Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONNECTION MECHANIS~l FOR CONNECTING A
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CABLE CONNECTOR TO A BUSHING
Ba~k~ound of the Invention
This invention relates to a connection mechanism for
connecting and disconnecting a cable connector to a bushing
mounted on an electrical apparatus and, more particularly, to
such a connection mechanism which allows a single individual to
quickly connect and disconnect the cable connector and the
bushing.
A cable connector, such as a visible break deadfront type
T-connector, is used to connect a high voltage primary cable to a
bushing on an electrical apparatus such as a transformer or
padmounted switchgear. Presently, T-connectors are connected to
the bushing, in most cases, by having a threaded male member
within the T-connector received in a threaded female receptacle
in the switchgear bushing. The threaded male member of the
T-connector must be rotated by, the individual making the
connection. For safety reasons, this rotation of the male member
is usually accomplished by rotating a hot stick connected to a
tool connected to the male member.
secause one operator must use the hot stick to hold the
T-connector, while another operator rotates the male member to
secure the T-connector to the bushing, it is difficult to
properly align the bushing and the T-connector so as to get a
clean engagement of the two threaded pieces. This is also made
even more dif~icult because the cables are quite thick and very
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stiff. As a result, the threaded members can become stripped.
An illustration of the present or most commonly u~ed type of
connection mechanism is illustrated in Sankey et al U.S.Patent
No. 3,883,208 issued May 13, 1975.
In some other connection mechanisms, non-threaded contact
members have been used and a strap connected to the switchgear
face has been used to hold tha cable connector to the bushing.
The strap is merely slipped over the cable connector and
tightened after the connector is placed on the bushing.
In addition to the difficulty incurred in trying to properly
align the cable connector and the bushing, the connector and
bushing are usually made vf elastomeric material which tends to
stick when in contact for a long period of time. It is therefore
often difficult for someone to separate the CGnneCtor from the
bushing.
Summary of the Present Invention
This invention provides a connection mechanism for
connecting and disconn~cting a cable connector to a bushing
2~ mounted on an electrical apparatus which mechanism is easier to
use than cable connectors which require the threading of one
electrical contact into another. Further, the connection
mechanism of this invention can be operated by a single operator
because the connection mechanism assists in properly aligning the
cable connector and the bushing and eliminates the need for
separate connector holding and contact turning operations.
Further, this connection mechanism eliminates the problem present
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in prior connec-tion mechanisms of having to have an operator s~pply
significant force in order to break the rubber-to-rubber inter-
face bond which can occ~lr when the connector has been connected to
the bushing for a substantial periocl of time.
More particularly, the connection mechanism comprises a
saddle shroud adapted to be connected to the cable connector and
adapted to be movable by a shotgun stick and a lever mechanism
adapted to be pivotally connected adjacent the bushing to the elec-
trical apparatus and having a pair of notches which releasably
receives and drives the saddle shroud so that the cahle connector
is forced onto the bushing when the lever mechanism is pivoted in
one direction and the cable connector is forced away from the
~ bushing when the lever mechanism is pivoted in the opposite direc~
; tion. The connection mechanism also include means adapted to be
connected adjacent the bushing to the electrical apparatus for
receiving and releasably preventing pivoting of the lever mechan-
ism in the opposite direction after the cable connector is forced
onto the bushing.
In one embodiment of the invention, the saddle shroud
includes a pair of bosses extending in opposite directions from the
saddle shroud and the lever mechanism includes a pair of spaced
apart bail arms adapted to be pivotally connected to the electrical
apparatus adjacent the bushing and each of the bail arms has one
of the notches and each of the notches releasably receives and
drives one of the bosses.
This invention also provides a connection mechanism
comprising a saddle shroud adapted to be connected to the cable
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connector and adapted to be movable by a shotgun s-tick, and means
adapted to be connected to the elec-trical apparatus adjacent the
bushing for receiving and releasably locking in multiple
positions the saddle shroud adjacent the electrical apparatus as
the cable connector is forced onto the bushing.
In one embodiment, the receiving and releasably locking
means comprises a ratchet latch mechanism connected to the
electrical apparatus adjacent the bushing, and lever means
adapted to be pivotally connected to the electrical apparatus
adjacent the bushing for releasably receiving and driving the
saddle shroud so that the cable connector ~s forced onto the
bushing when the lever means is pivoted in one direction and so
that the cable connector is forced away from the bushing when the
lever means is pivoted in the opposite direction. Further, the
lever means includes a ratchet arm releasably connectable in
multiple locking positions to the ratchet latch bracket.
