IP Library Granted Patent US 12,142,392
Granted Patent B2
US 12,142,392 · App. 17/633,338 · Granted Nov 12, 2024

Draw-rod bushing with sealed bottom contact

Inventors: Fredrik Graas (Borlänge, SE); Jesper Calpson (Ludvika, SE); Alejandra Ravanal (Smedjebacken, SE); David Emilsson (Ludvika, SE); Peter Sjöberg (Ludvika, SE); Zoltan Repasi (Västerås, SE)
Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY LTD
H01B17/308H01B17/303H01F27/04H02G15/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,142,392
App. No.
17/633,338
Granted
Nov 12, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a bushing comprising a conductor tube, a support tube, arranged within the conductor tube, a draw-rod configured to run through the support tube, and a contact arrangement arranged to be drawn into the conductor tube by the draw-rod. The contact arrangement comprises a sealing plug arranged for sealingly engaging an inside wall of the conductor tube to prevent liquid from passing the sealing plug into the conductor tube.

Claims (31)

1. A bushing comprising:

a conductor tube;

a support tube, arranged within the conductor tube;

a draw-rod configured to run through the support tube; and

a contact arrangement arranged to be drawn into the conductor tube by the draw-rod;

wherein

the support tube is fixed in relation to the conductor tube by a bottom flange, fastened to the bottom end of the support tube and to the inside of the conductor tube, and

the contact arrangement comprises an electrical contact and the contact arrangement comprises a sealing plug arranged for sealingly engaging an inside wall of the conductor tube to prevent liquid from passing the sealing plug into the conductor tube wherein the contact arrangement comprises a front guiding cone for guiding a front of the contact arrangement into a docking tube connected to an end of the support tube and wherein the docking tube comprises a conical inner surface, tapering towards the end of the support tube, for receiving the guiding cone of the contact arrangement.

2. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein the sealing plug is provided with an outer, circumferential sealing element.

3. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein the sealing plug comprises a leading conical surface arranged to interact with an end chamfer of the conductor tube for guiding the sealing plug into the conductor tube.

4. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein the docking tube comprises an end chamfer, distal to the support tube, for interacting with the guiding cone for guiding the front of the contact arrangement ( 26 ) into the docking tube.

5. A power station comprising:

an electrical equipment; and

the bushing of claim 1 , arranged through a wall of the electrical equipment.

6. The power station of claim 5 , wherein the electrical equipment comprises a liquid-filled transformer or reactor.

7. The power station of claim 5 , further comprising a valve hall housing an electrical power converter, wherein the bushing is also arranged through a wall of the valve hall.

8. A method of electrically connecting a contact arrangement to a conductor tube of a bushing, the method comprising:

by means of a draw-rod running through a support tube arranged within the conductor tube, the support tube being fixed in relation to the conductor tube by a bottom flange fastened to the bottom end of the support tube and to the inside of the conductor tube, the draw-rod pulling the contact arrangement into the conductor tube, wherein the conductor arrangement comprises a front guiding cone for guiding a front of the contact arrangement into a docking tube connected to an end of the support tube and wherein the docking tube comprises a conical inner surface, tapering towards the end of the support tube, for receiving the guiding cone of the contact arrangement, and pulling the contact arrangement into the conductor tube until an electrical contact of the contact arrangement electrically connects with the conductor tube and a sealing plug of the contact arrangement sealingly engages an inside wall of the conductor tube, preventing liquid from passing the sealing plug into the conductor tube; and

enabling the electrical contact of the contact arrangement to be connected to electrical equipment leads.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising securing the draw-rod in the conductor tube.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein securing the draw-rod in the conductor tube comprises securing a top end of the draw-rod at a top end of the conductor tube.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein securing a top end of the draw-rod at a top end of the conductor tube comprises tightening the top end of the draw-rod by a fastening means.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein tightening the top end of the draw-rod by a fastening means comprises tightening the top end of the draw-rod by a nut mounted on threads of the top end of the draw-rod.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising placing a sealing unit into the top end of the conductor tube.

14. The bushing of claim 2 , wherein the outer, circumferential sealing element comprises an O-ring, arranged to be pressed against the inside wall of the conductor tube.

15. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein the draw-rod is configured to be secured in the conductor tube.

16. The bushing of claim 15 , wherein a top end of the draw-rod has threads for receiving fastening means to secure the draw-rod in the conductor tube.

17. The bushing of claim 16 , wherein the fastening means comprises a nut and the draw-rod is secured by mounting the nut to the threads and the draw-rod is secured by screwing the nut onto the threads of the draw-rod.

18. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein the bushing further comprises a top end configured to be connected to one or more powerlines.

19. The bushing of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contact comprises electrical contact elements in the electrical contact of the contact arrangement arranged for providing electrical connection to the conductor tube.

20. The bushing of claim 19 , wherein the electrical contact elements comprise contact electrical springs.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Nov 13, 2023
From: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY LTD
Reel/Frame 065548/0869 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: GRAAS, FREDRIK; CALPSON, JESPER; RAVANAL, ALEJANDRA; EMILSSON, DAVID; SJÖBERG, PETER; REPASI, ZOLTAN
To: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 058910/0200 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 058910/0286 →