Improvements in or relating to Converter Chambers and their Connections, and to Fuse and Switch Apparatus for Use therewith.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Converter Chambers and their
Connections, and to Fuse and Switch Apparatus for Use
therewith.
I, GERALD WILLIAM PARTRIDGE, of 25A, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, in the City
of Westminster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
This invention has reference to an improved construction of converter chamber
with high and low tension connection compartments whereby a transformer can be
enclosed within and removed from the chamber, and its connections made and broken
in an easier, safer and more convenient manner than heretofore. It also has reference
to an improved construction of combined fuse and switch for use with the high tension
circuit of the transformer.
The transformer chamber consists of a metal box, preferably of cylindrical shape, at
the top of and at one side of which. is a hollow extension that is preferably
of rectangular shape in plan and cross section and is provided with an internal wall or
partition that serves to divide it into two compartments one of which serves as the
high tension connection compartment and the other as the low tension connection
conpartiment. At opposite sides of the high tension chamber are stuffing boxes,
that at the outer side serving for the passage of the insulated and concentrically
arranged high tension leads into the compartment and that at the inner side (herein-
after called the inner stuffing box) for the passage into the said compartment of one
of the insulated ends of the primary conductor of the transformer which is connected
within the said compartment by a suitable clamp or coupling device to the inner of
the two high tension leads. To ensure good insulation of the said primary conductor
where it passes through the inner stuffing box, the latter is bushed with insulating
inaterial. Within the high tension chamber is a well insulated connecting device for
the outer of the two concentric leads. This device may conveniently consist of a
brass casting or bearing having a detachable cap adapted to be clamped onto the said
lead, and a stem that is fixed, as by sulphur, into a porcelain block bedded on rubber,
the said casting being adapted to be connected, as by an insulated wire or strip, to one
end of a bolt that passes in a well insulated manner through the inner wall of the
chamber and has its other end adapted to be connected to the second end of the
primary winding of the transformer. Above the connections may be placed an
insulated cover.
The low tension connection chamber has three pairs of oppositely arranged stuffing
boxes for the passage into it of the three ends of the secondary winding of the trans-
former and the three corresponding ends of the three external leads of a three wire
system of electric distribution. To admit of the ends of the winding and leads being
readily introduced and connected together in pairs and of being easily disconnected and
withdrawn, each end has secured to it a conical metal plug that is pushed endways
into a correspondingly shaped hole in a metal bearing and fixed by a nut screwed on
its projecting end. The bearings are connected together in pairs by a fuse wire or

page_text: strip secured to them by nuts and are insulated from the bottom of the chamber as
by being fixed upon a stationary block of porcelain bedded on rubber. Below the
fuse and carried by the bearings is or may be a bridge piece of ebonite or the like
having a vertical extension to prevent an are being formed between the bearings in
the event of the fuse acting. The transformer chamber and connection chambers are
provided with removable covers, that for the converter chamber being preferably
formed with an upwardly flanged hole provided with a detachable cap to permit
of ventilation of the chamber when desired without liability of water entering the
chamber.
A converter chamber with connection compartments such as described, is specially
suitable for underground use.
The combined fuse and switch for use in conjunction with the high tension leads
of the transformer comprises a metal box provided internally with two oppositely
arranged sockets or carriers, and externally with two boxes that serve for the passage
of the two insulated end portions of the concentrically arranged high tension leads
and which may be charged with a suitable insulating compound. The sockets or
carriers are each fitted with an externally flanged hollow cylindrical or other shaped
holder of insulating material, such as ebonite, that is slotted at one part and has
fixed within it a metal connecting device provided with spring fingers or blades.
The fuse proper comprises one or more wires or strips fixed to plates threaded onto
metal plugs that are secured by sulphur or otherwise into a long porcelain block.
Strips of insulating material such as mica, are placed at each side of the fuse wires or
strips and the whole compressed by a detachable bar or strip of porcelain that is also
threaded on the plugs and is set up by nuts. The arrangement is such that the
fuse device may be used as a switch and can be readily fixed in position between the
two metal connecting devices, which are connected to the inner ends of the central
high tension lead, by inserting the plugs through the slots in the insulating holders
and forcing them between the spring fingers or blades. At the inner side of the
fuse box are two insulated connections through which the concentric leads pass and
to which the outer of them can be suitably connected as by clamping washers and
nuts. The two connections are jointed by a wire or strip to place the two outer leads
in direct connection with each other. The chamber is provided with a removable
cover and also it may be with internal brackets or supports for carrying a fray
containing calcium chloride.
