US2662133A

US2662133A - Disconnect switch

Info

Publication number: US2662133A
Application number: US117018A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard F Burmeister
Original assignee: ROYAL ELECTRIC Manufacturing CO
Current assignee: ROYAL ELECTRIC Manufacturing CO
Priority date: 1949-09-21
Filing date: 1949-09-21
Publication date: 1953-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1970-12-08

Description

H. F. B-URMEISTER DISCONNECT SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1949 32 JNVENTOR. ,/Howard Furmekr' Dec. 8, 1953 H. F. BURMEISTER DISCONNECT SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2l, 1949 INVENTOR. Howard Furmellse Patented Dec. 8, 1953 DISCONNECT SWITCH Howard F. Burmeister, Harvey, Ill., assignor to Royal Electric Manufacturing Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 21, 1949, Serial No. 117,018

6 Claims. (Cl. 20G- 82) This invention relates primarily to disconnect switches, particularly of the high voltage type.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a vertical breai; disconnect switch of the type wherein the movable switch member is mounted on a stationary insulator and wherein the actuation oi the movable switch member is obtained pneumatically or hydraulically by a pneumatic mechanism at the potential of the movable switch member, so that no i' der, is mounted on the structure that supports the switch blade, the pneumatic mechanism being at the potential oi the switch blade. Fluid under pressure is transmitted to the cylinder for actuating the same by way of one or two tubes that extend thereto. These tubes includer in a stationary portion thereof, an insulated section thereby insulating the pneumatic mechanism from the operator. This section, in the preferred construction, is the sole insulator that supports the switch blade.

High voltage ceramic insulators which are of considerable size have been made hollow. Such hollow ceramic insulators have been provided with end caps at opposite endsv thereof, the end caps being drawn firmly towards the insulator by a tensioning member of insulation within the hollow body of the ceramic insulator, the remaining interior of the insulator being then filled with an insulating oil to assure exclusion of all air and moisture. Such an insulator is shown in the patent to Arthur O. Austin, No. 2,175,335, of October 10, 1939. It is one of the objects of the present invention to utilize such an insulator to support a switch blade of a disconnect switch and t0 utilize the hollow space within the insulator for transmitting fluid under pressure to a pneumatic mechanism at the high voltage end of the insulator, namely, at the end of the insulator that carries the switch blade. The pneumatic mechanism mechanically oper'- ates the switch blade.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the end caps of a hollow insulator of the above mentioned character with one or more nipples, corresponding nipples of the two end caps being connected by a tube or" insulation that extends from one end cap to the other through the hollow insulator. Each of these in sulating tubes is surrounded by the insulating oil or other compound within the insulator and in turn also carries an insulating fluid. As a result, oil or other insulating fluid may be transmitted through the tube or tubes for perorrning necessary mechanical operations, as, for instance, operating a switch. The hydraulic coritrol system of which the tubes are a are entirely separate from the liquid insulation within the hollow ceramic insulator.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hollow insulator with means for transmitting actuating force to actuate the electrical apparatus and wherein the same insulator that supports the apparatus also provides insulation in the hydraulic circuit to the control apparatus.

The attainment of the above and further objects o the present invention will be apparent from. the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings fon ing a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l; is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of a high voltage disconnecting switch embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken along the line 2`-2 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a small scale drawing showing the switch part of which is shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 4. is a diagrammatic view showing one manner of hydraulically interconnecting the switches of a three phase system for simultaneous operation.

Reference may now be had more particularly tor the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout.

A general description will first be given of the switch of Figure 3. This switch an outdoor type, vertical break disconnect switch. This switch, indicated in. general by the reference numeral. l, includes a mounting E of chan nel iron or the like, of a conventional construe-- tion onv which are mounted two stationary insulators, indicated at 3 and d. The stationary insulating structure 3 supports a contact struc ture 5 that is adapted to be engaged by a switch blade 6 that is pivoted at to a bracket t mount" ed on the insulator 4. The contact structure t mounted on top of the insulator 3 may be of any preferred construction, the one illustrated being accuse anism consists or a piston and cylinder arrangement, it is understood that the piston and cylinder arrangement may in each case be replaced by a hydraulic diaphragm mechanism or by a hydraulic expansion bellows so that the oil pressure system for operating the switch in one direction is completely sealed from the oil pressure system for operating the switch in the opposite direction, without the possibility of leakage from one to the other, such as may occur past the piston or past the pistons in the mechanism 15.

