Automated grounding device with visual indication

1. A grounding device, comprising:

a device body including:

a male interface portion including a bus having a first bore and a spade connector;

a conductive housing including:

a second bore that is axially aligned with the first bore, and

an opening for a grounding terminal to receive a grounding wire;

a pin assembly including:

a non-conductive tip, and

a conductive pin, wherein the pin assembly is configured to move axially within the first and second bores between a closed position that provides an electrical connection between the bus and the conductive housing and an open position that provides no electrical connection between the bus and the conductive housing;

an internal chamber around a portion of the pin assembly and formed within the male interface portion and the conductive housing, wherein a solid or semi-solid dielectric insulating material is sealed within the internal chamber to prevent voltage arcing when the pin assembly is in the open position; and

a motor configured to selectively drive the pin assembly between the open position and the closed position, based on a signal from a controller, and

a device connector including:

a first connector end configured to receive the male interface portion; and

a second connector end configured to receive a bushing for a piece of electrical equipment.

2. The grounding device of claim 1 , wherein the grounding device is configured for a 25,000 Amp momentary current rating.

3. The grounding device of claim 1 , wherein the device body further comprises a voltage sensor in communication with the controller, and wherein the controller does not provide a signal to drive the pin assembly from the open position to the closed position unless the voltage sensor indicates that no voltage is present.

4. The grounding device of claim 1 , wherein the device body further comprises a micro-switch to govern a travel distance that the motor drives the pin assembly.

5. The grounding device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is located outside the device body, and wherein the device body further comprises a communication receptacle to provide signals from the controller to the motor.

6. The grounding device of claim 1 , wherein the device body further comprises a viewing lens to display a portion of the pin assembly; and

wherein the non-conductive tip of the pin assembly is color-coded with a first color to indicate the open position, and the conductive pin includes a color-coded band of a second color to indicate the closed position.

7. The grounding device of claim 6 , wherein the viewing lens is installed between the male interface portion and the conductive housing to display a portion of the pin assembly as the pin assembly moves axially past the viewing lens.

8. The grounding device of claim 6 , wherein the solid or semi-solid dielectric insulating material permits outside visibility of the first color or the second color through the viewing lens.

9. The grounding device of claim 8 , wherein the dielectric insulating material includes a silicone gel.

10. The grounding device of claim 8 , wherein the grounding device is configured for a 25,000 Amp momentary current rating, and wherein a distance between the conductive pin and the bus, when the pin assembly is in the open position, is less than 3 inches.

11. The grounding device of claim 1 , wherein the second connector end is formed with an axial direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction of the first connector end;

wherein the device connector further comprises a third connector end formed substantially in line with the axial direction of the second connector end and configured to receive an insulating plug;

wherein the spade connector includes a third bore therethrough;

wherein the bushing includes a female threaded opening;

wherein the insulating plug includes a threaded stud; and

wherein the device connector is configured to align the third bore, the female threaded opening, and the threaded stud along the axial direction of the second connector end.

12. A grounding device body, comprising:

a male interface portion including an electrically conductive bus with a first bore open to one end and a spade connector on an opposite end;

a conductive housing including:

a second bore that is axially aligned with the first bore, and

an opening for a grounding terminal to receive a grounding wire;

a pin assembly including:

a non-conductive tip, and

a conductive pin, wherein the pin assembly is configured to move axially within the first and second bores between a closed position that provides an electrical connection between the bus and the conductive housing and an open position that provides no electrical connection between the bus and the conductive housing;

an internal chamber around a portion of the pin assembly and formed within the male interface portion and the conductive housing, wherein a solid or semi-solid dielectric insulating material is sealed within the internal chamber to prevent voltage arcing when the pin assembly is in the open position;

a communications receptacle to receive signals from a controller outside the device body; and

a motor configured to selectively drive the pin assembly between the open position and the closed position, based on a signal from the controller.

13. The grounding device of claim 12 , further comprising:

a first micro-switch to signal to the controller when the pin assembly is in an open position; and

a second micro-switch to signal to the controller when the pin assembly is in a closed position.

14. The grounding device of claim 12 , further comprising:

a viewing lens to display a portion of the pin assembly that is positioned in view of the viewing lens,

wherein the non-conductive tip includes a first color that is visible through the viewing lens when the pin assembly is in the open position, and

wherein the conductive pin includes a second color that is visible through the viewing lens when the pin assembly is in the closed position.

15. The grounding device of claim 14 ,

wherein the dielectric insulating material permits outside visibility of the first color or the second color through the viewing lens.

16. The grounding device of claim 12 , wherein the grounding device is configured for a 25,000 Amp momentary current rating, and wherein a distance between the conductive pin and the bus, when the pin assembly is in the open position, is approximately two inches.

17. The grounding device of claim 15 , wherein the dielectric insulating material includes a silicone gel.

18. The grounding device of claim 12 , wherein the male interface portion is configured to be received within a female opening of an elbow connector.

19. The grounding device of claim 12 , wherein the device body further comprises a voltage sensor in communication with the controller.

20. The grounding device of claim 12 , wherein the solid or semi-solid silicone material adheres to a surface of the pin assembly within the internal chamber to inhibit voltage arcing across a surface of the non-conductive tip when the pin assembly is in the open position.