S&c Electric Company

Roy T Swanson

Henry W Scherer

Bruce A Biller

Joel A Ramos

Hiram S Jackson

Michael G Ennis

Richard George Smith

Glenn R Borchardt

Keith W Benson

Richard P Mikosz

Jason R Bogusz

David Potter

Gary W Hardesty

Thomas E Kovanko

Andrew D Pfister

David W Zabel

Daniel M Terhune

David E Potter

Edward J Rogers

John C Opfer

Leonard V Chabala

David M Evans

John M Jarosz

Todd W Klippel

Buddy B McGlone

James W Barker, Jr

Timothy J Mulligan

James A Rutkowski

Martin Zeitler, Jr

Michael R Smith

Daniel J Evans

James W Barker

Martin Jr Zeitler

Keith Iv Benson

Buddy B Mcglone

A fault interrupting and reclosing device includes a circuit interrupter coupled to an actuator. The actuator includes at least one force generating element for generating an opening force for opening the circuit interrupter and for generating a restoring force to close the circuit interrupter. The device further includes a latch to engage the actuator to hold the contacts open once opened. In a preferred arrangement, the device is provided with an automatic mode of operation including a reclose process and a non-reclosing mode of operation. The device also preferably includes a method of determining the end-of-life of a vacuum interrupter monitors characteristics and/or parameters of a fault current or vacuum interrupter operation to predict a percent of life consumed with each fault current interruption operation. A cumulative percent of life consumed may also be determined, and an end-of-life may be predicted based upon the cumulative percent of life consumed.

Method of determining end-of-life of a fault interrupting device

Fault interrupting and reclosing device

A separable, flexible connection arrangement is provided for connection of two conductors. In one arrangement, the separable, flexible connection arrangement is utilized to provide an externally removable bushing for connecting an electrical component located within a sealed enclosure.

Separable, flexible electrical connection arrangement

A rotating arc fault-current interrupter, also known as an arc spinner interrupter, is provided that establishes an easily visible open gap via a movable blade member having a first portion for engaging a stationary main contact and a second portion formed by an arcing electrode for engaging an auxiliary contact associated with an arc spinner assembly. The geometry, orientation and placement of the auxiliary contact is such that during opening of the movable blade member, the arcing electrode remains engaged with the auxiliary contact after the blade member and the stationary main contact are separated from each other whereby current is transferred through the auxiliary contact into the arc spinner assembly, i.e. the current is commutated into the arc spinner assembly. Thus, the current in the arc spinner creates a magnetic field to cause the arcing current to rotate rapidly so as to extinguish the arc as the arcing electrode separates from the auxiliary contact and moves to the opened position whereby a visible open gap is established that is easily visible without any obstructions from a range of viewing angles or orientations.

Rotating arc fault-current interrupter

A voltage sensing apparatus includes an output for a voltage tap point that is useful in representing the voltage on a conductor that passes through the voltage sensing apparatus. The voltage sensing apparatus also performs the function of a separable insulated conductor, e.g. a conventional bushing or bushing insert as utilized in the electrical power distribution field. The voltage sensing apparatus includes a molded body having an embedded capacitance screen that provides the output. The body is molded about the capacitance screen. An arrangement is provided for locating the capacitance screen within the molded body. In a preferred embodiment, the capacitance screen is molded from a conductive plastic preferably formed with an open mesh or screen structure that permits the free flow of molding material.

Voltage sensor bushing assembly with integral capacitance screen

A contact arrangement is provided, e.g. of the type that functions as a wiping contact for a moving contact such as a pivotally mounted switch blade in an electrical power distribution switch. The contact arrangement in an illustrative embodiment includes spaced apart contact members that are biased toward each other to define predetermined contact pressure/force characteristics with respect to the interposed moving contact. The contact members in a preferred embodiment include predetermined contact areas and predetermined structural features to minimize deformation due to magnetic forces experienced in the presence of high currents. The structural features are also arranged to define current paths that increase the contact pressure. In a particular embodiment the contact areas are formed on the contact members so as to minimize the size of the moving contact.

Contact arrangement for electrical power distribution switch or the like

Coupling apparatus is provided for assembly with separable insulated connector components on power cables for power distribution systems. The coupling apparatus provides either direct or indirect coupling, e.g. to provide interconnection to the connector components or to provide a sensing point. In one illustrative embodiment, the coupling apparatus is installed in place of a conventional double-ended plug that is required to piggyback T-body elbows, i.e. where multiple elbows are to be connected. In one specific arrangement, the coupling apparatus includes a desired connector interface. In another specific arrangement, a sensed voltage output is provided using components such as capacitive coupling components, capacitors, resistors or transformers. In another embodiment, the coupling apparatus is used in place of a conventional insulating plug that is used to attach a T-body elbow to a bushing, e.g. on switchgear assemblies or the like. In a specific arrangement, the coupling apparatus is a voltage sensor and provides a sensed voltage output derived from a capacitive coupling arrangement utilizing a capacitive divider. In a preferred form, the voltage sensor also encapsulates circuitry to provide a low impedance output signal that is directly proportional to the sensed voltage.

