# US 10,373,771 B2 · Tap-changer switching system and method of operating same

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- Number: US 10,373,771 B2
- Document ID: US10373771B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/303,812
- Filed: 2015-04-27
- Published: 2017-03-02
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-19
- Assignees: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
- Applicants: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
- Inventors: Christian Hammer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10373771B2

## CPC

- H01H 9/0016: {Contact arrangements for tap changers}
- H01F 27/29: Terminals; Tapping arrangements {for signal inductances}
- H01F 29/04: having provision for tap-changing without interrupting the load current
- H01H 3/38: using spring or other flexible shaft coupling
- H01H 9/0027: {Operating mechanisms}
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)
- H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES

## Abstract

The invention relates to a switching system for a tapped transformer with on-load tap changer wherein the tapped transformer comprises a main winding with a first main terminal; a coarse winding with a first coarse terminal and with a second coarse terminal; a control winding with a first control terminal; and an on-load tap changer that has a switch terminal and that interacts with the control winding; the switching system comprising a lead; a first switch subassembly comprising a first main fixed contact that can be connected to the first main terminal; a first coarse fixed contact that can be connected to the first coarse terminal; a first control fixed contact that can be connected to the first control terminal; a first switch fixed contact that can be connected to the first switch terminal; and a first movable bridge contact that is formed such that it electrically bridges or connects at least two fixed contacts of its switch subassembly in each stationary operating position of the switching system and/or during each switch over process of the switching system; a second switch subassembly comprising a second coarse fixed contact that can be connected to the second coarse terminal; a second control fixed contact that can be connected to the first control terminal and/or that is connected to the first control fixed contact; a second switch fixed contact that can be connected to the switch terminal and/or that is connected to the first switch fixed contact; and a second movable bridge contact that is formed such that it electrically bridges at least two fixed contacts of its switch subassembly in each stationary operating position of the switching system and/or during each switch-over process of the switching system; and a third switch subassembly comprising a first lead fixed contact that is connected to the lead; a third coarse fixed contact that can be connected to the first coarse terminal and/or that is connected to the first coarse fixed contact; a third control fixed contact that can be connected to the first control terminal and/or that is connected to the first control fixed contact; a third switch fixed contact that can be connected to the switch terminal and/or that is connected to the first switch fixed contact; and a third movable bridge contact that is formed such that it electrically bridges at least two fixed contacts of its switch subassembly in each stationary operating position of the switching system and/or during each switch over process of the switching system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A switching system for a tapped transformer comprising
a main winding with a first main terminal;
a coarse winding with a first coarse terminal and with a second coarse terminal;
a control winding with a first control terminal; and
an on-load tap changer that has a switch terminal and that interacts with the control winding;
the switching system comprising
a lead;
a first switch subassembly comprising
a first main fixed contact that can be connected to the first main terminal;
a first coarse fixed contact that can be connected to the first coarse terminal;
a first control fixed contact that can be connected to the first control terminal;
a first switch fixed contact that can be connected to the first switch terminal; and
a first movable bridge contact that is formed such that it electrically bridges at least two fixed contacts of its switch subassembly in each stationary operating position of the switching system and/or during each switch over process of the switching system;
a second switch subassembly comprising
a second coarse fixed contact that can be connected to the second coarse terminal;
a second control fixed contact that can be connected to the first control terminal and/or that is connected to the first control fixed contact;
a second switch fixed contact that can be connected to the switch terminal and/or that is connected to the first switch fixed contact; and
a second movable bridge contact that is formed such that it electrically bridges at least two fixed contacts of its switch subassembly in each stationary operating position of the switching system and/or during each switch over process of the switching assembly; and
a third switch subassembly comprising
a first lead fixed contact that is connected to the lead;
a third coarse fixed contact that can be connected to the first coarse terminal and/or that is connected to the first coarse fixed contact;
a third control fixed contact that can be connected to the first control terminal and/or that is connected to the first control fixed contact;
a third switch fixed contact that can be connected to the switch terminal and/or that is connected to the first switch fixed contact; and
a third movable bridge contact that is formed such that it electrically bridges at least two fixed contacts of its switch subassembly in each stationary operating position of the switching assembly and/or during each switch over process of the switching system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The switching system according to claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft, at which the bridge contacts are nonrotatably arranged.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The switching system according to claim 2, wherein the drive shaft is coupled to an actuator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The switching system according to claim 3 wherein the actuator comprises a motor drive and/or a direct drive and/or a manual drive and/or a spring energy storage device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The switching system according to claim 1, wherein the first switch subassembly comprises
a second and a third main fixed contact that can each be connected to the first main terminal and/or that are connected to the first main fixed contact; and
a fourth coarse fixed contact that can be connected to the first coarse terminal and/or that is connected to the first coarse fixed contact the first main fixed contact is arranged between the first switch fixed contact and the first control fixed contact;
the third main fixed contact is arranged between the first control fixed contact and the fourth coarse fixed contact; and
the second main fixed contact is arranged between the fourth coarse fixed contact and the first coarse fixed contact.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The switching system according to claim 1, wherein the second switch subassembly comprises
