Description
Connection terminals for a transformer
The present invention relates to connection terminals for a
transformer.
A transformer is an electrical assembly, which is
frequently used in electrical systems for converting
different voltages to the desired range applicable to the
electrical systems. In general transformers are of two
types, step-up and step-down. Typically, a transformer
comprises a primary circuit and a secondary circuit and the
incoming energy from the primary is transferred to the
secondary circuit. In an ideal condition, all the incoming
energy from primary circuit is transferred to the secondary
circuit.
Electrical systems having high voltage ratings require
transformers having high current rating. The high current
passing through the transformer causes wear and tear of the
transformer by overheating the electrical joints of the
transformer. This is due to the high resistance at the
electrical joints. Further, the high resistance at the
electrical joints may also cause flashovers. This reduces
the efficiency of the transformer and may also damage the
transformer.
It is an object of the invention to eliminate or at least
minimize the above mentioned problems.
The above object is achieved by a transformer, comprising a
housing, and connection terminals projecting outwardly
through said housing.

Thereby, reducing the number of electrical joints required
to connect a current carrying conductor to the transformer.
This prevents overheating and flashovers.
According to an embodiment, each of the connection
terminals comprises means to enable fastening of a
respective current carrying conductor to each of said
connection terminals.
This enables fastening of cables to the connection
terminals of the transformer.
According to yet another embodiment, the means to enable,
fastening of the respective current carrying conductor to
each of the connection terminals include through holes.
This enables fastening the current carrying conductors to
the connection terminals using a nut bolt arrangement,
wherein the bolt may comprise any length.
According to yet another embodiment, the respective current
carrying conductor is fastened to the connection terminals
using a nut bolt arrangement.
According to yet another embodiment, one of the connection
terminal is connected to a primary winding.
According to yet another embodiment, one of the connection
terminal is connected to a secondary winding.
According to yet another embodiment, the connection
terminals project outwardly through the housing in a plane
longitudinal to the housing.

This enables fastening current carrying conductors to the
connection terminals along a width of the current carrying
conductors.
According to yet another embodiment, the respective current
carrying conductor is fastened to the connection terminals
along a width of the respective current carrying conductor.
This enables in increasing the phase to phase and phase to
ground clearances and thus minimizing the space
requirement.
According to yet another embodiment, the connection
terminals projecting outwardly through said housing
includes the connection terminals projecting outwardly
through a top side of the housing.
According to yet another embodiment, the connection
terminals projecting outwardly through the housing includes
the connection terminals projecting outwardly through any
one of edge sides of the housing.
The present invention is further described hereinafter with
reference to illustrated embodiments 3hown in the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG 1 illustrates a perspective view of a transformer
according to an embodiment herein,
FIG 2 illustrates an arrangement of a transformer enclosed
within an enclosure, and
FIG 3 illustrates a rear view of an enclosure housing a
plurality of transformer according an embodiment
herein.

Various embodiments are described with reference to the
drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer
to like elements throughout. In the following description,
for purpose of explanation, numerous specific details are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of
one or more embodiments. It may be ovident that such
embodiments may be practiced without these specific
details.
FIG 1 illustrates a transformer according to an embodiment
herein. The transformer 10 comprises a housing 11 having a
base 12, a top side 14, and four edge sides 16, 18, 20, 22.
The base 12 may comprise holes 24 so as to enable fastening
of the transformer 10 to a chamber or an enclosure. In
accordance with the embodiment herein, the transformer 10
comprises connection terminals projecting outwardly through
the housing 11. In an embodiment, as illustrated in the
example of FIG 1, the connection terminals 26, 28 are
projected outwardly through the top side 14 of the housing
11 of the transformer 10. In another embodiment, the
connection terminals 26, 28 may be projected outwardly
through any of the edge sides 16, 18, 20, 22. The
connection terminals 26, 28 may comprise means to enable
fastening of current carrying conductors to the connection
terminals 26, 28. For an example, in the embodiments
described herein, through holes 30 may be provided as the
means to enable fastening of current carrying conductors to
the connections terminals 26, 28. For example, current
carrying conductors may be fastened to the terminals 26, 28
using fastening mechanism, for example, a nut bolt
arrangement. Other suitable means to enable fastening of
current carrying conductors to the connection terminals 26,
28 known per se may be provided.
The outwardly projected connection terminals 26, 28
eliminate the requirement of an additional external

connection element, as there are no internal connection
tappings on the transformer. Additionally, overheating or
flashover at the current carrying conductors and
transformer joint is prevented as the number of electrical
joints is reduced. Over heating and flashover are caused
due to the high resistance at the electrical joints.
Moreover, the current carrying conductors may be fastened
to the connection terminals using a bolt of any length.
The connection terminals 26, 28 can be used to make the
necessary connections for the implementation of the
transformer 10. For example, internally within the housing
11 of transformer 10, the connection terminal 26 may be
connected to a primary winding (not shown), and the
terminal 28 may be connected to a secondary winding (not
shown). Thus, in the aforementioned example, the terminal
26 may act as an input terminal and the terminal 28 may act
as an output terminal.
In the shown example of FIG 1, the connection terminals 26,
28 project outwardly along the longitudinal plane of the
housing 11 of the transformer 10. This enables fastening
current carrying conductors to the connection terminals 26,
28 along the height of the current carrying conductors. As
the dimension of the height of a current carrying conductor
is relatively small comparing to the width, fastening the
current carrying conductors along the height enables
increasing phase to phase and phase to ground clearances.
This enables in reducing the di-electrical stresses.
Further, this enables reducing the space requirement in a
chamber or an enclosure, inside which a plurality of
transformers 10 are disposed, for example, a switchgear
substation.

