MXPA96006670A

MXPA96006670A - Apparatus and method for isolating an electronic component

Info

Publication number: MXPA96006670A
Application number: MXPA/A/1996/006670A
Authority: MX
Inventors: E Blair Bruce; Pasmanik Yury
Original assignee: Philips Electronics North America
Priority date: 1995-12-22
Filing date: 1996-12-19
Publication date: 1998-04-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to an insulating device in combination with and to isolate a substantially cylindrical capacitive component having radially extending cables from a first end and a second end of the capacitive component, the insulating device is characterized in that it comprises: an insulating exterior cylindrical characterized by a major axis, a cylindrical hollow interior for receiving and supporting the capacitive component, wherein the hollow cylindrical interior is of a diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the capacitive cylindrical component, a first open end and a second open end; a passage placed along the cylindrical exterior and in space communication with the hollow interior, passage through which the cables of the capacitive component extend, the passage includes a first end wall and a second end wall to limit the movement of the cables in directions parallel to the may axis

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ISOLATING AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for isolating an electrical appliance, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for isolating a substantially cylindrical electrical appliance such as, but not limited to, a dry film capacitor, which has lines extending radially from each end of the apparatus. A conventional compensator circuitry typically in-cludes a dry film capacitor connected to a secondary winding of a transformer. The capacitor is insulated, that is, electrically isolated, from a conductive compensator enclosure (ie, compensator can). A typical insulator is formed of a flexible film or dielectric sheet fitted directly to the apparatus using adhesive tapes. The pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes applied directly to the capacitor can be used in place of the flexible film or sheet dielectrics. The bent insulators with die cut in box type configurations can also be used to insulate the capacitor from contact with the compensator enclosure. For reasons of economy, the selection material is often an electrical grade of paper that has the undesirable attribute of high water absorption. Such absorption can significantly degrade the performance of the finished compensator. The cost of manufacturing and post-forming the insulators and / or work to place precisely the insulator in relation to the capacitor inside the com-pensadores enclosure can be extremely expensive. An undesirable increase in the cost of manufacturing may result. Paper and cardboard inserts are also able to absorb moisture from the air. Such absorption before encapsulation and tar after encapsulation can affect to the detriment of the capacitor properties of the capacitor thus shortening its effective life expectancy. It is therefore desirable to provide an improved apparatus and method for isolating an electrical device that is easier and requires less time to assemble and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture compared to conventional insulation apparatuses. The improved apparatus and method should be specially designed to isolate a cylindrical electrical component that has lines extending there in a radial direction. Generally speaking, according to a first aspect of the invention, an insulator includes a substantially cylindrical exterior characterized by a main shaft, a substantially cylindrical hollow interior, a first open end and a second open end and a passage disposed throughout of the cylindrical exterior and in a spatial communication with the cylindrical hollow interior. The assembly, according to the invention, overcomes both the problem of moisture absorption of the paper and the disadvantage of the hard work and the time consuming, paper and plastic wrap to isolate a substantially cylindrical electrical component. The insulator, which has a substantially tubular shape, does not absorb moisture and can be connected easily and quickly to the electrical component to isolate the latter. The passage is preferably spaced apart from both the first open end and the second open end and extends in a direction parallel to the main axis. It is a feature of this first aspect of the invention that the passage is substantially centered along the length of the cylindrical exterior and forms a substantially rectangular slot. The insulator is typically made of a thermoplastic material. Another feature of this first aspect of the invention is that the insulator also includes a pair of slits disposed along the cylindrical exterior, in spatial communication with the hollow cylindrical interior and extending along the same plane in a direction parallel to the main axis . Each slit is in spatial communication between the passage and one of the two open ends of the insulator. According to a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus in combination with and to isolate a substantially cylindrical electrical component having radially extending lines from a first and a second ends of the component includes a cylindrical exterior characterized by a main shaft, a cylindrical hollow interior for receiving and supporting the component electrical, a first open end and a second open end and a passage disposed along the cylindrical exterior and in spatial communication with the hollow interior through which the lines of the electrical component extend. The passage includes a first end wall and a second wall to limit the movement of the lines in directions parallel to the main axis. It is a feature of this second aspect of the invention that the distance from the first open end to the second open end of the apparatus is greater than the distance from the first end to the second end of the electrical component as measured in a direction parallel to the main axis . The distance from the first end wall to the second end wall of the passage is also greater than the distance from the first end to the second end of the electrical component as measured in a direction parallel to the main axis.

