Insulating Receptacle With Test Point

Abstract

A receptacle in the form of a dummy receptacle for insulating, shielding and providing a watertight seal at an open bushing, the receptacle being provided with a capped test point and a bail which straddles the test point, the bail and the test point cap being so located relative to one another as to be gripped simultaneously with a hot-stick for removal of the cap and exposure of the test point and for installation and removal of the receptacle.

Description

The present invention relates generally to electrical power distribution systems and pertains, more specifically, to an insulating receptacle which can be installed upon a high voltage bushing for insulating, shielding and providing a water-tight seal at the bushing and which is provided with a test point for determining whether or not the bushing is active.

Underground electrical power distribution systems are becoming more prevalent in industrial, commercial and residential areas. As such systems become more widespread, various devices are being developed to facilitate the installation, use and maintenance of these systems. Among these devices are receptacles such as elbows and other insulated components constructed for engagement with the terminals of electrical apparatus employed in electrical power distribution systems. One device which is simple and is widely used in such systems is an insulating cover, known as a dummy receptacle, which is employed to cap or cover an unused terminal, such as a high voltage bushing found at a terminal of a power distribution transformer or other apparatus. When no connection is to be made to a specific terminal, or bushing, a dummy receptacle is installed over the bushing, in place of an actual receptacle, such as an elbow or another connector, to cover what otherwise would be an exposed terminal and thereby insulate, shield and seal the terminal to eliminate possible hazards. In the interest of safety, it is necessary to determine that the bushing is de-energized before the dummy receptacle is removed. Even after such a determination has been made, it is desirable to manipulate the dummy receptacle from a safe distance using an insulating tool, called a "hot-stick."

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a receptacle having a test point, or voltage detection point, which is ordinarily capped, for safety, but which can be uncapped and exposed for test purposes with ease through the use of a conventional hot-stick.

Another object of the invention is to provide an insulating cover, known as a dummy receptacle, for an open bushing, which dummy receptacle is manipulated readily with a hot-stick.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method by which a receptacle such as a dummy receptacle easily is installed or removed from an apparatus bushing using a conventional hot-stick.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle having a normally enclosed test point which can be exposed for test purposes utilizing a method which calls for minimum manipulation of a conventional hot-stick.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle having a normally enclosed test point, the receptacle being constructed for ease of exposure of the test point and subsequent removal of the receptacle from an apparatus bushing with a method employing minimal manipulation of a conventional hot-stick.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and inexpensive to use.

The above objects, as well as still further objects and advantages, are attained by the invention which may be described briefly as providing, in a receptacle for installation on a high voltage bushing, the receptacle having a longitudinally extending body, a bail, a test point and a test point cap covering the test point, which receptacle is installed and removed by means of a hot-stick having a hook at one end thereof, the improvement comprising laterally extending pivot means affixed to the body and the bail such that the bail may be moved about a lateral axis provided by the pivot means, the test point cap having a hook-receiving means positioned relative to the bail such that the hook-receiving means and the bail will be captured simultaneously by the hot-stick hook to thereby enable the test point cap to be removed and pivoted away from the test point to permit an electrical measurement to be made at the test point.

The invention will be more fully understood, while still further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent, in the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, mostly cut away, of a receptacle constructed in accordance with the invention, installed upon an apparatus bushing and about to be engaged by a conventional hot-stick;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the receptacle, now engaged by the hot-stick, and showing how the test point thereof is exposed for test purposes; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the receptacle as it is being removed from an apparatus bushing.

Referring now to the drawing, and especially to FIG. 1 thereof, a receptacle constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated in the form of a dummy receptacle 10 and is seen to be installed upon a high voltage terminal shown in the form of an apparatus bushing 12 projecting upwardly from the outer casing of the apparatus 14.

Apparatus bushing 12 has an outer shell 16 of dielectric material within which there is a conductive element 18 connected, through an internal connection, to a lead of the apparatus 14. A threaded stud 20 is provided at the terminal end 22 of the element 18 to enable electrical connection of a receptacle such as an elbow or another connector (not shown) which ordinarily would be engaged with the bushing 12 in a power distribution system.

In this instance, the external circuit to bushing 12 has been disconnected and, in order to eliminate the hazards of an exposed terminal end 22, dummy receptacle 10 has been installed over bushing 12 to effectively insulate, shield and provide a water-tight seal at the bushing. Bushing 12 may or may not be energized, or active.

