US1544825A

US1544825A - Terminal device

Info

Publication number: US1544825A
Application number: US522764A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerald John M Fitz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1921-12-16
Filing date: 1921-12-16
Publication date: 1925-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1942-07-07

Description

July 7, 1925. 1,544,825

J. M. FITZ GERALD TERMINAL DEVICE Filed 'Dec. 6, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I it 61' Mb 6. 7 w

July .7, 1925. r 5 1,544,825

' J. M. FITZ GERALD TERMINAL DEVICE File d Dec. 16, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN M. FITZ GERALD, OF RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS.

TERMINAL DEVICE.

Application filed December 16, 1921. Serial No. 522,764.

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN Frrz GERALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at River Forest, Cook County, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Terminal Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present improvements relate to ter minal devices adapted to receive the projecting ends of cables or other electrical conduit wires and which are, for their greater part, buried in the ground or otherwise concealed. Such devices are ordinarily known as pot heads in the art, and their general object is to provide means for housing projecting ends of such wires close to the ground or where they otherwise emerge whereby access may be had to these ends for connecting or disconnecting them to each other or for tapping into them, upon removing a cover of the device.

The principal specific objects of the present improvements are to provide a terminal device of the class referred to which is susceptible of use with free cables or wires is suing from the ground, trunking box, etc., or for cables encased by pipes of various diameters, as where such pipes issue from the earth or from a concrete or other structure; one in which the wires may be held securely by means independent of the electricalconnections, thus saving those connections from disruptive strains; one in which the cable, free wires or tubing are so arranged that a sealing compound such as is commonly used in the art may be readily applied to such parts so as effectively to prevent moisture from finding its way along the wires, into the pipes, or into the insulation; one in which the connection elements may be of simple form, conveniently arranged and readily available for manipulation; one

in which tapping wires may be carried to the interior of the device and secured to connection elements in a simple and easy manner and without prejudice to the substantially tight character of the h ousing as a whole; one in which a sealing co1npound may readily be applied so as effectively to secure all of the parts within the device against the corrosive and otherwise injurious effect of moisture; one according to which the various parts may be assembled easily and progressively at the time of installation whereby notable freedom and con venience of operation may be had as the work of installation goes along; and, in general, a device of strong and simple construction which is highly efltective to provide the desired results.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top plan of my improved device in a preferred construction and arrangement; with the cover part broken away; Fig. 2 is a medial vertical section, as on the line 22 of Fig. 1, of the device complete, with certain terminal wires extending thereinto; Fig. 3 is a top plan with parts removed showing the clamping members and the side wall structure; Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a medial vertical section as on the line 55 of Fig. 1; Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary top and side views of details; and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary medial section similar to that of Fig.2 showing the use of the device with tubcps in which the electrical wires are carrie My improved terminal device includes first a base 10 which is preferably a platelike member normally horizontally-disposed when the terminal wires issue upward.

It is shown as elliptical in contour and defines the general plan of the device. The base may be secured upon a pedestal or support 11 as by bolts 12, Fig. 2) or, as shown in Fig. 8, where a conduit pipe as 13 issues from the ground the base 10 may be clamped between upper and lower binding nuts 14 and 15 threaded upon the pipe, or where a pipe as 16 issues from concrete the base 10 may be held securely by a nut 17 threaded upon the pipe.

The base 10 has an annular peripheral seatat 20 adapted to receive with a substantially good fit the side wall or ring-like member 22, which has the same substantially elliptical contour and forms with the base 10 a cup-like structure which is part of the housing for the wires and connection parts. The side Wall or ring-like member 22 is preferably made as a separate piece so that before it is applied the base may be easily positioned and other operations performed as the installation proceeds.

The base 10 is suitably in the form of an iron casting, and is shown as having a medial integral web or partition-like member 2a which extends transversely of the-de- Til Referringtoltig; 2 the terminal wires. 34:"

areshown as entering; the interior of the' de- -vice in the form of a cable through; an open.-

ing; 35in the-base 10and the clamping membe-rs31; are shown in Figs. 2; 3-and 4 to be firmly clamped andbound upon thecable, the free end. portionot thecablebeing-thereby; held: rigidly by means'within the. housine. independent of: the. electrical: connec tions; The terminal wires 34L constituting the cable,,wh'en freed of outer-"cablewrappings, may severally then be. applied to connectionelements as desired'without interference by thewei-ght of: the cable and, importantly, the tendency of theicennectlonsto become disrupted by the weight of the-cable=v at. asubsequent time is avoided. Figs; 2; 3

and-4 also show terminalwiresjltl in a small cable similarly held? by the clamps, 30.

