GB2185159A

GB2185159A - Cable connectors

Info

Publication number: GB2185159A
Application number: GB08700235A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Hollick
Original assignee: B&H Nottingham Ltd
Current assignee: B&H Nottingham Ltd
Priority date: 1986-01-07
Filing date: 1987-01-07
Publication date: 1987-07-08
Also published as: GB8700235D0; GB8600285D0

Abstract

A cable connector for use in providing electrical contact between a main cable (4) and a service cable (34) comprises projections (8) and/or (24) for piercing the insulation of the main cable. The connector comprises a C-shaped member (2) partially surrounding the main cable (4), a first U-shaped member (16) engaging the arms (12) of the C-shaped member and a second U-shaped member inverted with respect to said first U-shaped member (20) and partially surrounding the service cable. A bolt 32 urges a pressure plate (26) which is positioned between the arms of the second U-shaped member (20), towards the bight of the second U-shaped member (20) until no further movement is possible. Continued pressure causes the second U-shaped member (16) to move towards the bight of the C-shaped member (2) such that the insulation on the mains cable (12) is pierced by the projections (8,24). Ridges 22 are provided for gripping a stripped service cable. However, insulation piercing projections may be provided for use with an unstripped service cable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to cable clamps The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to clamps for use in clamping two electrical cables together so as to obtain electrical connection therebetween.

It is often impractical when joining two electrical cables two stripthe conductors of insulation so asto obtain good electrical contact. This is particularly so when for example a so-called service cable is to be clamped to a main electrical cable.

In such circumstances the insulation ofthe main cable needs to be penetrated buy a piercing member adapted to contact the metal of the conductors.

The invention provides a cable clamp for use in clamping afirstcableto a second cabletoprovide electrical contacttherebetween, said clamp comprising a C-shaped member adapted partiallyto surround a first cable, arm portions of said C-shaped member having engagement means adapted to engage a bridge member spanning said C-shaped member, wherein said bridge member comprises a first U-shaped member having two arm portions adapted to engage said arm portions of the C-shaped member, and wherein there is positioned within the bight ofthe first U-shaped member a second U-shaped member inverted with respect to said first U-shaped memberandadapted partiallytosurround the second cable, and a pressure plate positioned between the arm portions of the second U-shaped member, there being further provided means to exert pressure upon said platetourgetheplate towards the bight of the second U-shaped member until no further movement is possible, whereupon continued pressure causes the second U-shaped member to move towards the bight ofthe C-shaped member, the construction and arrangement being such that the insulation covered cable is enclosed by a surface within the bight ofthe C-shaped member and a surface on the external bight of the second U-shaped member, at least one of said surfaces being provided with insulation penetrating projections.

In circumstances in which the second cable has been stripped of insulation, the inside bight surface of the second U-shaped member may merely be provided with a roughened inside surface to grip the conductor ofthe second cable, but if the cable is not stripped, the inside bight surface of the second U-shaped member may be provided with insulation penetrating projections.

There will now be described an example of a cable clamp according to the invention. It will be understood that the description which is to be read with reference to the drawings is given by way of example only and not byway of limitation.

in the drawings :- Figures 1-4 illustrate various components of the cable clamp in stages ofassemblytogether; Figure 5 is a front view ofthe assembled clamp with cables; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 5.

The clamp illustrated in the figures comprises a C-shaped member 2 arranged partially to surround a first cable 4which is a main supply cable. It will be understood that the shape of the member 2 will be selected to suit the cross-sectional configuration of the cable4, be it for example circular or, as shown in the example, sectoral.

The C-shaped member 2 is provided on an inside surface of the bight portion 6 thereof with ridged projections 8 having sharp edges capable of penetrating insulation 10 ofthe cable 4. Arm portions 12 ofthe member 2 are arranged to interengagewith arm portions 14Of a first U-shaped member 16 of a bridge member indicated generally at 18. Arranged in an inverted orientation within the bight of the member 16 is a second U-shaped member20, the bight portion of which is provided on an inside surface with a roughened face comprising ridges 22 and on an outsidesurfacewithsharp-edged ridged projections 24.

A pressure plate 26 is received with the arm portions 28 of the member 20 and is positioned by lugs 30 which also extend sideways of the clamp sufficientlyto retain the U-shaped member 20 in position. A bolt 32 extends through a bore in the member 16 and contactsthe pressure plate 26when the free end of a second cable 34 is inserted. In the present example the insulation has been stripped from the cable 34 which is a service cable, but if the cable to be clamped still has its insulating cladding then it will be found necessary to replace the ridges 22 on the member 20 by insulation-pentrating projections.

In use therefore the components are assembled by placing the plate 26 within the arm portions ofthe member 20 which is then received within the member 16 in an inverted or reversed orientation.

This forms the bridge member 18. The C-shaped member2 is placed aboutthecable4and interengaged with the bridge member 18through are portions 12,14. The end ofthe cable 34 is placed between the plate 26 and the ridges 22 and the bolt is then tightened. As the plate is captive, it travels down the bolt as viewed in the figures and grips the cable 34. Continued screwing down ofthe bolttherefore results in the member 20, the plate 26 and the cable 34 effectively becoming a solid assembly which moves downwardly between the arm portions of the member 16 so that the main cable 4 is gripped between the sharp-edged projections 24 and 8.

Continued turning of the bolt causes these projections to penetrate the insulation 10 of the cable 4 until electrical contact is made with its aluminium core.

Various modifications may be made within the scope ofthe invention as defined in the following

claims.

