Hot stick quick connect surge arrester assembly

Abstract

A surge arrester assembly comprises a ground connector with a clamping component and line connector assembly that incorporates non-bolted mechanical and electrical connections. The assembly connections permit the use of insulating hot sticks for installation and removal of the arrester module for safe and rapid removal and replacement of expired surge arresters. The clamp and line connector are reusable for replacement of surge arresters.

Claims

1. A quick connect surge arrester assembly comprising: an arrester module (1); a reusable lower clamping bracket (3) that acts as both mechanical and electrical connection; a ground connector base (2); and a spring loaded upper quick connector (10) connected to the arrester module, the spring loaded upper quick connector connected in series to an isolator (11) or a fuse module, the isolator or fuse module connected in series to a cable (12), the cable (12) connected in series to a hot stick loop (13), the hot stick loop (13) connected in series to a top reusable v-shaped connector (14).

2. The surge arrester assembly of claim 1 wherein the arrester module is connected to the ground connector base (2) containing pins (4 & 5) for mating with the lower clamping bracket (3).

3. The surge arrester assembly of claim 1 wherein the ground connector base contains a loop (7) for lifting the surge arrester assembly.

4. The surge arrester assembly of claim 1 wherein the ground connector base comprises an arc tip (6) configured to be the electrical arc termination point for protecting the clamp from arc damage.

5. The surge arrester assembly of claim 1 wherein the spring-loaded upper quick connector provides a mechanical and electrical connection that is configured to separate providing an electrical open circuit and provide a visual indication of arrester end of life needing to be replaced.

6. The surge arrester assembly of claim 1 wherein the hot stick loop (13) provides a non-bolted replaceable connection to the v-shaped line connector (14).

7. The surge arrester assembly of claim 1 wherein the v-shaped connector (14) is a reusable connector that is bolted to equipment being protected and is configured to contain the hot stick loop (13).

8. The surge arrester assembly of claim 1 wherein the arrester module is connected to an insulating cover (8) and an insulating eyelet (9) to provide a hot stick means to install the arrester.

9. The surge arrester assembly of claim 1 wherein the arrester module is connected to the ground connector base (2) and the ground connector base is mounted into the lower clamping bracket (3), wherein the lower clamping bracket (3) is mounted to equipment to be protected.

10. The surge arrester assembly of claim 1 wherein the lower clamping bracket (3) is reusable for use with a second surge arrester assembly (1).

11. The surge arrester assembly of claim 1 wherein the ground connector base contains a loop (7) for lifting the surge arrester assembly.

12. A surge arrester assembly comprising: an arrester module (1); a spring loaded upper quick connector (10); an isolator (11) or a fuse module; a cable (12); a hot stick loop (13); a top reusable v-shaped connector (14); a reusable lower clamping bracket (3) that acts as both a mechanical and electrical connection; a ground connector base (2) connected between the arrester module and the lower clamping bracket (3) comprising a v-shaped arc tip (6); and a spring loaded upper quick connector (10) connected to the arrester module, wherein the hot stick loop (13) provides a non-bolted replaceable connection to the v-shaped line connector (14).

13. The surge arrester assembly of claim 12 wherein the arc tip (6) is disposed on a side of the ground connector base (2) that is opposite the lower clamping bracket (3).

14. The surge arrester assembly of claim 12 wherein the ground connector base (2) comprises a plurality of pins (4 & 5) for mating with the lower clamping bracket (3).

15. The surge arrester assembly of claim 14 wherein the ground connector base (2) comprises a lower pin (4) connected to the lower clamping bracket (3) and an upper pin (5) connected to the lower clamping bracket (3).

16. The surge arrester assembly of claim 12, wherein the spring loaded upper quick connecter (10), the isolator (11) or fuse module, the cable (12), the hot stick loop (13) and the top reusable v-shaped connected (14) are connected in series to the arrester module.

17. The surge arrester assembly of claim 12 wherein the spring-loaded upper quick connector provides a mechanical and electrical connection that is configured to separate providing an electrical open circuit and provide a visual indication of arrester end of life needing to be replaced.

18. The surge arrester assembly of claim 12 wherein the v-shaped connector (14) is a reusable connector that is bolted to equipment being protected and is configured to contain the hot stick loop (13).

