GB2355118A

GB2355118A - Cable clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2355118A
Application number: GB0023455A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carl R Tamm
Original assignee: Pan Electric Corp
Current assignee: Pan Electric Corp
Priority date: 1999-10-06
Filing date: 2000-09-25
Publication date: 2001-04-11
Also published as: GB0023455D0; CA2322133A1

Abstract

An electrical cable connector 10 comprises a first element 14 having a base 16 and a receiver 18 having an elongate socket (20) along an axis, and a plurality of second elements 30 each having a head within the socket and a tail which can be clamped to the base. The first and second elements each have an aperture for a cable (see Fig 4) - the cable is inserted when these are aligned and is then clamped when the tail is bolted to the base. Bolts 62 may go into nuts 66 which extend through holes in the tail. A connection structure may include two connectors 10, bolted to a plate 12 at the end of a cable. Alternatively, there may be only one second element, with nuts as before described.

Description

2355118 CABLE CONNECTOR

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to electrical connectors for cables, and in particular to improvements to cable connectors of the type including a first member that defines a socket and a second member that defines a head rotatably received in the socket.

T Cable connectors of the general type described above have been commercially successful in a number of applications. See for example the cable clamping device disclosed in Cornell U.S. Patent 4,357,068, assigned to the assignee and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The cable clamping device of the Cornell patent clamps the cable being terminated by rotating a second member within a socket formed by a first member from a first position, in which cable-receiving openings of the first and second elements are aligned, to a second position, in which the cable-receiving openings are misaligned. The cable clamping device of the Cornell patent provides the particular advantage that the second member can be inserted into the socket in either first or second orientations adapted for clamping first and second sizes of cable, respectively.

Cornell U.S. Patent 3,990,129, also assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a multi-cable connector for use with a different type of cable clamping device. The disclosed multi-cable connector includes an elongated cylinder on which various C-shaped elements are mounted for rotation. Each of the C-shaped elements defines a cable-receiving opening that can be selectively aligned or misaligned with a corresponding cable-receiving opening of the cylinder.

A need presently exists for an improved multi-cable clamping device that is suited for use with the geometry of the clamping device of the Cornell 068 patent, yet which can be produced at lower cost with fewer parts and increased ease of use.

SUMMARY

By way of introduction, the preferred embodiment described below includes a first element having a base and a receiver. The receiver defines a socket that extends along an axis. Multiple second elements are received in the socket. Each of the second elements includes a respective head and tail.

Individual fasteners fold the second elements in a cable clamping position. In the disclosed embodiment some of the fasteners that hold the second elerpents in the cable clamping position also pass through a mounting plate to secure the first element and therefore the connector in place and to provide electrical connection to external circuitry.

The preferred embodiment described below uses fasteners including a nut that contributes to a low profile for the resulting connector. This nut includes a threaded portion that is received within the tail of the respective second element. By recessing a portion of the nut in the tail of the second element, a relatively long effective length is provided for the fasteners. This long effective length is useful in moving the second element from the aligned to the misaligned positions.

The foregoing paragraphs have been intended by way of introduction, and are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical connector that incorporates a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of one of the first elements of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view in the plane of FIGURE 3 showing a second element mounted in place in the first element.

FIGURE 5 is view corresponding to that of FIGURE 4, showing the second element in an inverted position with respect to the position of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a top view of a threaded nut included in the embodiment of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the nut of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS Turning now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a cable clamping device that incorporates a preferred embodiment of this invention. The cable clamping device or electrical conbector 10 is mounted to a mounting plate 12. In the embodiment of FIGURE 1 two connectors 10 are shown, and they are substantially identical in structure. Each connector 10 includes a first element 14 and a plurality of second elements 30.

