Dropout recloser
AssigneeS&C Electric Company
InventorsRichard G. Smith, Yujian Zhou, Jorge Montante, Alejandro Montenegro, Michael Ross
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dropout recloser is capable of in accordance with its operating programming after a predetermined number of fault interrupting operations, e.g., 1, 2, 3 or more but typically 3, to drop out of a cutout and hang freely in a hinge contact of the cutout providing sectionalization with an observable visible gap. The recloser includes fault interrupting and reclosing components, a drop out mechanism and a controller. The drop out mechanism may include a bi-stable actuator to affect fault interrupting operation and dropout operation. The device may include motion limiting structures. The recloser may have a number of operating modes or sequences.
Claims14
A device for interrupting the flow of electricity in a circuit, the device being configured for mounting in a cutout coupled to the circuit, the cutout including a spring contact and a hinge contact, the device comprising:
- a housing for the device, the housing defining an interior and an exterior;
- a post contact and a trunnion contact disposed on the exterior, the trunnion contact configured to be received within the hinge contact to permit the device to be rotated relative to the cutout, the device being further configured to be secured in the cutout and electrically coupled to the circuit by engagement of the post contact with the spring contact and the trunnion contact with the hinge contact;
- a dropout out mechanism disposed in the interior, a portion of the trunnion extends into the interior and is coupled to the dropout mechanism;
- a weather-tight seal disposed about the portion and engaged with the housing to seal the interior from the exterior about the trunnion;
- and
- the dropout mechanism having a first position corresponding to a first position of the post contact relative to the trunnion contact such that the device remains secured within the cutout by engagement of the post contact with the spring contact and the trunnion contact with the hinge contact and a second position corresponding to a second position of the post contact relative to the trunnion contact such that the post contact is released from the spring contact and the device is permitted to rotate about the trunnion contact within the hinge contact.
A method of releasing a device from a cutout, the cutout including a spring contact and a hinge contact, the device including a housing for the device, the housing defining an interior and an exterior;
- a post contact and a trunnion contact disposed on the exterior, the trunnion contact configured to be received within the hinge contact to permit the device to be rotated relative to the cutout, the device being further configured to be secured in the cutout and electrically coupled to the circuit by engagement of the post contact with the spring contact and the trunnion contact with the hinge contact, the method comprising:
- changing a relative position of the post contact and the trunnion contact from a first position to a second position to release the post contact from the spring contact;
- and
- rotating the device about the trunnion contact within the hinge contact to separate the post contact from the spring contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.