Dummy receptacle 10 has a body in the form of a housing 24 extending longitudinally from a base 26 upwardly to a top 28 and includes a cup-like inner member 30, preferably constructed of an insulating elastomer and an integral outer member 32, preferably formed of a conductive elastomer. The conductive outer member 32 provides an electrical shield over the bushing 12, while the housing encloses and insulates the conductive element 18 of the bushing and provides a watertight seal. Preferably, the inner member 30 and the outer member 32 are molded in an integral construction, in a manner now well known in the fabrication of electrical connectors. A threaded hole 34 extends into an insert 36 of conductive elastomer and engages the threaded stud 20 to secure the dummy receptacle 10 in place upon bushing 12.

A test point in the form of voltage detection point 40 is located at the top 28 of the housing 24 and includes an internal electrode 42 embedded within inner member 30 and capacitively coupled to conductive insert 36 and an external electrode 43 consisting of a washer 44 and a screw 45 threaded into internal electrode 42. A cap 46 of conductive elastomer normally covers the otherwise exposed external electrode 43 and effectively continues the shield provided by outer member 32. The cap 46 is provided with an upwardly extending pulling eye 50 for removing the cap 46 as described in detail below.

In order to enable manipulation of the dummy receptacle 10, a bail 54 is affixed to the housing 24 adjacent the top 28 thereof. The bail 54 includes a pair of legs 56 which engage a corresponding pair of opposed laterally extending tabs 58 anchored in the housing 24, such that the bail 54 may be moved about a lateral pivotal axis 60 provided by the opposite tabs 58. When the bail 54 is in an upright position, that is, when the bail is aligned longitudinally relative to the housing 24, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the legs 56 straddle the voltage detection point 40 and extend upwardly above the voltage detection cap 46 to an uppermost portion 62 of the bail 54.

Turning now to FIG. 2, as well as to FIG. 1, when it is desired to determine whether or not the bushing 12 is active, or energized, cap 46 is removed and the electrode 43 is exposed so that a test meter (not shown) can be applied to the electrode. Since the apparatus 14 may be energized, the test procedure is best performed with a conventional hot-stick 64.

Hot-stick 64 has a hook 66 at one end 68 thereof, which hook 66 ordinarily is biased to an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The hot-stick 64 is rotated 90.degree. from the position shown in FIG. 1 so that the hook 66 can be passed simultaneously through the bail 54 and the eye 50 in cap 46. Upon retraction of the hook 66 toward the sleeve 70 of the hot-stick, the hook 66 will close, as seen in FIG. 2, simultaneously capturing the eye 50 of the cap 46 and the uppermost portion 62 of the bail 54 within the loop of the closed hook 66. The cap 46 can then be removed from the housing 24 by swinging the hot-stick 64, together with the captured bail 54 and cap 46, about axis 60, causing cap 46 to peel away from external electrode 43 and thereby exposing test point 40, as seen in FIG. 2. An appropriate meter can now be lowered to engage the electrode and provide the desired information.

Since the cap 46 is captured between the legs 56 of the bail 54, and the hot-stick 64 is affixed to the bail, it becomes a simple matter to replace the cap if so desired. The hot-stick need merely be drawn back to the position where the bail is upright and the cap is automatically in position to be replaced over the external electrode 43. The hot-stick hook 66 is then partially extended and pushed downwardly to effect replacement of the cap.

If the meter has shown that the bushing 12 is inactive, or de-energized, and it is desired to remove the dummy receptacle 10 from the bushing without replacing cap 46, the hot-stick 64, together with the captured bail 54 and cap 46, is moved back to the position where the bail is upright. The uppermost portion 62 of the bail is fabricated so as to engage a complementary transverse slot 72 in the end 68 of the hot-stick in a manner which will preclude rocking of the bail relative to the hot-stick and will enable rotation of the bail about a longitudinal axis 74 in response to rotation of the hot-stick about that axis. Hence, rotation of the hot-stick about axis 74 will release threaded stud 20 from threaded hole 34. Once the threaded connection is released, the hot-stick may be drawn upwardly to remove the dummy receptacle 10 completely from the bushing 12. Alternately, the hot-stick may be drawn upwardly without rotation to release threaded stud 20 from threaded hole 34, in which instance the resiliency of the elastomeric material of insert 36 will enable removal of the dummy receptacle 10. If it is desired to replace cap 46 over external electrode 43 prior to removal of dummy receptacle 10, cap 46 may be replaced as described above, and then hook 66 of the hot-stick 64 is again retracted to engage portion 62 of bail 54 in slot 72, the resilient nature of the material of cap 46 enabling eye 50 to stretch and accommodate such retraction of the hook 66. Installation or removal of the dummy receptacle with the cap 46 in place over the electrode 43 also may be accomplished readily by merely capturing the bail 54 alone within the hook 66 of the hot-stick.