FIG 2 illustrates an arrangement of the transformer 10
enclosed within an enclosure. As illustrated in the example
of FIG 2, the transformer 10 is arranged within the
enclosure 32 in an upright position. The base 12 of the
transformer 10 is fastened to a support 34 of the housing
32 using fastening mechanisms, such as a nut bolt
arrangement, screws, or bolts or any other fastening
devices to maintain the transformer 10 in an upright
position. For example, the holes disposed on the base 12
may be utilized to fasten the transformer 10 to the support
34.
In an embodiment described herein, as the connection
terminals 26, 28 of the transformer 10 project outwardly
through the top side 14 of the transformer 10, current
carrying conductors 36 may be fastened to the connection
terminals 26, 28 directly. The current carrying conductors
36, for example a cable, may be fastened to the connection
terminals 26, 28 using a fastening mechanism, for example,
a nut bolt arrangement. It would be apparent to a person
skilled in the art that other well known fastening
mechanisms may be used to fasten the current carrying
conductors to the connection terminals 26, 26. The holes
present in an end 37, henceforth referenced as lug, of the
current carrying conductors can be aligned with the through
holes 30 of the connection terminals 26, 28, and fastened
using a fastening mechanism.
FIG 3 illustrates a rear view of an enclosure housing a
plurality of transformers 10. In the example of FIG 3, it
is illustrated that the current carrying conductors 36 are
fastened to the connection terminals of the transformers 10
along the width of the current carrying conductors 36, The
height of the current carrying conductor 36 is relatively
small in comparison to the width. Fastening of the current
carrying conductors 36 along the width increases the

spacing between two current carrying conductors 36 as
illustrated in FIG 3. This enables increasing the
clearances between phase to phase and phase to ground, and
thus, minimizing the space requirement.
The techniques described herein enable preventing
overheating and flashovers at electrical joints of a
transformer. Moreover, increase in phase to phase and phase
to ground clearances is achieved. Furthermore, the space
required to house multiple transformer is reduced.
Additionally, damage to the transformer is prevented by
eliminating the requirement of internal tappings. The
internal tappings, typically comprise internal threads on a
copper terminal of the transformer. As the terminal, is made
of copper, the internal threads are damaged if the bolts
are over tightened. Further, by providing through holes on
the connection terminals, as described in embodiments here,
a bolt of any size may be sued to fasten a current carrying
conductor to the connection terminal.
while this invention has been described in detail with
reference to certain preferred embodiments, it should be
appreciated that the present invention is not limited to
those precise embodiments. Rather, in view of the present
disclosure which describes the current best mode for
practicing the invention, many modifications and variations
would present themselves, to those of skill in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of this
invention. The scope of the invention is, therefore,
indicated by the following claims rather than by the
foregoing description. All changes, modifications, and
variations coming within the meaning and range of
equivalency of the claims are to be considered within their
scope.

We claim:
1. A transformer (10), comprising a housing {11}, and
connection terminals (26, 27) projecting outwardly
through said housing (11).
2. The transformer according to claim 1, wherein each of
said connection terminals (26, 27) comprises means to
enable fastening of a respective current carrying
conductor to each of said connection terminals (26, 27).
3. The transformer according to claim 2, wherein said
means to enable fastening of said respective current
carrying conductor to each of said connection terminals
(26, 28) include through holes (30).
4. The transformer according to claim 3, wherein said
respective current carrying conductor is fastened to said
connection terminals (26, 28) using a nut bolt
arrangement.
5. The transformer according to claim 1, wherein one of
said connection terminal (26, 28) is connected to a
primary winding.
6. The transformer according to claim 1, wherein one of
said connection terminal (26, 28) is connected to a
secondary winding.
7. The transformer according to claim 1, wherein said
respective current carrying conductor is fastened to said
connection terminals (26/ 28) along a width of said
respective current carrying conductor.
8. The transformer according to claim 1, wherein said
connection terminals (26, 28) project outwardly through

said housing (11) in a plane longitudinal to said housing
(11).
9. The transformer according to claim 1, wherein said
connection terminals (26, 28) projecting outwardly
through said housing (11) includes said connection
terminals (26, 28) projecting outwardly through a top
side (14) of said housing (11).
10. The transformer according to claim 1, wherein said
connection terminals (26, 28) projecting outwardly
through said housing (11) includes said connection
terminals (26, 28) projecting outwardly through any one
of edge sides (16, 18, 20, 22) of said housing (11).

The present invention relates to a transformer (10), wherein the transformer comprises a housing (11), and connection terminals (26, 27) projecting outwardly through said housing (11).