Adaptive gap lightning protection hardware insulator

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of power system lightning protection technology discloses a kind of self-adapting gap lightning protection hardware insulator, including pole core, the insulating umbrella skirt being set on pole core and the upper hardware and lower hardware being respectively installed in both ends of pole core, the upper hardware is equipped with upper arc leading stick;The lower hardware is equipped with air pressure driving assembly;When using the device, through the air pressure sensitive self-adapting adjustment design, unnecessary flashover caused by too small gap in routine operation is avoided, and in lightning scene, arc leading stick is preferentially discharged to avoid ablation conductor and insulating umbrella skirt;Meanwhile, guiding sleeve guarantees that lower arc leading stick moves stably, flow guide pole ensures that potential is stable, phosphor bronze material inflatable bellows and copper alloy arc leading stick guarantee structure durability, overall have the advantages of high reliability, strong adaptability, long service life, applicable to various outdoor power line lightning protection scene.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of power system lightning protection technology, specifically to an adaptive gap lightning protection insulator. Background Technology

[0002] In outdoor power lines, lightning protection insulators are the first line of defense for power grid safety. Their core principle involves connecting a set of arc-starting rods in parallel next to the insulator. Through a pre-set fixed air gap, these rods preferentially break down and discharge during lightning overvoltage, guiding the massive lightning current to the ground, thus protecting the more valuable conductors and the insulator itself from arc erosion.

[0003] However, this "fixed gap" design contains an inherent contradiction. To ensure that flashovers are not mistakenly triggered by wind, vibration, or minor overvoltages during daily operation, thus preventing unnecessary line tripping, the gap distance must be set large enough. But this conservative design creates a hidden danger during thunderstorms, when protection is most needed. This is because the breakdown voltage of the air gap is not constant; it decreases significantly with increasing humidity and lower air pressure. Before a thunderstorm, the breakdown voltage of the fixed gap has already naturally decreased due to weather conditions. If its value is still higher than the flashover voltage of the insulator, the lightning current will not choose the arc-igniting rod but will directly break down the insulator skirts, leading to equipment damage and power outages. Traditional solutions are caught in a dilemma between "preventing false trips" and "ensuring proper operation," unable to intelligently adjust according to weather conditions, resulting in uncertain protection effectiveness and limiting further improvements in line reliability. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this utility model is to provide an adaptive gap lightning protection insulator to solve the problems mentioned in the background art, such as the difficulty in simultaneously preventing daily malfunctions and lightning strike protection, and the inability of the fixed gap to be adaptively adjusted, which leads to unreliable protection.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: an adaptive gap lightning protection insulator, comprising a pole core, insulating skirts disposed on the pole core, and upper and lower fittings respectively installed at both ends of the pole core. The upper fitting is equipped with an upper arc-guiding rod; the lower fitting is equipped with a pneumatic drive assembly; the pneumatic drive assembly includes a sealed inflatable bellows, a return spring, and a lower arc-guiding rod; the inflatable bellows is encapsulated with inert gas at a predetermined pressure; the spring force of the return spring is opposite to the expansion direction of the inflatable bellows; the upper end of the inflatable bellows is connected to the lower arc-guiding rod.

[0006] Preferably, the pneumatic drive assembly further includes a guide sleeve and an insulating rod; the insulating rod is axially movable inside the guide sleeve, with its upper end connected to the lower arc-guiding rod and its lower end connected to the upper end of the inflatable bellows; the opening of the guide sleeve is provided with an inwardly protruding shoulder; the return spring is sleeved outside the insulating rod, with one end limited by a retaining ring which is restricted below the shoulder of the guide sleeve, and the other end limited by a limiting ring fixedly installed on the insulating rod.

[0007] Preferably, the upper arc-drawing rod has a downwardly extending conical head at its end; the lower arc-drawing rod has an upwardly extending end, and its end is arranged coaxially opposite to the conical head, together forming a pair of discharge electrodes.

[0008] Preferably, the outer wall of the lower arc-drawing rod is provided with a guide rod, the lower end of which is fixedly connected to the lower hardware, and the upper end is provided with a sliding head. The sliding head slides in cooperation with the groove opened on the outer wall of the lower arc-drawing rod to ensure that the lower arc-drawing rod always maintains the same potential as the lower hardware during the movement.

