US1794976A

US1794976A - Clamp

Info

Publication number: US1794976A
Application number: US396331A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph S Mueller
Original assignee: Mueller Electric Co
Current assignee: Mueller Electric Co
Priority date: 1929-09-30
Filing date: 1929-09-30
Publication date: 1931-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 1948-03-03

Description

March 3, 1931. 5, MUELLER 1,794,976

CLAMP Filed Sept. 30. 1929 In Ill 72 Patented Mar. 3, 1931 A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE s RALPH S. MUELLER, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR To MUELLER ELECTRIC COMPANY, A PARTNERSHIP COMPOSER) OF RALPH B. MUELLER AND MAUDE K.

MUELLER CLAMP Application filed September 30, 1929. Serial No. 398,331.

larly clamps for use in connection with certain electrical apparatus. 'More particularly, the invention relates to a ground clamp for use in connection with radio apparatus.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a clamp which can be produced inexpensively, and which has the requisite strength and rigidity to permit a severe clamping pressure to be exerted between the relatively movable elements of the clamp,

- though what may be termedv inexpensive metal is employed in constructing the clamp body.

The invention may be herein briefly summarized as consisting in a clamp with parts arranged and constructed as described herein and set forth in the appended claims. 11;

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein I have shown the preferred embodiment and certain slight modifications of the invention, Fig. l is aside view of the ground clamp with a portion broken away, the same being cqnstructedin accordance with the inventionIf-Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view of the saine, substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 1 is a plan view of a stamping from which the clamp body is formed; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a slight modification; Fig. 6 is a similar view showing a still further modification; Fig 7 is a sectional plan view of Fig. 6, the section being taken substantially along line 7--7 of Fig. 6; and F ig'. 8 is. a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the clamp of that figure but adapted for a different use than as a ground clamp,

My improved clamp, in all of its forms, 1ncludes a body 10 which is substantially semicircular in outline, this body being formed of sheet mental and being substantially U- shaped in cross-section, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2 and some of the other figures. At one end of the body 10, clamping or holding portions, in this instance the equivalent of jaws 11 are formed in the side walls of the U- shaped section and at the opposite end of the body 10, a clamping screw 12 is mounted opposite the jaws and centrally with respect thereto in both directions, as will be more fully described presently. It is between the clamping screw 12 and jaws 11 that the other .part, whatever, it may be, is securely clamped to form the necessary electrical connection therewith. When the clamp is used as a ground clamp, the electrical connection with the clamp body is made through the medium of a small screw 13 engaging a tapped hole at about the middle point of the body, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 and other figures. When the device is used as a ground clamp, it will be clamped to a pipe or similar grounding member.

The clamp body 10 is, as above stated, formed of sheet metal and when it is-constructed as shown in Fig. 1, it is formed or shaped from a stamping 14, as shown in Fig. 4. It is a feature of the invention in view of the strength attained by the form of the clamp body and by reason of the manner of mounting the clamping screw 12, that inexpensive sheet metal may be employed, as compared with other devices now in use having a clamp body so formed that to attain the requlsite strength, the metal must be hardened. In contradistinction to this, I employ a clamp body so formed that no hardening is required, thus making it possible to use cheaper material.

This stamping 14: can in one operation of apress be given the semi-circular outline or form and U-shaped cross-section indicated n Fig. 2, which shows the inwardly extendlng sides or flanges of the body spaced a suitable'distance apart and in parallel relation, it being desired that the jaws 11, which are provided in the flanges, at one end of the body 10 be a certain distance apart to give stability in the clamping operation.