It will be seen that the relative location of the electrode 43, cap 46 and bail 54, together with the configuration of the bail, enables installation and removal of the dummy receptacle, as well as the necessary testing, to be accomplished with ease and with a minimum amount of manipulation of a hot-stick. While in the above detailed description of a preferred embodiment, the illustrated receptacle is a dummy receptacle, it will be apparent that the described relative location of electrode, cap and bail, together with the bail configuration, may be utilized to similar advantage in other types of receptacles.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description of an embodiment of the invention is provided by way of example only. Various details of design and construction may be modified without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a receptacle for installation on a high voltage bushing, the receptacle having a longitudinally extending body, a bail, a test point and a test point cap covering the test point, which receptacle is installed and removed by means of a hot-stick having a hook at one end thereof, the improvement comprising:

laterally extending pivot means affixed to the body and the bail such that the bail may be moved about a lateral axis provided by the pivot means;

the test point cap having hook-receiving means positioned relative to the bail such that the hook-receiving means and the bail will be captured simultaneously by the hot-stick hook to thereby enable the test point cap to be removed and pivoted away from the test point to permit an electrical measurement to be made at the test point.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the hook-receiving means is in alignment with the bail when the bail is positioned in longitudinal alignment with the body.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the hot-stick hook is capable of being retracted into said one end of the hot-stick and at least a portion of the bail, where the bail is grasped by the hook, is complementary to a portion of said one end of the hot-stick such that upon retraction of the hook, the bail will be captured in said one end and affixed thereto against rotation and rocking movement relative to the hot-stick.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein the receptacle is installed and removed by rotational and longitudinal movement of the receptacle relative to the bushing, the body extends longitudinally from a base upwardly to a top, said test point is located in said top, said test point cap extends upwardly at said top and the bail straddles the test point cap and extends upwardly to a top portion.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the hook-receiving means of the test point cap is at the top of said test point cap and is located adjacent the top portion of the bail.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the hot-stick hook is capable of being retracted into said one end of the hot-stick and at least the top portion of the bail is complementary to a portion of said one end of the hot-stick such that upon retraction of the hook the bail will be captured in said one end and affixed thereto against rotation and rocking movement relative to the hot-stick, thereby coupling the receptacle with the hot-stick for effective rotational and longitudinal movement relative to the bushing.

7. The method for determining if a high voltage bushing is active while the bushing is engaged with a receptacle, the receptacle having a longitudinally extending body, a bail, a test point and a test point cap covering the test point, which receptacle is installed and removed by means of a hot-stick having a hook at one end thereof, the test point cap having hook-receiving means, the receptacle further having laterally extending pivot means affixed to the body and the bail such that the bail may be moved about a lateral axis provided by the pivot means to a position relative to the hook-receiving means such that the hook-receiving means and the bail can be captured simultaneously by the hot-stick hook, said method comprising:

positioning the bail essentially in said position relative to the hook-receiving means;

capturing the hook-receiving means and the bail simultaneously in the hot-stick hook;

retracting the hook relative to the bail; and

laterally displacing the hot-stick to swing the bail and the test point cap about the lateral axis and thereby expose the test point to permit an electrical measurement to be made at the test point.

8. The invention of claim 7 including:

laterally displacing the hot-stick to return the bail and the test point cap to the position wherein the bail is essentially in longitudinal alignment with the body; and

advancing the hot-stick hook, relative to the bail, to replace the test point cap over the test point.

9. The method for removing a receptacle from a high voltage bushing, including first determining if the high voltage bushing is active while the bushing is engaged with the receptacle, the receptacle having a longitudinally extending body, a bail, a test point and a test point cap covering the test point, which receptacle is installed and removed by means of a hot-stick having a hook at one end thereof, the test point cap having hook-receiving means, the receptacle further having laterally extending pivot means affixed to the body and the bail such that the bail may be moved about a lateral axis provided by the pivot means to a position relative to the hook-receiving means such that the hook-receiving means and the bail can be captured simultaneously by the hot-stick hook, said method comprising:

positioning the bail essentially in said position relative to the hook-receiving means;

capturing the hook-receiving means and the bail simultaneously in the hot-stick hook;

retracting the hook relative to the bail;

laterally displacing the hot-stick to swing the bail and the test point cap about the lateral axis and thereby expose the test point to permit an electrical measurement to be made at the test point;

laterally displacing the hot-stick to return the bail and the test point cap to the position wherein the bail is essentially in longitudinal alignment with the body; and

moving the hot-stick in the direction away from the bushing to pull the receptacle from the bushing.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein a threaded connection interconnects the receptacle and the bushing and the hot-stick is rotated to rotate the receptacle as the hot-stick is moved in said direction away from the bushing.