Sensing apparatus for cable termination devices in power distribution

A separable, flexible connection arrangement (10) is provided for connection of two conductors (12, 14). In one arrangement, the separable, flexible connection arrangement (10) is utilized to provide an externally removable bushing (16) for connecting an electrical component located within a sealed enclosure (19). The flexible connection arrangement (10) includes two joints (20, 22) formed by two link members (50a, 50b) that are spring-biased and include protuberances (40, 42) that interfit into slots (30, 32) of the conductors (12, 14). A spacer (72) may be used to maintain spacing of the protuberances (40, 42) and also acts as a stop when contacted by the ends of the slots (30, 32). One of the slots (32) is formed with an open end (74) to enable easy insertion between the link members (50a, 50b). Alternatively, one of the conductors (100) includes a set of grooves (102, 104).

A low-exhaust composite drop-out assembly is provided that is utilizable in a standard cutout mounting in electrical power distribution systems. The composite drop-out assembly includes current-limiting and low-current clearing sections and is easily removable from mounting for servicing. The sections are efficiently arranged in a side by side configuration.. The low-current clearing section includes a fuse-robe assembly having a replaceable fuse cartridge. Accordingly, the low-current clearing section is simply and economically renewable for reuse whether or not the current-limiting section has operated. Further, the current-limiting section need not be replaced if only the low-current clearing section operated in response to overcurrent in a low range. Additionally, the sections are separable so that the low-current clearing section can be reused after simple refusing even when the current-limiting section has operated.

Current-limiting fuse and housing arrangement having a seal between an

A low-exhaust composite drop-out assembly is provided that is utilizable in a standard cutout mounting in electrical power distribution systems. The composite drop-out assembly includes current-limiting and low-current clearing sections and is easily removable from the mounting for servicing. The sections are efficiently arranged in a side by side configuration. The low-current clearing section includes a fuse-tube assembly having a replaceable fuse cartridge. Accordingly, the low-current clearing section is simply and economically renewable for reuse whether or not the current-limiting section has operated. Further, the current-limiting section need not be replaced if only the low-current clearing section operated in response to overcurrent in a low range. Additionally, the sections are separable so that the low-current clearing section can be reused after simple refusing even when the current-limiting section has operated.

Fuse assembly with low exhaust and replaceable cartridge

An electrical path or interconnection arrangement is provided within a formed support body of polymeric material that exhibits volumetric changes during and after the forming thereof. The electrical path or interconnection arrangement provides an accurately positioned electrically conductive path through the material of the support body and also responds to, accommodates and alleviates the effects of forces at the interface between the material of the support body and the electrical path or interconnection arrangement that occur during and after the forming of the support body. The interconnection arrangement exhibits predetermined deformability/compressibility characteristics to alleviate stresses caused by the volumetric changes of the polymeric material. In a preferred arrangement, the interconnection arrangement includes an elongated tubular conductor fabricated from a metallic material. The material, the thickness of the tubular walls of the conductor, and the dimensions of the cross-section of the conductor are selected in accordance with the dimensions of the electrical path and the characteristics of the polymeric material to provide predetermined deformability/compressibility characteristics so as to avoid undesirable stress at the interface of the conductor and the polymeric material. In a specific embodiment, the interconnection arrangement also provides for the grading of the electrical field about a terminal conductor via the provision of a resilient member that is disposed about the terminal conductor and also connects one end of a conductor of the interconnection arrangement to the terminal conductor.

Apparatus with interconnection arrangement

A multi-pole group-operated switch configuration is provided for electrical distribution circuits. The switch configuration includes integral arrangements for sensing circuit parameters and supplying power for a switch operator of the switch configuration. The switch configuration includes a plurality of switch-pole units. In accordance with desired characteristics and features, one or more of the switch-pole units includes an integral current-sensing device, an integral voltage-sensing device, or an integral combination voltage and current-sensing device. The voltage-sensing device also provides operating power to power a switch operator and charge the batteries of the switch configuration.

Circuit-parameter sensing device

A support arrangement is provided for an electrical device that is embedded within a support body or housing. The support arrangement responds to volumetric changes in the material of the support body during the molding of the support body. In a specific arrangement, the support arrangement accurately positions the electrical device with respect to the exterior of the support body and includes provisions for yieldingly supporting the electrical device.

Molded electrical apparatus

Design for an interrupter switch with current-sensing feature

Interrupter switch with circuit-parameter sensing features

Growing community of inventors

LaGrange Park, IL, United States of America

Roy T Swanson