[0009] Preferably, the lower end of the inflatable corrugated tube is fixed to the bottom of the guide sleeve or the lower hardware, and its upper end is fixedly connected to the lower end of the limiting ring or the insulating rod.

[0010] Preferably, the inflatable corrugated pipe is made of phosphor bronze; the upper arc-drawing rod and the lower arc-drawing rod are made of copper alloy.

[0011] This utility model has the following beneficial effects: This invention employs a pressure-sensitive adaptive adjustment design, which avoids unnecessary flashovers caused by excessively small gaps during daily operation, and ensures that the arc-starting rod discharges preferentially in lightning strike scenarios to prevent the ablation of conductors and insulating skirts. At the same time, the guide sleeve ensures stable movement of the lower arc-starting rod, the current-conducting rod ensures stable potential, and the phosphor bronze inflatable corrugated pipe and copper alloy arc-starting rod ensure structural durability. Overall, it has the advantages of high reliability, strong adaptability, and long service life, and is suitable for various outdoor power line lightning protection scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0012] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below.

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of an adaptive gap lightning protection insulator according to the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the upper arc-drawing rod in an adaptive gap lightning protection insulator according to this utility model; Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the pneumatic drive assembly and the lower arc-leading rod in an adaptive gap lightning protection insulator according to this utility model. Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the pneumatic drive assembly and the lower arc-leading rod in an adaptive gap lightning protection insulator according to this utility model.

[0014] In the diagram: 1. Rod core; 2. Insulating umbrella skirt; 3. Upper fitting; 4. Lower fitting; 5. Upper arc-guiding rod; 6. Pneumatic drive assembly; 7. Lower arc-guiding rod; 8. Guide rod; 10. Conical head; 11. Slide groove; 61. Insulating rod; 62. Guide sleeve; 63. Retaining ring; 64. Return spring; 65. Limiting ring; 66. Inflatable bellows. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0016] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0017] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances. Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of this utility model described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0018] Reference Figures 1 to 4A preferred embodiment of this utility model includes a pole core 1, an insulating skirt 2 disposed on the pole core 1, and upper fittings 3 and lower fittings 4 respectively installed at both ends of the pole core 1. The upper fitting 3 is equipped with an upper arc-guiding rod 5; the lower fitting 4 is equipped with a pneumatic drive assembly 6. The pneumatic drive assembly 6 includes a sealed inflatable bellows 66, a return spring 64, and a lower arc-guiding rod 7. The inflatable bellows 66 is internally encapsulated with inert gas at a predetermined pressure. The spring force direction of the return spring 64 is opposite to the expansion direction of the inflatable bellows 66. The upper end of the inflatable bellows 66 is connected to the lower arc-guiding rod 7. In this adaptive gap lightning protection insulator, the pole core 1 provides overall structural support, and the insulating skirt 2 provides insulation. The upper fitting 3 is a clamping structure used to fix the high-voltage line and install the upper arc-guiding rod 5. The lower fitting 4 is similar to a flange structure and can be installed on a pole or tower, while also being equipped with the pneumatic drive assembly 6. Under normal weather conditions, the gas inside the inflatable bellows 66 of the pneumatic drive assembly 6 maintains a balance with the elastic force of the return spring 64, ensuring that the upper arc-leading rod 5 and the lower arc-leading rod 7 maintain a preset air gap to prevent accidental flashover caused by low voltage. When thunderstorms occur, the ambient air pressure decreases, and the gas inside the inflatable bellows 66 expands relatively. The thrust overcomes the elastic force of the return spring 64, causing it to extend, which in turn moves the lower arc-leading rod 7 closer to the upper arc-leading rod 5, reducing the air gap and lowering the operating voltage. This ensures that the arc-leading rod discharges preferentially during a lightning strike, preventing the conductor and insulating skirt 2 from burning. Once the environment returns to normal and the air pressure rises, the gas inside the inflatable bellows 66 contracts, and the return spring 64 uses its own elastic force to pull it back to its original position, simultaneously causing the lower arc-leading rod 7 to return to its initial position. The air gap returns to its original size, restoring the normal anti-flashover state.

