US1652191A

US1652191A - Electrical appliance

Info

Publication number: US1652191A
Application number: US58895A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank P Withers
Original assignee: Line Material Co
Current assignee: Line Material Co
Priority date: 1925-09-26
Filing date: 1925-09-26
Publication date: 1927-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 1944-12-13

Description

Dec. 13, 1927., 1,652,191

F. P WITHERS ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 26., 1925 Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PA'TENT- OFFICE.

. MK WITHERS, 01' SOUTH MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T LINE MATE- BIALJ GOMPANY, OF SOUTH MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WIS- nnncrnrcar. arrnancn.

Application filed September 26, 1925. Serial No. 58,895.

.copper conductor Wire around the ground rod and then soldering thevsame in place;

Ordinarily to produce a satisfactory job, the soldering operation has to be done before the ground rod is driven and the result is that the rod becomes annealed and hence ,looses its rigidity for driving.

, Having the above objection to the use of copper clad ground rods in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide improved and eflicient means for electrically connecting a conductor with a ound rod of the copper clad type in whic the rod may be driven into the ground and then the connec-" tion made in a'very eflicient and satisfactory manner.

Another obj ect'of this invention resides in the provision of an improved device of the character described in which the copper on the upper end of the rod is swedged inward- 1 to bare the outer end of the steel core and firm an abrupt copper shoulder, the exposed end of the core being threaded to receive a cap for securing the end of a copper wire conductor in good electrical engagement with the oundTodrl With t e above and other objects view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined b the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as comewithin the scope of the claims.

In the accompan 'ng drawing, I have illustrated one comp ete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the up per end of a ground rod embodying my invention. v

Figure 2 is a perspective view, partly in section and-partly in elevation,'of the upper end of the ground wire illustrating the cap member as disengaged from the end of the rod; and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a slightly modified construction of my in vention.

Referrin now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 deslgnates a ground rod of that type consistin of a steel core 6, surrounded by a layer 0 copper 7. The rod is adapted to be driven into the ground sufliciently deep to reach permanenty moist soil so that the circuit in which a conductor 8 is incorporated may be connected with a satisfactory ground when the conductor 8 is in proper electrical connection with the ound rod.

Hereto ore, the conductor 8, which is preferably a copper wire, has been electrically connected with the rod by being wrapped therearound and then soldered in position. This manner of connecting the conductor with the rod has been unsatisfactory in that the soldering action must be done before the driving of the rod to obtain a good job and consequently the heat has annealed the steel. core 6 and lowered its rigidity for driving. In that form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the copper cladding on the upper end of the rod is swedged inwardly, as at 9, to bare the extreme up or end 10 of the steel core which is threa ed,

as at 11, to receive a cap member 12. The swedged co per 9 forms a shoulder 13 against whic the bottom of the cap 12 engages when secured thereto for driving and the internally threaded bore 14 of the cap is preferably counter-bored, as at 15, to insure a large area of engagement between the bottom of the cap and the shoulder for purposes of driving.

The steel core 6 at a point adjacent the shoulder 13 is provided with a transverse bore 16 which registers with slots or grooves 17 in the shoulder so that the end 18 of the conductor 8 may be inserted therein and firmly clamped in the groove 17 when the cap 12 is tightened over the threaded end of the steel rod to insure a good electrical connection between the conductor and the ground rod.

In operation, the cap 12 is threaded on the bared end of the rod 6 and the rod driven into the ground. The cap 12 is then turned back to free the opening 16 and the end 18 of the conductor inserted therein and the cap tightened thus producing a good electrical connection between the conductor and rod.

In that form of my invention illustrated in Figure 3 a slightly modified construction is illustrated in which the upper end of the rod is threaded, asat 19, to receive a collar or top member 20 which is preferably of copper to form a good electrical connection with the cladding 7. A stud 10 extends upwardly from the member 20 and is threaded as at 11' to receive a cap 23 of a construction similar tothe cap 12. The top face of the member 20 is slotted, as at 21, in line with a transverse opening 22 on the top face of the top 20 to receive the end 18 oi. the conductor and the cap 23 clamps the conductor into electrical engagement with the member 20, and consequently the rod From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of this character appertains that I provide a novel and improved means for providing an electrical connection between the conductor and a copper clad steel ground rod and at the same time means are provided for driving the rod into the ground.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a cop er clad steel ground rod, a shoulder formed on the upper end of the rod, a threaded stud projecting above the shoulder, there being an aperture in the stud in approximate alignment with the shoulder to receive a conductor, and a cap ada ted to be threaded over the threaded stu to bind the conductor against said shoulder and form an electrical connection between the conductor and rod.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a copper clad steel rod, an enlargement of copper formed on the upper end of the rod to provide a shoulder, the

.steel core of the rod projecting beyond said shoulder and being threaded, and a ca adapted to be threaded on said extended en of the steel rod to provide means for clamping a conductor in electrical connection with said shoulder.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a copper clad steel rod, an enlargement of copper formed on the upper end of the rod by swedging inwardly the copper covering to provide a shoulder, the steel core of the rod projecting beyond said shoulder being threaded and having a transverse opening therein in register with grooves in the shoulder top face, and a ca adapted to be threaded on said extende end of the steel rod to clamp a conductor inserted in said opening and grooves in electrical connection with said shoulder.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK P. WITHERS.