US1802584A - End bell - Google Patents

Description

April 1931- A. G. STEINMAYER 1,802,584

END BELL Filed March 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 iiiiil- JAM KM April 28, 1931- A. e. STEHNMAYER END BELL 3 Sheets$heet 3 Filed March 21, 1923 Patented Apr. '28, 1931 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALWIN G. STEI'NMAYEB, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ABSIGNOR TO ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHIOAGQILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS IND BELL Application filed Inch 81, 1928. 'Serlal No. 828,488.

My invention relates to cable end bells and the like.

In the installation of devices of this sort, the cable is led into the bell where its sheath is peeled back or removed and its individual conductors separated. The separated conductors are joined to the aerial or other conductors to which connection is desired, usually through terminal means associated with 1 the bell. The matter of establishing proper electrical and mechanicalconnection between the separated'cable conductors and said terminal means has presented a difficult problem. Where any of the cable conductors are cut oil too short, which is almost impossible to avoid, connection with the terminal has either been impaired or made impossible.

Where the conductors are too long the resulting slack will permit the conductors to be swung by the flow of current, apart or together, dependin upon the relative directions of current ow in the conductors. In high tension work the conductors will, if there is slack in them permitting it, be swung within the bell with great force. This swinging of the conductors within the hell stresses the soldered joints between them and the terminal studs and causes air blisters or bubbles in the insulating compound within the bell. In cold weather the compound may be cracked thereby. Air blisters or bubbles in or cracking of the compound permits ionization of the air in the blisters or cracks, corona eifects therethrough and a breaking down of 1 the entire equipment. It is important that the compound cover the conductors uniformly and that air blisters and the like in the compound be avoided.

Another problem has been in properly 40 clamping the terminal itself in place. A joint that will prevent the entrance of moisture is required. The entrance or absorption of moisture would damage the insulation and decrease the insulating resistance with the likelihood of a break-down from short-circuiting or burning out of the cable. Where the terminals are mounted at the outer ends of lead-out insulators, distribution and minimization of the stresses upon the insulator and connection and sealing parts must be taken into consideration in clamping the terminals in place.

An object of m invention is the provision of an improve lead-out connection for clamping the terminal in lace and securing proper electrical and mec anical connection with the cable conductor in spite of variations in cutting.

Another object is the provision of a tight outlet joint for preventing the entrance of moisture.

Another object is to avoid im osing mechanical stresses upon the con uctor and where the connection is clamped upon a leadout insulator, to minimize the stresses upon the insulator, cap piece and associated connection parts.

Another object is the rovision of improved mounting means or mounting the bell in various positions and upon various types of supports.

Another object is the provision of a mount" ing that will accommodate itself to variations in the positioning of the attaching means.

The provision made for clamping the terminal in place and securing proper electrical and mechanical connection with the conductor to which connection is desired in spite of variation in cutting, as where said conductor is cut short, as is frequently the case, is one of the chief advantages of the invention. Accordin to this phase of the in vention, an adjustable take-up plug is provided for adjusting the position of the terminal for proper connection with the cut-0E cable strand and for clamping the terminal in position without stressing the cable strand, the insulator or associated connector parts. Where the conductor is cut oil short, the takeup plug positions the terminal for proper mechanical and electrical connection therewith and provides for securely clamping the terminal in said position.

While I shall describe certain embodiments of the invention in connection with certain types of end bells, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to use with any particular type, but may be employed in connection with other forms of end bells, and

in all similar connections. I shall describe the terminal connection as a so-called' leadout connection for the separated or individual conductors of the bell. It is to be understood however that the scheme may be used as a lead in Connection in other forms of devices.

a In order to apprise those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and practicing my invention, I shall now describe certain specific embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings in which I Figure 1 is a vertical section through a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section through the lead-out or aerial connection shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevational view of a inFigs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views of'modified forms of lead-out or aerial connections;

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail sections of modified forms of joints that maybe used between the cable and the bottom of the bell; v

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of another form of end bell embodying-- the features of my present invention;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing one mounting of the same;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing another mounting of the end bell shown in Figs. 8 and 9; and

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the preferred form of socket terminal employed.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the lead covered cable 5, which is shown as having three conductors 6, is led upwardly from the underground conduit, for example, and into bowl member 8 which forms the main part of the pot head. The lower end of bowl 8 has a flange 9.

In this instance cable 5 is led up through a pipe or conduit 10, the upper end of which has threaded engagement with a flanged member 12. Bolts 14 draw flanges 9 and 12 together with the radially extending flange of sealing or bushing member 15 clamped therebetween. Member 15 has a conical bore 50 to receive a conical wedge ring 16,. This ring, which is preferably made of some relatively soft conducting material, is driven firmly into place to ensure good gripping engagement with the cable sheath, permanent grounding and tight sealing against leakage of compound. The lead cable sheath is grounded through wedge ring 16 to prevent static accumulation. Such accumulation on a lead covered or steel-taped cable dissipates itself at the end, and without some sort of effective grounding at that. point, would eventually puncture the insulation and result in a breakdown. The upper inner edge of member 16 is rounded or flared out and 65 the cable sheath is rounded or flaredout over key for the adjustable take-up plug shown shoulders of studs 30.