Where wires .41 01'42 8) issuev from" pipes they; may similarly be clamped by; the

clamplng means showin the bunch of wires;

being first wrapped with linemans tape or fabric/if. desired to bringits bulk. up toa size suitable for clam-pi-ng' or to protect the insulationiof the'wires againstthe binding".

action of theclamps; v

A feature of importancein'this connection isthatthe base may first be positioned-andthen the termina-li wires may befirmly:

clamped in :a; desired positiomno other parts i of the device being present at the time; thus giving the workmannotable-freedom lIl'1pG1 formin these 0 erations.

e P The holding means fonthewiresrwill or dinarily be spaced materially from the base to allow'full freedom for the assembling operations, as-well. as to provide space for sealing compound should itbe'desired to apply: such compound upon the base and surroun :l-

ingthe eables, .wiresorendsof the pipes as.

13 and 16 (Fig; 8),and in such case, to pre vent the sealing compound: from running into the open ends of the pipes or. out

through theholes 35 and (Fig.2) inwthe base 10 these openin sma be closed'as b a piece oficardboardeifi (Fig; 2) or by pacl mg 41-7 (Fig.2) of cottonwaste or ute, or. at: 8 and 49 (Fig. 8). Such-sealing compound? would be applied in. the lower chamber or space containing the free ends of the pipes and the clamping means only after the side member 22 has been put in place.

The ring-like side member 22 has a pair of t'acing'projections 50 recessed (as well illustrated in Fig. i) to receive lateral edge portions of the upright vane-like projection 24: of the base, the side member 22 being thus firmly stabilized upon the base. Each of these projections 50 has an overlying cover part 51 (Fig. 3) and screws 52 passing through them and threaded into the rib 24 (as well illustrated in Fig. 2) hold the side wall member firmly'upon the base at the annular seat 20.

A plate-like-piece of insulation55 isJheld upon the side member 22 by screws 56 (Fig. 2)'threaded into a. projection 57, tliesupper surface of which is in the-plane of an" an nular rib 58'defining the upper-edgeotthev side member122. From Figs. 2 and 5 itwill 7 clearly appear that: the insulation- 55 has an annular depending flange 59 overlying this: projection 58, the insulation. not only there-- bybeing held firmly in its .desired 'position,

butzthe overlapped relation. of the parts 58 and. 59 provides a wall against the entrance there of moisture which might under some conditions: enter at. the: cover connections: adj acent thereto.

The-insulationblock or plate '55 hasapa-ir or". relatively; large. openings 60' and: 61

through which terminal wires such as 3d" and 40 may pass whereby the free and strippediends otthese wires may be above thebleclriof insulation 55.: The top surfaceofthe insulation 55 is provided with 1 a apln:

rality ofrterminal1posts163 arranged around:

theopenings 60 and 61, and aplurality. of" oth'er: terminals 641 arranged; at otherwiseopen spaces, these terminal. posts being in snlated' from each other and eachbeing provided; with clamping nuts 65,v such posts andnuts providing-a well-known form of electrical connection. lVith' such an arrrangement: it is clear that any two wires:

coming. into theterminal device maybe con nectedtogether by means of a single binds mg; posts or two binding posts may be -'con-,

'nectediby a short wire.

A. feature of importance inv thisconnec.-

tion isin the fact: that the electrical. conthedevice; In practicethe various-connec-- tion element-smay be-numbered, as by an;

imprint in the porcelain, sothat a written record maybe made showing how theseveral wires are connected.

It is-trequently desirableinthe-use ofa dericeot this kind to tap intoone-or more i of the lead wires for somespecialvpurpose either at thetime of installation or after the original installation has been made;

annular flange extending laterally! from the side member 22: is considerably wider and, 5 clearly show. that-the trance of moisture.

on the short axis of the substantially elliptical figure than on the long axis thereof, thus providing space for a considerable number of outlet openings 71 (Figs. 5 and 7) without unnecessarily extending the device on its longer axis. These openings 71 in the flange are on tapered lines, as well shown in Fig. 7, and as shown in Fig. 5 they lead from the inside to the outside of the device. Figs. 6 and 7 show how lead wiresconnected to the ter ninals 64 (or any other terminal desired) may be carried through the openings 71 without impairing the security of the inside of the device against moisture, and so as to hold the wires firmly by means independent of the electrical connections. I provide, preferably for two openings 71, a single plate 73 held by a middle screw 74, each plate having openings 7 5 registering with the openings 71 respectively but smaller than the openings 71 at the top, whereby packing material 76, such as linemans tape may be wrapped around the conductor there and by means of the plate 73 compressed tightly about the conductor, making the joint water tight and binding the wire in a given position. For closing an opening 71 a cork stopper 77 may be forced into the hole and maintained in place by the overlying plate 73 (Fig. 7).

