Insulating cartridge for electrical contacts

Abstract

The invention relates to an insulating cartridge for electrically insulating contacts of medium- and high-voltage connectors. The cartridge is tubular and comprises a front portion and a rear portion that are separated by an internal partition comprising a passage designed to receive and retain an electrical terminal comprising an electrical contact. The cartridge also comprises an internal wall that projects frontwardly from the internal partition and an insulation sleeve designed to cover the inside of the insulating cartridge, the insulation sleeve comprising a front sleeve portion and a rear sleeve portion that are separated by a narrow portion.

Description

SPECIFICATION TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to the industry of medium- or high-voltage electrical connectors or plugs, such as those used in installations and equipment in the electromechanical, mining, manufacturing industries, among others. In particular, it provides a solution to improve the electrical insulation of such connectors or plugs. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Medium and high voltage plugs that use insulating cartridges to electrically isolate the metallic contacts housed inside are known in the prior art. These insulating cartridges are generally made of silicone through pressing, molding, or injection.

[0003] An example of this type of cartridge is disclosed in Chilean patent No. 50,380, which comprises a tubular body and a reinforcement zone at the interface between the cartridge and the insulating support. The cartridge also includes a depression on its outer surface configured to receive a reinforcing ring or bushing made of nylon or another polymer or insulating material to increase the mechanical strength of the silicone insulating cartridge and thus prevent the displacement of the contacts and consequently possible failures of the plug.

[0004] Although the solution described in the aforementioned patent effectively prevents the movement of electrical contacts inside the cartridge, minimizing failures in the plugs, the demands of the electrical industry require a constant increase in the electrical insulating capacity of medium-and high-voltage plugs to improve the safety of installations, people, and equipment.

[0005] It is therefore the objective of the present invention to provide an insulating cartridge for medium- and high-voltage plugs with improved electrical insulating capacity. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention consists of an insulating cartridge to electrically isolate contacts of medium- and high-voltage plugs. The cartridge has a tubular shape and comprises a front portion and a rear portion separated by an interior partition that includes a passage configured to receive and retain an electrical terminal that comprises an electrical contact. The cartridge also includes an inner wall that projects forward from the interior partition and an insulating sleeve configured to internally line the insulating cartridge, with said insulating sleeve comprising a front sleeve portion and a rear sleeve portion separated by a narrow portion.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the front sleeve portion internally lines the inner wall of the cartridge, the rear sleeve portion internally lines the rear wall of the cartridge, and the narrow portion internally lines the passage of the interior partition of the cartridge.

[0008] The fact that the cartridge includes an inner wall and is lined with an insulating sleeve allows for a significant increase in the insulating capacity of a connection between electrical contacts compared to prior art devices, as it incorporates a greater amount of insulating material around the contacts.

[0009] In this regard, in a mated connection of plugs, the electrical contacts inside insulating cartridges like those of the prior art are isolated only by the overlap of the walls of said cartridges, that is, by two layers of insulating material. In contrast, with the cartridge of the present invention, the connection of the electrical contacts is isolated by the overlap of the inner walls of the cartridge and by the overlap of the outer walls of the cartridge, that is, by four layers of insulating material, which doubles the insulating capacity of the single-wall cartridges of the prior art.

[0010] In addition to the above, the overlap of the front portions of the insulating sleeves adds two additional layers (six in total), which ultimately and advantageously triple the insulating capacity of the single-wall cartridges of the prior art.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the rear sleeve portion includes arc extinguishers at its rear end, which preferably consist of an arrangement of parallel segmented fin-shaped rings. These elements advantageously allow for the extinguishing of any electric arc that may originate within the insulation.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the cartridge may include a reinforcement sleeve that internally lines the front wall of the cartridge, which preferably has a tubular shape and is preferably made of silicone. Advantageously, the reinforcement sleeve adds a seventh layer of insulation to a connection of electrical contacts.

[0013] According to a first embodiment, the inner wall of the cartridge is cylindrical and is loosely spaced apart from the electrical contact.

[0014] According to a second embodiment, the inner wall of the cartridge is cylindrical and is closely spaced apart from the electrical contact.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the insulating cartridge is made from materials selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymers, silicones, and composite materials.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the insulating cartridge is made of thermoplastic polymers, which ensures a more rigid and secure coupling of the electrical contacts compared to silicone cartridges of the prior art, without requiring additional reinforcing rings or bushings.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the insulating sleeve is made of silicone, which provides excellent electrical insulation and the appropriate flexibility to be inserted into the insulating cartridge. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0018] As part of the application, the following figures representative of the invention are presented, which illustrate preferred configurations thereof and, therefore, should not be considered as limiting to the definition of the claimed subject matter. - Figure 1 illustrates insulating cartridges of the prior art for male and female plugs. - Figures 2a and 2b illustrate an insulating sleeve configured inside an insulating cartridge for male plugs. - Figures 3a and 3b illustrate an insulating sleeve configured inside an insulating cartridge for female plugs. - Figure 4a illustrates an example of application of the cartridge of the invention in a male plug. - Figure 4b illustrates an example of application of the cartridge of the invention in a female plug. - Figure 5 illustrates the connection of sets of male and female insulating cartridges in plugs like those of figures 4a and 4b. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Figure 1 shows cross-sectional views of insulating cartridges for electrical plugs of the prior art, particularly a male insulating cartridge 10 and a female insulating cartridge 20, which have a tubular shape and can be made in one piece and from some type of polymer such as thermoplastics, composite materials, or silicones. a male electrical terminal 1, such that the male electrical terminal 1 is housed inside the male insulating cartridge 10. The male electrical terminal 1 comprises a male electrical contact 2 at its end which is housed within the front portion 11 of the cartridge. The front portion 11 further comprises a cylindrical inner wall 15 that projects forward from the interior partition 13 and which is loosely spaced apart from the male electrical contact 2.