It is another feature of the second aspect of the invention that the apparatus further includes a first end portion extending between the first end wall of the passage and the first open end of the apparatus and a second end portion extending between the second end wall of the apparatus. passage and the second open end of the apparatus. The first end portion and the second end portion extend in directions that are parallel to the / - main axis and beyond the first and second ends of the electrical component, respectively. Each of these end portions enclose air spaces between one of the two ends of the electrical component and an open end of the apparatus in order to provide additional insulation between them. The passage further includes a transverse wall extending in a direction substantially parallel to the main axis against which the lines rest. The end walls of the passage extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the main axis. According to a third aspect of the invention, a method for isolating a substantially cylindrical electrical component having radially extending lines from a first end and a second end of the component includes the steps of extending and opening an insulator with tubular shape which is characterized by a main shaft, place the electrical component inside the insulator and place the lines inside a groove formed along one edge of the insulator. The edge extends in a direction substantially parallel to the main axis of the insulator. The method also includes the step of allowing the insulator to assume again its tubular shape where the electrical component rests inside and is surrounded by the insulator. By placing the lines in place, the component typically rotates relative to the insulator until the lines are both within the groove and in contact with a wall of the groove extending in a direction parallel to the main axis of the insulator. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus and method for isolating a substantially cylindrical electrical component having radially extending lines in place which minimizes manufacturing cost and is relatively easy to assemble. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus and method for isolating a dry film capacitor in which the moisture absorption problems found in the paper insulators is substantially eliminated. Still others of the objects and advantages of the invention will become partly obvious, and in part will become apparent from the specification. The invention accordingly comprises various steps and the relationship with one or more steps with respect to each of the others, and the construction features comprising the apparatus, the combination of elements and arrangements of parts that are adapted to carry out such steps, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the horizon of the invention will be indicated in the clauses. DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an insulator according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view of the upper plane of an insulated electrical component placed inside a fragmented compensator can according to the invention, - Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the insulated electrical component taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a sectional view of the insulated electrical component taken along lines 4-4 of Figure 3. As shown in Figure 1, an insulator 10 has a substantially tubular shape and characterized by a main shaft 20. The insulator 10, which includes a substantially cylindrical exterior 13, a substantially cylindrical hollow interior 16 and a pair of open ends 17 and 18, is formed from an extrusion process in which a thermoplastic material is melted and forced through a tubular shaped die. The tubular thermoplastic material, after it has cooled and solidified, is cut into a plurality of sections, each of which serves as an insulator 10. Either during or after the extrusion process a pair of slits 19 and a passage 22 is formed in each insulator 10. The slits 19 and the passage 22 are positioned along the exterior 13 and extend from the exterior 13 to the interior 16. The slits 19 extend along the same plane in one direction parallel to the direction of the main shaft 20 as denoted by an arrow A. As shown in Figure 3, once an electrical component such as is, but is not limited to, a dry film capacitor 30 is properly positioned within the insulator 10, each slit 19 is in spatial communication between the passage 22 and one of the open ends 17 and 18. The capacitor 30 includes a pair of ends 31 and 32 and a pair of lines 33 extending radially from the ends 31 and 32 The slits 19 and the passage 22 with the capacitor 30 suitably positioned within the insulator 10 are each in spatial communication with the exterior 13 and the interior 16. The passage 22 is spaced apart from both the open end 17 and the open end 18, it extends in a direction parallel to the direction of the main axis 20 (this is denoted by the arrow A) and is substantially centered along the length of the exterior 13. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the passage 22 forms a substantially rectangular slot with a pair of end walls 24 and 25 and a transverse wall 28. The end walls 24 and 25 extend in a direction denoted by the arrows B (Figure 1) which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the main axis. The transverse wall 28 extends in the same direction as the arrow A, that is, substantially parallel to the direction of the main axis 20. Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4, a component e The substantially cylindrical dielectric such as capacitor 30 is insulated from and within a frame such as, but not limited to, a compensator can 40, first by opening insulator 10 in order to sufficiently enlarge the slits 19 and the passage 22 to allow the capacitor 30 to pass through it. A capacitor 30 has been placed inside the insulator 10, the lines 33 are co-located within the passage 22. The capacitor 30 is typically rotated relative to the insulator 10 until one or both of the lines 33 come into contact with the transverse wall 28 The insulator is then allowed to assume again its substantially tubular shape where the capacitor 30 desires inside and is surrounded by the insulator 10. Generally, the diameter of the hollow interior 16 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the cylindrically shaped electrical component. resulting in an adjustment without slack there. Although a thermoplastic material is generally used, the insulator 10 can be made of other materials with the condition that its electrical insulation properties are acceptable and that the memories are sufficient to recover its tubular shape after they have been stretched to open . When a thermoplastic material for the insulator 10 is to be used within the compensator can 40, the thermoplastic material is preferably of an extrusion degree and has a suitable temperature resistance to withstand the temperatures of an asphalt filling operation. (i.e., as in dewatering the impregnation material within the compensator can 40). As shown in Figure 3, the length of the insulator 10 according to what is measured by a distance d is greater than the length of the capacitor according to the measurement with a distance f. The distances d and f extend from the open end 17 and the open end 18 of the insulator 10 and from the end 31 to the end 32 of the capacitor 30., respectively, in the direction of the main axis 20, that is, in the direction denoted by the arrow A. The length of the passage 22 according to the measurement of a distance e is less than the distance d but greater than the distance f. The distance e extends between the end walls 24 and 25 in the direction of the main shaft 20. A pair of air spaces 35 and 38 exist between the open end 31 and the open end 17 and between the end 32 and the end open 18 inside the interior 16 of the insulator 10, respectively. By spacing the ends 31 and 32 and the lines 33 of the open ends 17 and 18, additional insulation is provided between the sides of the capacitor 30 and the feeder can 40. A pair of portions 42 and 45 of the insulator 10 encompass the air spaces 35 and 38. The portion 42 extends between the end wall 24 and the open end 17. The portion 45 extends between the end wall 25 and the open end 18. When the insulator 10 is used within the the compensator can 40 these air spaces are typically displaced (ie filled) with impregnation material. The end walls 24 and 25 serve as stops for the lines 33 in order to limit the movement of the capacitor 30 in the directions parallel to the direction of the main axis 20. In other words, the sideward shift of the capacitor 30 is limited by the limited movement of the lines 33 within the passage 22. The lines 33 are normally close to or in contact with the transverse wall 28. Any movement of the capacitor 30 in directions parallel to the direction of the main axis 20 often results in the lines 33 travel inwardly and deeply into the two corners of passage 22 (that is, where transverse wall 28 meets end wall 24 and end wall 25.). As can be easily appreciated, a substantially cylindrical electrical component that has lines that extend radially there can be easily and quickly placedthe above description and that is shown in the accompanying drawings is interpreted as illustrative and not as limiting. It should also be understood that the following clauses are intended to cover all generic and specific features of the invention described herein, and that all statements of the approach of the invention which, in terms of language, can be said, enter into it.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, what is included in the following CLAUSES 1. An insulator, comprising: a substantially cylindrical exterior, characterized by a main axis; a substantially cylindrical hollow interior; a first open end and a second open end; and a passage disposed along the cylindrical exterior and in spatial communication with the cylindrical hollow interior.
2. The insulator that is established in clause 1, wherein the passageway is spaced from both the first open end and the second open end and extends in a direction parallel to the main axis.
3. The insulator that is established in clause 2, where the passage is substantially centered along the length of the cylindrical exterior.
4. The insulator that is established in clause 3, where the passage forms a substantially rectangular groove.
5. The insulator that is established in clause 4, where the insulator is made of a thermoplastic material.
6. The insulator that is established in clause 5, which also includes a pair of slits disposed along the cylindrical exterior, in spatial communication with the cylindrical hollow interior and extending along the same plane in a direction parallel to the principal axis; each slit being in spatial communication between the "* passage and one of the two open ends
7. The insulation that is established in clause 1, which also includes a pair of slits arranged along the cylindrical exterior, in space communication with the cylindrical hollow interior and extending along the same plane in a direction parallel to the main axis, each slot being in spatial communication between the passage and one of the two open ends
8. The insulator that is established in clause 1, where the passage is substantially centered at along the length of the cylindrical exterior
9. The insulation that is established in clause 1, where the insulator is made of a thermoplastic material
10. An apparatus in combination with and to isolate a substantially cylindrical electrical component that has lines that they extend radially from a first end and a second end of the component, comprising: a cylindrical exterior characterized by a main axis; cylindrical ueco to receive and support the electrical component; a first open end and a second open end; and a passage disposed along the cylindrical exterior and in spatial communication with the hollow interior through which the lines of the electrical component extend, said passage including a first end wall and a second end wall to limit the movement of the lines in directions parallel to the main axis.
