Gas-insulated transmission line

Claim 2

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic inner conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, and wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, wherein said supporting means comprises: a. at least one fixed support for inhibiting longitUdinal motion of said outer conductor relative to said inner conductor, b. at least one movable support rigidly mounted to one of said conductors and permitting longitudinal motion of the other conductor, where said support means are solid insulators, disclike in shape, and having at least one reentrant channel on at least one peripheral surface of said insulators, said reentrant channel having applied thereon an electrically conducting layer which is electrically coupled to the adjacent conductor, and wherein said transmission line also includes expansion means positioned within the reentrant channel on the inner periphery of a support and electrically coupling adjacent end sections of said inner conductor, said expansion means being responsive to changes of length of inner conductor between fixed supports.

Claim 3

The gas-insulated transmission line as set forth in claim 1 wherein said expansion means comprises a plurality of flexible conductors having a conductivity approximating that of the said inner conductor, the opposite ends of said flexible conductors being connected to adjacent inner conductor ends.

Claim 4

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic inner conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, and wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, wherein said supporting means comprises: a. at least one fixed support for inhibiting longitudinal motion of said outer conductor relative to said inner conductor, b. at least one movable support rigidly mounted to one of said conductors and permitting longitudinal motion of the other conductor, wherein said supports include solid insulators, disclike in shape, and having at least one reentrant channel on at least one peripheral surface of said insulators, wherein each reentrant channel of said insulator has applied thereon an electrically conducting layer which is electrically coupled to the adjacent conductor, wherein at least one conducting means is inserted into at least one of said reentrant channels thereby making mechanical and the electrical contact between one of said conductors and said applied conducting layer, and wherein said conducting means has a synclinal-shaped depression for receiving a crimped portion of a conductor to thereby clamp the support associated therewith to said conductor.

Claim 5

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic inner conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, and wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, wherein said supporting means comprises: a. at least one fixed support for inhibiting longitudinal motion of said outer conductor relative to said inner conductor, b. at least one movable support rigidly mounted to one of said conductors and permitting longitudinal motion of the other conductor, wherein said supports include solid insulators, disclike in shape, and having at least one reentrant channel on at least one peripheral surface of said insulators, wherein each reentrant channel of said insulator has applied thereon an electrically conducting layer which is electrically coupled to the adjacent conductor, wherein at least one conducting means is inserted into at least one of said reentrant channels thereby making mechanical and the electrical contact between one of said conductors and said applied conducting layer, and wherein said conducting means has a synclinal-shaped depression for receiving a crimped portion of a conductor to thereby clamp the support associated therewith to said conductor.

Claim 6

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic inner conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, and wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, where the outer conductor of adjacent modules of said transmission line are connected by gastight couplings, and wherein said couplings are designed to introduce changes in direction, whether azimuthal or vertical or combinations thereof.

Claim 7

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic inner conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, and wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, where the outer conductor of adjacent modules of said transmission line are connected by gastight couplings, and wherein said couplings are designed to introduce changes in direction, whether azimuthal or vertical or combinations thereof.

Claim 8

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic inner conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, and wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, wherein said supporting means comprises: a. at least one fixed support for inhibiting longitudinal motion of said outer conductor relative tO said inner conductor, b. at least one movable support rigidly mounted to one of said conductors and permitting longitudinal motion of the other conductor, and wherein said transmission line further includes expansion means comprising a plurality of flexible conducting straps being of sufficient number and of conductivity to maintain the mechanical and electrical integrity of the transmission line throughout its range of operation.

Claim 9

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic inner conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, and wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, wherein said supporting means comprises: a. at least one fixed support for inhibiting longitudinal motion of said outer conductor relative tO said inner conductor, b. at least one movable support rigidly mounted to one of said conductors and permitting longitudinal motion of the other conductor, and wherein said transmission line further includes expansion means comprising a plurality of flexible conducting straps being of sufficient number and of conductivity to maintain the mechanical and electrical integrity of the transmission line throughout its range of operation.

Claim 10

The gas-insulated transmission line as set forth in claim 5 wherein a greater than half cylindrical section is removed from each end section of said inner conductors for a predetermined length and wherein the remaining cylindrical portion of one end section fits into the removed portion of the other end section and thereby aligning the remaining cylindrical portion of one section opposite the remaining cylindrical section of the other.

Claim 11

The gas-insulated transmission line as set forth in claim 5 wherein the end section of said adjacent inner conductors each comprise: a conductive adapter mounted on the inner surface of each of said inner conductor ends for adapting a respective inner conductor surface to said expansion means, a conducting side member mounted on each of said conductive adapters; and wherein said flexible conducting straps are attached at opposite ends to each of said conducting side members.

Claim 12

The gas-insulated transmission line as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said conductive adapters proceeds from a minimum cross-sectional area nearest the end of said inner conductor to a maximum cross-sectional area at its opposite end.

Claim 13

The gas-insulated transmission line as set forth in claim 5 wherein said flexible conducting straps each form an arcuate and wherein opposite ends of said flexible conducting straps are tangent at their juncture with a respective end section.

Claim 14

The gas-insulated transmission line as set forth in claim 5 wherein said flexible conducting straps form a center arcuate portion between two straight portions which are normal at their juncture with a respective end section.

Claim 15

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, nd wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, wherein said supporting means comprises: a. at least one fixed support for inhibiting longitudinal motion of said outer conductor relative to said inner conductor, b. at least one movable support rigidly mounted to one of said conductors and permitting longitudinal motion of the other conductor, and wherein said movable support comprises: a post-type insulator having a receptacle at each end, a conducting layer applied to the surface of said receptacles, a first conducting means inserted within one of said receptacles, means for fastening said first conducting means to one of said conductors to provide electrical and a rigid mechanical contact, a second conducting means inserted within said other receptacle and having a flexible conducting member connecting said other conductor and said second conducting means such that a predetermined longitudinal motion of the inner conductor is permitted.