[0021] On the other hand, the female insulating cartridge 20 comprises a front portion 21 and a rear portion 22 separated by an interior partition 23 which has a passage 24 configured to receive and retain a female electrical terminal 3, such that the female electrical terminal 3 is housed inside the female insulating cartridge 20. The female electrical terminal 3 comprises a female electrical contact 4 at its end which is housed within the front portion 21 of the cartridge. The front portion 21 further comprises a cylindrical inner wall 25 that projects forward from the interior partition 23 and which is closely spaced apart from the female electrical contact 4.

[0022] According to Figure 2a, the male insulating cartridge 10 is configured to receive therein a male insulating sleeve 30 having a tubular shape and preferably made of silicone.

[0023] As observed in more detail in Figure 2b, the male insulating sleeve 30 comprises a front sleeve portion 31 with a cylindrical shape and a rear sleeve portion 32 with a tapered end, both portions being separated by a narrow portion 33 with a cylindrical shape and reduced diameter. Thus, the front sleeve portion 31 internally lines the inner wall of the cartridge, the rear sleeve portion 32 internally lines the rear wall of the cartridge, and the narrow portion 33 internally lines the passage of the interior partition of the cartridge.

[0024] Additionally, the rear sleeve portion 32 comprises at its rear end arc extinguishers 34 which consist of an arrangement of parallel segmented fin-shaped rings.

[0025] Continuing with Figure 3a, the female insulating cartridge 20 is configured to receive therein a female insulating sleeve 40 and a reinforcement sleeve 50 having a tubular shape and preferably made of silicone.

[0026] As observed in more detail in Figure 3b, the female insulating sleeve 40 comprises a front sleeve portion 41 with a cylindrical shape and a rear sleeve portion 42 with a tapered end, both portions being separated by a narrow portion 43 with a cylindrical shape and reduced diameter. Thus, the front sleeve portion 41 internally lines the inner wall of the cartridge, the rear sleeve portion 42 internally lines the rear wall of the cartridge, and the narrow portion 43 internally lines the passage of the interior partition of the cartridge. In turn, the reinforcement sleeve 50 internally lines the front wall of the cartridge.

[0027] Additionally, the rear sleeve portion 42 comprises at its rear end arc extinguishers 44, which consist of an arrangement of parallel segmented fin-shaped rings.

[0028] Figure 4a illustrates a prior-art three-phase male plug connector 100 for voltages between 5 and 35 kV, where each of its terminals has an insulating cartridge with a male insulating sleeve 30 as described above.

[0029] On the other hand, Figure 4b illustrates a prior-art three-phase female plug panel 200 for voltages between 5 and 35 kV, where each of its terminals has an insulating cartridge with a female insulating sleeve 40 and a reinforcement sleeve 50 as described above.

[0030] Finally, Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the three-phase male plug connector 100 connected to the three-phase female plug panel 200 (with its terminals not illustrated) as illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b, showing the insulation mechanism obtained by the insulating cartridges of the present invention. In this regard, it is observed how the female front sleeve portion 41 is inserted into the male front sleeve portion 31 and how the reinforcement sleeve 50 surrounds this connection, resulting in three additional layers of electrical insulation, in addition to the four layers provided by the overlap of the walls of the insulating cartridges themselves.

Claims

1. An insulating cartridge for electrically isolating contacts of medium- and high-voltage plugs, which has a tubular shape and comprises:a front portion (11, 21) and a rear portion (12, 22) separated by an interior partition (13, 23) that comprises a passage (14, 24) configured to receive and retain an electrical terminal comprising an electrical contact;CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises an inner wall (15, 25) that projects forward from the interior partition (13, 23); andin that it comprises an insulating sleeve configured to internally line the insulating cartridge, said insulating sleeve comprising a front sleeve portion (31, 41) and a rear sleeve portion (32, 42) separated by a narrow portion (33, 43).

2. The insulating cartridge according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the front sleeve portion (31, 41) internally lines the inner wall (15, 25) of the cartridge;the rear sleeve portion (32, 42) internally lines the rear wall (12, 22) of the cartridge; andthe narrow portion (33, 43) internally lines the passage (14, 24) of the interior partition (13, 23) of the cartridge.

3. The insulating cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, CHARACTERIZED in that the rear sleeve portion (32, 42) comprises arc extinguishers (34, 44) at its rear end.

4. The insulating cartridge according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED in that the arc extinguishers (34, 44) consist of an arrangement of parallel segmented fin-shaped rings.

5. The insulating cartridge according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises a reinforcement sleeve (50) that internally lines the front wall (21) of the cartridge.

6. The insulating cartridge according to claim 5, CHARACTERIZED in that the reinforcement sleeve (50) has a tubular shape.

7. The insulating cartridge according to claim 5 or 6, CHARACTERIZED in that the reinforcement sleeve (50) is made of silicone.

8. The insulating cartridge according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that the inner wall (15, 25) has a cylindrical shape.

9. The insulating cartridge according to claim 8, CHARACTERIZED in that the inner wall (15) is loosely spaced apart from the electrical contact.

10. The insulating cartridge according to claim 8, CHARACTERIZED in that the inner wall (25) is closely spaced apart from the electrical contact.

11. The insulating cartridge according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that it is made from materials selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymers, silicones, and composite materials.

12. The insulating cartridge according to any of the preceding claims, CHARACTERIZED in that the insulating sleeve is made of silicone.

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