Abstract
Switch gear for interconnecting a plurality of power transmission lines including a number of high voltage switches arranged in three phase unitized relationship for routing power in one or multiple directions. The switches are pre-mounted on a beam to form a unitized assembly which is attached in the field to a vertical support structure or substation structure. The unitized assembly includes a telescoping base design that permits the width of the unitized assembly to be reduced so that the assembly can be transported by truck to the installation site and then the switch assembly may be extended to the final width for installation at the site. The telescopic base design is preferably cantilevered and includes free rolling capability for easily manually reducing or expanding the width of the unitized assembly when the beam is lying on a ground surface.
Claims
1. A three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly including a switching unit per each electrical phase, each of the switching units including at least one high voltage electric disconnect switch, a longitudinal beam having attached thereto in predetermined spaced arrangement a plurality of transverse switch support members with one transverse switch support member per phase, each of said transverse switch support members having attached thereto two or more high voltage electrical insulators, at least one of said high voltage electrical insulators of each of said transverse switch support members adapted to be rotatable, each of said rotatable high voltage insulators of each phase in operative rotational arrangement for three phase operation, each of said at least one rotatable high voltage electrical insulators having a rotatable member of one of the high voltage electrical disconnect switches operatively attached thereto proximate a top end of the insulator, an improvement which comprises: each of said transverse switch support members including at least one telescoping movable insulator support structure having one of said high voltage electrical insulators mounted thereto, each of said transverse switch support members further comprising a hollow elongated cross member in operative attachment to the longitudinal beam in predetermined position, said at least one telescoping movable insulator support structure in operative telescoping movable arrangement with the hollow elongated cross member, said switch assembly configured for a collapsed position for shipment and for an extended position for final electrical installation.
2. The three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly of claim 1, further comprising a friction reducing means for permitting ease in movement of the at least one telescoping movable insulator support structure on its respective hollow elongated cross member.
3. The three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly of claim 2, wherein said friction reducing means comprises a plurality of ball bearing or roller wheels and shaft assemblies.
4. The three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly of claim 1, further comprising locking means for locking said at least one telescoping movable insulator support structure in predetermined position on its respective hollow elongated cross member.
5. The three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly of claim 4, wherein said locking means is adapted to lock in a first position said at least one telescoping movable insulator support structure to its respective hollow elongated cross member for shipping and said locking means is adapted to lock in a second position said at least one telescoping movable insulator support structure to its respective hollow elongated cross member when the switch assembly is installed in final operative position.
6. The three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly of claim 4, wherein said locking means comprises bolt members passing through the at least one telescoping movable insulator support structure and its respective hollow elongated cross member.
7. The three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of high voltage electric disconnect switches comprises side break type switches or center break type switches or double break type switches.
8. The three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly of claim 1, wherein said switch assembly comprises a 2-way or 3-way switch configuration.
9. The three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said transverse switch support members includes two oppositely disposed telescoping movable insulator support structures, each in slidable telescoping arrangement with the respective hollow elongated cross member.
10. The three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly of claim 3, wherein the ball bearing or roller wheel and shaft assemblies are in predetermined spaced arrangement configured to provide cantilever load reactions to support the weight of one of the high voltage electrical insulators.
11. The three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the telescoping movable insulator support structures are elevated with respect to the longitudinal beam such that the hollow elongated telescoping movable insulator support structures do not touch the ground when the beam is lying on a ground surface.
12. The three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly of claim 10, wherein a first of said ball bearing or roller wheel and shaft assemblies is positioned below said respective cross member in operative contact therewith, when the longitudinal beam is lying on the ground, and a second of said ball bearing or roller wheel and shaft assemblies positioned above said respective hollow elongated cross member in operative contact therewith, and said upper second ball bearing or roller wheel and shaft assembly displaced a predetermined distance longitudinally inwardly towards the longitudinal beam from said lower first ball bearing or roller wheel and shaft assembly, whereby said telescoping movable insulator support structure is supported by said lower first ball bearing or roller wheel and shaft assembly and said upper second ball bearing or roller wheel and shaft assembly in cantilevered free rolling relationship.
