US1496603A - Clamp - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1924. 1,496,603

M. R. ROTHENBERGER' CLAMP Filed Dec, 15, 1922 Arm/Mfrs Patented June 3, 1924.

UNITE MAX RICHARD ROTHENBERGER, OF DRE-EDEN, -GERMANY,

ASSIGNOR T0 FRANZ GROVE. OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GLAD/IR Application filed December 15, 1822.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, MAX RICHARD ROTH- ENBERGER, a citizen of the German Republic, and a resident of Potschappel, by Dresden, Saxony, Germany, have invented a new and Improved Clamp, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in clamping devices, and has particular reference to an electrical conductor clamp.

An object of the invention is to provide a clamp, which may be quickly and securely attached to an electrical conductor, such as a main feed wire for the purpose of electrically connecting several branch. conductors to the main, conductor.

Another object is to so construct the clamp that the same may be secured to conductors of different sizes and utilized in electrically connecting conductors of various diameters.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detail description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates different embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the invention, showing the same attached to a main conductor;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 Figure l;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of the clamping element employed in connection with Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a slightly different form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevation partly in section of still another form of the invention; and

Figure 7 is a section on the line 77 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, it will be seen that the device comprises a body consisting of a pair of oppositely disposed plates 8 connected at their upper ends by the transverse portion 9, the inner surface of which is curved to accommodate the main conductor 10 when the device is attached thereto. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 1, a terminal strip 11 may be emloyed, which is interposed between the conduster 10 and the portion 9 of the device and Serial No. 607,175.

to which branch conductors, such as 12, are 7 connected. Adjacent edges of the body are cut away or reduced, as indicated at 13', and the lower edge of the reduced portion is further cut away to form the supporting portions or shoulders 14 and 15 arranged at different distances from the upper end of the body. Thesupporting portions 14 and 15 are designed to receive the ends of the stub shaft 16 located eceentrically with res set to the center of a clamping element 1 in the form of a grooved roller which ispositioned between the plates 8. The roller 17 is provided'in its periphery with a radially extending recess 18 for receiving one end of any suitable tool 19, which is utilized to rotate the roller 17 with respect to the body, and by reason of the eccentrical mounting of this roller, it will be obvious that when the same is rotated the periphery thereof will engage the conductor 10 and bend the ame to substantially the contour of the curved portion 9. In so doing a wedging action will be effected which will secure the body of the clamp to the conductor. 10 and maintain the same in position thereon. If desired, the plates 8 may be provided with aligned openings 20 for receiving branch conductors, such as-the conductors 12 instead of utilizing the terminal strip 11. It will be seen from the foregoing description that the device may be attached to conductors of different diameters by adjusting the roller 17 so that the shaft 16 will engage different supporting portions 14 and 15.

In Figures 4 and 5 the body is of substantially the same configuration as that shown in Figure 1 and includes the plates 8 and the connecting portion 9. The body in this instance is also designed to be attached to the main feed conductor 10, which is engaged with branch conductors 12 extending transversely through the plates 8 adjacent the upper ends thereof. The lower ends of the plates 8 are also provided with aligned supporting portions 14 and 15 with which a pin 21 is adapted to engage to position the roller 17 at various distances from the upper end of the body to accommodate different sized conductors 10. The pin 21 extends through any one of a plurality of openings 22 formed in the roller or clamping element 17 at different distances fromthe eriphery thereof so as to make provision r additional ad justments of the roller 17 with respect to the plates 8. In each instance the openings 22 are disposed eccentrically with respect to the center of the roller so that when the same is rotated by engagement of the tool 19 with the radially disposed opening 18 the roller will engage the conductor and securely clamp the body to said conductor and also force the conductor into engagement with the other branch conductors 12.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7 the body is again shown as comprising oppositely disposed plates 8 connected at their upper ends by the portion 9, said plates in this instance being provided with a plurality of aligned openings'23, which form supporting portions for pins 2 1-, which are utilized to pivotally connect the clamping elements to the body between the plates 8. Each oi. the elements 25 is provided with a series of openings 26 arranged longitudinally thereoffso that the clamping element may be adjusted to engage conductors 10 of different diameters. I By providing the series of openings 23 in the plates; 8 and the openings 26 in the elements 25, it will be obvious that numerous adjustments of the latter elements may be made. The upper ends of the plates 8' are further provided with longitudinal slots 27 having their upper edges grooved to receive branch conductors 12, which in turn engage the conductor 10 when the elements 25, which are grooved, as indicated at 28, are swung about their pivots to engage the conductor 10 and force the same upwardly.

h at is'claiined is:

1, In a clamp of the character described, a body including oppositely disposed plates adapted to receive a conductor therebetween, and a clamping element rotatably mounted between said plates, said plates and clamping element having cooperating means for positioning the latter eccentrically with respect to said conductor, and said plates being further provided with openings for receivingv other conductors engageable with the first named conductor.

2. In a clamp, a body including oppositely disposed plates capable of receiving a con-' ductor therebetween and having openings for receiving another conductor extending ment rotatably mounted between said plates, 1

said plates each having a plurality of sup-v porting portions andsaid clamping element carrying an eccentrically mounted p n en- T gageable with said portions for positioning the clamping element eccentrically with re-- spect to said conductor and for adjusting the axis of rotation of the clamping element toward and away from said conductor.

at. In a clamp, a body including oppositely disposed plates connected at adjacent ends and provided with curved aligned supporting portions connnunicating with each other and arranged at varying distances from said connected ends, a clamping element positioned between said plates, means eccentrically carried by said clamping element and engageable with any of said aligned supporting portions to permit of rotation of said clamping element to clamp to said body a conductor interposed between said element and the connected ends of said plates.

MAX RICHARD ROTI-IENBERGER Witnesses:

A. Nnonn,

mo. V. Frsoimn.

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