[0019] The pneumatic drive assembly 6 also includes core components such as a guide sleeve 62 and an insulating rod 61. The guide sleeve 62 has a hollow cylindrical structure and is made of high-strength insulating material (such as epoxy resin or polytetrafluoroethylene). This material system has excellent insulation performance and mechanical strength, and can maintain structural stability over a wide temperature range, effectively avoiding insulation failure and mechanical deformation under harsh outdoor conditions. The lower end face of the guide sleeve 62 is fixedly installed on the upper end face of the lower fitting 4, and its open end faces vertically toward the upper fitting 3, serving as a motion guide mechanism for the insulating rod 61. The inflatable bellows 66 is installed inside the guide sleeve 62, and its lower end is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the guide sleeve 62, thereby constraining the deformation direction of the inflatable bellows 66. The inner side of the open end of the guide sleeve 62 is provided with an annular shoulder structure. The insulating rod 61 is the core transmission component, and its lower part is nested in the inner cavity of the guide sleeve 62 to form a sliding fit, allowing axial displacement along the inner wall of the guide sleeve 62. The upper end face of the insulating rod 61 is rigidly connected to the lower end face of the lower arc-guiding rod 7. The lower end face of the insulating rod 61 is fixed to the upper end of the inflatable bellows 66. A retaining ring 63 is fitted onto the shoulder structure of the guide sleeve 62. A limiting ring 65, which fits against the inner wall of the guide sleeve 62, is fixedly connected to the lower end face of the insulating rod 61. The lower end face of the limiting ring 65 abuts against the upper end face of the inflatable bellows 66. A return spring 64 is fitted onto the outside of the insulating rod 61 in a pre-compressed state, forming an elastic return system. Its upper end is axially limited by the retaining ring 63, which forms a rigid contact with the shoulder of the guide sleeve 62. Its lower end abuts against the limiting ring 65 fixed to the lower end face of the insulating rod 61. The limiting ring 65 forms an integrated structure with the insulating rod 61 through a keyway or interference fit. This assembly method allows the preload of the return spring 64 to be transmitted to the insulating rod 61 through the retaining ring 63 and the limiting ring 65, forming a stable axial constraint force on the lower arc-drawing rod 7.

[0020] The guide sleeve 62 and the insulating rod 61 form a precision guide pair. Through a reasonable fit clearance, motion precision control is achieved, ensuring that the radial offset of the lower arc-drawing rod 7 remains at a low level. This reduces the offset of the lower arc-drawing rod 7 during extension and retraction, meeting the clearance adjustment precision requirements. The inflatable bellows 66 pushes the insulating rod 61, thereby driving the lower arc-drawing rod 7 to move, forming a series force chain structure. The shoulder of the guide sleeve 62 provides a fixed support point for the return spring 64 by limiting the axial position of the retaining ring 63; the elastic potential energy of the return spring 64 is converted into the return driving force of the insulating rod 61 through the limiting ring 65. The working principle is based on the gas expansion characteristics: when the ambient air pressure decreases, the gas inside the inflatable bellows 66 expands, generating axial thrust. This thrust overcomes the elastic resistance of the reset spring 64, driving the insulating rod 61 upward. Energy is stored by compressing the spring through the limiting ring 65, simultaneously moving the lower arc-guiding rod 7 towards the preset discharge position, dynamically reducing the gap distance. After the ambient air pressure recovers, the spring releases its elastic potential energy, pushing the limiting ring 65 downward, achieving the reset movement of the insulating rod 61 and the lower arc-guiding rod 7. This adaptive adjustment mechanism ensures timely response to gap changes, minimizes reset errors, and effectively reduces the probability of lightning flashover.

[0021] The upper arc-drawing rod 5 has a downward-extending conical head 10 at its end; the lower arc-drawing rod 7 extends upward at its end, and its end is coaxially arranged opposite to the conical head 10, together forming a pair of discharge electrodes. This adaptive gap lightning protection insulator forms a pair of discharge electrodes by setting a downward-extending conical head 10 at the end of the upper arc-drawing rod 5 and making the end of the lower arc-drawing rod 7 extend upward and be coaxially arranged opposite to the conical head 10. Under normal weather conditions, the coaxially arranged electrodes cooperate with the preset air gap to prevent daily low-voltage flashover. When the ambient air pressure decreases, the lower arc-drawing rod 7 moves towards the conical head 10 to reduce the air gap. The structure of the conical head 10 can optimize the electric field distribution between the two electrodes, making the electric field more concentrated, further reducing the operating voltage, ensuring that the arc-drawing rod discharges preferentially during lightning strikes, and avoiding the burning of the conductor and insulating skirt 2. After the environment recovers, the gap returns to its original size, and the coaxial structure of the conical head 10 and the lower arc-drawing rod 7 can still maintain a stable electric field and continue to prevent daily flashover.