The cover 80 has a depending flange 81 deeply overlying the horizontal flange 70.,

of the side member, the cover having an annular shoulder at 82 resting upon the flange 70, the cover thus providing a good protection for the interior construction and wires against the weather. Nuts 84 on bolts 85 (Fig. 2) act as stops to prevent the cover from being removed, while providing readily operable means for releasing the cover when desired.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the upper ends of the cables where their wrappings are removed are above the clamping means and below the insulating plate 55. It is not strictly essential that such exposed parts of the cable shall be in that location, but that arrangement provides that when a piece of cardboard, thin metal or any other suitable material forming a wall or obstruction, as the sheet 86 (Fig. 2), is applied so as to cover the clamping means, the space above this sheet 86 and below the insulation 55 may be flowed full of the sealing compound ordinarily used for such purposes, and as indicated by the stippling of Figs. 2 and 5 at the place mentioned, thus sealing the interstices of the cables where the wires issue therefrom, and between various wrappings thereof, against the en- At the same time this sealing material makes a tight wall between the electrical connection elements on the insulation 55 and the

openings

45 and 35 in the base 10 which prevents moisture or corroding gases from the earth from passing into the chamber having the terminal connections.

In some instances, as in tunnels where the moisture may be excessive and in other situations where corroding gases are present in objectionable quantities it may be found desirable to apply the sealing compound throughout the interior of the device, from bottom to top, and in such case the partition 86 may be dispensed with and the entire bottom portion of the cup-like structure consisting of the base 10 and the side member 22 may be filled with the hot sealing com pound before the insulating plate 55 is applied and the desired connections made, and thereupon, after the connections have been made and the cover 80 applied, the screw cap 90 at the top of the cover may be removed and the insulating compound poured therethrough until the upper portion also of the interior is filled. Thereafter, should it be desired to remove the cap or cover 80 the flame of a blow-torch may be applied to it until the compound within is softened. Upon removing the cover the sealing compound may be further melted or chipped away to expose the particular connections sought.

I contemplate as being within the present improvements various changes and depar tures in construction and arrangement from what is specifically herein illustrated and described, as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a terminal device of the character described, the combination of a normally horizontally-disposed base having an open ing therein for terminal Wires, a projection upstanding rigidly from the base, clamping means carried by said projection for holding such terminal wires rigidly, means forming a side wall of the device upstanding from said base, and cover means readily removably secured upon said base.

2. In a terminal device of the character described, the combination of a normally horizontally-disposed base having an opening therethrough for terminal wires, said. base having an upstanding projection, clamping means carried by said projection for holding such terminal wires, a ringlilre side member resting upon said base, insulation carried by said ring-like member above said clamping means, a plurality of terminal connections carried by said insulation, and a cover member resting upon said ring-like member and readily removably secured thereto.

3. In a terminal device of the character described, the combination of a normally horizontally-disposed base having an opening therethrough for terminal wires, a ring like side member upstanding from said base,

a cover member uponsaid ring-like member, insulation carriedIby'thedevice, a plurality of terminal connections carried by said, in-- sulation, mechanical meansfor holding-end portions of terminal Wires against retraction from thedevice, and means normally above said mechanical means for holdinga.

layer of sealing compound adapted-to'imbedportions of such terminal Wires, the arrangement being such that by removing the cover member access may be had to said terminal connections. I

4. In a terminal device of the character described, the combinationof means forming a cup-shapedstructure having a bottom part normally horizontally disposed il 111i an opening therethrough for' terminal Wiresmeans carried by said structure for holding said terminal Wires rigidly, insulation 1n:

plate-like form. carried by said structure and'positioned above-said clamping means, a plurahtyof termlnal connectlons carried by said insulation, means between said clamping means and saidterminal-Wireholding means. for holding sealing compound so as to imbed. portions of such termin'al Wires and form a. layer of r such: seal-c.

said cup-shaped: structure, and a cover read:

ily remoyablyheld upon: said structure, the:

Whole: forming; a receptacle for the clamp-- in-gncom pound between the side wallsoff in means; terminal connections; sealing compound and-insulation. r

5; In a terminal device of'the-character described; the combination of a cup-shaped'i structure-having bottom and=side Walls, the

Wires firmly against retraction, insulation in plate-form substantially occupyingthe 7 upper area of said cup-shaped structure and carried thereby, there being aniopenr ingfor terminal. Wires through said insulation', a. plurality of terminal connections onv the upper surface of said insulation, andracover: member: readily! removablycarried bysaid structure, said cover protectively overllying said flange.

JOHN M: FITZGERALD;