Bowl 8 has an open top and a removable cover 20 is suitably fastened thereover, a suitable gasket being preferably provided to secure a tight joint therebetween. Bowl 8 is provided with integral lugs or ears 22, through which the bowl is adapted to be fastened o r mounted ona pole, wall, cross arm or other suitable support. Within bowl 8 the lead cable sheath having been peeled oil or removed and flared out over wedge ring 16, conductors 6 are separated and led out through sleeves of insulation 25 to the aerial terminals at the outer ends of insulators 25, which insulators are cemented, as shown at 28 in outlet openings in cover 20.

Bowl 8 is filled with insulating compound up to a point above the lower ends of insulators 25, as shown. This may be done by heating the compound and pouring it in through a filling opening 26in cover20.

The aerial'connections each comprises a terminalstud 30 soldered or otherwise secured upon the ends of conductors 6, the insulation on said conductors being stripped back just suflieiently to make proper mechanical and electrical connection with the sockets in the inner ends of studs 30. The outer reduced threaded shanks 32 of studs 30 project out freely through cap members 34 cemented upon. the upper ends of insulators 25. Cap members 34 have upwardly extending flanges 36 internally threaded at 37 and an externally threaded take-up plug or seating member 38 fits for the terminal stud 30 loosely over each threaded shank 32 and has'threa-ded engagement with cap member 105 34. Upper ends of plugs 38 are provided with key-ways 40 for engagement by a suitable key 41 ig. 3) by means of which key 41 plugs 38 are screwed down until they engage the Key 41 comprises a sleeve, the lower edge of which is provided with diametrically opposite downwardly extending projections 105 for engagement in key-ways 40. Radial notches 106 at the upper end of key 41 facilitate turning same to thread plugs 38 into or out of cap members 34. I

A cap nut 42 threaded down on threaded shank 32 is recessed at its lower end to engage over upwardly extending flange 36, and down into firm engagement with a gasket 43 interposed between the lower edge thereof and cap member 34, to provide with the cementing of cap 34 on insulator 25 a tight joint through which the entrance of moisture is prevented. It is well known that the entrance of moisture would damage the insulation and decrease the insulating resistance .with the likelihood of a break-down from short'circuiting or burning out of the cable.

Threaded upon shank 32 into engagement with cap nut 42 is a contact nut 45 and between said nut 45 and a second contact nut 46 is clamped a socket terminal 48 into the socket portion of which is soldered or otherwise connected, the aerial or'other conductors or leads 50 to which connection of conductors 6 is desired.

The socket terminals-preferably employed include socket portions 108 and contact por-.

' into engagement with which the terminal studs are properly clamped, nothwithstanding variations in the positioning of said studs. If either conductor 6 is cut oil short, for example, the end can still be inserted all the way into socket 52 in stud 30 to secure the desired electrical and mechanical connection therebetween, plug 38 being threaded or screwed in to take up the difference and properly seat the shoulder at the upper end of the lower enlarged portion of stud 30. Studs 30 are securely clamped in position without stressing the cable conductors or the insulators 25, caps 34 or associated connector parts and at the same time by holding the conductor out taut in assembly and threading the take-up plug down into engagement with the shoulder on the terminal stud, the conductor will be held taut or at least without sufiicient slack to permit the disadvantageous, if not disastrous results referred to at the outset and regardless of variations in length of the conductors. Cap nuts 42 and contact nuts 4546 with plugs 38 clamp the terminals in place and provide metallic seals at the upper ends of insulators 25. v

In assembling, member 12 is screwed tightly onto conduit 10. Cable 5 is pulled out far enough to permit easy trimming and spreading of conductors 6. Grounding collar 15 is arranged over the cable and seated in member 12. The upper end of the lead cable sheath is p eled ofi', wedge ring 16 inserted and driven rmly into collar 15, and the cable sheath belled out over wedge ring 16 to bind the cable in place and relieve high potential static, and possibleinjury to the insulation. Conductors 6 are spread out into their approximate relative positions when installation is completed. Terminal studs 30 are removed irom insulators 25 by removing cap nuts 42, contact nuts 4546 and take-up plugs 38, and bowl 8 and cover 20 with insulators 25 in place are temporaril placed on member 12, allowin the indivi ual conductors to pass through t eir respective lead-out insulators. The threaded o enings through cap members 34 are prefera l sufliciently large to permit pulling the cab e strands'6 therethrough' and insertion and removal of studs 30 into the upper ends of insulators 25 throughsaid cap members 34.