a fifth and a sixth coarse fixed contact that can each be connected to the second coarse terminal and/or that are connected to the second coarse fixed contact;
a fourth control fixed contact that can be connected to the first control terminal and/or that is connected to the first control fixed contact; and
a fourth switch fixed contact that can be connected to the switch terminal and/or that is connected to the first switch fixed contact;
the second coarse fixed contact is arranged between the second control fixed contact and the fourth switch fixed contact;
the sixth coarse fixed contact is arranged between the fourth switch fixed contact and the second switch fixed contact; and
the fifth coarse fixed contact is arranged between the second switch fixed contact and the fourth control fixed contact.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The switching system according to claim 1, wherein the third switch subassembly comprises
a second and a third lead fixed contact that are each connected to the lead and/or to the first lead fixed contact; and
a seventh coarse fixed contact that can be connected to the first coarse terminal and/or that is connected to the first coarse fixed contact;
the first lead fixed contact is arranged between the third coarse fixed contact and the seventh coarse fixed contact;
the third lead fixed contact is arranged between the seventh coarse fixed contact and the third control fixed contact; and
the second lead fixed contact is arranged between the third control fixed contact and the third switch fixed contact.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The switching system according to claim 1, wherein the fixed contacts in each switch subassembly are arranged rotationally symmetrically and/or on a circular orbit around the drive shaft.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The switching system according to claim 1, wherein the individual switch subassemblies are electrically insulated from each other.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The switching system according to claim 1, wherein the switch subassemblies are arranged in different horizontal planes.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A switching system for a tapped transformer comprising
a main winding with a first main terminal;
a coarse winding with a first coarse terminal and with a second coarse terminal;
a control winding with a first control terminal;
and an on-load tap changer that has a switch terminal and that interacts with the control winding;
the switching system comprising
a lead,
wherein
the switching system that is in particular designed according to claim 1, is designed such that
it can assume a first stationary operating position, in which it switches the coarse winding antiserially and the control winding antiserially to the main winding;
it can assume a second stationary operating position, in which it switches the coarse winding antiserially and the control winding serially to the main winding;
it can assume a third stationary operating position, in which it switches the coarse winding serially and the control winding antiserially to the main winding; and that
it can assume a fourth stationary operating position, in which it switches the coarse winding serially and the control winding serially to the main winding.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The switching system according to claim 1, comprising
several fixed contacts, at least one of which can in each case be connected to the first main terminal, the first coarse terminal, the first control terminal, the switch terminal, the second coarse terminal, the first control terminal, and the switch terminal and at least one other one of which is connected to the lead; and
three movable bridge contacts that each electrically bridge at least two fixed contacts.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The switching system according to claim 1, which switching assembly is designed such that
it can switch over from the first operating position to the second operating position, from the second operating position to the first and the third operating position, from the third operating position to the second and the fourth operating position, and from the fourth operating position to the third operating position; and/or that
it cannot switch over from the first operating position to the fourth operating position, nor from the fourth operating position to the first operating position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The switching system according to claim 1 that is designed such that
it switches a current path through the control winding; and/or that
it switches the first control terminal and the switch terminal or the control winding to the main terminal and the lead or to the main winding and/or the coarse winding
in each operating position and/or during each switch over process.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The switching system according to claim 1, wherein the main winding, the coarse winding, and the control winding are galvanically separated from one another.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A tapped transformer, comprising
a main winding with a first main terminal;
a coarse winding with a first coarse terminal and with a second coarse terminal;
a control winding with a first control terminal and an on-load tap changer that has a switch terminal and that interacts with the control winding; and
a switching system according to claim 1.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The tapped transformer according to claim 16, wherein
the first main fixed contact is connected to the first main terminal;
the first coarse fixed contact is connected to the first coarse terminal;
the first control fixed contact is connected to the first control terminal;
the first switch fixed contact is connected to the first switch terminal t;
the second coarse fixed contact is connected to the second coarse terminal;
the second control fixed contact is connected to the first control terminal and/or to the first control fixed contact;
the second switch fixed contact is connected to the switch terminal and/or to the first switch fixed contact;
the first lead fixed contact is connected to the lead;
the third coarse fixed contact is connected to the first coarse terminal and/or to the first coarse fixed contact;
the third control fixed contact is connected to the first control terminal and/or to the first control fixed contact; and
the third switch fixed contact is connected to the switch terminal and/or to the first switch fixed contact.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The tapped transformer according to claim 1, wherein the main winding, the coarse winding, and the control winding are galvanically separated from one another.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A method of operating a switching system that is in particular designed according to claim 1, wherein the switching system is operated in four stationary operating positions such that the coarse winding and/or the control winding of the main winding is additively and/or subtractively connected, as the case may be, in dependence on the corresponding operating position.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1, 18)

