Cooper Technologies Company

Cooper Industries, Inc.

Eaton Intelligent Power Limited

Mcgraw-edison Company

Paul Newcomb Stoving

E Fred Bestel

Ross Stuart Daharsh

Daniel James Schreiber

William Robert Luoma

Veselin Skendzic

Richard A Harthun

Michael Patrick Culhane

Brian Andrew Korves

Joseph Allen Carmichael

Rose Ellen Weisburgh

Mike E Potter

Robert Raymond Schuetz

Paul Michael Roscizewski

John Mitchell Makal

Frank John Muench

Brian Todd Steinbrecher

Laurence James Geist

Christopher Randall Hastreiter

Dan G Marginean

John Albert Kovacich

Daniel Schreiber

Lisa Carol Sletson

Charles Guenette

E Frederick Bestel

Dan G Margenian

William M Hurst

Kyle Larry Sikora

Hemanth Kumar Ramesh Kumar

Sara C Knox

Joseph Michael Hren

James Henry Grace

Fred E Bestel

A switching apparatus includes: a body including: a sidewall that extends from a first end to a second end, the sidewall defining an interior space; and a plurality of electrically insulating sheds that extend radially outward from an exterior surface of the sidewall; a circuit interrupter in the interior space of the body; a first terminal electrically connected to the circuit interrupter; and a second terminal electrically connected to the circuit interrupter. The switching apparatus is configured to be mechanically connected to at least two different types of mounting structures.

Mounting assembly and switching system with universal mounting system

An apparatus includes: a high-voltage module including: a current interrupter; an actuation system coupled to the current interrupter; a sensor system; and a terminal configured to electrically connect to an external electrical device. The apparatus also includes: a user interface; and an electrically insulating assembly between the user interface and the high-voltage module. In operational use, the user interface is grounded and the high-voltage module is at a system voltage.

Switching apparatus with electrically isolated user interface

A reinforcement structure for a vacuum interrupter is disclosed. For example, in some implementations, a vacuum interrupter includes a first electrical contact; a second electrical contact; a vessel that encloses the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact in an evacuated space, the vessel including an endcap; and a reinforcement structure at an exterior surface of the endcap, the reinforcement structure including a first side, a second side, and an opening that passes through the reinforcement structure from the first side to the second side. The exterior surface of the endcap includes a recessed region, and at least a portion of the opening is positioned over the recessed region.

Reinforcement structure for a vacuum interrupter

A resistor assembly can include a resistor having a first end and a second end, and a conductive member, where the conductive member is coupled to the first end of the resistor. The resistor assembly can also include a shield cup and a housing, where the housing includes at least one housing wall having at least one aperture, and where the housing encloses at least a portion of the resistor and at least a portion of the shield cup. A volume of space between the at least one housing wall of the housing and the resistor can be substantially filled with an insulating material and at least the outside of the housing is substantially covered with the insulating material.

Integrated voltage sensor

Techniques for detecting vacuum loss in a vacuum interrupter are disclosed. For example, a sensing system of a vacuum interrupter includes a sensor including a material that oxidizes in the presence of air and is at least partially positioned in an evacuated space of a vacuum interrupter, the sensor being configured to produce an indication of impedance of the material; and a control system coupled to the sensor, the control system including an electronic processor and an electronic storage that stores instructions that, when executed, cause the electronic processor to access an indication of impedance produced by the sensor, determine a measure of impedance of the material of the sensor based on the accessed indication of impedance, and determine a condition of the evacuated space based on the determined measure of impedance.

Vacuum loss detection

Modular switchgear insulation device

An insulated switchgear module is disclosed. In one example, the module comprises a vacuum interrupter, current exchange assembly, and end conductors disposed within an insulated housing. The insulated housing further comprises a tank containing an actuator mechanism for actuating the current exchange assembly. An insulating tray within the housing separates the vacuum interrupter from the components in the tank. The insulated tray has a shape that corresponds with the shape of the vacuum interrupter and the shape of the housing.

Modular switchgear insulation system

Exemplary contact backings for vacuum interrupters are described.

Contact backing for a vacuum interrupter

Insulated vacuum switchgear and active switchgear elements therefor are provided with a rigid support structure mechanically isolating a vacuum insulator from axial loads in use without reinforcing or insulating encapsulations. At least one of the elastomeric insulating housing and the support structure directly contacts an outer surface of the insulator. Systems and methods for assembling the switchgear are also provided.

Method of assembling a vacuum switchgear assembly

An improved vacuum interrupter is made. The vacuum interrupter includes a ring-shaped structure placed between a contact support structure and an electrical contact associated with the contact support structure. A resistivity of the ring-shaped structure is higher than that of the contact support structure, so that current traversing the ring-shaped structure on its way from the contact support structure to the electrical contact is evenly distributed. The ring-shaped structure may be fit into an end portion of the contact support structure, the end portion having a diameter less than an outer diameter of the support structure, but greater than an inner diameter of the support structure. Alternatively, the end portion may be used without the ring-shaped portion, in which case the electrical contact may be shaped to fit into the end portion.

Method for making an axial magnetic field vacuum fault interrupter

A current interrupter assembly includes an insulating structure, a current interrupter embedded in the structure, a conductor element embedded in the structure, a current interchange embedded in the structure and connected to create a current path between the current interrupter and the conductor element, and a semiconductive layer covering at least a portion of the conductor element so as to reduce voltage discharge between the conductor element and the structure.

Method of reducing electrical discharge in a structure

A seal is provided around a vacuum interrupter and an air-filled cavity, and a tube is provided within the seal. The tube has a first end open to the air-filled cavity and a second end open to an exterior of the seal. The seal, the vacuum interrupter, and the air-filled cavity are encapsulated.

Method of manufacturing a vacuum encapsulation having an empty chamber

Methods for making and using vacuum switching devices are disclosed. A vacuum switching device has an operating rod for actuating a movable electrical contact within the device. The operating rod may be a hollow epoxy glass tube with an electrical sensor disposed within it, and there may be an elastomeric polymer filling compound disposed within the tube and encasing the sensor. The operating rod may be attached to the movable electrical contact on one end by a steel end-fitting that has been press-fit into the tube and secured with at least one cross pin. In this way, a very secure electromechanical connection may be made between the operating rod and the rest of the vacuum switching device, and the sensor is protected from shock associated with the operation of the device. Moreover, the vacuum switching device is compact and easy to construct.

Method of making high voltage operating rod sensor

Exemplary vacuum fault interrupters are described.

Vacuum fault interrupter

Insulated vacuum switchgear and active switchgear elements therefor are provided with a composite overwrap for mechanically isolating a vacuum insulator from axial loads in use without reinforcing or insulating encapsulations. A dielectric buffer layer is provided to fill voids or discontinuities in the overwrap.

Growing community of inventors

Oak Creek, WI, United States of America

Paul Newcomb Stoving