MXPA98010364A - Collarin terminal better - Google Patents

Abstract

A circuit breaker system (10) having load terminals (510A) and line (510) interconnectable with load and line conductors by means of a collar (500i) without welding has a central opening (537i) which houses a overlapping portion of the internal load or line terminals and the associated load or line conductors. The collar has a fixed screw (602) on its upper part, which is turned down on the overlapping end and the conductor until a secure connection is made. The collar has a seal (520i), which can be affected by the action of the fixed screw associated with the clamping of the external conductor with the internal terminal. The gasket is T-shaped and is provided with vertical tabs (550) in a portion thereof to prevent the weakest portion of the gasket from turning outward (546) under the effects of the clamping action and thus compromising the resistance of the jun

Description

IMPROVED TERMINAL NECKLACE Background of the Invention Field of the Invention The subject matter of this invention relates to circuit breakers generally, and more particularly to wire retaining collars. Description of the State of the Art Reference will be made to U.S. Patent No. 5,206,789, entitled "Terminal Assembly for a Circuit Breaker and Similar Apparatus", issued to Barbry on the 27th. April 1993. The present invention is an improvement over the teachings of said patent. Circuit breakers are well known. It is necessary to interconnect the external terminals of the power line and the load to the terminals of the circuit breaker. One way to do this is by using a collar arrangement, which provides a way to interconnect the external load and line conductors with the main terminals of the circuit breaker. Basically, the collar arrangement consists of electrically conductive material having a periphery that captures or hosts an overlapping arrangement of the internal terminal of the circuit breaker and the external line or load conductor, as the case may be. A fixed screw arrangement is then provided in a threaded opening in the collar to tighten on the adjacent overlapping conductor and the terminal to hold them in place. A problem with the collar of the state of the art is the tendency for it to separate at its peripheral joint when the fixed screw is tightened on the overlap terminal and the conductor. This is obviously undesirable. It would be desirable, therefore, that a collar could be provided for a circuit breaker that does not separate easily when the fixed screw used therein is tightened over the inner terminal and the conductor that the collar interconnects. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a circuit breaker system including a collar for interconnecting an electrical conductor with a terminal is taught. The collar includes a ribbon of inter-bonded material to form a periphery around the electrical conductor and the terminal to secure them together. The first end of the batten has a male interlock shape in a foreground. A second end of the ribbon has a complementary female shape in the same plane to accept the male interlock shape. The male interlock shape and the complementary female shape cooperate to jointly retain the first and second ends in the first plane. The second end of the conductor has a male protrusion in the foreground and has a complementary female opening to accept the protrusion in the foreground. The male protrusion and the complementary opening, when joined, resist the rotational movement of the second end of the strip in the first plane when the periphery is placed in a state of tension. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to its preferred embodiment, shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an orthogonal view of a load terminal or line terminal of the state of the art for a circuit breaker; Figure 2 shows an orthogonal view of the collar of Figure 1, arranged on a line or load conductor; Figure 3 shows a collar of the state of the art different from that shown in figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a terminal collar of the type incorporated in the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a partially broken side elevation of a molded case circuit breaker utilizing the collar arrangement of Figure 4 at both load and line terminals. Detailed Description of the Drawings Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a self-retaining collar 400 of the state of the art is sketched for a load or line conductor for a circuit breaker. The collar 400 is arranged, as shown in Figure 2, in a line conductor 71 of a circuit breaker 10. The collar 400 comprises a strip formed of electrically conductive material, of rectanguiding cross section, such as copper, folded four times in 406. , 408, 410 and 412 to form a hollow rectangular sleeve. An end 414 of the rectangular member includes a portion of peninsular material 418 bent at 416 which is adjusted or arranged in pigeon tail in adjustment with an aperture 420 similarly on the side of the wall defined by the corners 406 to 408. Of a similarly, a rectangular protrusion 422 depends outwardly of the horizontal section of the folded material emanating from the fold 406 to the right. This last rectangular portion is enclosed with a wedge member or opening 42 in the fold region 412. This secure arrangement allows a relatively strong collar member formed of a single unit piece. A threaded opening 426 is provided in the upper part within which a threaded member (not shown) can be axially disposed, for downward movement toward the central housing 428 of the collar member 400 to compress wires or conductors that can be inserted therein. The collar shown in Figure 1 includes two protrusions or entrapment members mounted on the sides 430A and 430B projecting transversely to the central opening 428. A spring-loaded portion 436, disposed peninsularly in the middle part of the cutout, is also included. 