[0022] The outer wall of the lower arc-guiding rod 7 is provided with a guide rod 8. The lower end of the guide rod 8 is fixedly connected to the lower fitting 4, and the upper end is provided with a sliding head. The sliding head slides and engages with the groove 11 opened on the outer wall of the lower arc-guiding rod 7 to ensure that the lower arc-guiding rod 7 always maintains the same potential as the lower fitting 4 during the movement. This adaptive gap surge protector insulator features a guide rod 8 on the outer wall of the lower arc rod 7. The lower end of the guide rod 8 is fixedly connected to the lower fitting 4, ensuring that the guide rod 8 and the lower fitting 4 are at the same potential. The sliding head at the upper end of the guide rod 8 slides in conjunction with the groove 11 on the outer wall of the lower arc rod 7. When the ambient air pressure decreases and the lower arc rod 7 moves closer to the upper arc rod 5, the sliding head can slide synchronously along the groove 11. This not only does not hinder the gap adjustment action of the lower arc rod 7, but also ensures that the lower arc rod 7 remains at the same potential as the lower fitting 4 during its movement. This avoids the discharge effect being affected by the potential difference or causing additional electric field interference, ensuring the reliable realization of the priority discharge function, and preventing unnecessary flashovers during daily operation.

[0023] The lower end of the inflatable bellows 66 is fixed to the bottom of the guide sleeve 62 or the lower fitting 4, and its upper end is fixedly connected to the lower end of the limiting ring 65 or the insulating rod 61. This adaptive gap lightning protection insulator provides a stable installation foundation for the inflatable bellows 66 by fixing its lower end to the bottom of the guide sleeve 62 or the lower fitting 4, preventing radial displacement or loosening during expansion or contraction caused by changes in ambient air pressure. The fixed connection between the upper end of the inflatable bellows 66 and the lower end of the limiting ring 65 or the insulating rod 61 ensures that when the ambient air pressure decreases, the thrust generated by the relative expansion inside the inflatable bellows 66 can be stably transmitted to the limiting ring 65 or the insulating rod 61, thereby driving the insulating rod 61 and the lower arc-guiding rod 7 to move precisely to reduce the gap. After the environment recovers, the inflatable bellows 66 can contract synchronously with the reset of the limiting ring 65 or the insulating rod 61, ensuring the effectiveness of gap adjustment and the reliability of reset, thus achieving the functions of preventing accidental flashover and preferential discharge.

[0024] The inflatable corrugated tube 66 is made of phosphor bronze; the upper arc-guiding rod 5 and the lower arc-guiding rod 7 are made of copper alloy. In this adaptive gap lightning protection insulator, the inflatable corrugated tube 66 is made of phosphor bronze, which has good elasticity, weather resistance and sealing performance. It can maintain structural stability and prevent gas leakage under alternating temperature, humidity and air pressure changes in thunderstorms and normal weather. It ensures that the internal gas can effectively expand relative to the ground when the ambient air pressure decreases, overcoming the elastic force of the return spring 64 to push the lower arc-guiding rod 7 to move. The upper arc-guiding rod 5 and the lower arc-guiding rod 7 are made of copper alloy. Copper alloy has excellent conductivity and can quickly conduct current during lightning strikes, ensuring that the arc-guiding rod discharges preferentially and avoiding the burning of the conductor and insulating skirt 2. At the same time, the mechanical strength and corrosion resistance of copper alloy can ensure the long-term stable operation of the arc-guiding rod and prevent abnormal gaps caused by component damage during daily operation, thereby avoiding unnecessary flashover.

[0025] During implementation, in normal weather standby mode, the equipment's overall structure is supported by the core rod 1, and insulation is achieved by the insulating skirt 2. At this time, the ambient air pressure is stable, the gas encapsulated within the inflatable bellows 66 is balanced with the elastic force of the return spring 64, and the upper arc-guiding rod 5 and lower arc-guiding rod 7 maintain a preset air gap, preventing accidental flashover caused by daily low voltage. Simultaneously, the sliding head at the upper end of the guide rod 8 fits along the groove 11 of the lower arc-guiding rod 7, ensuring that the lower arc-guiding rod 7 and the lower fitting 4 are always at the same potential, while the guide sleeve 62 restricts the position of the insulating rod 61, preventing component displacement.