13. The three phase unitized high voltage electric disconnect switch assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one telescoping movable insulator support structure is a box structure.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a three phase unitized high voltage switch assembly of the present invention in a one-way switch configuration for each phase with a center break high voltage disconnect switch in each phase with a cantilevered telescoping switch assembly base structure shown in the fully extended final installation position;
(2) FIG. 2 is the same as FIG. 1 but the three phase unitized high voltage switch assembly is shown with the telescoping switch base structure in the fully retracted position for shipment by truck and the center break switches blades nested together partially open;
(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a three phase unitized high voltage switch assembly of the present invention in a three-way switch assembly for each phase including two side break high voltage disconnect switches and one vertical break switch with a cantilevered telescoping switch assembly base structure shown in the fully extended final installation position;
(4) FIG. 4 is the same as FIG. 3, but the three phase unitized high voltage switch assembly is shown with the telescoping switch base structure in the fully retracted position for shipment by truck and the side break switches open;
(5) FIG. 5A is an end view of the switch assembly shown in FIG. 4 in the fully retracted or collapsed position;
(6) FIG. 5B is an end view of the switch assembly shown in FIG. 3 in the fully extended position;
(7) FIG. 6A is an enlarged side view partially cut away of section 6A-6A in FIG. 5B;
(8) FIG. 6B is an enlarged top view partially cut away of the structure shown in FIG. 6A; and,
(9) FIG. 7 is an enlarged end view of Section 7-7 of FIG. 5B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS
(10) With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown a perspective view of a three phase unitized high voltage switch assembly 10 of the present invention in a one-way switch configuration with three switching units 14a, 14b, and 14c each arranged in one of the electrical phases A, B and C. Each switching unit 14a, 14b, and 14c is shown in FIG. 1 as comprising a single center break high voltage disconnect switch 12 with the switch assembly 10 in the fully extended position. The switch assembly 10 is adapted to be compatible with a three phase alternating current electrical power system which includes the phase A, an intermediate phase B and phase C. For further details of such center break switches from 69 kV to 230 kV, reference may be made to Bulletin DB-126A02, entitled Aluminum Center Break Switch by Cleaveland/Price Inc., the present assignee. The center break switch assembly 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of rotating insulators 16a, 16b which are mounted on hollow elongated telescoping movable box structures 18a, 18b of transverse switch support member 17. The rotating insulators 16a, 16b upon rotation cause center break high voltage switches 12 to open. Each center break switch 12 includes two electrically conductive blades 15a, 15b. One of the blades 15a has at a distal end 28a a male contact 30 and the other blade 15b at a distal end 28b has a female contact 32. When the center break switches 12 are closed the male contact 30 engages the female contact 32 for current flow. The rotating insulators are rotated by imparting motion to drive levers 20 via lever arms 22, as is well known in the art, resulting in the synchronized operation of the three phases of switch assembly 10. The transverse switch support member 17 in addition to the telescoping movable box structure 18a, 18b includes a hollow elongated cross member 24. The telescoping movable box structure 18a, 18b of the present invention is configured to ride on, for example, the hollow elongated cross member 24 to provide the telescoping capability of the present invention. The hollow elongated cross member 24 of each phase A, B, and C is immovably attached in predetermined position to an elongated longitudinal base member or beam 26. The cross members 24 are attached in spaced arrangement as shown in FIG. 1 to provide sufficient electrical separation between phases and thereby create a unitized assembly of all 3 phases with operating linkages 22 installed and factory adjusted for quick installation on a pole or substation structure. The longitudinal beam 26 when lying on a flat ground surface, or similar surface, elevates the telescoping movable box structures 18a, 18b so they do not touch the ground and are cantilevered with respect to cross member 24. The movable box structures 18a, 18b are able to telescope freely with respect to the cross member 24 by being manually pushed in towards the longitudinal beam 26 for shipping when the beam 26 is lying on a flat ground surface because the movable box structures 18a, 18b are clear of the ground. Manually moving the box structure with lower force is important for quick installation. Further details of the moveable box structures 18a, 18b and arrangement for telescoping with respect to the hollow elongated cross member 24 is subsequently described. FIG. 1, as stated, shows the switch assembly 10 in a fully extended position with 230 kV center break switches 12. This results in a maximum width W1 of the three phase unitized switch assembly of 127.25 inches, for example. The length of the unitized switch assembly is denoted by L in FIG. 1 and may be 450.00 inches, for example, which fits on a truck without collapsing. FIG. 2 is the same as FIG. 1, but the center break switches 12 have been partially opened and the movable box structures 18a, 18b have been telescoped inwardly towards the beam 26 to obtain the minimum designed width W2 for this capacity center break switch 12 which in this case is 97.25 inches, for example. This is a legally permissible width for the switch assembly as a load carried on a truck on many roads in the U.S. without load permits. As mentioned the beam 26 elevates the movable box structures 18a, 18b above the ground so that the box structures can move without dragging on the ground during installation in the field unlike the prior art using a folding system.