438. The raised portion 436 is adapted to fit within a hole, as will be described later, in the line conductor 71 of the circuit breaker 10. Referring now to Figure 2, the collar 400 is shown in a self-retaining arrangement in the line conductor 71. The line conductor 71 fits between the lower portion 440 of the spike-like protuberances 430A and 430B, which trap the rectangular cross-section of the line conductor 71 between and between the inner bottom 446 of the collar 400. The protrusion 436 protrudes upwards towards the hole 71A in the line terminal 71, thus longitudinally fixing the relationship between the collar 440 and the conductor 71. The trapping protuberances 430A and 430B they prevent the vertical movement of collar 440 relative to conductor 71, as seen in Figure 2. Lateral movement is prevented by the location of the side walls shown, for example at 450 and 452 in Figure 2. Referring now to Figure 3, another embodiment of the state of the art of a terminal collar 500 is sketched. The terminal collar 500 is made of a continuous batten. inuo of electrically conductive material formed on four sides 502, 504, 506, and 508. A line terminal 510 of the circuit breaker is disposed against the interior of the bottom portion 508 of the collar and held therein by means of barbs 512 A threaded hole 514 is provided on top 504 of collar 500. On side 502 there is provided a joint 520, which joins one end of the batten of conductive material with the other end of the batten of conductive material. One of the joint members comprises an inverted, male T-shaped portion, composed of a vertical bar projecting downwards 526, terminated in a horizontal bar projecting 528. It is also provided at the other end of the conductive material of the collar 500 a complementary female T-shaped opening 524. The female T-shape 524 comprises an open horizontal space 532 corresponding to the horizontal bar 528 and a vertical female space 533 corresponding to the male vertical bar 526. During construction, the male T-shaped interlock 522 is fitted at the periphery to the complementary female shape 524 to form an interlocked joint 520. A fixed screw or similar device is threaded downwardly in the direction 536 into the threaded hole 514, to forcefully compress a external conductor (not shown) down against the upper part of the line terminal 510 in the central region 537 of the collar 500, generating a reaction force 538 in the opposite direction, tending to separate the joint 520. If the force 536 and its reactive force 538 are greater than the metallurgical strength of the joint 520, the joint members comprising the accommodated portions 544 of the form of complementary T 524 will begin to rotate outward in opposite directions 546 under the influence of the upward movement of the surface of T 540 of the male member 522. The narrow regions 544 that define the horizontal female form 532 are the weakest portions of the joint 520 and have a tendency to bend outwardly in the direction 546 and perhaps even to tear, depending on the relative intensity of the force 538. The separation of the joint 520 sketched in the collar of the state of the art of Figure 3 is of course undesirable . It would be desirable to provide a collar having the advantages shown in the collar of FIG. 3, but which nevertheless does not separate or disintegrate in the joint 520 upon application of force 536 to maintain the overlap terminal 510 and the conductors in their central region. 537. Reference is now made to Figure 4, where an improved collar embodying the teachings of the present invention is sketched. In the description set forth with respect to Figure 4, those portions of the collar that are similar to the parts shown in Figure 3 are represented by the same reference symbol, having an additional identification bonus () associated therewith. In this embodiment of the invention there are several differences between the collar 500 'of Figure 4 and the collar 500 of Figure 3, of the state of the art. One difference lies in the fact that the tines 512 'are constructed differently. There are punctuated portions of the side walls 506 'and 502'. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the line or load conductor 510 is not shown, so that a projecting bulge or protrusion 560 on the bottom wall 508 'may be sketched. The line conductor 510, if inserted, would be inserted into the central opening 537 'below the protruding tines 512' and the upper side of the lower portion 508 'of the collar 500' until a complementary hole in the line terminal (not shown) captures it and is seated by the ampule 560. Another significant difference can be found in the female slits 550 provided in the upper portion of the side wall 502 'adjacent to the vertical bar 526' of the inverted male T 522 '. In this embodiment of the invention, as a fixed screw or similar device (not shown) is threaded downward in the direction 536, in the manner previously described with respect to Figure 3, rather than the external portions of the shape of Complementary female T 524 rotating outward in the direction 546, as with the apparatus of Figure 2, the presence of the female slits 550 working in conjunction with complementary male tabs 552 in region 556 prevents or minimizes rotation of the outer portions of the lower side 502 'in the direction 546. The joint 520', as it is constructed, is therefore even more resistant than the joint 520 of Figure 3, and appreciably resists the destruction of the joint as a result of the reactive force in the address 538 due to the rotation of a fixed screw or down in the direction 536.

