External switch coupler for pad-mounted transformers
AssigneeLeeward Asset Management, LLC
InventorsRonald D. Grife, Patrick Rafferty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An external switch actuator includes: a guide tube having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be attached to a door of a compartment in substantial alignment with both a hole in the door and a switch actuator within the compartment, and the second end configured to be disposed within an interior of the compartment and separated from the switch actuator by a gap when the door is closed; a coupling shaft configured to be operably placed within the guide tube, the coupling shaft having an electrical insulator disposed between an actuator side adapter and a switch side adapter, and a length equal to or greater than a distance between the switch actuator and the hole in the door when the door is closed.
Claims29
An external switch actuator for a transformer comprising:
- a guide tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the guide tube is configured to be attached to a door of a compartment of the transformer in substantial alignment with both a hole in the door and a switch actuator within the compartment, the first end of the guide tube is further configured to remain attached to the door when the door is open and closed, the second end of the guide tube is configured to be disposed within the compartment, and the guide tube has a length that does not interfere with opening the door.
A method for installing an external switch actuator on a transformer comprising:
- cutting a hole in a door of the transformer, wherein the hole is substantially aligned with a switch actuator within a compartment of the transformer;
- and
- attaching a first end of a guide tube to the door in substantial alignment with the hole in the door, wherein a second end of the guide tube is disposed within an interior of the compartment, the first end of the guide tube remains attached to the door when the door is open and closed, and the guide tube has a length that does not interfere with opening the door.
A method for operating a switch within a compartment of a transformer comprising;
- providing a guide tube having a first end and a second end, wherein:
- (1) the first end of the guide tube is attached to a door of the compartment in substantial alignment with both a hole in the door and a switch actuator within the compartment, (2) the guide tube has a length that does not interfere with opening the door while the guide tube is attached to the door, (3) the switch actuator is operably connected to the switch, and (4) the second end of the guide tube is within an interior of the compartment;
- providing or positioning a coupling shaft within the guide tube, wherein:
- (1) the coupling shaft has an actuator side adapter and a switch side adapter, and (2) the coupling shaft has a length equal to or greater than a distance between the switch actuator and the hole in the door;
- attaching a motorized actuator, a hot stick or a handle to the actuator side adapter while the door is closed, wherein the motorized actuator is communicably coupled to a controller;
- and
- opening or closing the switch using the controller, the hot stick or the handle to rotate the coupling shaft.
A transformer comprising:
- a tank containing an electrical transformer and a switch electrically connected to the electrical transformer;
- one or more compartments attached to the tank, wherein each of the one or more compartments has a door;
- a switch actuator within one of the one or more compartments and operably connected to the switch;
- a guide tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the guide tube has a length that does not interfere with opening the door;
- the first end of the guide tube is attached to the door in substantial alignment with both a hole in the door and the switch actuator;
- the first end of the guide tube remains attached to the door when the door is open and closed;
- and
- the second end of the guide tube disposed within an interior of the one of the one or more compartments when the door is closed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.