In the hydraulic system herein shown there is a complete separation of the oil to be used for operating the switch from the body of oil within the bore of the insulator 20. Where a. complete separation is not necessary then one or the other or" the two tubes 3-5-36 may be entirely omitted. Ii, i r instance, the tube 35 is omitted then the bore isulator 2e acts as a connection from the nipple 2d to the nipple 3l. If the tube 3B is omitted the-n the bore or the insulator acts as an oil connection between the nipple 29 and the nipple 32 so that in either event the oil for operating the switch in one direction is transmitted bodily through the bore in the insulator 20.

I have herein shown the present invention as applied to operate a vertically operating switch blade of a disconnecting switch. Since the invention is particularly concerned with the operating mechanism, I have herein omitted some of the usual disconnecting switch structures. For instance, switch blades are generally provided with counterbalancing springs for assisting in the '-ch opening operation and for holding the switch in the switch open position. This may be applied to the switch blade of the present invention in any conventional manner, as, for instance, as shown in the patent to Dunlap, No. 2,305,117, above referred to.

In some instances the double acting piston in the cylinder 52 may be replaced by a single acting piston wherein pneumatic pressure is applied for moving the switch in one direction, say, in the switch closing direction, and a spring is provided for moving the switch in the switch opening direction. This may be the usual blade counterbalancing spring shown in the above mentioned Dunlap patent, which spring is then made stiffer so that the spring itself is capable of moving the switch from the switch closed position to the switch open position, the pneumatic pressure being relied upon to move the switch to its closed position and hold it in that position. When that is the case only one pneumatic line need be extended from the operating mechanism 15 to the pneumatic mechanism 52. That line can extend via a tube through the insulator 2u, as above mentioned, or the tube within the insulator 20 may be entirely omitted so that the bore of the insulator 2l! itself constitutes a part of the oil conduit to the pneumatic mechanism.

In each embodiment above described the insulator 2c constitutes the sole support for the switch blade and also affords a passageway for the oil used for actuating the pneumatic mechanism at the top of the insulator. By this arrangement the switch actuating means 'i5 which is at ground potential may be placed at any convenient location.

in a three phase system where three disconnect switches of the type shown in Figure l are provided, they may be arranged for simultaneous 0peration, the pneumatic circuit at the grounded ends of the switches being a series circuit, as illustrated in Figure e. In Figure 4 there is shown at 6 A, B and C, in diagrammatic form, a portion of each of the three disconnecting switches each one of which may be physically of the same construction as is illustrated in Figure 3. The blade supporting insulator of each switch is indicated by the reference numeral il, that insulator being of the same construction as illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 3. The pneumatic mechanisms that are mounted on the respective insulators Il are indicated at 52a, 52h and 52o, being in each case connected to operate the respective switch blades 6. Each pneumatic mechanism includes a cylinder 53, a double acting piston and a connecting rod 5l ior operating the switch blade E in the manner previously described. In order that the Volume of liquid displaced on each side of the piston may be the saine for a given distance of movement of the piston the piston 56 is in each case provided with a false piston rod 5l of the same diameter as the piston rod 5I, which false piston rod slides through suitable packing in the end of the cylinder, A suitable seal is provided for sealing against the escape of any oil from the cylinder at the place where the false rod 5l' eX- tends therethrough. The nipples 3I-i of the three insulators are connected in series by

