Sensored insulation plug with detection contact

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12571817-B2
Application number	US-202218562096-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2022
Priority date	Jun 4, 2021
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

Sensored insulation plug for a medium voltage or high-voltage separable connector in a national grid, and operable to insulate a connection element of the separable connector on an elevated voltage and to simultaneously detect and sense the elevated voltage. The sensored insulation plug comprises a) a plug body formed by a solidified insulating material, b) an externally accessible detection contact, c) a primary capacitor, operable as a high-voltage capacitor in a sensing voltage divider for sensing the elevated voltage, the primary capacitor having i) a high-voltage electrode; ii) a sensing electrode embedded in the plug body; iii) a dielectric formed by a first portion of the insulating material, and d) a testpoint capacitor, operable as a high-voltage capacitor in a detection voltage divider for detecting the elevated voltage and comprising i) the high-voltage electrode, ii) a testpoint electrode, embedded in the plug body and electrically connected to the detection contact, and iii) a dielectric formed by a second portion of the insulating material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . Sensored insulation plug for being inserted into a rear cavity of a medium voltage or high-voltage separable connector in a power distribution network of a national grid, and operable to insulate a connection element of the separable connector on an elevated voltage and to sense the elevated voltage,
the sensored insulation plug comprising a) a plug body formed by a solidified insulating material, b) an externally accessible detection contact, c) a primary capacitor, operable as a high-voltage capacitor in a sensing voltage divider for sensing the elevated voltage, the primary capacitor having
i) a high-voltage electrode for direct electrical connection to the elevated voltage;
ii) a sensing electrode of a tubular shape, embedded in the plug body; and
iii) a dielectric formed by a first portion of the insulating material arranged between the sensing electrode and the high-voltage electrode, and
d) a testpoint capacitor, operable as a high-voltage capacitor in a detection voltage divider for detecting the elevated voltage and comprising
i) the high-voltage electrode;
ii) a testpoint electrode, embedded in the plug body and electrically connected to the detection contact; and
iii) a dielectric formed by a second portion of the insulating material arranged between the testpoint electrode and the high-voltage electrode,
wherein the plug body comprises a high-voltage end portion and an opposed low-voltage end portion, and wherein the detection contact is arranged at an axial end face of the low-voltage end portion, and wherein the detection contact is comprised in a conductive tube, extending from the axial end face along the plug axis towards the high-voltage end portion.

2 . Sensored insulation plug according to claim 1 , wherein the plug body is rotationally symmetric about a plug axis, and wherein the high-voltage electrode and the sensing electrode are arranged concentrically around the plug axis, and wherein the sensing electrode is arranged around the high-voltage electrode.

3 . Sensored insulation plug according to claim 1 , wherein the plug body is rotationally symmetric about a plug axis, and wherein the testpoint electrode extends in a plane orthogonal to the plug axis.

4 . Sensored insulation plug according to claim 1 , wherein the testpoint electrode comprises a conductive sheet, comprising a plurality of apertures to allow portions of the insulating material on opposite sides of the sheet to be mechanically connected with each other by insulating material in the apertures while the insulating material solidifies and thereafter.

5 . Sensored insulation plug according to claim 1 , wherein the testpoint electrode comprises two opposed major surfaces, parallel to each other and lying in respective geometric planes, the respective geometric planes extending orthogonally to the plug axis.

6 . Sensored insulation plug according to claim 1 , wherein the sensored insulation plug comprises an electrically conductive detection contact cover having a fixation protrusion for attaching the detection contact cover to the plug body, wherein the fixation protrusion is arranged in the conductive tube and is mechanically engaged and electrically connected with the conductive tube to attach the detection contact cover to the conductive tube.

7 . Sensored insulation plug according to claim 1 , wherein the testpoint electrode comprises a mesh of conductive wires forming a plurality of apertures between the wires to allow portions of the insulating material on opposite sides of the mesh to be mechanically connected with each other by insulating material in the apertures while the insulating material solidifies and thereafter.

8 . Sensored insulation plug according to claim 6 , wherein the detection contact is connected to electrical ground via the electrically conductive detection contact cover.

9 . Sensored insulation plug according to claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the testpoint electrode is one tenth of its greatest extension in any direction orthogonal to its thickness direction or less.

10 . Sensored insulation plug for being inserted into a rear cavity of a medium voltage or high-voltage separable connector in a power distribution network of a national grid, and operable to insulate a connection element of the separable connector on an elevated voltage and to sense the elevated voltage,
the sensored insulation plug comprising a) a plug body formed by a solidified insulating material, b) an externally accessible detection contact, c) a primary capacitor, operable as a high-voltage capacitor in a sensing voltage divider for sensing the elevated voltage, the primary capacitor having
i) a high-voltage electrode for direct electrical connection to the elevated voltage;
ii) a sensing electrode of a tubular shape, embedded in the plug body; and
iii) a dielectric formed by a first portion of the insulating material arranged between the sensing electrode and the high-voltage electrode, and
d) a testpoint capacitor, operable as a high-voltage capacitor in a detection voltage divider for detecting the elevated voltage and comprising
i) the high-voltage electrode;
ii) a testpoint electrode, embedded in the plug body and electrically connected to the detection contact; and
iii) a dielectric formed by a second portion of the insulating material arranged between the testpoint electrode and the high-voltage electrode, and further comprising
a signal wire electrically connected to the sensing electrode, the signal wire having an excess wire portion arranged outside the plug body, and a wire holder, externally attached to the plug body or to the detection contact, for holding the excess wire portion in fixed spatial relation to the plug body.

11 . Sensored insulation plug according to claim 10 , wherein the wire holder is a reel, and wherein the excess wire portion is coiled on the reel.

12 . Power distribution network for distributing electrical power at medium or high voltages, the network comprising
a) a power cable for conducting electrical energy in the power distribution network at an elevated voltage, b) a separable connector, mounted to an end of the power cable and having a rear cavity and a connection element on elevated voltage, electrically connected to the power cable and accessible through the rear cavity; and c) a sensored insulation plug according to claim 10 , inserted into the rear cavity to insulate the connection element and to detect and sense the elevated voltage of the connection element,
wherein the high-voltage electrode is directly electrically connected with the connection element.

13 . Sensored insulation plug for being inserted into a rear cavity of a medium voltage or high-voltage separable connector in a power distribution network of a national grid, and operable to insulate a connection element of the separable connector on an elevated voltage and to sense the elevated voltage,
the sensored insulation plug comprising a) a plug body formed by a solidified insulating material, b) an externally accessible detection contact, c) a primary capacitor, operable as a high-voltage capacitor in a sensing voltage divider for sensing the elevated voltage, the primary capacitor having
i) a high-voltage electrode for direct electrical connection to the elevated voltage;
ii) a sensing electrode of a tubular shape, embedded in the plug body; and
iii) a dielectric formed by a first portion of the insulating material arranged between the sensing electrode and the high-voltage electrode, and
d) a testpoint capacitor, operable as a high-voltage capacitor in a

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Company

Inventors

• Gravermann Mark
• Stollwerck Gunther A J
• Wilson Christopher R
• Reeken Rainer
• Milek Martin A
• Bund Christine B
• Gunjaca Mirco

Classifications

• H01R13/6683

  with built-in sensor · CPC title

• G01R19/0084

  Measuring voltage only · CPC title

• G01R19/155

  Indicating the presence of voltage · CPC title

• G01R15/16

  using capacitive devices · CPC title

• H01R13/53

  Bases or cases for heavy duty; Bases or cases {for high voltage} with means for preventing corona or arcing · CPC title