IP Library Granted Patent US 8,226,428
Granted Patent B2
US 8,226,428 · App. 11/989,025 · Granted Jul 24, 2012

Electrical contact between pieces of high and medium voltage equipment, adapted for accommodating tilt

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,226,428
App. No.
11/989,025
Granted
Jul 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an electrical connection for high-voltage or medium-voltage switchgear, a bar ( 2 ) is inserted in a recess ( 6 ) provided with a projection ( 10 ). In the invention, the dimensions are established so that the axes (AA, BB) of the bar ( 2 ) and of the projection ( 10 ) can be inclined relative to each other. Spring-forming conductor elements ( 12, 14 ) establish the electrical connection even in the event of tilt. A high-performance electrical contact can thus be obtained compactly, which makes it possible to perform assembly/disassembly operations on electrical equipment without any additional element of the telescopic ferrule or separable bar type.

Claims (44)

1. An electrical connection device comprising:

a first high and/or medium voltage electrical contact block comprising a contact, the contact comprising a recess, the recess being cylindrical and having a cylindrical wall about a first longitudinal axis;

a second high and/or medium voltage electrical contact block comprising a contact, the contact of the second block comprising a cylindrical recess, the second block movable relative to the first block;

a tubular bar having a second longitudinal axis and first and second ends, the first end insertable into the recess of the contact of the first block and the second end insertable into the recess of the contact of the second block;

a first insert that projects into the cylindrical recess of the first block and a second insert that projects into the cylindrical recess of the second block, wherein the wall of each recess and each insert defines an annular space, and wherein the tubular bar is insertable into the annular space; and

at least one pair of conductive spring-forming elements in the first block and at least one pair of conductive spring-forming elements in the second block, wherein one of each of the pair of conductive spring-forming elements is between the insert and the tubular bar, and wherein the other of each of the pair of conductive spring-forming elements is between the tubular bar and the cylindrical wall of the recess,

wherein an inclination of an angle a is possible between the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis,

wherein the tubular bar remains in electrical contact with the contact of the first and second block during the inclination by the at least one pair of conductive spring-forming elements when the electrical connection device is being assembled and disassembled,

wherein the spring-forming elements are annular, and

further comprising at least three mechanical connection supports distributed around the circumference of the cylindrical recess.

2. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 1 , wherein the outside and inside dimensions of the tubular bar being such that clearance exists between the tubular bar and the contact and clearance exists between the tubular bar and the insert, each of the at least one pair of spring-forming elements guaranteeing contact between the tubular bar and the contact at each of said clearances.

3. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one pair of spring-forming elements are located in the clearances between the contact and the tubular bar in the same plane that is radial relative to one of the first and second axes.

4. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 3 , wherein the two spring-forming elements of each pair are secured to the tubular bar, and are located on either side, in the same plane that is radial to the first axis.

5. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 3 wherein the two spring-forming elements of each pair are secured to the contact, are located in the same plane that is radial to the second axis, and face each other on the inside wall of the recess and on the outside of the insert.

6. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 3 , having a plurality of pairs of spring-forming elements distributed about the second axis in the same plane that is radial to the second axis.

7. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 1 , wherein the angle of inclination is between 1 degree and 7 degrees.

8. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 7 , wherein the angle of inclination is 4 degrees.

9. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 1 , wherein at least one spring-forming element is a lamella band.

10. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 1 , wherein at least one spring-forming element is an annular spring having inclined turns.

11. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 1 , wherein the at least three mechanical connection supports are made of polyamide.

12. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 1 , wherein the contacts are adapted for a permanent current between 2000 amps and 6300 amps.

13. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 1 , wherein the contacts are adapted for a short circuit between 31.5 kiloamps and 63 kioamps for at least three seconds.

14. An electrical connection device comprising:

a first high and/or medium voltage electrical contact block comprising a contact, the contact comprising a recess, the recess being cylindrical and having a cylindrical wall about a first longitudinal axis;

a second high and/or medium voltage electrical contact block comprising a contact, the contact of the second block comprising a cylindrical recess, the second block movable relative to the first block;

a tubular bar having a second longitudinal axis and first and second ends, the first end insertable into the recess of the contact of the first block and the second end insertable into the recess of the contact of the second block;

a first insert that projects into the cylindrical recess of the first block and a second insert that projects into the cylindrical recess of the second block, wherein the wall of each recess and each insert defines an annular space, and wherein the tubular bar is insertable into the annular space; and

at least one pair of conductive spring-forming elements in the first block and at least one pair of conductive spring-forming elements in the second block, wherein one of each of the pair of conductive spring-forming elements is between the insert and the tubular bar, and wherein the other of each of the pair of conductive spring-forming elements is between the tubular bar and the cylindrical wall of the recess,

wherein an inclination of an angle a is possible between the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis,

wherein the tubular bar remains in electrical contact with the contact of the first and second block during the inclination by the at least one pair of conductive spring-forming elements when the electrical connection device is being assembled and disassembled,

wherein the spring-forming elements are annular, and

further comprising at least one mechanical connection support, wherein the at least one mechanical connection support is made of polyamide.

15. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 14 , wherein the outside and inside dimensions of the tubular bar being such that clearance exists between the tubular bar and the contact and clearance exists between the tubular bar and the insert, each of the at least one pair of spring-forming elements guaranteeing contact between the tubular bar and the contact at each of said clearances.

16. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one pair of spring-forming elements are located in the clearances between the contact and the tubular bar in the same plane that is radial relative to one of the first and second axes.

17. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 16 , wherein the two spring-forming elements of each pair are secured to the tubular bar, and are located on either side, in the same plane that is radial to the first axis.

18. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 16 wherein the two spring-forming elements of each pair are secured to the contact, are located in the same plane that is radial to the second axis, and face each other on the inside wall of the recess and on the outside of the insert.

19. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 16 , having a plurality of pairs of spring-forming elements distributed about the second axis in the same plane that is radial to the second axis.

20. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 14 , wherein the angle of inclination is between 1 degree and 7 degrees.

21. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 14 , wherein at least one spring-forming element is a lamella band.

22. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 14 , wherein at least one spring-forming element is an annular spring having inclined turns.

23. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 14 , further comprising three mechanical connection supports distributed around the circumference of the cylindrical recess.

24. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 14 , wherein the angle of inclination is 4 degrees.

25. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 14 , wherein the contacts are adapted for a permanent current between 2000 amps and 6300 amps.

26. An electrical connection device comprising two high and/or medium voltage electrical contact blocks according to claim 14 , wherein the contacts are adapted for a short circuit between 31.5 kiloamps and 63 kioamps for at least three seconds.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2013
From: ALSTOM GRID SAS
To: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
Reel/Frame 031029/0933 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 27, 2012
From: AREVA T&D SAS
To: ALSTOM GRID SAS
Reel/Frame 029355/0641 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 23, 2012
From: AREVA T&D SA
To: AREVA T&D SAS
Reel/Frame 029343/0282 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2008
From: ARNAUD, ALAIN; ROULET, JEAN-PIERRE; BERALS, JEAN-MICHEL
To: AREVA T & D SA
Reel/Frame 020436/0677 →