Apparatus for the remote grounding, connection and disconnection of high voltage electrical circuits

In an apparatus for enabling operation of a high voltage electrical connector from a remote location by the use of an insulated tool, such as a hot-stick, to effect grounding and selective connection and disconnection of the connector and a terminal of an electrical apparatus, the connector having a terminal contact affixed to the conductor of a high voltage cable for electrically connecting the conductor to the terminal, the improvement comprising:

• a generally tubular housing extending axially between opposite ends;
• means for joining the housing to the terminal contact;
• a female contact element carried by the housing adjacent one of the opposite ends thereof and including an axial opening therein for receiving a complementary male contact element;
• a threaded fastener carried by the housing adjacent the other of the opposite ends for securing the terminal contact to the terminal of the electrical apparatus, the threaded fastener having a wrenching configuration aligned with the axial opening in the female contact element;
• a fault-closing means carried by the housing for enabling the closing of a ground connection to the female contact element under a fault-closing condition, the fault-closing means having an aperture passing axially therethrough and aligned with the opening in the female contact element and with the wrenching configuration of the threaded fastener to establish an open passage to the wrenching configuration through the female contact element and the fault-closing means, whereby access to the wrenching configuration of the threaded fastener is available through the open passage.

A tool for use in an apparatus for enabling operation of a high voltage electrical connector from a remote location by the use of an insulated tool, such as a hot-stick, to effect grounding and selective connection and disconnection of the connector and a terminal of an electrical apparatus, the connector having a terminal contact affixed to the conductor of a high voltage cable for electrically connecting the conductor to the terminal, a generally tubular housing extending axially between opposite ends, means for joining the housing to the terminal contact, a female contact element carried by the housing adjacent one of the opposite ends thereof and including an axial opening therein for receiving a complementary male contact element, a threaded fastener carried by the housing adjacent the other of the opposite ends for securing the terminal contact to the terminal of the electrical apparatus, the threaded fastener having a wrenching configuration aligned with the axial opening in the female contact element, and a fault-closing means carried by the housing for enabling the closing of a ground connection to the female contact element under a fault-closing condition, the fault-closing means having an aperture passing axially therethrough and aligned with the opening in the female contact element and with the wrenching configuration of the threaded fastener to establish an open passage to the wrenching configuration through the female contact element and the fault-closing means, said tool comprising:

• a sleeve of conductive material receivable within the opening of the female contact element for making an electrical connection therewith;
• a rod extending axially through the sleeve and having opposite ends, the rod being movable rotationally and axially relative to the sleeve;
• a further wrenching configuration on the rod at one of the opposite ends, the further wrenching configuration being complementary to the wrenching configuration of the threaded fastener for engagement therewith;
• and
• coupling means on the rod at the other of the opposite ends for selectively coupling the rod to the insulated tool, whereby axial movement of the rod will pass the rod axially through the open passage and engage the complementary wrenching configurations, and rotation of the rod will selectively engage and disengage the threaded fastener and the terminal of the electrical apparatus.