Arrester bypass devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9543745-B2
Application number	US-201313965334-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2013
Priority date	Aug 13, 2013
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

An arrester bypass device can include a switch having an normal state and an operated state. The arrester bypass device can also include a first electrode mechanically coupled to the switch, where the first electrode is held when the switch is in the normal state and released when the switch is in the operated state. The arrester bypass device can also include a second electrode positioned in line with the first electrode, wherein the first electrode contacts the second electrode when the switch is in the operated state. The arrester bypass device can further include a ground strap having a first end and a second end, where the first end is mechanically coupled to the plunger, and where the second end is mechanically coupled to an electrical ground.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An arrester bypass device, comprising:
a switch having a normal state and an operated state;
a plunger coupled to the switch, wherein the plunger has a suppressed position and an actuated position, wherein the plunger is held in the suppressed position when the switch is in the normal state, and wherein the plunger is released to the actuated position when the switch enters the operated state;
a first electrode mechanically coupled to a distal end of the plunger;
a second electrode positioned in line with the first electrode, wherein the second electrode is electrically coupled to a high voltage conductor and a high voltage terminal of an arrester, wherein the first electrode is separated from the second electrode when the switch is in the normal state, and wherein the first electrode contacts the second electrode when the switch is in the operated state; and
a first ground strap comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is electrically coupled to the first electrode, and wherein the second end is electrically coupled to an electrical ground and to the secondary terminal of the arrester,
wherein the switch changes to the operated state upon detecting a fault current flowing through the arrester,
wherein the fault current flows through the second electrode, the first electrode, and the first ground strap,
wherein the fault current bypasses the arrester and the switch when the plunger is in the actuated position, and
wherein the switch further comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the switch is electrically coupled to the electrical ground, wherein the second end of the switch is mechanically coupled to the plunger, wherein the first end of the switch and the second end of the switch physically separate from each other when the switch changes from the normal state to the operated state.

2. The arrester bypass device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing inside of which are disposed, at least, the plunger, the first electrode, and the second electrode, wherein the housing comprises at least one feature that guides the first electrode toward the second electrode when the switch changes to the operated state and the plunger is released.

3. The arrester bypass device of claim 2 , wherein the first electrode has a first magnetic polarity, wherein the second electrode has a second magnetic polarity, and wherein the first electrode, when the plunger is released by the switch, is attracted to the second electrode using the first magnetic polarity and the second magnetic polarity.

4. The arrester bypass device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a switch mechanism mechanically coupled to the switch, wherein at least a portion of the plunger is disposed within a housing of the switch mechanism when the plunger is in the suppressed position; and
a second ground strap electrically coupled to the first end of the switch and to the electrical ground.

5. The arrester bypass device of claim 4 , wherein the switch mechanism comprises a spring, wherein the spring is held under compression when the plunger is in the suppressed position, wherein spring is released when the switch changes to the operated state, and wherein the plunger moves into the actuated position by the spring when the spring is released.

6. The arrester bypass device of claim 4 , wherein the plunger remains in the actuated position, holding the first electrode against the second electrode, after the switch changes to the operated state.

7. The arrester bypass device of claim 1 , wherein the switch comprises a grading component, wherein the switch changes from the normal state to the operated state based on a voltage drop across the grading component.

8. The arrester bypass device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a trigger coupled to the switch and the plunger, wherein the switch changes from the normal state to the operated state based on a temperature of the switch by detonating when the temperature of the switch exceeds a threshold temperature, wherein the trigger separates into multiple pieces when the switch changes to the operated state, thereby releasing the plunger to the actuated position.

9. The arrester bypass device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is separated from the second electrode by a distance when the switch is in the normal state, wherein the distance exceeds an arc-over threshold distance between the first electrode and the second electrode.

10. The arrester bypass device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, the plunger, and the first ground strap are each sized to withstand the fault current.

11. A system for bypassing an arrester during a fault current, the system comprising:
the arrester comprising a high-voltage terminal and a secondary terminal;
an arrester bypass device mechanically coupled to the secondary terminal of the arrester, the arrester bypass device comprising:
a switch having a normal state and an operated state;
a plunger coupled to the switch, wherein the plunger has a suppressed position and an actuated position, wherein the plunger is held in the suppressed position when the switch is in the normal state, and wherein the plunger is released to the actuated position when the switch enters the operated state;
a first electrode mechanically coupled to a distal end of the plunger;
a second electrode positioned in line with the first electrode, wherein the second electrode is electrically coupled to a high voltage conductor and the high voltage terminal of the arrester, wherein the first electrode is separated from the second electrode when the switch is in the normal state, and wherein the first electrode contacts the second electrode when the switch is in the operated state; and
a ground strap comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the ground strap is electrically coupled to the first electrode, and wherein the second end of the ground strap is electrically coupled to an electrical ground and to the secondary terminal of the arrester,

wherein the switch changes to the operated state upon detecting the fault current flowing through the arrester,
wherein the fault current flows through the second electrode, the first electrode, and the ground strap of the arrester bypass device,
wherein the fault current bypasses the arrester and the switch when the plunger is in the actuated position, and
wherein the switch further comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the switch is electrically coupled to the electrical ground, wherein the second end of the switch is mechanically coupled to the plunger, wherein the first end of the switch and the second end of the switch physically separate from each other when the switch changes from the normal state to the operated state.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a trigger mechanically coupled to the switch and to the plunger, wherein when the switch is in the normal state the trigger maintains the plunger in a suppressed position, and wherein when the switch is in the operated state the trigger releases the plunger to an actuated position.

13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a linking device mechanically coupled to the plunger and to a switch mechanism, wherein the linking device traverses a slot in a housing of the switch mechanism when the plunger changes from a suppressed position to an actuated position.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second electrode is electrically coupled to a conductor through which the fault current travels.

Assignees

• Ramarge Michael M
• Martin Jeremy L
• Woodworth Jonathan J
• Smith Timothy S
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Ramarge Michael M
• Martin Jeremy L
• Woodworth Jonathan J
• Smith Timothy S

Classifications

• H01T4/08

  structurally associated with protected apparatus (with switches H01H9/14; with fuses H01H85/44) · CPC title

• H02H9/043

  Protection of over-voltage protection device by short-circuiting · CPC title

• H02H7/24

  for spark-gap arresters · CPC title

• H01H39/004 Primary

  Closing switches · CPC title

• H02G13/80 Primary

  Discharge by conduction or dissipation, e.g. rods, arresters, spark gaps · CPC title