11. The apparatus set forth in clause 10, wherein the passageway is spaced from both the first open end and the second open end and extends in a direction parallel to the main axis.
12. The apparatus set forth in clause 11, which further includes a pair of slits disposed along the cylindrical exterior, in spatial communication with the cylindrical hollow interior and extending along the same plane in a direction parallel to the main axis; each slit being in spatial communication between the passage and one of the two open ends.
13. The apparatus set forth in clause 12, wherein the distance of the first open end and the second open end of the apparatus is greater than the distance from the first end to the second end of the electrical component according to the measurement in a direction parallel to the axis principal.
14. The apparatus set forth in clause 13, wherein the distance from the first end wall to the second wall of the passage is greater than the distance from the first end to the second end of the electrical component as measured in a direction parallel to the main axis.
15. The apparatus established in clause 14, which further includes a first end portion extending between the first end wall of the passage and the first open end of the apparatus and a second end portion extending between the second end wall of the passage and the second open end of the apparatus where the first The end portion and the second end portion extend in directions that are parallel to the main axis and beyond the first end and the second end of the electrical component, respectively.
16. The apparatus set forth in clause 15, wherein the passage is substantially centered along the length of the cylindrical exterior.
17. The apparatus set forth in clause 16, wherein the passage forms a substantially rectangular slot.
18. The apparatus set forth in clause 17, where the apparatus is made of thermoplastic material.
19. The apparatus set forth in clause 10, which further includes a pair of slits disposed along the cylindrical exterior, in spatial communication with the cylindrical hollow interior and extending along the same plane in a direction parallel to the main axis; Each slit is in spatial communication between the passage and one of the two open ends.
20. The apparatus set forth in clause 10, wherein the distance from the first open end to the second open end of the apparatus is greater than the distance from the first 10 end to the second end of the electrical component according to the measurement in a direction parallel to the main axis.
21. The apparatus set forth in clause 10, wherein the distance from the first end wall to the second end wall of the passage is greater than the distance from the first ex-tS to the second end of the electrical component as measured in one direction. parallel to the main axis.
22. The apparatus set forth in clause 10, further comprising a first end portion extending between the first end wall of the passage and the first open end of the apparatus and a second end portion extending between the second end wall. of the passageway and the second open end of the apparatus where the first end portion and the second end portion extend in directions that are parallel to the main axis and beyond 25 of the first end and the second end of the electrical component, respectively.
23. The apparatus set forth in clause 12, wherein the distance of the first open end to the second open end of the apparatus is greater than the distance from the first end wall to the second end wall of the passage that is greater than the distance from the first end to the second end of the electrical component according to the measurement in a direction parallel to the main axis.
24. The apparatus set forth in clause 23, further comprising a first end portion extending between the first end wall of the passage, and the first open end of the apparatus and a second end portion extending between the second end wall of the passageway and the second open end of the apparatus wherein the first end portion and the second end portion extend in directions that are parallel to the main axis and beyond the first end and second end of the electrical component, respectively.
25. The apparatus set forth in clause 10, wherein the passage further includes a transverse wall extending in a direction substantially parallel to the main axis against which the lines rest.
26. The apparatus set forth in clause 25, wherein each end wall of the passage extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the main axis.
27. The apparatus set forth in clause 19, wherein the passage further includes a transverse wall extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis 5 main against which the lines rest; each end wall extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the main axis.
28. The apparatus established in clause 23, where the passage also includes a transverse wall that is 10 extends in a direction substantially parallel to the main axis against which the lines rest; each end wall extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the main axis.
29. The apparatus that is established in clause 10, •: .15 where the electrical component is a capacitor.
30. A method for isolating a substantially cylindrical electrical component having radially extending lines from a first end and a second end of the component, comprising the steps of: opening a tubular shaped apparatus that is characterized by a major axis; place the electrical component inside the appliance; placing the lines within a slot formed along one edge of the apparatus, where the edge extends in a direction parallel to the main axis of the apparatus; and allowing the apparatus to recover its tubular shape again where the electrical component rests inside and is surrounded by the apparatus.
31. The method set forth in clause 30, wherein the placing step includes rotating the component relative to the apparatus until the lines are both within the slot and in contact with a wall of the extending slot. in a direction parallel to the main axis of the apparatus.