[0026] During the thunderstorm interval adjustment phase: When a thunderstorm arrives, the ambient air pressure decreases, and the gas inside the inflatable bellows 66 expands relatively, generating a thrust that overcomes the elastic force of the return spring 64. The expanding bellows 66 pushes the insulating rod 61 axially upward along the guide sleeve 62, and the insulating rod 61 drives the lower arc-leading rod 7 to synchronously approach the upper arc-leading rod 5, reducing the gap between them. At this time, the conical head 10 of the upper arc-leading rod 5 is coaxially aligned with the lower arc-leading rod 7, optimizing the electric field distribution and further reducing the operating voltage.

[0027] Lightning discharge protection stage: When lightning strikes, the narrowed gap is quickly broken down, and the arc-starting rod discharges preferentially, discharging the lightning energy through the upper fitting 3 and the lower fitting 4 to avoid burning the conductor and the insulating skirt 2.

[0028] During the environmental recovery and reset phase, after the thunderstorm ends, the ambient air pressure rises, the gas inside the inflatable bellows 66 cools and contracts, the reset spring 64 releases its elastic force, pushing the limit ring 65 and the insulating rod 61 downward, causing the lower arc-starting rod 7 and the inflatable bellows 66 to reset, the gap between the arc-starting rods returns to the preset size, and the equipment returns to standby mode.

[0029] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An adaptive gap lightning protection insulator, comprising a pole core (1), an insulating shed (2) disposed on the pole core (1), and upper fittings (3) and lower fittings (4) respectively installed at both ends of the pole core (1), characterized in that: The upper fitting (3) is equipped with an upper arc-drawing rod (5); the lower fitting (4) is equipped with a pneumatic drive assembly (6); the pneumatic drive assembly (6) includes a sealed inflatable bellows (66), a return spring (64) and a lower arc-drawing rod (7); the inflatable bellows (66) is encapsulated with an inert gas at a predetermined pressure; the spring force of the return spring (64) is opposite to the expansion direction of the inflatable bellows (66); The upper end of the inflatable corrugated pipe (66) is connected to the lower arc rod (7).

2. The adaptive gap lightning protection insulator according to claim 1, characterized in that... , The pneumatic drive assembly (6) further includes a guide sleeve (62) and an insulating rod (61); the insulating rod (61) is axially movable inside the guide sleeve (62), with its upper end connected to the lower arc rod (7) and its lower end connected to the upper end of the inflatable bellows (66); the opening of the guide sleeve (62) is provided with an inwardly protruding shoulder; the reset spring (64) is sleeved on the outside of the insulating rod (61), with one end limited by a retaining ring (63), which is restricted below the shoulder of the guide sleeve (62), and the other end limited by a limiting ring (65) fixedly installed on the insulating rod (61).

3. The adaptive gap lightning protection insulator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the upper arc rod (5) is provided with a downwardly extending conical head (10). The end of the lower arc rod (7) extends upward, and its end is arranged coaxially opposite to the conical head (10) to form a pair of discharge electrodes.

4. The adaptive gap lightning protection insulator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the lower arc-drawing rod (7) is provided with a guide rod (8). The lower end of the guide rod (8) is fixedly connected to the lower fitting (4), and the upper end is provided with a sliding head. The sliding head slides in cooperation with the groove (11) opened on the outer wall of the lower arc-drawing rod (7) to ensure that the lower arc-drawing rod (7) always maintains the same potential as the lower fitting (4) during the movement.

5. An adaptive gap lightning protection insulator according to claim 2, characterized in that... , The lower end of the inflatable corrugated tube (66) is fixed to the bottom of the guide sleeve (62) or the lower fitting (4), and its upper end is fixedly connected to the lower end of the limiting ring (65) or the insulating rod (61).

6. An adaptive gap lightning protection insulator according to claim 2, characterized in that... , The inflatable corrugated pipe (66) is made of phosphor bronze; the upper arc rod (5) and the lower arc rod (7) are made of copper alloy.

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