A method of operating an electrical system comprising
a main winding with a first main terminal;
a coarse winding with a first coarse terminal and with a second coarse terminal;
a control winding;
an on-load tap changer that has a switch terminal and that interacts with the control winding;
a lead; and,
a switching system according to claim 1;
wherein
the method according to the previous claim 18;
the coarse winding is switched antiserially and the control winding is switched antiserially to the main winding in a first stationary operating position;
the coarse winding is switched antiserially and the control winding is switched serially to the main winding in a second stationary operating position;
the coarse winding is switched serially and the control winding is switched antiserially to the main winding in a third stationary operating position; and
the coarse winding is switched serially and the control winding is switched serially to the main winding in a fourth stationary operating position.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method according to claim 20, wherein, in the first stationary operating position,
the first main terminal is electrically connected to the first main fixed contact; the first bridge contact electrically bridges the first main fixed contact and the first switch fixed contact; and the first switch fixed contact is electrically connected to the switch terminal;
the second coarse fixed contact is electrically connected to the second coarse terminal; the second bridge contact electrically bridges the second coarse fixed contact and the second control fixed contact; and the second control fixed contact is electrically connected to the first control terminal; and
the third coarse fixed contact is electrically connected to the first coarse terminal; the third bridge contact electrically bridges the first lead fixed contact and the third coarse fixed contact; and the first lead fixed contact is electrically connected to the lead.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method according to claim 20, wherein, in the second stationary operating position,
the first main terminal is electrically connected to the first main fixed contact and to the third main fixed contact; the first bridge contact electrically bridges the first main fixed contact, the third main fixed contact, and the first control fixed contact; and the first control fixed contact is electrically connected to the first control terminal;
the second coarse fixed contact and the sixth coarse fixed contact are electrically connected to the second coarse terminal; the second bridge contact electrically bridges the second coarse fixed contact, the sixth coarse fixed contact, and the fourth switch fixed contact; and the fourth switch fixed contact is electrically connected to the switch terminal; and
the first lead fixed contact and the third lead fixed contact are connected to the lead; the third bridge contact electrically bridges the first lead fixed contact, the third lead fixed contact and the seventh coarse fixed contact; and the seventh coarse fixed contact is electrically connected to the first coarse terminal.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method according to claim 20, wherein, in the third stationary operating position,
the first main terminal is electrically connected to the third main fixed contact and to the second main fixed contact; the first bridge contact electrically bridges the third main fixed contact, the second main fixed contact, and the fourth coarse fixed contact; and the fourth coarse fixed contact is electrically connected to the first coarse terminal;
the fifth coarse fixed contact and the sixth coarse fixed contact are electrically connected to the second coarse terminal; the second bridge contact electrically bridges the fifth coarse fixed contact, the sixth coarse fixed contact, and the second switch fixed contact; and the second switch fixed contact is electrically connected to the switch terminal; and
the second lead fixed contact and the third lead fixed contact is connected to the lead; the third bridge contact electrically bridges the second lead fixed contact, the third lead fixed contact, and the third control fixed contact; and the third control fixed contact is electrically connected to the first control terminal.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The method of operating a switching system according to claim 20, wherein, in the fourth stationary operating position,
the first main terminal is electrically connected to the second main fixed contact; the first bridge contact electrically bridges the second main fixed contact and the first coarse fixed contact; and the first coarse fixed contact is electrically connected to the first coarse terminal;
the fifth coarse fixed contact is electrically connected to the second coarse terminal; the second bridge contact electrically bridges the fifth coarse fixed contact and the fourth control fixed contact; and the fourth control fixed contact is electrically connected to the first control terminal; and
the third switch fixed contact is electrically connected to the switch terminal; the third bridge contact electrically bridges the third switch fixed contact and the second lead fixed contact; and the second lead fixed contact is electrically connected to the lead.