Claim 16

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, nd wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, wherein said supporting means comprises: a. at least one fixed support for inhibiting longitudinal motion of said outer conductor relative to said inner conductor, b. at least one movable support rigidly mounted to one of said conductors and permitting longitudinal motion of the other conductor, and wherein said movable support comprises: a post-type insulator having a receptacle at each end, a conducting layer applied to the surface of said receptacles, a first conducting means inserted within one of said receptacles, means for fastening said first conducting means to one of said conductors to provide electrical and a rigid mechanical contact, a second conducting means inserted within said other receptacle and having a flexible conducting member connecting said other conductor and said second conducting means such that a predetermined longitudinal motion of the inner conductor is permitted.

Claim 17

The gas-insulated transmission line as set forth in claim 11 wherein said conductor has at least one aperture for attachment to an interior point on the inner conductor wall opposite said aperture.

Claim 18

The gas-insulated transmission line as set forth in claim 11 wherein said fastening means comprises a flexible conducting member connected on the one end within said first conducting means and on the other end to the inner surface of said outer conductor.

Claim 19

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic inner conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, and wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, wherein said supporting means comprises: a. at least one fixes support for inhibiting longitudinal motion of said outer conductor relative to said inner conductor, b. at least one movable support rigidly mounted to one of said conductors and permitting longitudinal motion of the other conductor, wherein said fixed support comprises: a post-type insulator having a receptacle at each end, a conducting layer applied on the surface of said receptacles, at least one conducting means within said receptacles; and fastening means for maintaining the conducting means within each receptacle in electrical and mechanical contact with one of said conductors, and wherein said fastening means comprises: a stud member extending away from said insulator means and adapted to fit through a hole in said outer conductor a reinforcing plate member having a curvature substantially equal to that of the outer diameter of said outer conductor and having a hole for admitting said stud member, securing means cooperating with said stud member for providing a rigid and gastight connection of said stud member and reinforcing plate to said outer conductor.

Claim 20

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic inner conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, and wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, wherein said supporting means comprises: a. at least one fixes support for inhibiting longitudinal motion of said outer conductor relative to said inner conductor, b. at least one movable support rigidly mounted to one of said conductors and permitting longitudinal motion of the other conductor, wherein said fixed support comprises: a post-type insulator having a receptacle at each end, a conducting layer applied on the surface of said receptacles, at least one conducting means within said receptacles; and fastening means for maintaining the conducting means within each receptacle in electrical and mechanical contact with one of said conductors, and wherein said fastening means comprises: a stud member extending away from said insulator means and adapted to fit through a hole in said outer conductor a reinforcing plate member having a curvature substantially equal to that of the outer diameter of said outer conductor and having a hole for admitting said stud member, securing means cooperating with said stud member for providing a rigid and gastight connection of said stud member and reinforcing plate to said outer conductor.

Claim 21

The gas-insulated transmission line as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first conductor fastening means comprises: a stud member extending away from said insulator means and adapted to fit through a hole in said outer conductor, a reinforcing plate member having a curvature substantially equal to that of the outer diameter of said outer conductor and having a hole for admitting said stud member; and securing means cooperating with said stud member for providing a rigid and gastight connection of said stud member and reinforcing plate to said outer conductor.

Claim 22

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic inner conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, and wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, wherein said supporting means comprises: at least one fixed support for inhibiting longitudinal motion of aid outer conductor relative to said inner conductor, b. at least one movable support rigidly mounted to one of said coductors and permitting longitudinal motion of the other conductor, wherein said fixed support comprises: a post-type insulator having a receptacle at each end, a conducting layer applied on the surface of said receptacles, at least one conducting means within said receptacles; and fastening means for maintaining the conducting means within each receptacle in electrical and mechanical contact with one of said conductors, and wherein a predetermined portion of outer conductor has a larger diameter than the remaining portion of said outer conductor to create a low intensity field region and wherein the fastening means between said outer conductor and the associated conducting means is in said larger diameter portion.

Claim 23

In a gas-insulated transmission line comprising at least one modular unit, the combination of: a. a nonmagnetic outer conductor, b. a nonmagnetic inner conductor, c. means for insulatedly supporting said inner conductor within said outer conductor, and wherein said support means is responsive to longitudinal expansion of said inner conductor to maintain the longitudinal axis of said inner conductor substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said outer conductor, wherein said supporting means comprises: at least one fixed support for inhibiting longitudinal motion of aid outer conductor relative to said inner conductor, b. at least one movable support rigidly mounted to one of said coductors and permitting longitudinal motion of the other conductor, wherein said fixed support comprises: a post-type insulator having a receptacle at each end, a conducting layer applied on the surface of said receptacles, at least one conducting means within said receptacles; and fastening means for maintaining the conducting means within each receptacle in electrical and mechanical contact with one of said conductors, and wherein a predetermined portion of outer conductor has a larger diameter than the remaining portion of said outer conductor to create a low intensity field region and wherein the fastening means between said outer conductor and the associated conducting means is in said larger diameter portion.

Claim 24

The gas-insulated transmission line as set forth in claim 11 wherein said movable support comprises: a post insulator having a receptacle at each end, a conducting layer applied to the surface of said receptacles, first condUcting means inserted within one of said conductors to provide an electrical and a rigid mechanical contact, second conducting means inserted within the other of said receptacles and having translational contact means cooperating with said other conductor to permit relative motion between conductors while said second conducting means is maintained in electrical contact with said other conductor.