Other features and benefits of the invention are more
particularly set forth in the attached drawings, description and
appended claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a perspective side view o~ a connection mechanism
for connecting and disconnecting a cable connector to a bushing
mounted on an electrical apparatus, which mechanism embodies
various of the features of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a portion of the connection
mechanism, cable connector and bushing illustrated in FIG. 1;
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FIG. 3 is a cross sec-tional view of a portion of the
connection mechanism taken along -the line 3-3 in FIG. l;
FIG. 4 is a perspective v.iew of an alternate embodiment of
the invention; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another alternate en~odiment
of the invention.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
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Illustrated in the drawings is a connection mechanism 10 for
connecting and disconnecting a cable connector, such as a visible
break T-type connector 14, to a bushing 18 mounted on an
electrical apparatus, such as padmounted swit~chgear 22. The
visible break T-connector 14 is used to connect a high voltage
cable 26 to the switchgear bushing 18. The switchgear bushing
includes a housing having an outer conical portion 30 which
e~tends ~rom the switchgear face 34. The conical portion 30 of
the bushing 18 includes a central cylindrical passageway 38
having therein an electrical contact 40, which is connected to
wiring inside tha switchgear 22. The bushing 18 is supported on
the face of the switchgear by a mounting plate 42.
The visible break T-connector 14 includes a body having a
general T-shape with a lower portion 46 housing the end of the
cable 26 and an upper portion 50 having a first opening 54 (FIG.
2) which receives the cGnical portion 30 of the bushing 18.
~lounted within the first opening 54 in the T-connector 14 is an
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electrical contact 58 connectecl to -the high voltage cable 26,
which contact 58 engages the contact ~0 located within the
bushing 18 when the conlcal portion 30 of the bushing l8 is
received within the first opening 54 in the T-connector 1~. The
first opening 54 in the T-connector 14 has a conical surface
which interfaces with the conical interface of the bushing 18 to
provide an air tlght seal between the T-connector and the bushing
18.
The T-connector upper portion 50 also includes a second
opening 62 which is coaxial with the first opening 54, and which
allows for insertion of a probe ~not shown~ into the T-connector
14 in order tG determine whether the high voltage cable 26 has
been de-energized.
The connection mechanism of the invention comprises a saddle
shroud 70 adapted to be connected to the cable connector 14 and
adapted to be movable by a shotgun stick 74, and means adapted to
be connected to the switchgear 22 adjacent the bushing 18 for
receiving and releasably locking in multiple positions the saddle
shroud 70 adjacent the switchgear 22 as the cable connector 14 is
~orced onto the bushing 18. More particularly, the receiving and
releasably locking means is in the form of a lever mechanism 78
pivotally connected adjacent the bushing 18 to the switchgear 22~
and a ratchet latch bracket 82 adjacent the bushing and connected
to the switchgear 22.
The saddle shroud 70 is in the form of two metal half
portions 84 and 86, respectively, which when connected to one
another generally conform to the outer shape of the T-connector
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14. More particularly, the halves of the saddle shroud 70 are
adapted to be placed around the T-connector 14 and connected one
to the other so as to substantially cover the T-connec-~or 14, and
a barrel portion 90 of the shroud 70 includes the upper portion
50 of the connector 14 which houses the bushing receiving first
.~ opening 54. Extending radially outwardly in opposite directions
from the saddle shroud barrel portion 90 are a pair of bosses 94
(only one shown~. The cable connector 14 and bushing 18 are
connectable when the connector 14 is moved relative to the
bushing 18 along an axis 98 which extends through the central
opening 38 in the center of the bushing 18 and the first opening
54 in the T-connector 14, and the bosses 94 extend perpendicular
to this axis 98 along a generally horizontal line. The saddle
shrGud 70 further includes a handle 102 including a pull ring eye
106 in order to permit connection of the shotgun stick 74 to the
saddle shroud 70.
The lever mechanism 78 includes a pair of spaced apart bail
lever arms 110 connected at their upper ends by a plate member
114 and a ratchet arm 118 pivotally mounted between the upper
2n ends of the bail lower arms 110 and engagable with the ratchet
latch bracket 82. ~ bar 120 extends between the upper ends of
the bail lever arms 110 and above the point of pivotal connection
of the ratchet arrn 118 to the bail arms llO so that the ratchet
arm 118 can pivot back only so far as to insure that the ratchet
arm 118 will always pivot toward the switchgear face 34 under the
influence of gravityO Each of the bail lever arms 110 has a
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notch 122 which releasabl~ receives and clrives one oE the bosses
94 on the sacldle shroud 70, as more particularly described below.
The ~air of spaced apart bail lever arms 110 are pivotally
connected to the switchgear 22 by means o~ two spaced apart
support arms 126 connected to the bushing mounting plate 42. The
support arms 126 each include a stamped out ear 130 which extends
towards the other support arm 126. The spaced apart bail lever
arms 110 include openings 134 for receiving the stamped out ears
130. A washer 138 and cotter pin 142 arrangement is used to
releasably hold each bail lever arm 110 to the respective support
arm 12~.