This high tension controlling chamber is specially adapted for underground
work.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
mprovements in or relating to Converter Chambers and their
Connections, and to Fuse and Switch Apparatus for Use
therewith
I, GERALD WILLIAM PARTRIDGE, of 25A, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, in the
City of Westminster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to an improved construction of converter or trans-
former chamber with high and low tension connection compartments whereby a

page_text: transformer can be enclosed within and removed from the chamber, and its connec-
tions made and broken in an easier, safer and more convenient manner than
heretofore. It also has reference to an improved construction of combined fuse and
switch for use with the high tension circuit of the transformer.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows partly in side elevation and partly in
vertical section, and Fig. 2 in plan, a transformer chamber according to this inven-
tion. Fig. 1 also showing diagrammatically how the combined fuse and switch
apparatus is combined with the high tension circuit extending from an alternator to
a transformer within the chamber."
Fig. 3 is a part plan of the chamber with cover removed, showing, to a larger scale
than Figs. 1 and 2, the high and low tension connection compartments.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sections on the lines A, A, B, B, and C, C, respectively of
Fig. 3.
The transformer chamber consists of a metal box 1 which is preferably of cylin-
drical shape as shown and is provided at the top of and at one side with a hollow
extension 2 that is preferably of rectangular shape in plan and cross section and is
provided with an internal wall or partition 3 that serves to divide it into two com-
partments 4, 4° one of which, viz., 4 serves as the high tension connection compart-
ment, and the other viz., 4ª, as the low tension connection compartment. At opposite
sides of the high tension chamber are stuffing boxes 5, 5ª, that at the outer side,
viz., serving for the passage of the insulated and concentrically arranged high
tension leads 6, 6ª into the compartment 4, and that, viz., 5ª, at the inner side, for
the passage into the said compartment of one of the insulated ends 7 of the primary
conductor of the transformer which is connected within the said compartment 4 by
a suitable clamp or coupling device 8 to the inner, viz., 6ª, of the two high tension
leads. To ensure good insulation of the said primary conductor 7 where it passes
through the inner stuffing box 5ª, the latter is bushed with insulating material 9.
Within the high tension chamber 4 is a well insulated connecting device for the
outer, viz., 6, of the two concentric leads 6, 6ª. This device inay conveniently consist
of a brass casting or bearing 10 having a detachable cap 10ª adapted to be clamped
onto the said lead 6, and a stem 10b that is fixed, as by sulphur, into a porcelain
block 11 bedded on rubber 12, the said casting being adapted to be connected, as by
an insulated wire or strip, 13, to one end of a bolt 14, that passes in a well insulated
manner through the inner wall 4b of the chamber 4 and has its other end adapted to
be connected to the second end 7 of the primary winding of the transformer. In
the example shown, the wire or strip 13 is fixed at one end in a hole 10° in the
bearing 10 and at the other end is clamped between a plate 14ª and a nut 14b on the
bolt 14. The end 7ª of the primary conductor is similarly connected by a plate 14°
and a nut 14d to the bolt 14 which is insulated from the chamber 1 by a vulcanite
bush 14º. Above the high tension connections may be placed a cover of insulating
material 15 (Fig. 6).
The low tension connection chamber 4 has three pairs of oppositely arranged
stuffing boxes 16, 16* for the passage into it of the three ends 17 of the secondary
winding of the transformer and the three corresponding ends 18 of the three external
leads of a three wire system of electric distribution. To admit of the ends of the
winding and leads being readily introduced and connected together in pairs and of
being easily disconnected and withdrawn, each end has secured to it a conical metal
plug 19 that is pushed endways into a correspondingly shaped hole in a metal
bearing 20 and is fixed by a nut 21 screwed on its projecting end. The bearings 20
are connected together in pairs by a fuse wire or strip 22 secured to them by nuts 23
and are insulated from the bottom of the chamber 4ª as for example by being fixed
upon a stationary block 23* of porcelain bedded on rubber 24. Below the fuse 22 and
carried by the bearings 20, is or may be a bridge piece 25 of ebonite or the like
having a vertical extension 26 to prevent an are being formed between the said
bearings in the event of the fuse acting. As will be obvious the low tension
connection compartment may, if desired, be provided with connections such as
described, for two external leads instead of three. Or a triple concentric main may

page_text: be brought into one end of the low tension chamber and tappings taken off each pole
opposite its fuse block.
