US1605033A - Connecter - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 2 1926. l 1,605,033'

G. JENSEN cmNEcTERI Filed Nov. 5I 1919 ATTRNEY Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

t UNITED STATES y 1,605,033 PATENT OFFICE..

GUN NAR JENSEN, 0F SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHO'USE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A ,CQRPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONNECTER.

Application filed November 3, 1919. Serial No. 335,304.

My invention relates to electrical connecters and particularly to connecters for use in systems employing potentials and currents of relatively high values.

One object of my invention is toprovide a device of the above indicated character that shall facilitate the connection and disconnection of electrical conductors.

Another object of my invention is to provide a connecter, of the resilient-clamp type, that shall be suitable for systems having potentials and currents of relatively high values, and be of substantially minimum size.

Another object'of my invention Vis to provide a readily-operable safety connecter, 'for relatively high values of current and voltage, that may be freely manipulated by an operator, with his bare hands without danger of injury from' the connecter.

A further object of my invention is to provide a connecter adapted to effectively f receive and position one or more conductors of various sizes.

Heretofore, certain spring-clamp connecters have been used in systems employing currents and voltages of relatively low values and, tothe best of my knowledge,l

these have usually been constructed chiey for mechanical effectiveness. and to provide good contactV bearing surfaces. Attempts have been made, in certain of these connecters, to provide insulating coverings or other means to lessen the likelihood of shock or injury to an operator, but the uncertainty of the life of the covering materials sometimes causes them to increasethe hazard rather than afford a safeguard. Readily-removable spring-clamp connecters have been considered impractcable above vcertain limits of current and voltage. For the higher values, the rigid or permanent'type of connecter has been employed which is `diicult to manipulate and dangerous to an operator, unless handied with extreme care. For handling this type of connecter, rubber gloves have been employed but, as in the case of the above mentioned connecter coverings, the uncertainty of the life and construction ofgloves is such an element of danger to an operator that their use, in certain places, has been prohibited.'

In 'practicing my invention, I provide a ,readily-operable connecter, the composition, Aform and relation of the elements of which vwith a binder, such as a phenolic condensaalkalis.

are such as to provide a device of substantially maximum potential resistive strength and minimum size; The device may -be freely handled by an operator while the conductors connected by it are energized, thus effecting a savingof time, removing the element of danger and facilitating the operations ofconducting an experiment or a test where temporary .connections and unsafe potentials are employed.

Figure 1 of the `accompanying drawings is a plan view of a high-potential connecter embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the same; Fig. y3 is an end elevational View thereof and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, similar to a portion of Fig. 2, showing an adaptation of the device to .a conductorof smaller diameter than that shown in Fig. 2.

In general, my device comprises an insulating body member 1, a tubular conducting memben 2, a plunger rod orl gripping member 3 and an operating handle or walking beam 4 that is pivotally mounted on the .member 1 and is assisted in actuating the rod .3 by springs 5 and 6.

The member 1 is preferably formed as a single *integrall mass of iibrous material, such as shredded canvas that is impregnatedtion product and ilried. Subsequentlyythe4 material is placed in a suitable mold and subjected to heat and pressure to compact the material and vharden thebinden This material is aunaffected by wide temperature changes, moisture, oils, weak acids and The member 1 comprises a tubular portion 7 'having' relatively-thick walls to provide high puncture strength, an end wall 8, and side walls 9, all of which are designed with a view not only to the mechanical strength and protection of the structure thereln but to creepage distances which are vital in high-potential service. i

The member 2 isshorter than the`portion 7 and, may be placed at an intermediate position therein during` or after. the moldmg process; This provides creepage' -surface and is a measure of protection to an 105 .ca `v v9o i operator, in tliat vhe may not easily come vinto contact with the member 2. Screws 10, -extending through the walls of the portion 7 and the member 2, secure a sleevey 11 in one end of the member 2. l 'Ifhe sleeve 11 110 is interchangeable With other similar sleeves and provides means for positioning one con ductor 12, or conductors otvarious sizes, concentrically 1n the member 2. This con- 5 nection may be oi a permanent nature,

ber 1 provide creepage distance around the after it has been decided which conductor is to be utilized, but may be changed if desii-ed.

Raised tubular portions 13 on the niemno scarred by cutting narrow slots of V-shape at right angles to each other. This provides a biting surface comprising a plurality o'i hard1 sharp pyramids ior points 17 and, as electrical conductors are usually of copper,

holds the latter securely.

When in engagement 'with a conductor 1S of medium or relatively large diameter, a suicient number of the points 17 will engage the conductor to hold it securely. To

$0 assist in holding` aA smaller conductor 18,

Fig. 4. that may be engaged by a relatively small number-of the points 17, a countersunk portion 19 is provided in the inner surface of the member 2 opposite the rod 3.

I5 This forms a kink in the conductor 18 that,

in co-operation with the rod 3 and the edges of the portion 19,'is held securely in position.

The portion 19 is relatively shallow to provide backing for, and prevent breakage of, fthe small conductors that are bent into the portion 19 during the bending action.

