JPS6355752B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to connecting and disconnecting substantive high voltage electrical connector elements and, more particularly, to properly attaching and securing a bushing assembly within an electrical connector and connecting the electrical connector to a high voltage electrical connector. The present invention relates to a mounting device that can be reliably mounted and fixed to a terminal of an electrical device.

Applicant's U.S. Pat. A voltage electrical connector is disclosed that includes a bushing assembly that allows a ground connection to be made to ground the terminals without separating the electrical connector.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mounting system which facilitates the mounting and securing of bushing assemblies within electrical connectors of the type disclosed in said patent.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment device of the type described above which ensures complete and proper attachment and securement of the bushing assembly to the electrical connector.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment device that facilitates the proper attachment and securing of a practical bushing assembly to an electrical connector.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment device of the type described above which allows the electrical connector to be easily attached and secured to the terminals of a high voltage electrical device after the bushing assembly has been properly installed and secured to the electrical connector. There are some things.

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide an attachment device of the type described above which is capable of ensuring proper attachment and attachment of a bushing assembly to an electrical connector prior to attachment and attachment to the terminal contacts of the electrical connector. There is a particular thing.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a mounting device that can be readily incorporated into a bushing assembly that is fully compatible with electrical connectors of the type described.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a practical mounting device of the type described above, which can be easily operated without the need for elaborate and expensive special tools.

The foregoing objects as well as other objects and advantages can be achieved by the present invention as briefly described below. That is, the present invention provides a method for installing and securing a bushing assembly 30 within an electrical connector 10 for use in a high voltage power distribution system.
A mounting device for a high voltage electrical connector, the mounting device comprising:
The electrical connector has an axially extending recess 28 having a tapered portion 70 into which the terminal contact 20 attached to the conductor of the high voltage cable extends. the bushing assembly has a protrusion 22 located within the recess, the terminal contact having a threaded hole 68 located within the recess coaxially with the axis of the tapered portion of the recess; , having a body member 36 extending axially and terminating in a lower end 64, the body member 36 extending within the tapered portion 70 of the recess of the electrical connector.
An attachment device for a high voltage electrical connector having a tapered portion 66 of complementary shape to the tapered portion 70 for interference fit engagement with the end of the bushing assembly. a tubular member 40 extending axially through the interior of the bushing assembly near the section and having an axially extending internal thread 56 therein, the tubular member 40 being rotatable about its axis; a lower end of a body member of the bushing assembly connected to the tubular member, the tubular member being mounted within the bushing assembly such that when the bushing assembly is rotated, the bushing assembly also rotates accordingly; a coupling member 50 axially projecting from 64; a coupling member 50 formed in the coupling member and axially spaced from the tubular member such that at least a portion thereof is threadably engaged with the threaded hole of the terminal contact; a male thread 58 formed in the coupling member and threadedly engaged with the female thread of the tubular member; and a further male thread 52 coupled to the tubular member to rotate the tubular member about its axis. wrench means 98
and minimum torque response means 74 for inhibiting relative movement between the tubular member and the coupling member when the torque acting on the coupling member by the tubular member is less than or equal to a predetermined magnitude; Upon initial rotation of the bushing assembly inserted into the recess of the electrical connector, the coupling member rotates with the bushing member and the interference fit engagement of the tapered portions 66, 70 is effected. Previously, the external thread 58 of the coupling member is threaded into the threaded hole of the terminal contact, and successive rotations of the bushing member are caused by the wrench means to reduce the predetermined torque of the minimum torque response means. A predetermined torque is applied to ensure that the tapered portions 66, 70 are engaged in a tight fit and that a proper electrical connection is established between the tubular member and the contact terminal. a stop means 62 further arranged to screw the external thread 52 into the internal thread of the tubular member until . It is.

A thorough understanding of the invention, and other objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the components shown here are identical to those disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,591, which includes an electrical connector in the form of a T-shaped receptacle 10 and and terminals 12 of the device (not shown). A receptacle 10 is attached to the end of a high voltage cable as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent, and an electrical terminal contact 20 having an integral lug 22 is attached to the conductor of the cable. Lugs 22 connect terminals 1 to complete the power transmission and distribution circuit.
2.

The composite body 24 surrounding the terminal contact 20 has an axially extending receptacle recess 26 .
A terminal 12 is received within 6. A second recess 2 axially extending opposite this first recess 26
8 receives a bushing assembly 30 configured to allow direct connection of terminal 12 to a conventional electrical connector (not shown), such as an elbow receptacle.