(11) With reference to FIG. 3, please note like reference numerals described for FIGS. 1 and 2 are also used with regard to FIG. 3 to describe similar components of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 depicts a three phase unitized high voltage switch assembly 10 with a three-way switch configuration for each phase instead of the previously described center break switch arrangement, i.e., the one-way switch arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The unitized three-way switch configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes, for each switching unit 14a, 14b, 14c, two side break high voltage disconnect switches 34a, 34b and a vertical break switch 48 as further described in the previously mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 9,355,797 B1 issued to the present assignee. The side break disconnect switch 34a is rotatably attached at a proximal end 36a to the rotating insulator 16a and the side break disconnect switch 34b is rotatably attached at a proximal end 36b to the rotating insulator 16b. The side break switch 34a includes a disconnect blade 38a and the side break switch 34b includes a disconnect blade 38b as shown in the closed position in FIG. 3 and in the open position in FIG. 4. The rotating insulators 16a, 16b shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are attached to the movable box structures 18a, 18b. The rotatable insulators 16a, 16b upon rotation causes the side break disconnect switch blades 38a, 38b to open, which are articulated as shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the distal ends 40a, 40b of each switch blade 38a, 38b have female contacts 42a, 42b which engage male contacts 44 which are mounted on stationary insulator 46. Also, the vertical break switch 48 is arranged as shown in FIG. 3 and is carried between the stationary insulator 46 and a second stationary insulator 47. The vertical break switch 48 can remain closed during transporting of the switch blade assembly and is not affected by the telescoping feature of the invention.
(12) The movable box structures 18a, 18b shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 telescope with reference to the hollow elongated cross member 24 as described for the previous embodiment. The cross member 24 of each phase A, B, and C is immovably attached by welding or bolting to the elongated longitudinal base member or beam 26. The cross members 24 are attached in spaced arrangement as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to provide the sufficient separation between phases. The movable box structures 18a, 18b are cantilevered and telescope collinearly with respect to the cross member 24 and may with little effort be manually pushed in towards the base member 26 for shipping when lying on a flat ground surface. A three way 115 kV switch assembly is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with a telescoping base. In the collapsed position as shown in FIG. 4, i.e. the moving portion, i.e., the telescoping movable box structures 18a, 18b are bolted to the cross member 24 for shipment as described subsequently. The moveable box structures 18a, 18b are also bolted to the cross member 24 after they have been manually extended to their final extended, i.e., widest position.
(13) Referring to FIG. 5A an end view of the switch assembly 10 shown in FIG. 4 is shown. FIG. 5A shows the switch assembly 10 for a 115 kV three phase transmission switch in a collapsed condition with a minimum width W2 of 101.00 inches for legal shipment on trucks in the U.S. FIG. 5B shows an end view of the switch assembly 10 shown in FIG. 3 in the fully extended, i.e., widest position with a maximum width W1 of 132.50 inches.