The outer, end of the rod 3 isV provided with a head portion 20 having a rounded outer surface and betweenwhichand the member 1 the helical compression spring 5,- embracingftherod 3, exerts a -force tending to move the rod away from the conductor 18.- This permits the removal of the rod 3 from the bore of the member 2 to permit the' unobstructed insertion therein of the conductor 18 and'opposes the-force of the spring. 6.- The spring 6 is considerably stronger' than the spring 5 and thereby supplies the actuating force to clamp the rod 3 against the conductor 18. This force being inversely proportional to the size of the conductor, since the spring 5` will be in greater compression when the-conductor 1S small, is automatically graduated in accord- .9 ance with the size of the conductor to be I The Walking beV v held. This provides relatively great forces for large conductorsA and suicient forces which are less likelyA to injure small conductors.

I .4, preferably constructed of relatively lthin sheet metal, is pressed or bent to channel shape having intermediate perforate bearing portions 21 for a cross pin side Walls 9` sloping side walls 23 and an inwardly curved end portion 24 that serves as a stopfmember to engage the member 1,

to assist the Walls 8, 9 and 23 in enclo-ing the space betwen the beam 4 and the mem= ber 1 and to present a smooth rounded edge to the hand of an operator. l

A button or member 25 of relatively hard and durable insulating material, preferably similar tothe material of the member 1, has a reduced portion 26 litting an aperture in the beam 4 and a smooth rounded surface 27 engaging the head 2O of the rod 3. The member- 25 may be secured by cement or other means or be loosely seated in position. The spring 6 embraces the pin 22 and has. tangentially-projecting portions 28 and 29 bearing against thev beam 4 and the member 1, respectively. The Walls 9 are thicker at the portions 30 to provide good bearing surfaces and support for the pin -22 and slopel from the portions 30 to substantially the end of the member 1in order/to permit the member 4 to be depressed freely by an operator. i

By my invention, I provide a springclamp connecter in which the movable lclamping member travels in a straight-line path at right angles to the conductor to be clamped, whereby the yclamping :torcev is evenly applied over a relatively-Wide surface, to ensure maximum clamping efficiency. v t

Many points, as mentioned, have been taken into consideration to provide a connecter suitable for very high voltages that 22 extending between thev is safe, effective` rugged and d`urable,`that permits latitude as to the matter of the service in which it may be employed and that may be .quickly and easily manipulated.

A device of substantially the construction, material and dimensions shown in the draw-. ings, 'has operated satisfactorily and will operate continuously vwhile carrying A500. amperes at potentials up to 7,000 volts. A connecter for other values of current and voltage may be constructed in accordance with the principles herein explained, that will be suitable for convenient hand manipulatix. l. i

While I have shown and described a particular Lform of my invention, changes may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth vin the appended claims. Y

I claim as my invention u .v 1. A connecter comprisin a body member of molded insulating material having tubular and channelportions, a hollow metal ing between points removed from the ends i.

thereof, said metal member having a countersunk portion in its inner surface, an interchangeable sleevepfor securing a conductor concentrically `in one end of said metal mem ber, a longitudinal1ymovable metal rod haviiigra serrated end, said rod being disposed at right angles to said metal member opposite the countersunk portion, a spring biasing said rod away from said metal member,.a walking beam, a pin supporting said walking beam, an insulating member disposed on said walking beam and engaging said rod, as spring embracing said pin and having portions pressing against said beam and said body membervto oppose said rst spring, screws to hold said sleeve inV position, and

.jbodies of insulating material sealing the ends of said screws, said beam having openings opposite `said screws.

2. A connecter comprising a body member of molded insulating material'having tubular and projectingportions, a hollow metal. member disposed in the tubular portion andhaving a countersunk portion in its inner surface, means for securing' a conductor to said metal member, aY movable rod extending through the walls of said tubular portion and saidmetal member opposite said countersunk portion, `means biasin said rod outwardly, a member pivoted on t e projecing portions, and means causing said ivoted member tol opposc said' outwardly iasing means.' v 3. Aconnecterv comprising'a body member of molded insulating material having a tubu# lar portion and a channel portion parallel thereto, said channel portion being closed at one end, a conducting sleeve'zwithin the tubucon uctors, a clam member partially 1ocated in saidf charme portion and means for actuating said' clamp member to grip a condiictor terminal.

4. A connecter a member having a longitudinally extending ortion for receiving the terminals of for conductors comprising l channel portion and aside aperture, a conducting sleeve within the member for receiving the terminals of conductors, a clamping member disposed at right anglesto the first member and extending through said aperture and having one end for engaging a conductor terminal and the other end. projecting into the channel, and an operating lever ducting sleeve withinthemember for receiv- -ing the terminals of conductors, a clamping Y member disposed at right angles to thel first member and havingone end for engaging a conductorterminal and the other end projecting through said aperture into the channel, a spring for normally retracting the clamping member, and an operating member device for normally yieldingly retaining the clamp member in o erative retainin engagementwith the conductor, the sai operating'member device being pivo d in the channel and substantially closing he latter.

6. A connecter for conductors comprising a Itubular insulating member .havin a side aperture, a conducting sleeve wit in the tubular member for ieceiving the terminals of the conductors, a clamping means mountl ed on the insulating jmember and extending through said yaperture for engaging and re-'r tainin the terminal of a co ductor within the said sleeve, yielding m ns for withdrawin the clamping means from engagement w th the conductor, and a lever device for normally`yieldingly pressing the rclampino' meansv into engagement with the termii i na of the conductor. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed. my name this 27th day of

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