The first element is shown in greater detail in FIGURES 2 and 3, and the first element includes a base 16 and a receiver 18. The receiver 18 extends upwardly from the base 16 and forms a generally cylindrical socket 20 centered about an axis 22. The socket 22 is not entirely circular in cross section, because it defines a relieved area 23 as well as a notch 25. A plurality of first openings 24 are formed in the receiver 18 so as to be parallel to one another and to extend into the socket 20. A plurality of aligned protruding elements 26 extend upwardly from the base 16, each protruding element 26 aligned with a respective first opening 24. Additional base openings 28 are formed in the base 16, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The first element 14 can be formed as a machined extrusion from any suitable alloy. In this preferred embodiment the alloy is Al 6082-T6. The first openings 24, the final shape of the protruding elements 26 and the base openings 28 are all formed in machining operations after the basic extrusion has been cut to length.

As shown generally in FIGURE I and more specifically in FIGURES 4 and 5, each second element 30 includes a respective head 32 and tail 34.

Each head 32 is generally cylindrical in shape and sized to fit within the socket 20 and rotate about the axis 22. Each of the heads 32 forms a respective second opening 36 that extends somewhat into the respective tail 34' A window 38 is defined in the tail 34, and the window 38 opens out onto both sides of the tail 34. The head 32 defines two ridges 40 which cooperate with the notch 25 of the base 16. Each tail 34 also defines a tail opening 42 generally aligned with one of the base openings 28.

The second elements 30 can be formed as an extrusion of a conductive alloy such as Al 6082-T6. This extrusion is then machined to form the second opening 36, the window 38 and the tail opening 42.

T As best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the second opening 36 is preferably oriented at a skew angle with respect to the centerline of the tail 34 The second element 32 can be inserted into the socket 22 in first and second orientations. When the second element 30 is in the clamping position, the degree of misalignment between the second opening 36 and the first opening 24 is greater when the second element is in the first orientation as shown in FIGURE 4 than when the second element 30 is in the reverse orientation as shown in FIGURE 5. This allows a single second element 30 to clamp cables having a wider range of diameters than would otherwise be possible.

As best shown in FIGURE 1, the second elements 30 are moved from a first position 80 (in which the first and second openings 24, 36 are generally aligned) to a second position 82 (in which the first and second openings 24, 36 are misaligned as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5) by fasteners 60. Each of the fasteners 60 includes a bolt 62, and some of the bolts 62 define out- of round surfaces 64 that engage complementary base openings 28 to prevent rotation of the bolt 62 with respect to the base 16. The fasteners 60 also include nuts 66, one of which is shown in detail in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8.

Each nut 66 includes a first portion 68 that defines a cylindrical outer surface 70 dimensioned to fit within the tail opening 42 of the respective second element 30. Each nut 66 also defines a second portion 72 that extends above the respective tail 34 and defines an out-of-round surface 74.

adapted to be engaged by a wrench. A shoulder 75 is disposed between the first and second portions 68, 72, and the shoulder 74 bears on a washer 84 that in turn bears on the surface of the tail 34. As shown in FIGURE 8, both thei'first and second portions 68, 72 define a threaded interior surface 76 configured to engage the respective bolt 62.

As shown in FIGURE 1, some of the bolts 88 are shorter bolts that extend through a single base 16 and a single tail 34. Other bolts 86 are longer bolts that extend through two tails 34, two bases 16 as well as the mounting plate 12. These longer bolts 86 both hold the respective second elements in the cable clamping position and mount the connector 10 to the mounting plate 12. Other bolts 90 extend through two bases 16 and the mounting plate 12 to complete the assembly of the connectors 10 on the mounting plate 12.

In operation, the connectors 10 are assembled as described above, with the nuts 66 initially positioned near the ends of the respective bolts. The second elements 30 are then rotated clockwise in the view of FIGURES 4 and to bring the second openings 36 in alignment with the first openings 24.

Then cables (not shown) are inserted through the first and second openings 24, 36 into the windows 38. Then a wrench (not shown) is used to rotate the nuts 66 on the bolts 62. The out-of-round surfaces 64 prevent some of the bolts 62 from rotating. Rotation of the nuts 66 moves the tails 34 into contact with the base 16, thereby bending the clamped cable and applying substantial compressive forces to the cable. The protruding elements 34 bend the ends of the cables upwardly out of the window 38. The result is a secure mechanical termination for the cables having excellent electrical contact between the connector 10 and the clamped cables.