The manner of mounting the clamping screw forms an important feature of the invention for the efliciency of the device depends, not only on the form and strength of the clamping body, but on the mounting of the clamping screw. Preferably, this screw is mounted in and has threaded engagement with two portions of the clamp body, spaced longitudinally of the screw. In the preferred embodiment, one end of the blank 14 is provided with a laterally projecting ear right angles into engagement with 15 and" at the time that the body is formed from the blank or subsequent to the forming step, this ear is bent laterally across the innerside of the clamp body so as to bridge the space between the flanges, as best shown in Fig. 3. Both this ear and the rear wall of the body'oppositethe ear are provided with aligned openings, both of which arepreferably threaded to accommodate the screw 12. These screw supporting walls are in Fig. 1. This feature of the centralized screw and the construction which keeps it centralized with reference to the jaws in both planes or in both dlrections is Important for .the reason that it enables a very severe clamping pressure to be exerted on the pipe or element to which the device is clamped without a skewing or lateral displacement of either the jaws with reference to the screw or of the screw with reference to the jaws,

the arrangement being such that the point of the screw and the jaws are presented squarely to the surface of the part to be engaged by the clamp, enabling a good biting contact to be obtained as is often desirable and in fact necessary when a. pipe or other member is corroded, coated or painted.

,Instead of the ear being formedso as to project laterally from one end of the blank, as shown in Fig. 3, it may be formed at the end of the blank in line with the center thereof, as indicated at 15a, in Fig. 5, the .ear being bent inwardly and then downwardly1t Iat having a slotted head to accommodate a screw-driver or a head of the wing nut type may be employed or the head may be of any other suitable shape as will be readily appreciated.

The invention is not confined in its use to a ground clamp, but may be employed .for making other electrical connections and, when the clamp is employed for certain uses, the conductor which is attached to the clamp may be too large to make it convenient or desirable to attach it to the clamp body by meansof the screw 13. For example, the clamp with a suitable conductor attached thereto or two clamps joined. together by a flexible conductor may be employed advantageously with certain battery charging equipment, one clamp being designed to make electrical connection with the terminal of the battery and the other with a current supplying bus bar. The shape of the body 10 lends itself very readily to such additional uses for it is very convement, for example,to extend a conductor, such as indicated at 17, into the U-shaped body at the jaw end and to solder or otherwise attach the uninsulated end of the conductor to the base wall of the clamp or to either of the flanges for that matter as indicated in Fig. 8. Wit this method of attaching the clamp body to the electrical conductor, the connecting screw 13 will be dispensed with. The construction shown in'Fig. 8 is otherwise similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, and further explanation is deemed unnecessary, this fignotched portions of the side flanges so as tosure serving to indicate that the clamp may be produce an inner screw supporting wall shown in Fig. 5. With this arrangement of the ear, the clamp body is not so readily formed but this is wholly or partially compensated for by the fact that a saving of metal, is "-efiected "in the production of the blanks, there being less scrap than when the ear is arranged as in Fig. 4. Though the two clamps are operated with the same efiiciency, I refer that shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

11 Figs. 6 and 7, I have indicated another way of mounting the screw. In this instance, I suitably mount a nut 16 in the end of the clamp body and in the oppositely disosed or parallel side flanges of the clamp ody. The screw has threaded engagement with the nut and sliding or centering engagement with the wall of the clamp body opposite or in line with, the nut. Here again, the screw is mounted in two members. spaced apart longitudinally of the screw and used for making other electrical connections than is required of a ground clamp.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a clamp adapted for different purposes or with different electrical apparatus and which can be produced" in quantities inexpensively but which is nevertheless very serviceable and so formed that it is only necessary to place the device to be clamped between the jaws and the point of the screw and to tighten the screw which remains centralized irrespective of the pressure which is applied.

In the appended claims the ends of the clamp body are defined as bein adjacent each other. I mean by this that 1n bending the stampin 14 to substantially semi-circular outline t e ends are brought closer together or are more closely spaced than in the original straight stamping.

. I do not desire to econfined to the exact details or arrangements shown, but aim in my claims to cover all modifications which do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having I claim 1s 1. A clamp of the character described comthus described my invention, what prising a body formed from a stampin bent substantially U-shapein outline with 1ts opposite ends adjacent each other and to su stantially U-sha e in cross-section with inwardly directed anges and having clamping portions at one end and a clamping screw at the other end.

2. A clamp for the purpose describedformed from a sheet metal stamping bent into substantially U-shape so that the opposite ends are adjacent each other and flanged inwardly so as to be channel-shape in cross-section, one end of the body having jaws formed in the flanges and the other end of the bodiyl' carrying a clamping screw centralized wit In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

RALPH S. MUELLER.