oil tubes

85 and 85 and the series circuit is connected to the oil lines lid-ld that extend to the manual or motor operating mechanism 10, as previously described, From this description it is' apparent that transmission of the oil under pressure to the line 'i8' to operate the switches will force oil to the left hand side of the piston Sli of the A phase switch to move that piston, and the movement of that piston will force oil from that portion of the cylinder iic which is to the right of the piston 5E, thence through the tube St, tube 36 ol the A phase insulator 1i, thence through the tube iid to the B phase insulator for actuating the pneumatic mechanism 52h. This in turn transmits operating huid in the same manner to the C phase pneumatic mechanism 52e. By making a positive provision against leakage in the oil system and by using tubes and connections which are of constant volume and will not expand under pressure it is thus possible to operate all three switches simultaneously.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A two insulator outdoor type disconnect switch comprising a stationary hollow insulator, a Contact making member supported thereby, a double acting hydraulic mechanism also supf. p-orted thereby, means connecting the mechanism with the contact making member for operating the contact making member, separate hose means providing separate fluid passageways extending to opposite sides of the mechanism for supplying liquid to the mechanism for actuating it, each of said hose means extending through the hollow supporting insulator, a filling of liquid insulation within the insulator and through which insulation the hose means ex-n tends but is sealed therefrom, end caps for said insulator sealing said filling of liquid insulation from the atmosphere, said iluid passageways extending through the sealing end caps, a second insulator spaced from the rst insulator, means for supporting the second insulator independentaceaisc` ly of and apart from the first insulator, and a` contact member supported by the second insulator and adapted to be engaged by the contact making member in its switch closed position.

2. In combination, a number of similar high voltage switches each switch comprising a holler;r insulator, a switch contact making member on said insulator and movable from the switch open position to the switch closed position, means for actuating the member including a hydraulic motor mechanism on said insulator, a pair of hydraulic lines extending to the motor mechanism for supplying it with liquid under pressure to operate it in alternate directions, said lines ex-` tending through the insulator from the high voltage side thereof to the low voltage side thereof; the lines of the respective switches on the low voltage side thereof being connected in a closed series fluid circuit, and means for applying pressure to cause flow of fluid in the uid circuit selectively in one direction or the other to cause simultaneous operation of the hydraulic motors of the respective switches.

3. in combination, a number of similar high voltage switches each switch comprising a hollow insulator, a switch contact making member on said insulator and movable from the switch open position to the switch closed position, means for actuating the member including a hydraulic motor mechanism on said insulator, a pair of hydraulic lines extending to the motor mechanism for supplying it with liquid under pressure to operate it in alternate directions, said lines extending through the insulator from the high voltage side thereof to the low voltage side thereof; the lines of the respective switches on the low voltage side thereof being connected in a series iiuid circuit, and means for supplying liquid under pressure to the circuit to cause simultaneous operation of the hydraulic motors of the respective switches, said last named means including means for selectively controlling the direction of ow of fluid in said fluid circuit.

4. In a polyphase switching system a plurality of disconnect switches for the respective phases each including a hydraulic operating mechanism at the high potential side of the switch, liquid operating circuits for the respective mechanisms, and means connecting the liquid operating circuits of the respective switches in series.

5. ln a polyphase switching system a plurality of disconnect switches for the respective phases each including a hydraulic operating mechanism at the high potential side of the switch and a hollow insulator supporting the mechanism, liquid operating circuits for the respective mechanisms, the liquid circuit for each mechanism extending through the insulator of its switch, and means connecting the liquid operating circuits of the respective switches in series.

6. An insulator comprising a hollow column of insulation, end caps closing the ends of the column, a switch blade, means on one end cap pivotally mounting the switch blade for swinging movement from switch open position to switch closed position, hydraulic mechanism for swinging said blade, a filling of liquid insulation within the column and closed orf from the outside atmosphere by the caps, and a pair of insulating tubes extending within the column from one end cap to the other, the two end caps having outlets for the tubes for establishing liquid passageways through the tubes but sealed from the nlling ci insulation within which the tubes are immersed and a fluid flow connection between said tubes and said hydraulic mechanism.

HOWARD F. BURMEISTER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS iisui'nber Name Date 2,175,336 Austin Oct. 10, 1939 2,239,554 Duiling Apr. 22, 1941 2,250,216 Biermans July 22, 1941 2,351,903 Baker et al June 20, 1944