US3763461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric cable termination module having a gas-trap valve
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1971-07-08
•
Granted: 1973-10-02
•
Expires: 1991-07-08
Abstract
Abstract An underground electric power cable termination module of a type having a load-break contact mounted therein is provided with a gas-trap valve that operates to prevent arc-generated gases from leaving the module when a contactor of a second module is separated from the load-break module. By thus trapping hot, ionized gases within the load-break module, the risk of a restrike between the separated contacts, or between one of the contacts and an electrical ground shield on one of the modules is substantially eliminated.
Inventors
- 👤 E Kotski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/02; H01H33/04; H01H33/06; H01H33/70; H01H33/76; H01H33/77; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/53; H01R13/44; H01R13/447; H01R13/453; H01R13/4536
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
An electrical conductor termination module comprising an elongated insulating housing, means defining an elongated, generally cylindrical, contact-receiving bore that extends from a first end of said housing a predetermined distance into the housing, a first electrical contact mounted in said housing in communication with the inner end of said bore, a second manually movable contact formed to fit snugly within the outer end of said bore when moved into engagement with said first contact, said bore being effective to direct arc-generated gases developed by an arc between said contacts toward the second contact thereby causing said gases to exert a force that tends to expel said second contact and said gases from said bore, a gas-trap valve mounted adjacent the outermost end of said bore, said valve being operable to move rapidly into a closed position thereby to effectively seal the outer end of the bore and trap arc-generated gases therein, responsive to the second contact being moved outward in said bore beyond the valve and being further operable to permit entry of said second contact into said bore when the valve is moved to its open position, said ionized gases directed against said second contact being effective to exert said force on the second contact until the gases are trapped within the bore by said valve being moved to its closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
An electrical conductor termination module comprising an elongated insulating housing, means defining an elongated, generally cylindrical, contact-receiving bore that extends from a first end of said housing a predetermined distance into the housing, a first electrical contact mounted in said housing in communication with the inner end of said bore, a second manually movable contact formed to fit snugly within the outer end of said bore when moved into engagement with said first contact, said bore being effective to direct arc-generated gases developed by an arc between said contacts toward the second contact thereby causing said gases to exert a force that tends to expel said second contact and said gases from said bore, a gas-trap valve mounted adjacent the outermost end of said bore, said valve being operable to move rapidly into a closed position thereby to effectively seal the outer end of the bore and trap arc-generated gases therein, responsive to the second contact being moved outward in said bore beyond the valve and being further operable to permit entry of said second contact into said bore when the valve is moved to its open position, said ionized gases directed against said second contact being effective to exert said force on the second contact until the gases are trapped within the bore by said valve being moved to its closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
An invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gas-trap valve comprises a valve seat member mounted adjacent said first end of the housing, and a pivotally mounted valve member that is operable to pivot between a closed position in which it is seated on the valve seat member and an open position in which it is moved to one side of said bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
An invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve seat member includes a hinge pin, mounted adjacent one side thereof, and wherein said valve member includes means defining an aperture therethrough for receiving said pin therein, said valve member being operable to pivot around the longitudinal axis of said pin to move between its open and closed positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
187 words
An electrical conductor termination module comprising an elongated insulating housing, means defining a contact-receiving bore that extends from a first end of said housing a predetermined distance into the housing, an electrical contact mounted in said housing in communication with said bore, an insulating sleeve mounted in said bore, a piece of gas-evolving, arc-extinguishing material mounted in said sleeve adjacent said contact, said contact being adapted to be engaged by a second contact when moved into said sleeve, and a gas-trap valve mounted adjacent the outermost end of said sleeve, said valve comprising a valve seat member and a pivotally mounted valve member, said valve seat member being formed to define a generally annular lip portion having a slotted cylindrical portion extending inwardly therefrom, said valve member being pivotally mounted on the valve seat member so that it fits into the slot defined by said slotted cylindrical portion when the valve member is in its open position, said valve member being formed to define a sealing surface that seats on the valve seat member in substantially gas-tight relationship when the valve member is in its closed position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
187 words
An electrical conductor termination module comprising an elongated insulating housing, means defining a contact-receiving bore that extends from a first end of said housing a predetermined distance into the housing, an electrical contact mounted in said housing in communication with said bore, an insulating sleeve mounted in said bore, a piece of gas-evolving, arc-extinguishing material mounted in said sleeve adjacent said contact, said contact being adapted to be engaged by a second contact when moved into said sleeve, and a gas-trap valve mounted adjacent the outermost end of said sleeve, said valve comprising a valve seat member and a pivotally mounted valve member, said valve seat member being formed to define a generally annular lip portion having a slotted cylindrical portion extending inwardly therefrom, said valve member being pivotally mounted on the valve seat member so that it fits into the slot defined by said slotted cylindrical portion when the valve member is in its open position, said valve member being formed to define a sealing surface that seats on the valve seat member in substantially gas-tight relationship when the valve member is in its closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
An invention as defined in claim 4 including a spring mounted between said valve member and said valve seat member to exert a biasing force against the valve member, thereby to continuously bias it to its closed position with a force that is effective to move the valve member through an arc of 90* within three milliseconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
An invention as defined in claim 4 including a collar member mounted over the slot in said slotted cylindrical portion of the valve seat member in substantially gas-tight relationship with the sleeve member and the valve seat member, thereby to prevent gas from escaping through the slot in thE seat member into contact with the insulating housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said collar member is cylindrical in shape and is mounted coaxially over the exterior of said sleeve member and said slotted cylindrical portion of the valve seat member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
An invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said slotted cylindrical portion of said valve member comprises a first and a second section, said first section having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said sleeve, whereby the first section is slidably fitable into one end of the sleeve, said second section having an outside diameter larger than said first section, thereby to define a ridge between said sections.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An invention as defined in claim 8 wherein the outside diameter of said second section is greater than the outside diameter of said sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
An invention as defined in claim 9 including means defining a slot in the outer end of said sleeve, said slot in the sleeve being in substantial alignment with the slot in said valve seat member, thereby to allow the valve member to be pivoted through both of said slots into its open position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
An invention as defined in claim 10 including a collar member mounted over the slot in said sleeve in substantially gas-tight relationship with the sleeve member and said valve seat member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
An invention as defined in claim 11 wherein said collar member comprises generally cylindrical first and second sections, said first collar section having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of said sleeve and said second section of the collar member having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the second section of the slotted cylindrical portion of said valve seat member, thereby to define substantially gas-tight seals between the collar member and said sleeve and valve seat member when they are in their assembled positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
An invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said valve member is generally disc-shaped and wherein said sealing surface is generally convex in configuration and protrudes from one side of said valve member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said insulating housing member has an outer frusto-conical surface portion, the longitudinal axis of which is substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of said bore, the small diameter end of said frusto-conical surface being adjacent the outermost end of said sleeve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |