Safety test switch
09899165 ยท 2018-02-20
Inventors
Cpc classification
H01R13/7032
ELECTRICITY
International classification
H01H27/04
ELECTRICITY
H01R13/703
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
An interface test device for testing a circuit, the interface test device including a module configured to open and close a medium to high voltage monitoring circuit, the module having at least one pair of contacts biased towards each other that are electrically connected and in line with the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit; at least one pair of insulated jacks, wherein the at least one pair of insulated jacks is connected to the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit before or substantially simultaneously with the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit being opened; at least one disconnect plug that is insertable into the module through at least one parking opening into at least one parking position and insertable into the module through at least one disconnect opening into at least one disconnect position.
Claims
1. An interface test device for testing a circuit, the interface test device comprising: a module configured to open and close a medium to high voltage monitoring circuit, the module having at least one pair of contacts biased towards each other that are electrically connected and in line with the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit; at least one pair of insulated jacks, wherein the at least one pair of Insulated jacks is connected to the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit before or substantially simultaneously with the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit being opened; at least one disconnect plug that is insertable into the module through at least one parking opening into at least one parking position and insertable into the module through at least one disconnect opening into at least one disconnect position; and at least one viewing opening adjacent to the at least one disconnect opening, wherein the disconnect plug is electrically insulated from any electrical components of the module when the disconnect ping is inserted into the at least one parking position, wherein the at least one disconnect plug opens the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit when the at least one disconnect plug is inserted into the module in the at least one disconnect position, wherein the module is configured to provide at least one output based upon at least one parameter of the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit to the at least one pair of jacks in order to measure the at least one parameter by an external tester connected to the at least one pair of jacks, and wherein the at least one viewing opening allows a visual determination whether the at least one pair of contacts are in conductive contact with each other or not in conductive contact with each other.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit may be serviced for maintenance without being interrupted.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein a side of the module is closed by an adjacent module or by a cover plate.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein identification labels are provided on one disconnect plug, the module adjacent to the at least one disconnect opening or on a backside of the module.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the viewing opening is covered by a transparent piece of plastic.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the viewing opening is covered by a non transparent piece of plastic.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the jacks are banana jacks.
8. An interface test device for testing a circuit, the interface test device comprising: a module configured to open and close a medium to high voltage monitoring circuit, the module having at least one pair of contacts biased towards each other that are electrically connected and in line with the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit; at least one pair of insulated jacks, wherein the at least one pair of insulated jacks is connected to the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit before or substantially simultaneously with the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit being opened; and at least one disconnect plug that is insertable into the module through at least one parking opening into at least one parking position and insertable into the module through at least one disconnect opening into at least one disconnect position, wherein the disconnect plug is electrically insulated from any electrical components of the module when the disconnect plug is inserted into the at least one parking position, wherein the at least one disconnect plug opens the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit when the at least one disconnect plug is inserted into the module in the at least one disconnect position, wherein the module is configured to provide at least one output based upon at least one parameter of the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit to the at least one pair of jacks in order to measure the at least one parameter by an external tester connected to the at least one pair of jacks, wherein the module includes terminal blocks that are respectively connected to the biased contacts, wherein ring lug connectors are threaded into the terminal blocks, wherein the cable ring lug connectors include grooves that are supported by protrusions of the module, and wherein the ring lug connectors include standard 8-32 UNC internal or external threads at their bases.
9. An interface test device for testing a circuit, the interface test device comprising: a module configured to open and close a medium to high voltage monitoring circuit; the module having at least one pair of contacts biased towards each other that are electrically connected and in line with the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit; at least one pair of insulated jacks, wherein the at least one pair of insulated jacks is connected to the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit before or substantially simultaneously with the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit being opened; and at least one disconnect plug that is insertable into the module through at least one parking opening into at least one parking position and insertable into the module through at least one disconnect opening into at least one disconnect position, wherein the disconnect plug is electrically insulated from any electrical components of the module when the disconnect plug is inserted into the at least one parking position, wherein the at least one disconnect plug opens the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit when the at least one disconnect plug is inserted into the module in the at least one disconnect position, wherein the module is configured to provide at least one output based upon at least one parameter of the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit to the at least one pair of jacks in order to measure the at least one parameter by an external tester connected to the at least one pair of jacks, wherein the disconnect plug covers at least one banana jack at least partially when the disconnect plug is inserted in the at least one parking position so that no banana plug can be inserted into the at least one banana jack.