(14) FIG. 6A is an enlarged side view partially cut away of the section denoted as 6A-6A in FIG. 5B. As can now be seen in this enlarged view, the hollow elongated moveable box structure 18b is collinear with hollow elongated cross member 24. The movable box structure 18b has, for example, mounted within it four ball bearing or roller wheel and shaft assemblies 50 in predetermined position which permit reduced friction slidable telescoping movement of the movable box structure 18b over cross member 24. The predetermined distance between the ball bearing or roller wheel and shaft assemblies 50 such as nine inches, for example, gives the telescoping box structure 18b the ability to handle heavy insulator cantilever loads. As can be seen in FIG. 6B each ball bearing or roller wheel and shaft assembly 50 desirably includes a shaft 52 having ball bearings 54 mounted proximate opposite ends thereof. The shaft 52 is engaged into and between opposite channels 56a, 56b which forms opposite sides of the movable box structure 18b (not shown in the drawings). The movable box structure 18b also includes, as shown in FIG. 6B, a top plate 58 attached to the opposite channels 56a, 56b and also includes, as shown in FIG. 6A, a bottom plate 60 attached to the opposite channels 56a. 56b. The structure for movable box structure 18a is basically the same as for movable box structure 18b and therefore is not shown in the drawings. The ball bearing or roller wheels and shaft assemblies 50, in operation of the telescoping base of the present invention, roll on the cross member 24 via the ball bearings or roller wheels 54 when the switch is being telescoped, on a flat ground surface, as can be seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The ball bearings or roller wheels 54 permit the movable box structures 18a, 18b to roll easily with the weight of the heavy insulator. The eight ball bearings or roller wheels 54, four above and four below cross member 24, in each movable box structure 18a, 18b roll on the cross member 24 and top plate 58 and bottom plate 60 to handle the cantilever load of the heavy insulator. The two channels 56a, 56b, each support a rotatable switch insulator 16a and 16b and insulator bearing 62 as shown, for example, in FIG. 6A.
(15) With reference to FIG. 7 which is an enlarged end view of section 7-7 of FIG. 5B further details of movable box structure 18a are shown. In order to lock the movable box structure 18a in both the shipping position for minimum width and for the assembly and final position for maximum width the channels 56a, 56b are provided with, for example, appropriately placed apertures, not shown in the drawings, to engage, for example, four bolts 64. The bolts 64 in the shipping position align with apertures in the movable box structure 18a and apertures in the central square tube member 24. The bolts 64 engage nuts 66 for locking the movable structure 18a with the cross member 24 in the shipping position. Once the switch assembly 10 reaches its final destination, the beam 26 is placed on a flat ground surface and the bolts 64 are removed and the movable box structure 18a being elevated off the ground is manually with little effort extended outwardly to the maximum width for final installation. The channels 56a, 56b and the movable box structure 18a are also provided with appropriately placed apertures not shown in the drawings for receiving bolts 64 which engage nuts 66 for locking the movable structure 18a with the cross member 24 in the final extended position for installation on a utility pole in the electric utility system. This locking scheme of the present invention applies equally to the other movable box structure 18b.
(16) A two-way switch assembly, not shown in the drawings, is the same as in FIG. 3 which has the same principal components as described for the three-way switch assembly of FIG. 3, but only includes two side break switches 34a, 34b and no vertical break switch.
(17) The three phase unitized switch assembly 10 of the present invention with the-same box structure 18a or 18b can be applied to a double break switch, not shown in the drawings, mounted to a beam for a unitized assembly with the collapsible invention. As previously mentioned, an example of prior art high voltage double break electric disconnect switches are shown and described in the Bulletin DB-104DHA09 entitled Copper Double Break Switch by the present assignee Cleaveland Price, Inc.
(18) Another arrangement of the invention, not shown in the drawings, is a configuration where the collapsed dimension is achieved by only one movable box structure instead of two movable box structures. Also, this invention applies equally to one or more of the movable box structures supporting a stationary insulator instead of a rotating insulator.