19. A surge arrester assembly comprising: an arrester module (1); a spring loaded upper quick connector (10); an isolator (11) or a fuse module; a cable (12); a hot stick loop (13); a top reusable v-shaped connector (14); a reusable lower clamping bracket (3) that acts as both a mechanical and electrical connection; a ground connector base (2) connected between the arrester module and the lower clamping bracket (3) comprising a v-shaped arc tip (6); and a spring loaded upper quick connector (10) connected to the arrester module, wherein the v-shaped connector (14) is a reusable connector that is bolted to equipment being protected and is configured to contain the hot stick loop (13).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates the quick connect surge arrester in a typical application for protecting power line insulators.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the quick connect surge arrester in a typical application for protecting power system fused cutouts.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates the quick connect surge arrester in a typical application for protecting power system transformers.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the quick connect surge arrester line side hot stick removable connection loop as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates the quick connect surge arrester ground/earth mounting/connector apparatus as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates the quick connect surge arrester in the installation and post end of life position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) The present disclosure provides a quick connect surge arrester using hot stick apparatus. Specifically, the quick connect surge arrester comprises a reusable lower clamping bracket that acts as both mechanical and electrical connection, a ground connector base, an arrester module, a spring loaded upper quick connector with isolator and a top reusable v-shaped connector. The arrester quick connection provides the means to install, remove and replace the arrester module with the use of utility issued hot sticks and without removing bolted connections.

(9) Now referring to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of surge arrester unit in the fully installed position. The arrester module 1 is connected to the ground (earth) connector 2. The ground connector 2 as installed is held in place with the ground clamp 3 which is mounted to the power equipment to be protected 15 or equipment mounting bracket 16. The spring tension of the ground clamp provides both the mechanical support for the surge arrester and the electrical connection for ground such that the surge arrester can be replaced with a new arrester into the same, reusable, clamp.

(10) The arrester module 1 is also connected to the line spring loaded connector 10, the isolator 11, or alternatively a fuse module, and line side hot stick loop 13 all in series. The line side hot stick loop 13 as installed is connected to the line side equipment v-shaped connector 14 and held in place by the tension of the spring-loaded connector 10. At the end of life of the surge arrester, the isolator 11 will separate the line side loop connector 13 from the line spring-loaded connector 10 to indicate the arrester needs to be replaced. The hot stick loop 13 and the arrester unit can then be replaced using a hot stick without bolted connections.

(11) The ground connector 2 contains three features for functionality of the mechanical and electrical connections. The connector embodies an upper 5 and lower 4 pins that mate with the clamp 3 for the mechanical and electrical connection. The center of the connector embodies a loop 7 for use with the hot stick pin to raise and lower the surge arrester into and out of the lower portion of the clamp by hanging the surge arrester in an inverted position on the hot stick. The ground connector also embodies an arc tip 6 to be the electrical arc termination point during the end of life event, which causes external arcing from the venting of fault current in the arrester module. The arc tip 6 protects the lower clamp 3 from arc damage during this end of life event.

(12) The surge arrester embodies a top insulating cover 8 that includes an insulating top eyelet 9 connected to the arrester module. The eyelet 9 is used to install and remove a surge arrester using a hot stick pin in the eyelet to swing the inverted arrester, as it rests in the lower clamp 3, into the installed position and locked into place in the clamp via the pins 4 and 5 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. The removal is performed by the reverse operation by pulling down with a hot stick pin in the eyelet 9.

(13) The surge arrester embodies a top line connection assembly that embodies a spring-loaded connector 10 that is connected to the arrester module via a bolted connection under the insulating cap 8 on one end and connected to the isolator 11 on the other end. The isolator is connected to the hot stick loop 13 via a wire or cable 12 connected to the isolator. The assembly is mechanically and electrically connected to v-shaped connector 14 by using a hot stick placed in the loop 13 and pulling the assembly into the v-shaped connector 14. The spring action of the assembly will pull down the loop into position and hold it as the electrical connection to the connector as shown in FIG. 4. The v-shaped connector is bolted to the equipment 15 and remains as a reusable connection for the replacement arrester.

(14) It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. Further, references throughout the specification to “the invention” are non-limiting, and it should be noted that claim limitations presented herein are not meant to describe the invention as a whole. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.