Fault-closable electrical connector

摘要

A bushing plug for power distribution systems and of the type having a stationary female contact for receiving and making electrical connection with the arc-follower terminated male electrode of an associated elbow connector. The bushing plug includes an elastomeric housing which receives a tubular metallic insert body therein. The inner end of the insert body is connected to an external terminal by way of a threaded fastener. A female contact is press-fitted into the lower end of the insert body and a tubular arc-snuffer member is slidably mounted within the insert body for movement toward and away from the female contact. The arc-snuffer includes a pair of movable contacts respectively mounted within a pair of radially opposed slots in the inner end portion thereof. A camming ring is mounted within an annular groove provided along the inner surface of the insert body and between the female contact and the male electrode receiving opening of the housing. When closing under fault conditions, a contact prestrike arc occurs between the advancing male electrode and the female contact. The resulting gas pressure rapidly translates the arc-snuffer outwardly until the moving contacts cammingly and wedgingly engage both the camming ring and the male electrode to extinguish the arc.