IP Library Granted Patent US 12,603,487
Granted Patent B2
US 12,603,487 · App. 17/641,639 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Bushing and manufacturing method therefor

Inventors: Danan Yao (Anhui, CN); Peirong Cai (Anhui, CN)
Assignee: Hitachi Energy Ltd
H02G3/22H01B13/0036H01F27/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,603,487
App. No.
17/641,639
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a bushing and a manufacturing method therefor. The bushing includes a conductive tube and a central tube. The conductive tube is fixedly connected to a bottom connecting assembly and a top connecting assembly. The central tube is fixedly connected to the bottom connecting assembly and the top connecting assembly. The central tube is subjected to a compressive force in an extending direction of the central tube, such that the conductive tube is subjected to a tensile force in an extending direction of the conductive tube. The embodiments of the present disclosure can eliminate or reduce creep or stress relaxation of composites to ensure mechanical properties and sealing performance in a life cycle of the bushing.

Claims (43)

1 . A bushing, comprising:

a conductive tube fixedly connected to a bottom connecting assembly and a top connecting assembly; and

a central tube fixedly connected to the bottom connecting assembly and the top connecting assembly, wherein the central tube comprises a hollow tube that is located inside the conductive tube, and wherein the central tube is subjected to a compressive force in an extending direction of the central tube, such that the conductive tube is subjected to a tensile force in an extending direction of the conductive tube,

wherein the central tube and the conductive tube are pre-stressed to maintain engagement with each other under axial loading without applying axial force beyond the top and bottom connecting assemblies.

2 . The bushing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the central tube is a metal tube or an alloy tube.

3 . The bushing as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the bottom connecting assembly comprises:

a bottom central tube nut, the central tube being welded to the bottom central tube nut;

a bottom nut, the conductive tube being fixedly connected to the bottom nut; and

a first bottom bolt via which the bottom central tube nut is fixedly connected to the bottom nut.

4 . The bushing as claimed in claim 3 , wherein an inner surface of the bottom nut adjacent to the bottom central tube nut is provided with an annular groove adapted to accommodate a first O-ring for sealing.

5 . The bushing as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising a flange, which is aligned with an outer periphery on an outer side of a projecting rim of the bottom nut and fixedly connected to the bottom nut via a second bolt.

6 . The bushing as claimed in claim 5 , wherein an outer peripheral surface of the bottom nut adjacent to the flange is provided with an annular groove adapted to accommodate a second O-ring for sealing.

7 . The bushing as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising a composite insulator, wherein the composite insulator is located outside the conductive tube, and the bottom of the composite insulator is adapted to be sandwiched between the flange and the projecting rim of the bottom nut.

8 . The bushing as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the top connecting assembly comprises:

a top central tube nut, the central tube being fixedly connected to the top central tube nut;

a top nut, the conductive tube is fixedly connected to the top nut; and

a first top via which the top central tube nut is fixedly connected to the top nut.

9 . The bushing as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the top connecting assembly further comprises a connecting flange, and the connecting flange is aligned with an outer periphery of the top nut and fixedly connected to the top nut via a second top bolt.

10 . The bushing as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising a flexible conductive connecting member, wherein the flexible conductive connecting member has a curved shape and is electrically coupled to the connecting flange.

11 . The bushing as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising:

a conductive sleeve electrically coupled to the flexible conductive connecting member, an inner surface of the conductive sleeve being adjacent to an outer surface of the central tube.

12 . The bushing as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the flexible conductive connecting member comprises a plurality of layers of current-carrying metal members, a part of the inner surface of the conductive sleeve and the outer surface of the central tube has at least one groove, and the at least one groove is adapted to accommodate at least one of an O-ring and a sliding seal.

13 . The bushing as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:

at least one supporting member located between the central tube and the conductive tube to prevent the central tube from bending in a transverse direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the central tube; and

an insulating isolation sleeve located between the top central tube nut and the first top bolt to electrically insulate the top central tube nut from the first top bolt.

14 . The bushing as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the bottom connecting assembly comprises:

a bottom central tube nut, the central tube being welded to the bottom central tube nut;

a bottom nut, the conductive tube being fixedly connected to the bottom nut; and

a first bottom bolt via which the bottom central tube nut is fixedly connected to the bottom nut.

15 . The bushing as claimed in claim 14 , wherein an inner surface of the bottom nut adjacent to the bottom central tube nut is provided with an annular groove adapted to accommodate a first O-ring for sealing.

16 . The bushing as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising a flange, which is aligned with an outer periphery on an outer side of a projecting rim of the bottom nut and fixedly connected to the bottom nut via a second bolt.

17 . The bushing as claimed in claim 16 , wherein an outer peripheral surface of the bottom nut adjacent to the flange is provided with an annular groove adapted to accommodate a second O-ring for sealing.

18 . A transformer, comprising:

a bushing having:

a conductive tube fixedly connected to a bottom connecting assembly and a top connecting assembly; and

a central tube fixedly connected to the bottom connecting assembly and the top connecting assembly, wherein the central tube comprises a hollow tube that is located inside the conductive tube, and wherein the central tube is subjected to a compressive force in an extending direction of the central tube, such that the conductive tube is subjected to a tensile force in an extending direction of the conductive tube,

wherein the central tube and the conductive tube are pre-stressed to maintain engagement with each other under axial loading without applying axial force beyond the top and bottom connecting assemblies.

19 . A bushing, comprising:

a bottom connecting assembly;

a top connecting assembly;

an electrically conductive tube connected to the bottom connecting assembly and the top connecting assembly;

a central tube connected to the bottom connecting assembly and the top connecting assembly, wherein the central tube comprises a hollow tube that is located inside the electrically conductive tube, and wherein the central tube is subjected to a compressive force in a first direction by the bottom connecting assembly and the top connecting assembly, and the electrically conductive tube is subjected to a tensile force in the first direction by the bottom connecting assembly and the top connecting assembly,

wherein the central tube and the conductive tube are pre-stressed to maintain engagement with each other under axial loading without applying axial force beyond the top and bottom connecting assemblies.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Nov 13, 2023
From: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY LTD
Reel/Frame 065548/0869 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 059210 FRAME: 0606. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT . Recorded Jun 8, 2022
From: YAO, DANAN; CAI, PEIRONG
To: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 060392/0870 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: YAO, DANAN; CAI, PEIRONG
To: HITACHI ENERGY SWITERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 059210/0606 →