The transformer chamber 1 and connection chambers 4, 4ª are provided with
removable covers 1, 4* respectively, that for the transformer chamber being
preferably formed with a hole 1ª surrounded by an upwardly extending flange 1b and
surmounted by a cap 1 that can be readily detached and removed to permit of
ventilation of the chamber, when desired, without liability of water entering the
chamber.
A transformer chamber with connection compartments such as described, is
specially suitable for underground use.
Fig. 7 shows partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation, and Fig. 8 in
plan, with the cover removed, a combined fuse and switch according to this invention
for use in connection with the high tension leads of a transformer.
Fig. 9 is a cross section on the line D D of Fig. 7.
Fig. 10 shows the fuse proper partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal
section.
The combined fuse and switch apparatus comprises a metal box 27 provided
internally with two oppositely arranged sockets or carriers 28, and externally with
two boxes or branches 28*, which serve for the passage into and out of the box
as shown in Fig. 1 of the two insulated concentrically arranged high tension
leads 6, 6ª which pass from an alternator A to the primary or windings of a
transformer within the transformer chamber through the high tension connections
shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The boxes or branches 28* may be charged with a
suitable insulating compound. The sockets or carriers 28 are each fitted with an
externally flanged hollow cylindrical or other shaped holder 29 of insulating
material, such as ebonite having a large surface to decrease surface leakage.
Each holder is slotted at 29ª and has fixed within it a metal connecting device 30
provided with spring fingers or blades 30°. The two connecting devices 30 have
secured in them the inner ends of the central high tension lead 6*. The fuse
proper comprises one or more wires or strips 31 of metal fixed to plates 32 threaded
onto metal plugs 33 that are secured by sulphur 34, or otherwise into a long porce-
lain block 35. Strips 36 of insulating material such as mica, are placed at each side
of the fuse wires or strips 31 and the whole is compressed together by a detachable
bar or strip 37 of porcelain that is also threaded on the plugs and is set up by
nuts 38. The arrangement as will be seen, is such that the fuse device may be used
as a switch and can be readily fixed in position between the two metal connecting
devices 30 by inserting the plugs 33 through the slots 29ª in the insulating holders 29
and forcing them between the spring fingers or blades 30%. At the inner side of the
fuse box 27 are two insulated connections 39, 39ª below which the leads pass through
holes in the wall of the box and to which the outer of them viz. 6 can be suitably
connected as by clamping washers 40 and nuts 41. The two connections 39, 39 are
jointed by a wire or strip 42 so as to place the two outer leads in direct connection
with each other. The chamber is provided with a removable cover 37ª and also it
may be with internal brackets or supports 43 for carrying a tray containing calcium
chloride. This high tension controlling or fuse chamber is specially adapted for
underground work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. A converter chamber comprising a box provided at the top and at one side with
a hollow extension that is adapted to form high and low tension connection com-
partinents and is provided at opposite sides with stuffing boxes for the passage into
the said compartments of high and low tension leads from the exterior of the
chamber and primary and secondary conductors from a converter or transformer
within the chamber, substantially as described.
;

page_text: 2. A converter chamber with high and low tension connection compartments and
connections constructed and arranged substantially as herein before described with
reference to and shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings annexed.
3. A combined fuse and switch comprising a box provided with boxes or branches
for the passage of insulated leads into the box, and with oppositely arranged carriers
each of which is fitted with a flanged hollow holder of insulating material formed
with a lateral opening at one side and provided internally with a metal connecting
device, a fuse proper, serving also as a switch arm, having its ends adapted to be
readily connected to and disconnected from the metal connecting devices within
the hollow holders, and electrical connections whereby the fuse can be placed in
circuit with the lead entering the fuse box, substantially as herein described.
4. A combined fuse and switch constructed and arranged substantially as herein-
before described with reference to and shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive of the
drawings annexed.
Dated this 24th day of May 1898.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.