IP Library Granted Patent US 9,824,832
Granted Patent B2
US 9,824,832 · App. 15/166,215 · Granted Nov 21, 2017

Contact unit for a tap changer and a tap selector comprising the contact unit

Inventor: Tommy Larsson (Ludvika, SE)
Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
H01H9/0016H01H1/365H01H1/42
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,824,832
App. No.
15/166,215
Granted
Nov 21, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Contact unit for a tap changer including a contact ring having a central axis, a plurality of fixed contacts arranged at a distance from the contact ring in different radial directions, and a moving contact arranged rotatable about the central axis of the contact ring and adapted to electrically connect the fixed contacts one at a time with the contact ring. The moving contact includes two elongated contact elements. Each of the contact elements includes a first contact area for providing electrical contact with the fixed contacts and a second contact area for providing electrical contact with the contact ring. The moving contact is designed so an electric path is formed between the first and second contact area. The first and second contact areas are positioned on opposite sides of a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the moving contact and including the central axis of the contact ring.

Claims (41)

1. A contact unit for a tap changer comprising:

a contact ring having a central axis,

a plurality of fixed contacts arranged at a distance from the contact ring in different radial directions, and

a moving contact being rotatable about the central axis of the contact ring and configured to electrically connect the fixed contacts one at a time with the contact ring, the moving contact having an upper contact element and a lower contact element which extend on opposing sides of the contact ring such that the contact ring is disposed between the upper contact element and the lower contact element,

each of the contact elements comprises a first contact area for providing electrical contact with the fixed contacts and a second contact area for providing electrical contact with the contact ring, and the moving contact provides an electric path between the first and second contact areas,

wherein the first contact area and the second contact area of each of the contact elements are positioned on opposite sides of a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the moving contact and including the central axis of the contact ring.

2. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein each of the contact elements has a distribution area that is the larger than a distribution area of the contact ring, and the contact elements are arranged with their periphery outside the periphery of the contact ring so that the contact elements cover the contact ring.

3. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein each of the contact elements comprises a third contact area for providing electrical contact with the contact ring, and the second contact area and the third contact area are arranged in different radial directions of the contact ring, and on the same side of said plane.

4. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein edges on the periphery of the contact parts at least partly are rounded.

5. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein each of the contact elements extends from the first contact area to the contact ring, and further past and beyond the contact ring.

6. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein the contact unit comprises a current connector electrically connected to the contact ring, and the current connector is tubular and arranged concentrically with the contact ring.

7. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein the moving contact is slidably connected to the contact ring.

8. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower contact elements extend outwardly in a radial direction from the contact ring such that when the moving contact is aligned with one of the fixed contacts, the upper contact element and the lower contact element are disposed on opposing sides of said one of the fixed contacts.

9. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein the contact ring is ring-shaped or disc-shaped.

10. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein the moving contact is elongated and the longitudinal axis of the moving contact is orthogonal to the central axis of the contact ring.

11. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein each of the contact elements provides an electric path between the first contact area and the second contact area of the respective contact element.

12. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein for each of the contact elements, a portion of the contact element has a width larger than an outer diameter of the contact ring and the contact ring tapers from said portion towards the first contact area.

13. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first contact area of each of the contact elements protrudes from a surface of the contact element in a direction non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the moving contact.

14. The contact unit according to claim 1 , wherein, for each contact element, the second contact area protrudes from a surface of the contact element.

15. The contact unit according to claim 14 , wherein the second contact area protrudes from the surface of the contact element in a direction non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the moving contact.

16. A contact unit for a tap changer comprising:

a contact ring having a central axis,

a plurality of fixed contacts arranged at a distance from the contact ring in different radial directions, and

a moving contact being rotatable about the central axis of the contact ring and configured to electrically connect the fixed contacts one at a time with the contact ring, the moving contact having two contact elements, each of the contact elements comprises a first contact area for providing electrical contact with the fixed contacts and a second contact area for providing electrical contact with the contact ring, and the moving contact providing an electric path between the first and second contact areas,

wherein the first contact area and the second contact area of each of the contact elements are positioned on opposite sides of a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the moving contact and including the central axis of the contact ring,

wherein each of the contact elements comprises a third contact area for providing electrical contact with the contact ring, the second contact area and the third contact area being arranged in different radial directions of the contact ring and on the same side of said plane, and

wherein said second and third contact areas are arranged on opposite sides of a second plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the moving contact and including the central axis of the contact ring.

17. A contact unit for a tap changer comprising:

a contact ring having a central axis,

a plurality of fixed contacts arranged at a distance from the contact ring in different radial directions, and

a moving contact being rotatable about the central axis of the contact ring and configured to electrically connect the fixed contacts one at a time with the contact ring, the moving contact having two contact elements, each of the contact elements comprises a first contact area for providing electrical contact with the fixed contacts and a second contact area for providing electrical contact with the contact ring, and the moving contact providing an electric path between the first and second contact areas,

wherein the first contact area and the second contact area of each of the contact elements are positioned on opposite sides of a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the moving contact and including the central axis of the contact ring,

wherein the contact unit comprises a current connector electrically connected to the contact ring, and at least one of the contact elements is provided with a through hole for receiving the current connector.

18. The contact unit according to claim 17 , wherein said through hole is arranged concentrically with the contact ring.

19. The contact unit according to claim 17 , wherein said through hole is arranged concentrically with the current connector.

20. A tap selector for a tap changer, wherein the tap selector comprises a contact unit including:

a contact ring having a central axis,

a plurality of fixed contacts arranged at a distance from the contact ring in different radial directions, and

a moving contact being rotatable about the central axis of the contact ring and configured to electrically connect the fixed contacts one at a time with the contact ring, the moving contact having an upper contact element and a lower contact element which extend on opposing sides of the contact ring such that the contact ring is disposed between the upper contact element and the lower contact element,

each of the contact elements comprises a first contact area for providing electrical contact with the fixed contacts and a second contact area for providing electrical contact with the contact ring, and the moving contact provides an electric path between the first and second contact areas,

wherein the first contact area and the second contact area of each of the contact elements are positioned on opposite sides of a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the moving contact and including the central axis of the contact ring.

Assignments (5)
MERGER Recorded Nov 13, 2023
From: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY LTD
Reel/Frame 065549/0576 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 31, 2021
From: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
To: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 058666/0540 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2020
From: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
To: ABB POWER GRIDS SWITZERLAND AG
Reel/Frame 052916/0001 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 15, 2016
From: ABB TECHNOLOGY LTD.
To: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
Reel/Frame 040621/0687 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2016
From: LARSSON, TOMMY
To: ABB TECHNOLOGY LTD
Reel/Frame 038825/0149 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 15169323.1 · May 27, 2015 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160351353A1 · Dec 1, 2016