The connector 10 provides the advantage that many cables can be terminated in a relatively compact space. Because a single first element 14 is used to mount many second elements 30 to the mounting plate 12, a substantial reduction in the number for required parts, the cost, and the size of the resulting assembly is achieved. Individual ones of the second elements can be moved between a first, cable-receiving position and the second, cable-clamping position without disturbing the remaining second elements. A particularly low profile design is provided by using nuts of the type described above which are substantially received within the respective tails.

As another advantage, the first element 14 provides a conductive path to distribute electrical current to all of the associated terminated cables. For this reason, the mounting plate 12 can be made smaller and lighter, and the mounting plate 12 does not have to extend through the entire length of the first element 14. As illustrated above, the mounting plate preferably overlaps some but not all of the second elements, such that the first element is electrically interposed between the mounting plate and those cables that are associated with at least the remotely positioned second elements.

Of course, many changes and modifications can be made to the preferred embodiments described above. More or fewer second elements can be used with each first element. The improved fastener including the nut described above can be used in electrical connectors for single cables, as well as in multiple cable connectors described above. If desired, only a single connector 10 can be mounted to each mounting plate 12.

Additionally, many other geometries can be used for the components described above. It is not essential in all embodiments that the second opening be arranged at a skew angle with respect to the tail of the second element. In one alternative design, each second opening 36 is positioned symmetrically with respect to the tail 34. As another alternative, multiple openings may be provided in each head 32 and in the portion of the receiver 18 associated with each head 32 such that two or more cables or rods can simultaneously be terminated with a single second element. See for example the designs shown in U.S. Patents 5,765,962 and 5,919,065, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference.

Sizes, dimensions, proportions and materials can all be adapted as appropriate for the particular application.

This invention is not restricted to use with extruded components as shown in the drawings. Other techniques can be used to form the first and second elements, including the techniques described in U.S. Patent 5,919,065.

As used herein, the term "misaligned" is intended broadly to cover misalignment in whole or in part. Thus, two openings that are skewed with redpect to one another by a relatively small angle are still considered misaligned.

The term "position" is intended to encompass a range of positions.

Thus, the cable clamping position described above can correspond to any one of a range of positions, depending upon the particular cable being clamped.

The foregoing detailed description has described only a few of the many forms that the present invention can take. For this reason, this detailed description is intended by way of illustration and not b y way of limitation. It is only the following claims,, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the scope of this invention.

Claims

An electrical connector comprising:

a first element comprising a base and a receiver, said receiver forming a socket elongated along a first axis and a plurality of cable- receiving first openings extending through the receiver into the socket; a plurality of second elements, each second element comprising a respective head and a respective tail, each head forming a respective cable receiving second opening; said second elements rotatably mounted in the first element with the heads disposed in the socket, said second elements individually rotatable about the first axis between a first position in which the respective first and second openings are aligned to receive a cable, and a second position in which the respective first and second openings are misaligned to clamp the cable between the first and second elements.
2. The invention of Claim 1 further comprising a plurality of fasteners, each fastener passing through the base and the tail of the respective second element to move the tail to the second position.
3. The invention of Claim 2 wherein each fastener comprises a bolt and a threaded nut.
4. The invention of Claim 3 wherein each threaded nut comprises a first threaded portion received in the tail of the respective second element and a second portion extending away from the tail of the respective second element.
5. The invention of Claim 4 wherein each first threaded portion comprises a respective cylindrical outer surface, and wherein each second portion comprises a respective out-of-round outer surface adapted to engage a wrench.