10. An interface test device for testing a circuit, the interface test device comprising: a module configured to open and close a medium to high voltage monitoring circuit, the module having at least one pair of contacts biased towards each other that are electrically connected and in line with the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit; at least one pair of insulated jacks, wherein the at least one pair of insulated jacks is connected to the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit before or substantially simultaneously with the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit being opened; and at least one disconnect plug that is insertable into the module through at least one parking opening into at least one parking position and insertable into the module through at least one disconnect opening into at least one disconnect position, wherein the disconnect plug is electrically insulated from any electrical components of the module when the disconnect plug is inserted into the at least one parking position, wherein the at least one disconnect plug opens the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit when the at least one disconnect plug is inserted into the module in the at least one disconnect position, wherein the module is configured to provide at least one output based upon at least one parameter of the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit to the at least one pair of jacks in order to measure the at least one parameter by an external tester connected to the at least one pair of jacks, and wherein a cover is attachable and interlockable at the module when no disconnect plug is inserted into the module in the at least one disconnect opening.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention is now described in more detail based on an advantageous embodiment with reference to drawing figures, wherein:
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(12) Monitoring of interface test devices for medium to high voltage circuits and systems according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may be implemented in an automated manner to provide for more continuous and comprehensive monitoring, greater efficiency and safety, reduced costs associated with the monitoring, as well as other advantages. Furthermore, the circuitry used in monitoring and control of an interface test device also may be configured such that maintenance on the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit is able to be performed safely and efficiently without taking the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit off line. With such monitoring circuitry incorporated into the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit, disruptive maintenance may be avoided because the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit does not need to be taken off line during testing and servicing which means the servicing is performed without interrupting the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit. This improves efficiency and eliminates the problems that would otherwise be caused by these service interruptions.
(13) The interface test device according to an embodiment of the invention also may be implemented such that when a disconnect plug opens the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit, the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit is protected. For example, when a medium to high voltage monitoring circuit is coupled to a power circuit through a transformer with one coil in the power circuit and the other coil in the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit, the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit cannot be opened without the risk of damaging the coil disposed therein. In order to open the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit for maintenance, the power circuit would have to be shut down because otherwise the primary transformer coil in the power circuit will attempt to continue driving current across the effectively infinite impedance of the secondary transformer coil and will produce high voltage across the open secondary transformer coil that can damage components and endanger operators. To avoid such problems, the disconnect plug may be configured to make another circuit before the medium to high voltage circuit is opened. Similarly, other elements including potential transformers and breakers also are protected.
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17) On a bottom side each interface module 2 includes two (2) screw 205 or stud 206 connectors that are illustrated in more detail in
(18) The contacts springs 26, 27, the banana jacks 101 and the connection bolts 205 are fixated at respective terminal blocks 30 to ensure a reliable electrical connection.
(19) Adjacent to the disconnect opening 10 which provides access the normally closed contact springs 26, 27 for the disconnect plug 15, the module includes two viewing openings 207 to enable the user to have a visual path into the module to confirm safe opening of the contact springs 26, 27 after the disconnect plug 15 has been inserted. Each of the viewing openings 207 includes a groove 208 to optionally insert a see-through plastic window which then closes the viewing opening 207 physically but not visually.
(20) It is evident from
(21)
(22) Additionally, the keying feature 22 assures the various contacts are properly matched such that the test block A-side biased contact 27 is connected to the disconnect plug A-side contact 17. The insulator 21 is disposed between the contact spring 26 and the disconnect plug A-side contact 17. In other words, the finger 20 includes a keying feature 22 that engages the disconnect opening 10 of the test block 5 such that the finger 20 can only be inserted into the disconnect opening 10 in one orientation and the disconnect plug A-side contact 17 of the disconnect plug 15 connects to the test block A-side biased contact 27 of the test block 5 such that a connection with the correct polarity is assured.
