US1763170A - Insulator - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1930. MILLER 1,763,170

INSULATOR Filed Feb 19, 1927 IN VENTO R F an cH/W/er.

A TToRNEY A VHTNESSES I Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FBEDEBIC H. MILLER, 01' WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA INSULATOR Application filed February 19, 1927. Serial No. 169,487.

My invention relates to insulators and particularly to insulators that are adapted for extremely high-voltage service.

One object of my invention is to provide 5 an insulator, of the above-indicated character, that shall improve the mechanical characteristics of an insulator of a type heretofore suggested.

Another object of my invention is to pro- 10 vide an insulating element that shall substantiall simulate a solid insulating rod but that shall be so vertebrated or sectionalized and held together as to eifect a material improvement in the service for which it is intended.

A further object of my invention is to provide a high-voltage insulator that shall be simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and effective in its operation.

Heretofore, it has been usual, in insulator practice, to provide pillar structures composed of a plurality of superposed insulator units havin exposed metal terminals, laterally extendmg petticoats and other features inimical to my invention, as well as to provide outer tubular shells, both unitary and sectionalized, having means, extending continuously therethrough, from terminal to terminal, for the main mechanical support.

It is my aim to provide a structure that, in contra-distinction to the above-mentioned pillars, has the appearance and effect of a solid insulating rod having a continuous outer surface and, in contradistinction to those structures embodying tubular shells having reinforcing members extending therethrough, is composed of sections, each constituting a component part of the main insulating resistance and in which metal or other connecting means is completely enclosed.

In co-pending application, Serial No. 548,- 818, filed April 1, 1922, by H. B. Smith and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, to which reference may be had for a better understanding of this invention, is set forth an insulator which utilizes, to substantially maximum advantage, the insulating characteristics of a long straight rod. It operates on the principle of keeping electrostatic stresses of any consid- A one-piece rod of refractory material,

such as porcelain or glass, may be more or less difficult to manufacture above a certain size and, by reason of its hard or brittle nature, may be subject to greater bending fracture than a rod of wood or other more yieldable material. However, such refractory material has inherent electrical advantages over other materials, especially in outdoor high-voltage service, and it is one of the purposes of this invention to retain these advantages, and, at the same time, to provide other features that are not present in a single-piece refractory rod.

Accordingly, in practicing my invention, I provide a refractory insulating structure that, in appearance and operation, is similar to a single-piece rod but is so composed of transversely-divided component sections and so held together as to have great mechanical strength and a degree of lateral flexibility not found in single-piece refractory rods.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing is a longitudinal side view, partially in elevation and partially in section of an insulator embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken line II II of Fig. 1.

The device comprises, in general, upper and lower terminal structures 2 and 3, respectively, that are joined by the insulating rod structure 4 of my invention.

As set forth in the above-mentioned copending application, the terminal members 2 and 3 are so constructed and related to each other and to the rod 4 as to prevent concentration of the electrostatic field at any point, to widely distribute the field at all points, and to cause it to have a materially weakened central portion through which the rod 4 extends.

along the These features are obtained by having widely rounded portions 5 and 5 on the members 2 and 3, respectively, that are laterally spaced from the rod and disposed inwardly therealong from the end portions of the nieniber 4, thus causing the field to extend between the terminal members in the form of a tube having a greatly weakened central portion.

The rod 4: comprises a plurality of axiallya-lined end-to-end or seriesrelated insulating blocksti that are preferably of uniform cylindrical form of substantially the same diame ter and constructed of refractory insulating material, such as porcelain or glass.

Metal plates or end members 7, of substantially discoidal form, are secured to the blocks 6 for attaching the latter to eachother. These plates have openings symmetrically distributed about the centers thereof for the reception of stud or bolts 8 which are secured in small openings in the blocks 6, as by bodies 9 of cement, metal alloy, or other material. The plates 7 also have longitudinallyextending apertured central portions 10 of substantially cup-shape, for the reception of bolts 11 which hold the block units together.

Flanges 12, constituting continuations of the cylindrical sides of the blocks 6, project downwardly from the lower end of each to enclose all of the metal parts 7, 8 and 9. These flanges extend to within a relatively short distance of the next lower blocks, so that, in appearance, the structure resembles a smooth one-piece rod.

The terminal member 2 is secured to the top block 6 by bolts 1a which are secured to the block similarly to the bolts 9.

Similarly, the lower terminal member 3 is secured to the bottom block 6, as by bolts 15.

The above structure, since there are no metal or other elements extending continuously through the block 6, from the terminal 2 to the terminal 3, places the blocks in tension and utilizes the full insulating value thereof and, since the metal interconnecting parts 7, 8 and 9 are completely submerged by the insulating material, the electrical characteristics of the device, as a whole, are not materially changed from what they would be if the structure were entirely of insulating material.

Further, there is a slight inherent lateral flexibility that would not be present in a rod of solid refractory material extending from the terminal 2 to the terminal 3.

\Vhile I have shown and described a particular form of my invention, changes may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. An insulator in the form of an elongated cylindrical rod of inorganic dielectric material having smooth side surfaces of uniform diameter and constructed of closely end-toend related longitudinal sections, one of said sections comprising a main body portion and an annular end flange projecting therefrom to a position closely adjacent to a next adjacent section to provide a space between said oneand said adjacent section, and detachable sectioirconiiecting means having portions in said space.

2. An insulator in the form of an elongated cylindrical rod of inorganic dielectric material having smooth side surfaces of uniform diameter and constructed of closely end-toend related longitudinal sections, one of said sections comprising a main body portion and an annular end flange projecting therefrom to a position closely adjacent to a next adjacent section to provide a space between said one and said adjacent section, and detachable centrally-cooperating section connecting means having portions in said space.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of Feb, 1927.

FREDERIC H. MILLER.

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