Bushing assembly 30 includes a generally tubular housing 34 having a body member 36 of an insulating material, such as an insulating elastomer, and a central tubular member 38 of electrically conductive material, such as copper or aluminum. The upper end of the bushing assembly 30 is not shown, but is substantially identical to that disclosed in the aforementioned patent, with a female contact assembly positioned adjacent the upper end of the tubular member 38. Suffice it to say that the contact assembly includes a female contact element capable of receiving a male contact element to complete the electrical circuit to the tubular member 38. In this bushing assembly 30, the tubular member 38 includes an extension in the form of an axially extending tubular member 40 of a conductive material, such as copper or aluminum, which has a threaded connection at its upper end 44. It is secured to tubular member 38 by section 42 .
The lower end 46 of the tubular member 40 then has a land 48 for purposes described in more detail below.

A coupling member 50 formed of a conductive material such as copper or aluminum is connected to the tubular member 40.
The coupling member 50 is coupled to the tubular member 40 by engagement of the female threads 56 of the tubular member 40 with external threads 52 received within the vicinity of the lower end 46 of the coupling member 50 and extending axially to the upper end 54 of the coupling member 50 . A male thread 58 is further provided near the lower end 60 of the coupling member 50, and a collar 62 is provided between both male threads 52 and 58.
A stop means in the form of is located.

Before installing the bushing assembly 30 into the recess 28 of the receptacle 10, the coupling member 50 is
extends beyond the lower end 46 of the tubular member 40 and the lower end 64 of the body member 36 of the bushing assembly 30, and the collar 62 is spaced axially from the lower ends 46 and 64, as shown in FIG. ing. In this way, at least a portion of the male threads 58 are such that the male threads 58 are attached to the lugs 20 of the terminal contact 20, as shown in FIG.
2 is spaced downwardly from the distal end portion 66 of the body member 36 of the bushing assembly 30 such that the tapered portion 66 of the body member 36 is recessed. Place 2
There is no resistance that would occur if it were in contact with the corresponding tapered portion 70 of 8. Therefore, at least a portion of the external threads 58 of the coupling member 50 can be threaded into the threaded holes 68 simply by manually rotating the bushing assembly 30 to advance the external threads 58 into the threaded holes 68. This forward threading continues until sufficient axial length of external thread 58 engages threaded hole 68 to provide the necessary retention strength to complete installation of bushing assembly 30 as described below. , and preferably stop shoulder 72 of collar 62 as shown in FIG.
continues until it is seated on the lug 22.

until manual rotation of the bushing assembly 30 properly seats the stop shoulder 72 on the lug 22.
The coupling member 50 is advanced into the screw hole 68. A locking means is provided between the male thread 52 and the female thread 56 as a minimum torque response means, which locking means at least prevents the said shaft of the screw 58 during the screwing of the coupling member 50 into the lug 22. The coupling member 50 and the tubular member 40 are locked against relative movement until a sufficient length in the direction engages the threaded hole 68. This locking means is a recess 7 in the wall 78 of the coupling member 50.
6 and compressed against the internal threads of the tubular member 40, preferably in the form of a pellet 74 of a synthetic resin material such as nylon, which prevents undesirable relative movement until the stop shoulder 72 seats against the lug 22. It generates a torque of sufficient magnitude to prevent this. To further rotate the bushing assembly 30, and preferably after the stop shoulder 72 is seated on the lug 22, the tapered portion 66 is connected to the tapered portion 70 of the recess 28. The torque provided by pellet 74 is overcome so that it can continue to move downwardly towards. Pellet 74 thus forms a locking means that is responsive to a minimum torque that causes tubular member 4
The stop shoulder 72 ensures that the coupling member 50 fully engages the lug 22 before the coupling member 50 moves relative to the coupling member 50.
This is a predetermined value that ensures that the lug 22 is engaged to the seated position.
This pellet 74 thus provides the necessary and preferably desired coupling member 50 for fully engaging the coupling member 50 with the lug 22.
The minimum torque required to properly seat the tubular member 40 on the lugs 22
Reliably reached before moving relative to 0.