(23) The medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3 is coupled to the power circuit 6 through a monitoring component 4. The pairs of biased contacts 26, 27 are connected to the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3 through terminal blocks 30. The disconnect plug 15 includes a finger 21 supporting the disconnect plug contact 17 configured to connect to the biased contact 27 of the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3. The disconnect plug contact 17 is connectable to the test circuit 7, for testing the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3 including the monitoring component 4 and the piece of equipment 62. The test block 5 and the disconnect plug 15 including the finger 21 may be formed from impact resistant insulator material, such as a plastic (e.g. polypropylene or polyethylene) or any other suitable material that will mechanically support and insulate components of the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3 and of the test circuit 7. The materials of the test block 5 may be clear so as to assist in maintenance, detection or sabotage or the like or may be opaque.
(24) The medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3 operates a monitoring component 4, such as a secondary coil of a transformer, which is used for monitoring a power circuit 6 with the primary coil disposed in the power circuit 6 and the secondary coil disposed in the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3 and couples the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3 to the power circuit 6. This protects the monitoring and control components 4 from damage because the higher voltages and/or currents in the power circuit 6 would damage or destroy the monitoring and control components 4 in the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3 if directly applied. For example, a current transformer may be used to monitor the power circuit 6 when the current and/or voltage in the power circuit 6 is too high to directly apply to measuring instruments in the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3 or in the test circuit 7. A current transformer and/or other elements may be used to produce a reduced current that is accurately proportional to the current in the power circuit 6 that can be conveniently connected to measuring and recording instruments in the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3 and in the test circuit 7. For example, the secondary winding of a current transformer should not be disconnected from its load while current is flowing in the primary winding in the power circuit 6, as the current transformer will attempt to continue driving current across the effectively infinite impedance and produce a very high voltage in the secondary current transformer coil that will permanently damage the current transformer and significantly compromise operator and equipment safety.
(25) The test block 5 includes a disconnect opening 10 configured to receive a finger 20 of the disconnect plug 15. The test block 5 also houses a pair of biased contacts 26, 27 that act as disconnect links that normally connect the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3 to external terminals 30.
(26) The terminal blocks 30 may be configured to receive standard connectors or other connectors. The finger 20 may be made of impact resistant insulator material such as polypropylene, polyethylene or any other suitable material, and the finger may be configured to insulate against the voltages of the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3. As illustrated in
(27)
(28)
(29) Full insertion of the disconnect plug 15 into the test block 5 as illustrated in
(30) The pair of biased contacts 26, 27 automatically closes upon removal of the disconnect plug 15 from the disconnect position. For example, the biasing springs 29 that press the pair of biased contacts 26, 27 towards each other guarantee that the medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 3 is closed when the testing procedures are finished.
(31) The use of multiple disconnect plugs 15 allows for the testing of portions of the test circuit 7. Alternatively, if the entire test circuit is to be tested, a single multi-pole disconnect plug may be used.
(32)
(33)
(34)
(35)
(36) Although several embodiments of the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that changes, substitutions, transformations, modifications, variations, permutations and alterations may be made therein without departing from the teachings of the present invention, the spirit and the scope of the invention being set forth by the appended claims.
REFERENCE NUMERALS AND DESIGNATIONS
(37) 1 interface test device 2 interface module 3 medium to high voltage monitoring circuit 4 monitoring component 5 test block 6 power circuit 7 test circuit 10 disconnect opening 11 parking opening 12 plastic window 13 cover 14 cover protrusion 15 disconnect plug 16 module protrusion 17 disconnect plug A-side contact 18 shorting bar 19 cover plate 20 finger 21 insulator 22 keying feature 23 cover bar 24 test block recess for cover 26 A-side biased contact spring 27 B-side biased contact spring 29 compression spring 30 terminal block 62 equipment to be tested 101 banana jack 103 label on front of interface module 104 label on disconnect plug 105 label on back of interface module 203 parking position 205 screw connector 206 stud connector 207 viewing opening 208 groove 210 M60.75 thread 211 groove 212 internal 8-32 UNC thread 213 external 8-32 UNC thread