Referring now to Fig. 5, a circuit breaker 10, partially cut away to show the arrangement of a pair of line terminal and load collars 500 'for connection to a line terminal 510 and a charging terminal 510A is sketched. . The terminal 510 is disposed inside the collar against its lower part and is held there by the presence of the prongs 512 '. In each case, a joint 520 'similar to that shown in Figure 4 is provided. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the joint 520' for the collar 500 'on the left is shown facing outwards. The same joint is obscured from the view in the collar 500 'to the right. When the fixed screw 602 is turned down against a conductor inserted in the collar against the upper portion of the load conductor or line 510 or 510A, the joint 520 'is sufficiently strong to reduce its destruction or deterioration under the influence of the force provided. by the fixed screw 602. In order to separate the circuit breaker 10, a handle 604 is provided to open and close the separable main contacts disposed within the circuit breaker in a continuity arrangement with the line and load terminals 510 and 510A.

Claims (13)

1. CLAIMS 1. A collar for interconnecting an electrical conductor with the terminal of an electrical device, comprising: a ribbon of inter-bonded material to form a periphery around said electrical conductor and said terminal to secure them together, a first end of said batten having a male interlock shape in a first plane, a second end of said batten having a complementary female shape in said first plane to accept said male interlock form, said male interlock form and said complementary female shape cooperating to maintain said first and second ends together in said first plane, said second end also having a male protrusion in said first plane, said first end also having a complementary female opening for accepting said male protrusion in said first plane, said male protrusion and said complementary opening, when they are united, resisting The movement of rotation of portions of said second end of said ribbon in said first plane.
2. 2. The combination as defined in the claim 1, where said material is electrically conductive.
3. 3. A collar for interconnecting an electrical conductor with the terminal of an electrical device, comprising: inter-bonded material forming a periphery around said electrical conductor and said terminal for securing them together, said inter-bonded material being enclosed in a close-up; screw means penetrating said collar in a plane perpendicular to said first plane to force said electrical conductor and said terminal jointly against the inside of said collar, said forcing action tending to separate said interconnected material in said interlock by means of of portions rotating from said interlock in said plane far from each other; and said interlock having an ear in said plane that abuts against another portion of said interlock to resist said rotation of said portions of said interlock in said plane far from each other.
4. 4. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein said material is electrically conductive.
5. 5. A collar for interconnecting an electrical conductor with another electrical conductor, comprising: inter-bonded material forming a periphery around said two electrical conductors for securing them together, said inter-bonded material being enclosed in a first plane; clamping means that penetrate said collar in a plane perpendicular to said first plane to force said electrical conductors against the inside of said collar, said forcing action tending to separate said inter-joined material in said interlock by rotating portions of said interlock in said plane far from each other; and said interlock having a protrusion in said plane that abuts against a portion of said interlock to resist said rotation of said portions of said interlock in said plane away from each other.
6. The combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said material is electrically conductive.
7. 7. An electrical circuit breaker, comprising an insulating box; separable main contacts, arranged inside said insulating box; one of said separable main contacts being interconnected with a terminal, which in turn is interconnected with an electrical conductor with a collar; said collar comprising: a batten of inter-bonded material to form a periphery around said electrical conductor and said terminal for securing them together, a first end of said batten having a male interlock shape in a first plane, a second end of said ribbon having a complementary female shape in said first plane to accept said male interlock form, said male interlock form and said complementary female form cooperating to maintain said first and second ends together in said first planesaid second end also having a male protrusion in said first plane, said first end also having a complementary female opening for accepting said male protrusion in said first plane, said male protrusion and said complementary opening, when they are joined, resisting the rotation movement of portions of said second end of said ribbon in said first plane.
8. 8. The combination as defined in claim 7, wherein said material is electrically conductive.
9. 9. An electrical circuit breaker, comprising an insulating box; separable main contacts disposed within said insulating box; one of said separable main contacts being interconnected with a terminal, which in turn is interconnected with an electrical conductor with a collar; said collar comprising: inter-joined material forming a periphery around said electrical conductor and said terminal for sing them together, said inter-joined material being interlocked in a first plane; screw means penetrating said collar in a plane perpendicular to said first plane to force said electrical conductor and said terminal together against the inside of said collar, said forcing action tending to separate said inter-joined material in said interlock by rotating portions of said interlock in said plane far from each other; and said interlock having an ear in said plane that abuts against another portion of said interlock to resist said rotation of said portions of said interlock in said plane far from each other.
10. 10. The combination that is defined in the claim 9, where said material is electrically conductive.
11. 11. An electrical circuit breaker, comprising an insulating box; separable main contacts disposed within said insulating box; one of said separable main contacts being interconnected with a terminal, which in turn is interconnected with an electrical conductor with a collar; said collar comprising: interlocking material forming a periphery around said two electrical conductors for securing them together, said inter-joined material being enclosed in a first plane; clamping means that penetrate said collar in a plane perpendicular to said first plane to force said electrical conductors against the inside of said collar, said forcing action tending to separate said interconnected material in said interlock by turning portions of said interlock in said plane far between yes; and said interlock having a protrusion in said plane that abuts against a portion of said interlock to resist said rotation of said portions of said interlock in said plane away from each other.
12. 12. The combination as defined in claim 11, wherein said material is electrically conductive. A collar for interconnecting an electrical conductor with another electrical conductor, comprising: interlocking material forming a periphery around said two electrical conductors for securing them together, said interconnected material being interlocked in a first plane; clamping means interacting with said collar in a plane perpendicular to said first plane for forcing said electrical conductors against the inside of said collar in a first direction, said forcing action tending to separate said inter-joined material in said interlock in a direction perpendicular to said first direction; and said interlock having a protrusion in said first plane that abuts against a portion of said interlock to resist said separation in said perpendicular direction.