CLAIMS 1. Acableclampforuse in clamping a first cable to a second cable to provide electrical contact therebetween, said clamp comprising a C-shaped member adapted partially to surround a first cable, arm portions of said C-shaped member having

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to cable clamps The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to clamps for use in clamping two electrical cables together so as to obtain electrical connection therebetween. It is often impractical when joining two electrical cables two stripthe conductors of insulation so asto obtain good electrical contact. This is particularly so when for example a so-called service cable is to be clamped to a main electrical cable. In such circumstances the insulation ofthe main cable needs to be penetrated buy a piercing member adapted to contact the metal of the conductors. The invention provides a cable clamp for use in clamping afirstcableto a second cabletoprovide electrical contacttherebetween, said clamp comprising a C-shaped member adapted partiallyto surround a first cable, arm portions of said C-shaped member having engagement means adapted to engage a bridge member spanning said C-shaped member, wherein said bridge member comprises a first U-shaped member having two arm portions adapted to engage said arm portions of the C-shaped member, and wherein there is positioned within the bight ofthe first U-shaped member a second U-shaped member inverted with respect to said first U-shaped memberandadapted partiallytosurround the second cable, and a pressure plate positioned between the arm portions of the second U-shaped member, there being further provided means to exert pressure upon said platetourgetheplate towards the bight of the second U-shaped member until no further movement is possible, whereupon continued pressure causes the second U-shaped member to move towards the bight ofthe C-shaped member, the construction and arrangement being such that the insulation covered cable is enclosed by a surface within the bight ofthe C-shaped member and a surface on the external bight of the second U-shaped member, at least one of said surfaces being provided with insulation penetrating projections. In circumstances in which the second cable has been stripped of insulation, the inside bight surface of the second U-shaped member may merely be provided with a roughened inside surface to grip the conductor ofthe second cable, but if the cable is not stripped, the inside bight surface of the second U-shaped member may be provided with insulation penetrating projections. There will now be described an example of a cable clamp according to the invention. It will be understood that the description which is to be read with reference to the drawings is given by way of example only and not byway of limitation. in the drawings :- Figures 1-4 illustrate various components of the cable clamp in stages ofassemblytogether; Figure 5 is a front view ofthe assembled clamp with cables; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 5. The clamp illustrated in the figures comprises a C-shaped member 2 arranged partially to surround a first cable 4which is a main supply cable. It will be understood that the shape of the member 2 will be selected to suit the cross-sectional configuration of the cable4, be it for example circular or, as shown in the example, sectoral. The C-shaped member 2 is provided on an inside surface of the bight portion 6 thereof with ridged projections 8 having sharp edges capable of penetrating insulation 10 ofthe cable 4. Arm portions 12 ofthe member 2 are arranged to interengagewith arm portions 14Of a first U-shaped member 16 of a bridge member indicated generally at 18. Arranged in an inverted orientation within the bight of the member 16 is a second U-shaped member20, the bight portion of which is provided on an inside surface with a roughened face comprising ridges 22 and on an outsidesurfacewithsharp-edged ridged projections 24. A pressure plate 26 is received with the arm portions 28 of the member 20 and is positioned by lugs 30 which also extend sideways of the clamp sufficientlyto retain the U-shaped member 20 in position. A bolt 32 extends through a bore in the member 16 and contactsthe pressure plate 26when the free end of a second cable 34 is inserted. In the present example the insulation has been stripped from the cable 34 which is a service cable, but if the cable to be clamped still has its insulating cladding then it will be found necessary to replace the ridges 22 on the member 20 by insulation-pentrating projections. In use therefore the components are assembled by placing the plate 26 within the arm portions ofthe member 20 which is then received within the member 16 in an inverted or reversed orientation. This forms the bridge member 18. The C-shaped member2 is placed aboutthecable4and interengaged with the bridge member 18through are portions 12,14. The end ofthe cable 34 is placed between the plate 26 and the ridges 22 and the bolt is then tightened. As the plate is captive, it travels down the bolt as viewed in the figures and grips the cable 34. Continued screwing down ofthe bolttherefore results in the member 20, the plate 26 and the cable 34 effectively becoming a solid assembly which moves downwardly between the arm portions of the member 16 so that the main cable 4 is gripped between the sharp-edged projections 24 and 8. Continued turning of the bolt causes these projections to penetrate the insulation 10 of the cable 4 until electrical contact is made with its aluminium core. Various modifications may be made within the scope ofthe invention as defined in the following claims. CLAIMS

1. Acableclampforuse in clamping a first cable to a second cable to provide electrical contact therebetween, said clamp comprising a C-shaped member adapted partially to surround a first cable, arm portions of said C-shaped member having engagement means adapted to engage a bridge member spanning said C-shaped member, wherein said bridge member comprises a first U-shaped member having two arm portions adapted to engage said arm portions of the C-shaped member, and wherein there is positioned within the bight ofthe first U-shaped member a second U-shaped member inverted with respectto said first U-shaped member and adapted partially to surround the second cable, and a pressure plate positioned between the arm portions ofthe second U-shaped member, there being further provided means to exert pressure upon said plate to urge the plate towards the bight ofthe second U-shaped member until no further movement is possible, whereupon continued pressure causes the second U-shaped memberto move towards the bight of the C-shaped member, the construction and arrangement being such that the insulation covered cable is enclosed by a surface within the big hoof the C-shaped member and a surface on the external bight of the second U-shaped member, at least one of said surfaces being provided with insulation penetrating projections.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inside bight surface ofthe second U-shaped member is roughened to grip exposed wire ofthe second cable.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inside bight surface of the second U-shaped member is provided with projections adapted to penetratethe insulation covering the second cable.

4. Aclamp as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims wherein the projections are in the form of sharp-edged ridged projections.

5. A clamp as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the means to exert pressure upon the pressure plate comprises externally threaded bolt passing through an aperture in the plate which is held captive againstturning with respectto the first U-shaped member.

6. Acableclampforuseinclamping afirstcable to a second cable to provide electrical contact therebetween, constructed arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.