4r
6. The invention of Claim 3 wherein at least some of the bolts comprise an out-of-round surface engaged with the base to prevent rotation of the bolt in the base.
7. The invention of Claim 1 further comprising:

a mounting plate; a plurality of first fasteners extending through the mounting plate, the base and respective ones of the tails to secure the base to the mdunting plate and to hold the respective tails in the second position; and a plurality of second fasteners extending through the base and respective ones of the tails to hold the respective tails in the second position; wherein the first fasteners are longer than the second fasteners.
8. An electrical connector comprising:

a first element comprising a base and a receiver, said receiver forming a socket extending along a first axis and a cable-receiving first opening extending through the receiver into the socket; at least one second element comprising a head and a tail, the head forming a second cable-receiving opening; said second element received in the first element with the head disposed in the socket, said second element rotatable about the axis between a first position in which the first and second openings are aligned to receive a cable, and a econd position in which the first and second openings are misaligned to clamp the cable between the first and second elements; a fastener comprising a bolt passing through the base and the tail and a nut threaded on the bolt to -move the tail to the second position, said nut comprising a first threaded portion received in the tail of the second element and a second portion extending away from the tail of the second element.
9. The invention of Claim 8 wherein the first threaded portion comprises a cylindrical outer surface, and wherein the second portion comprises an out-of-round outer surface adapted to engage a wrench.
10. The invention of Claim 8 wherein the bolt comprises an out-ofround surface engaged with the base to prevent rotation of the bolt in the base.
11. The invention of Claim 1 or 8 wherein the first element is J-shaped in cross section transverse to the first axis.
12. An electrical connector comprising:

a mounting plate; two first elements, each first element comprising a base and a receiver, said receiver forming a socket elongated along a first axis and a plurality of cable-receiving first openings extending through the receiver into the socket; a plurality of second elements, each second element comprising a respective head and a respective tail, each head forming a respective cable receiving second opening; said second elements rotatably mounted in the first elements with the heads disposed in the respective sockets, said second elements individually rotatable about the respective first axes between a first position in which the respective first and second openings are aligned to receive a cable, and a second position in which the respective first and second openings are misaligned to clamp the cable between the first and second elements; - a plurality of first fasteners, each first fastener extending through the mounting plate, the bases, and a respective one of the tails to secure the bases to the mounting plate and to hold the respective tails in the second position; a plurality of second fasteners, each second fastener extending through a respective one of the bases and a respective one of the tails to hold the respective tails in the second position.
13. The invention of Claim 12 wherein the first fasteners are longer than the second fasteners.
14. The invention of Claim 12 wherein each first element is J-shaped in cross section transverse to the respective first axis.
15. The invention of Claim 14 wherein each first element comprises a plurality of protruding elements extending upwardly from the respective base, each protruding element positioned to fit within the window of the respective second element and to contact an end of a clamped cable.

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16. The invention of Claim 12 wherein at least some of the fasteners each comprise a bolt and a threaded nut.
17. The invention of Claim 16 wherein at least some of the threaded nuts each comprise a first threaded portion received in the tail of the respective second element and a second portion extending away from the tail of the respective second element.
18. The invention of Claim 17 wherein each first threaded portion comprises a respective cylindrical outer surface, and wherein each second portion comprises a respective out-of-round outer surface adapted to engage a wrench.
19. The invention of Claim 16 wherein at least some of the bolts comprise an out-of-round surface engaged with the base to prevent rotation of the bolt in the-base.
20. The invention of Claim 1 or 12 wherein each second element forms a window where the respective second opening extends into the respective tail.
21. The invention of Claim 20 wherein the first element comprises a plurality of protruding elements extending upwardly from the base, each protruding element positioned to fit within the window of the respective second element and to contact an end of a clamped cable.
22. The invention of Claim 7 wherein the mounting plate overlaps a first portion but not a second portion of the second elements such that the first element is electrically interposed between the mounting plate and cables associated with at least the second portion of the second elements.
23. The invention of Claim 12 wherein the mounting plate overlaps a first portion but not a second portion of the second elements such that the first elements are electrically interposed between the mounting plate and cables as.4ociated with at least the second portion of the second elements.
24. An electrical connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the acccmpanying drawings.