US 9,105,427 B2Granted

Telescoping current path structure for dual tank dead tank circuit breaker with parallel resistor assembly

AssigneeABB Technology AG

InventorsMatthew Cuppett, Morris Tampa, Beth Dahm, Carl Kurinko, Brant Suhrie

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Abstract

Current path structure provides a current path between an interrupter assembly and a resistor assembly of a dead tank circuit breaker and includes an electrically conductive fixed support having first and second ends. The first end is fixed to one of the interrupter assembly or the resistor assembly. A substantially hollow, electrically conductive conductor has first and second ends, with a connector at the first end thereof. The connector is removably connected to the other of the interrupter assembly or the resistor assembly. Coupling structure removably couples the conductor with the fixed support such that when coupled, the current path structure is in an operative position electrically connecting the interrupter assembly with the resistor assembly, and when decoupled, the fixed support can be moved into telescoping relation within the conductor defining a collapsed position of the current path structure.

Claims17

Dependent claims

Current path structure for providing a current path between an interrupter assembly and a resistor assembly of a dead tank circuit breaker, the circuit breaker having a pole assembly including a first tank, housing the interrupter assembly, and a second tank, in communication with the first tank and substantially parallel there-with, housing the resistor assembly, the current path structure comprising:

an electrically conductive fixed support having first and second ends, the first end being constructed and arranged to be fixed to one of the interrupter assembly or the resistor assembly, the fixed support having an outside diameter,
a substantially hollow, electrically conductive conductor having first and second ends, with a connector at the first end thereof, the connector being constructed and arranged to be removably connected to the other of the interrupter assembly or the resistor assembly, the conductor having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the fixed support, and
coupling structure constructed and arranged to removably couple the conductor with the fixed support such that when coupled, the current path structure is in an operative position electrically connecting the interrupter assembly with the resistor assembly, and when decoupled, the fixed support can be moved into telescoping relation within the conductor defining a collapsed position of the current path structure.

A method of moving a current path structure to provide clearance for removal of an interrupter assembly or a resistor assembly of a dead tank circuit breaker, the circuit breaker having a pole assembly including a first tank, housing the interrupter assembly, and a second tank, in communication with the first tank and substantially parallel there-with, housing the resistor assembly, the method comprising:

providing current path structure to include an electrically conductive fixed support having first and second ends;
a substantially hollow, electrically conductive conductor having first and second ends, with a connector at the first end thereof;
and coupling structure removably coupling the conductor with the fixed support,
fixing the first end of the fixed support to one of the interrupter assembly or the resistor assembly,
connecting, in a removable manner, the connector to the other of the interrupter assembly or the resistor assembly,
engaging the coupling structure to connect the conductor to the fixed support so that the current path structure is in an operative position electrically connecting the interrupter assembly with the resistor assembly, and
when the interrupter assembly or the resistor assembly needs to be removed without separating the tanks, disconnecting the connector and disengaging the coupling structure and moving the conductor so that the fixed support is in telescoping relation within the conductor defining a collapsed position of the current path structure, thereby providing clearance for removal of the interrupter assembly or resistor assembly.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.