When the coupling member 50 is properly seated on the lug 22 as shown in FIG.
Further rotation of 0 overcomes the locking force created by pellet 74 and tapered portion 66 of bushing assembly 30 begins to engage a corresponding tapered portion 70 of recess 28. Continued downward movement of bushing assembly 30 seats bushing assembly 30 within receptacle 10. However, this downward movement is due to the interference fit formed between the engaged tapered portions 66 and 70 to provide the desired watertight seal and insulation properties along the intermediate layer between the engaged tapered portions 66 and 70. As a result, considerable resistance is encountered. And because the body member 36 of the bushing assembly 30 is formed of an elastomeric material, the resistance to rotation increases with downward movement, so that the force required to continue the rotation of the bushing assembly is exerted. Understanding the bushing assembly from the outside becomes meaningless.
The installation apparatus of the present invention is provided with internal wrench rotation means to facilitate further rotation of the bushing assembly 30, as described below.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, coupling member 50 has a central hole 80 extending therethrough from end 54 to end 60 thereof. A threaded fastener in the form of a bolt 82 extends axially through the bore 80 and has a head 84 and a thread 86. Pin 90 extends radially through a hole 92 in the wall of tubular member 38 and into a corresponding hole 94 in head 84 of bolt 82 . Pin 90 has a flange portion 96 that serves to position pin 90 radially within bore 92 . The tubular member 40 overlaps the hole 92 so that the flange portion 96 of the pin 90 is aligned with the hole 92.
Capture within 2. Bolt 82 is thus secured in the retracted position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

A socket 98 in the head 84 of the bolt 82 is in the shape of a hexagonal wrench located along the central axis A of the bushing assembly 30. The tool 100 with hexagonal corresponding drive elements 102 is lowered through the tubular member 38 along the axis A as shown in FIG. 3 and into the socket 9 as shown in FIG.
8. Details of tool 100 are disclosed in the patent application ``Mounting Tool for Electrical Connectors,'' filed on the same day as this application. With this disclosure, once the tool 100 is attached to the head 84 of the bolt 82
It will be appreciated that rotation of tool 100 about axis A rotates bushing assembly 30 because head 84 is secured to tubular member 38 by pin 90. This rotational force then causes the lands 48 of the lower end 46 of the tubular extension member 40 to seat on the lugs 22 as shown in FIG. is applied and conveyed to move the bushing assembly 30 downwardly until the button is pressed. If the stop shoulder 72 of the collar 62 is not already properly seated on the lug 22, the downward movement of the tubular member 40 will cause the coupling member 50 to rest against the lug 22.
A coupling member 50 is provided to ensure that the
will move further downward. Land part 4
8 is properly seated, the bushing assembly 30 is seated within the receptacle 10 with a proper interference fit, and the lands 48 are seated within the extension member 40.
and lugs 22 to complete the electrical connection with appropriate mechanical coupling.

It is important here not to overtighten the bushing assembly 30. That is, the lands 48 should not gaul the lugs 22 and should not develop excessive forces along the intermediate layer between the corresponding tapered portions 66 and 70. At the same time, it is important to apply at least the minimum torque necessary to properly seat the bushing assembly 30 within the receptacle 10. In order to ensure that the necessary minimum rotational force is applied to the bushing assembly 30 while preventing the application of excessive rotational force, the shear strength of the pin 90 is selected such that the pin 90 is sheared as follows. That is, the pin 90 is
When a torque is applied by tool 100 greater than a predetermined value determined by the minimum torque required to properly seat bushing assembly 30 within receptacle 10 and the maximum torque that can be withstood. It is sheared in response to this. In this manner, pin 90 also acts as a minimum torque responsive means that includes a securing means for securing head 84 of bolt 82 to tubular member 38 for applying rotational torque, which securing means is connected to bushing assembly 30. It releases in response to exceeding a predetermined torque to ensure that excessive torque is not applied to the connection of the lugs 22, while ensuring that the minimum required torque is applied.

Once pin 90 is sheared, bolt 8
2 is free and moves axially downward within the tubular member 40 and the coupling member 50 until the head 84 of the bolt 82 rests on the washer 105 located at the upper end 54 of the coupling member 50. The upward movement of bolt 82 is restrained by lip 106. The lip 106 projects radially inwardly to prevent bolt 82 from moving upwardly into the tubular member 38. Receptacle 10 with bushing assembly 30 in place
is typically positioned above terminal 12 and bolt 82
are axially aligned with the screw holes 108 of the terminal 12. Once the bolt 82 is freed by the shearing of the pin 90, the bolt 82 can be threaded forward into the terminal 12 by rotation of the tool 100 and the fifth
The connection with the terminal 12 is completed as shown in the figure.
In the completed connection, bolt 82 connects terminal 12
Tighten the lug 22 in place on the receptacle 10 with a proper interference fit between the recess 26 of the receptacle 10 and the corresponding outer surface 110 of the terminal 12 and between the lug 22 and the conductor 111 of the terminal 12. Secure the receptacle 10 onto the terminal 12 with appropriate electrical connections. The stop shoulder 72 of the collar 62 is connected to the lug 22
and the conductor 111 of the terminal 12, the end 60 of the coupling member 50 is seated against the lug 22 to prevent it from protruding downwardly beyond the lug 22. As noted, the sheared pin 90 fragment 112 is retained within the aperture 92 in the wall of the tubular member 38 by the flanged end 96, allowing the fragment 112 to fall freely into the bushing assembly 30. This further prevents the possibility of problems such as falling into the socket 98 and preventing proper engagement of the hex element 102 of the tool 100. A similarly sheared piece 114 of pin 90 is retained within hole 94 of bolt head 84 by the wall of tubular member 40. In this way the positions of fragments 112 and 114 are constrained. The tool 100 is then withdrawn as shown.