The ratchet latch bracket 82 comprises a support plate 146
c~nnected to the switchgear face 34 adja~ent and above the
switchgear bushing 18, and two vertically disposed spaced apart
latch plates 150 having an upper surface with a number of spaced
apart notches 154 for releasably receiving the end o~ the ratchet
arm 118. The ratchet arm end has a latch finger 158 angled back
at about five degrees toward the plate member 114 so that the
ra1-chet arm 118 can easily move toward the switchgear face 34 but
2~ is held securely when the latch finger 158 is received in one of
the notches 154 on the ratchet latch bracket 8~.
When the shotgun stick 74 is connected to the handle 102 on
the saddle shroud 70, as generally illustrated in FIG. 1, an
operator controlling the shotgun stick 74 can move the saddle
shroud 70 around. When the ratchet arm 118 is free from
engagement with the ratchet latch bracket 82, the bail lever arms
110 are so located that an operator can move the saddle shroud
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bosses 94 toward the bushing 18 and into the notches 122. The
notches 122 on the bail lever arms 110 are held in a ~osition
ready to receive the saddle shroud 70 by each of the lever arms
llO having a downwardly depending extension 162 which .is angled
toward the switchgear face 34 below the switchgear bushing 18 and
which engages the underneath edye of the bushing mounting plate
42 when the lever arms 110 are pivoted out in order to receive
the saddle shroud bosses 94.
With the bosses 94 loosely received in the notches 122 on
the bail lever arms llO, the first opening 54 in the T-connector
14 can be aligned with the switchgear bushing 18. After the
bosses 94 of the saddle shroud 70 are received in the notches 122
on the spaced apart bail arms 110, the operator can push the
saddle shroud 70 towards the switchgear face 34 and thereby cause
the ra~chet arm 118 to engage the first notch 154 in the ratchet
latch bracket 82. This locates the conical portion 30 of the
bushing 1~ in the T-connector first opening 54 and locates the
spaced apart bail arrns 110 in.a generally upright position to
facilitate further engagement of the T-connector 14 and the
bushing 18. Next, the operator can remove the shotgun stick 74
from the handle 102 on the saddle shroud 70 and move the shotgun
stick 74 to the plate member 114 which connects the upper ends of
the spaced apart bail. arms llO. The operator can then push on
the plate member 114, and, with the benefit of the leverage
provided by the bail lever arms 110, thereby force the
T-connector 14 onto the bushing 18 so that the outer surface of
the bushing conical portion 30 is engaged by the inner surface of
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the first openi.ng 54. As the plate member 114 is moved forward
the ratchet arm 118 prog.resses along the upper edge of the
ratchet latch bracket 82 and i5 received in various notches 154
along the upper edge of ~he ratchet latch bracket 82 so ~hat the
saddle shroud 70 and T-connector 14 are releasabl~ locked in
multiple positions as the bail lever arms 110 are pivoted towards
the switchgear face 34.
In order to disconnect the cable connector 14 from the
bushing 1~, the operator has the shotgun stick 74 engaye an eye
166 e~tending upwardly from the ratchet arm 118. By pulling on
the ratchet arm hook sti.ck eye 166, the operator can disengage
the ratchet arm 118 from the ratchet latch bracket 82 thereby
unlocking the bail lever arms 110 and pivoting the bail lever
arms 110 away from the switchgear face 34. When the bail lever
arms 110 are pi~Joted away from the switchgear face 34, the saddle
shroud 70 is forced away from the bushing 18
thereby breaking the eontact between the bushing 18 and the
T-connector 14 and diseonnecting the bushing 18 and cable
connector 14.
In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the conneetion
mechanism can include means for facilitating the guiding of the
cable connector and saddle shroud towards the switchgear bushing.
This guiding mechanism can take the form of a bracket 170
connected to the saddle shroud 70 whieh includes spaced apart
openings 174 which receive guide pipes 178 which extend between
the switchgear face 34 and a support 182.
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In still another embodiment, as illus-tra-ted in FIG. 5, an
intermediate connector 186 is used when it is desirable to have
an intermediate or piggy~back member 190 interposed between the
cable connector 14 and the bushing 18. The piggy-back member 190
can include a conductive shield connected to ground (not
shown), if so desired. In this embodiment, a saddle shroud 194
with bosses and conforming to the shape of the piggy~back member
190 is connected to the piggy-back member 190 and the piggy-back
member 190 is connected to the bushing 1~ by the connection
mechanism 10 described above. l~he T-connector 14 is connected to
the piggy-back member 190 by having a second ratchet latch
bracket 198 connected to the plate member 114 connecting the
spaced apart bail arms 110. A second pair of spaced apart bail
lever arms 202 holds the saddle shrGud 70, and the bail lever
arms 202 are pivotally supported on support arms 212 bracketed to
the piggy-back member 190. When the saddle shroud 70 and
T-connector 14 are forced onto the piggy-back member 190, a
ratchet arm 206 on the plate member 210 connecting the second
pair of spaced bail lever arms 202 engages the second ratchet
latch bracket 1980
Various of the features of the invention are set forth in
the following claims.
