen, the socket member 20 has a tapered portion 70 increasing in internal diameter from the point adjacent to the contact finger 28 and extending axially towards the conductor 14 to which it is attached. ing.

The reason the socket member gradually increases in diameter is to eliminate the problem of angular misalignment between the conductors 12 and 14.

This taper portion allows the plug member 18 to enter the socket member 20 at an angle that would not otherwise be possible without the taper portion 70.

An annular and open conductive shield cannula 72 connects the two conductors 12
．． 14 connections are shielded.

The shield sleeve 72 has a plurality of spaced apart recesses 76 at one end 74 thereof that are aligned with corresponding cavities 78 in the conductor 12.

A helical shield spring 80 is disposed within the conductor cavity 78 and acts on an extension of the conductor 12 or plug member 18 and also acts on a shield contact button 82 extending into the shield sleeve recess 76. are doing.

A plurality of shield contact buttons 82 are spaced around the inner circumference of the annular shield cannula 72 so that these members connect and connect the shield cannula 72 around and to the conductor 12. holding position.

The other end 84 of the shield sleeve 72 is provided with an annular groove 86 in which a wiper seal 88 is disposed.

The wiper seal 88 supports the shield cannula 72 in a position surrounding the socket member 20 and allows axial sliding movement of the socket member 20 relative to the shield cannula 72.

With this connection, shield sleeve 72 remains connected to conductor 12 and socket member 20 while compensating for relative movement of socket member 20 with respect to plug member 18 and conductor 12.

It can thus be seen that the present invention provides a high current contact assembly for connecting two conductors even during relative movement between the two conductors.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a contact assembly on which a conductor slides according to this invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a contact finger according to this invention. In the figure, 10 is a contact assembly, 12.14 is a conductor, 1
8 is a plug member, 20 is a socket member, 24 is an axial partition, 26 is an annular recess, 28 is a contact finger, 30 is an opening, 32 is a stable ring, 34 is an annular holder, 36 is an axial protrusion, 40 is an annular space, 42 is a circumferential groove, 4 is a radial surface, 46 is a spring receiver, 48 is a spring (biasing device)
, 62 is an energizing device, 64 is a retainer, 66 is a retaining ring, 68
is a bearing member.

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] (1) A contact assembly for electrically interconnecting first and second conductors, the contact assembly having an external diameter and having a
a cylindrical plug member secured to the conductor; and an annular recess secured to the second conductor and having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the plug member to receive the plug member therein. a cylindrical hollow socket member having a cylindrical hollow socket member, a plurality of contact fingers disposed within the recess of the socket member and pressed against a radial surface of the socket member; an annular holder spaced apart in the direction; an annular axial projection provided on the holder and extending axially radially outwardly adjacent the contact finger and away from the socket member; an annular space defined between the axial projection of the holder and the socket member; and an elastic bias disposed between the contact fingers and the holder and acting on each of the contact fingers. and a biasing device connected to the socket member and biasing the biasing device to physically contact the holder and apply a force to the contact finger, the force being in a radial direction. and a greater axial force, the radial force providing a contact pressure between each of the contact fingers and the plug member, and the axial force providing a contact pressure between each of the contact fingers and the socket. providing a contact pressure between the radial surface of the member, each of said contact fingers having an opening centered on an axis perpendicular to said force components, and a stabilizing ring passing through all of said openings; A contact assembly consisting of an extension. (2) The energizing device includes a retainer attached to the socket member and a retainer ring disposed in the recess between the retainer and the holder and in physical contact with the holder. Claim 1 of utility model registration with
Contact assembly as described in Section. (3) each of the contact fingers has a spring receiver, the holder has a circumferential groove formed in a radial surface thereof, and the biasing device is fixedly attached at one end to the spring receiver; , a plurality of helical springs whose other ends are disposed within the circumferential groove. Claim 1
The contact assembly according to item 1 or 2.