Electrical connecting device

Claim 2

An electric coupling device for carrying large amounts of current at medium voltages, comprising: a plurality of coaxially arranged cylindrical conductors, at least two apertures provided in each of the conductors forming at least two groups of radially aligned apertures, at least one radially oriented insulating member extending through each of the groups of radially aligned apertures, each insulating member including bearing portions for engaging portions of the conductors adjacent to the apertures for maintaining the conductors in spaced-apart relationship.

Claim 3

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the cylindrical conductors comprises two semicylindrical portions, forming said apertures as longitudinal spaces therebetween.

Claim 4

A device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising bridging portions extending across the spaces between the semicylindrical portions to join together said two shElls of each conductor.

Claim 5

A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said semicylindrical shells are of rolled sheet metal and have a thickness less than 15 millimetres.

Claim 6

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the insulating members engages an inner restraining sheath which is coaxially disposed within the innermost conductor, and wherein each of the insulating members is supported at its other end on an external sheath surrounding coaxially the outermost conductor.

Claim 7

A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a coating of dark mat paint on both sides of said conductors and sheaths to provide thermal coupling by radiation between said conductors and said sheaths.

Claim 8

A device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a further plurality of coaxially arranged cylindrical conductors, the diameter of the further outermost conductor being less than twice the diameter of the further innermost conductor, at least two further apertures provided in each of the further conductors forming at least two further groups of radially aligned apertures, at least one further radially oriented insulating member extending through each of the further groups of radially aligned apertures, each further insulating member including further bearing portions for engaging portions of the further conductors adjacent to the further associated apertures for maintaining the further conductors in spaced-apart relationship and a further external sheath arranged coaxially round the outermost conductor on which the further insulating members are supported, the conductors in the further plurality being equal in number to the number of conductors in the first-mentioned plurality and being coaxial about an axis at an angle to the axis of the first-mentioned conductors, the first-mentioned external sheath and outermost conductor and any conductor between the latter and the first-mentioned innermost conductor being apertured to provide access for connecting said further plurality of conductors to said first-mentioned plurality of conductors whereby the further plurality of conductors provide a tap from said first-mentioned plurality of conductors, and the two external sheaths being connected together.

Claim 9

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross section of each insulator narrows towards the axis of the conductors, and wherein the bearing surfaces are arranged as stepped shoulders of diminishing cross section so that each insulating member may be withdrawn by moving it radially outwardly through its respective group of apertures.

Claim 10

A device as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a resilient member attached to the radially outer end of each insulating member, said resilient member being accommodated with play to overlap the outer surface of said sheath around the margin of the aperture therein through which the associated insulating member is withdrawable, each resilient member blocking with play the associated aperture in said sheath.

Claim 11

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the groups of apertures are arranged in opposed pairs along diameters of the conductors disposed in a common plane.

Claim 12

A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a further plurality of coaxially disposed cylindrical conductors, at least two apertures being provided in each of the further conductors forming two further groups of radially aligned apertures, a radially oriented insulator extending through each of the further groups of radially aligned apertures, and including bearing portions for engaging portions of the conductors adjacent to the apertures for maintaining the conductors in spaced-apart relationship, said further plurality of conductors being adjacent to the first-mentioned plurality of conductors and connected thereto by joining means individually connecting each conductor of said first-mentioned plurality to the corresponding conductor of said further plurality.

Claim 13

A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said joining means comprises a plurality of substantIally cylindrical conductors each overlapping and being welded to adjacent end portions of a respective pair of corresponding conductors of the two pluralities of conductors.

Claim 14

A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein adjacent end portions of the conductors of said connecting sections are spaced apart to define gaps therebetween, the gaps being larger, the greater the diameter of the corresponding conductors of said connecting sections, and said cylindrical joining conductors bridging said gaps.

Claim 15

A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein each of said cylindrical joining conductors is formed of two semicylindrical pieces.

Claim 16

A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the apertures are disposed to form a space for circulating coolant in the conductors.

Claim 17

A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said joining means comprises flexible conductors connecting the respective corresponding conductors of the two pluralities of conductors to allow for expansion of said conductors.

Claim 18

A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein each plurality of conductors consists of three conductors, and further comprising at each end section of the coupling arrangement a first connecting boss connected at the end of the inner one of said three conductors, a second connecting boss to one side of said first boss and connected by an elbow joint to the outer one of said three conductors, and a third connecting boss on the other side of said first boss and connected by an elbow joint to the middle one of said three conductors, said outer conductor being shaped to expose a portion of said middle conductor and allow connection of the associated elbow joint thereto.

Claim 19

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one pair of insulating members are provided in radially opposed relationship with respect to the axis of said conductors.

Claim 20

A device as claimed in claim 18, wherein each insulating member has corrugated surfaces to provide leakage paths between adjacent conductors which are longer than the distances therebetween.

Claim 21

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said innermost conductor is in the form of a hollow cylinder.

Claim 22

An electrical power installation comprising two pieces of electrical apparatus between which electrical power is to be transferred, a coupling arrangement connecting said two pieces of apparatus to transfer such power, said coupling arrangement comprising a plurality of coaxially arranged cylindrical conductors, at least two apertures provided in each of the conductors forming two groups of radially aligned apertures, at least one radially oriented insulating member extending through each of the groups of radially aligned apertures, each insulating member including bearing portions for engaging portions of the conductors adjacent to the associated apertures for maintaining the conductors in spaced-apart relationship.

Claim 23

An electrical power installation comprising two pieces of electrical apparatus between which electrical power is to be transferred, a coupling arrangement connecting said two pieces of apparatus to transfer such power, said coupling arrangement comprising a plurality of coaxially arranged cylindrical conductors, at least two apertures provided in each of the conductors forming two groups of radially aligned apertures, at least one radially oriented insulating member extending through each of the groups of radially aligned apertures, each insulating member including bearing portions for engaging portions of the conductors adjacent to the associated apertures for maintaining the conductors in spaced-apart relationship.

Claim 24

An electric coupling device for carrying large amounts of current at medium voltages comprising a plurality of coaxially arranged cylindrical conductors, the diameter of the outermost conductor being less than twice the diameter of the innermost conductor, at least two apertures being provided in each of the conductors forming two groups of radially aligned apertures, a radially oriented insulating member extending through each of the groups of radially aligned apertures and having bearing surfaces for engaging portions of the conductors adjacent to the apertures for maintaining the conductors in spaced-apart relationship.

Claim 25

An electric coupling device for carrying large amounts of current at medium voltages comprising a plurality of coaxially arranged cylindrical conductors, the diameter of the outermost conductor being less than twice the diameter of the innermost conductor, at least two apertures being provided in each of the conductors forming two groups of radially aligned apertures, a radially oriented insulating member extending through each of the groups of radially aligned apertures and having bearing surfaces for engaging portions of the conductors adjacent to the apertures for maintaining the conductors in spaced-apart relationship.

Claim 26

A device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the apertures are disposed to form a space for circulating coolant in the conductors.

Claim 27

A device as claimed in claim 23, wherein a liquid coolant is provided between the conductors.

Claim 28

A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein air is provided between the conductors and acts as the coolant.