Thus, the attachment device of the present invention facilitates the proper installation of the bushing assembly 30 into the receptacle 10 and connects the receptacle 10 to the terminal 12 in a simple operation that is practical and quick to perform without the use of complex tools. allow you to connect.

The foregoing detailed description of embodiments of the invention is provided by way of example only, and various configurations and constructions may be made without departing from the scope and true spirit of the invention as claimed. It will be understood that modifications may be made.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a portion of a bushing assembly having an attachment device constructed in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the bushing assembly being installed into an electrical connector for connection to terminals of an electrical device; , FIG. 2 is a side sectional view similar to FIG. 1 with its components in other positions, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view similar to FIG. 2 with the component in a further position; FIG. 4 is a side sectional view with the component in a further position; FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a state in which all components are fully installed; FIG. (Explanation of symbols), 10... Electrical connector (receptacle), 12... Terminal, 20... Contact, 22
... Protrusion (lug), 26, 28 ... Recess, 30
...Butching assembly, 36...Body member, 38
... Tubular member, 40 ... Tubular member, 50 ... Coupling member, 52, 58 ... Male thread, 56 ...
Female thread, 62...Collar, 66...Tapered main body portion, 68...Screw hole, 70...Tapered portion, 72...
...stop shoulder, 74...pellet, 82...bolt, 90...pin, 98...hexagonal socket, 1
00...Tool.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A mounting device for a high-voltage electrical connector for mounting and securing a bushing assembly 30 within an electrical connector 10 for use in a high-voltage power distribution system, the electrical connector having an axial a recess 28 extending in the direction, the recess 28 having a tapered portion 70, and the terminal contact 20 attached to the conductor of the high voltage cable having a protrusion 22 extending into the recess. the terminal contact has a threaded hole 68 located within the recess coaxially with the axis of the tapered portion of the recess, and the bushing assembly has an axially extending exists,
and a body member 36 terminating in a lower end 64, the body member having a body member 36 configured to engage the tapered portion 70 of the recess in an interference fit with the tapered portion 70 of the electrical connector. A mounting device for a high voltage electrical connector having a tapered portion 66 of complementary shape to portion 70 extending axially within the bushing assembly near an end of the bushing assembly; and a tubular member 40 having an axially extending internal thread 56 therein, such that rotation of the tubular member about its axis causes corresponding simultaneous rotation of the bushing assembly; the tubular member mounted within the bushing assembly; a coupling member 50 coupled to the tubular member and projecting axially from a lower end 64 of the body member of the bushing assembly; an external thread 58 formed in the coupling member and spaced axially from the tubular member such that at least a portion thereof threadably engages the threaded hole of the terminal contact; a further male thread 52 threadably engaged with the female thread; and wrench means 98 coupled to the tubular member for rotating the tubular member about its axis.
and minimum torque response means 74 for inhibiting relative movement between the tubular member and the coupling member when the torque acting on the coupling member by the tubular member is less than or equal to a predetermined magnitude; Upon initial rotation of the bushing assembly inserted into the recess of the electrical connector, the coupling member rotates with the bushing member and the interference fit engagement of the tapered portions 66, 70 is effected. Previously, the external thread 58 of the coupling member is threaded into the threaded hole of the terminal contact, and successive rotations of the bushing member are caused by the wrench means to reduce the predetermined torque of the minimum torque response means. A predetermined torque is applied to ensure that the tapered portions 66, 70 are engaged in a tight fit and that a proper electrical connection is established between the tubular member and the contact terminal. a stop means 62 further arranged to screw the external thread 52 into the internal thread of the tubular member until . .