The projecting conductors 6 are then marked flush with tops of ca members 34, the casing and cover remove and the individual conductors cut off the pro r distance below said markings. Take-up mit variations in the cuttin o the con uctors, which variations have een a considerable problem heretofore. Terminal studs 30:

are soldered to ends of conductors 6, bowl 8 us38 er-, g 80 and cover 20 with its insulators 25 are rein through opening 26.

From the foregoing, it will now apparent that the take-up plugs assure proper tautness of the conductors through the bell and that they provide adjustable seats for seating the studs 30 properly with variations in the lengths of the conductors. The cap nuts 42 thereupon tension the studs 30 between the nuts 42 and the shoulders on the studs 30 to hold the studs firmly against their seats on the plugs 38 and the conductors firmly in place without stressing the soldered or other joints between the conductors and the studs 30. The cap nuts 42 may be drawn up as tight as desired upon the gaskets shown in Figure 1 between them and the caps 34 to seal the outlets and without stressing the conductors or the joints between them and the studs 30. The connection thus takes up any desirable slack in the conductors and is adjustable for variations in the lengths of the conductors and at the same time the conductors and the joints between them and the terminal studs 30 are not stressed thereby. The upper projecting ends of the threaded shanks of the studs are externally accessible for applying a tool in the slots in the upper ends thereof as shown, or otherwise holding the terminal stud against turning in threading the nuts thereplace Without imposing any pulling, twist-- ing or other stress upon the conductor and the stud 30.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of aerial connection in which cap member 34 is cemented upon the upper end of insulating sleeve 25' and the threaded shank 32' of terminal stud 30 extends out therethro'ugh, as

joint between the before. In this case, the upwardly extending flange 36 of cap member. 34 is externally threaded and the lower recessed end of cap nut 42' is internally threaded for threaded engagement therewith, the upper portion of cap member 4.2 having threaded engagement with shank 32' at 60, as before. The shank 32 is threaded in or out of cap nut 42' to properly position the terminal stud according to the length of cable conductor 6 and contact nuts 45-46 with terminal 48' clam ed therebetween, are drawn up tightly agalnst the cap nut to lock the nut and terminal 30 in place. The cementing of cap member 34 on insulator 25 and the threaded engagement of cap nut 42 with cap member 34' and shank 32 provides a tight joint for preventing the entrance of moisture.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, cap nut 62, instead of having threaded engagement with cap member 63, is clamped thereto by bolts 65, cap nut 62 and cap member 63 having cooperating flanges 66 and 68 for this purpose.

In Fig. 6 I have shown another form of joint that may be used between the cable and the bottom of the bell. In this case the armored cable 5' is unprotected by pipe conduit. A flange ring 70 is clamped to the cable sheath by split clamps 72, one preferably integral with ring 70 and the other clamped about the cable by bolts 74 extending through the clamp members. The armor sheath is peeled off and conductors 6 led out, as before, the upper edge of the sheath being belled out over rounded edge of ring 70 to relieve sharp corners, potential static and possible injury to insulation. Grounding of the cable sheath is had through ring 70 and clamping members 72.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a wiped'joint between the cable and the lower end of' the bell.

In this case the joint between the bottom of the bell and cable 5 comprises a wiping member 7 8 attached by bolts 79 to flange 80 at the bottom of the bell. This member 78 has 9. depending flange 81 which converges into snug engagement at its lower end with the cable sheat and a tight joint isprovided therebetween by a wi ed solder joint 82, such as is well known in t e art. A sealing mem-- her and wedge, such as shown in Fig. 1, may be provided in connection with this mounting, if so desired, preferably only where the dimenslons of the cable are relatively large.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown the aerial terminals of my invention in connection with an end bell, the bowl 90 of which is formed so that inlet 91 is at a ninety degree angle to the open top 92 over which cover 93 with its lead-out insulators 94 is fastened. This form of t head is of great advantage where it is desired to run the cable horizontally into the bowl of the pot head.

To permit left or right hand attachment to the wall or other support, that is, attachment with either the front or rear face against the support so that the inlet 91 will extend either to the left or to the right, as desired, the integral mounting ears 95 project from the opposlte ends of bowl 9O midwa between the opposite faces of the bowl: Mounting lugs 96 secured to ears 95 by bolts 98 have flanges 99 through which bolts or other suitable attachment means are inserted to secure the device to the desired support. With lugs 96 in the position shown, the device is adapted for attachment to a wall or other support to the right of the device (Fig. 9.) with inlet 91 extending toward you in looking at said figure. By removing said lugs 96 and attaching same to the other sides of ears 95, that is, by reversing the positions of lugs 96 and bolts 98, the device is adapted for attachment to a support to the left (Fig. 9) with inlet 91 extending away, or in the opposite direction.

The pivotal connection of lugs 96 to ears 95, in either position, permits accommodation to variations in the positioning of the attaching means, as for example, to variw tions of thepositioning of the bolts inserted through the mounting eyes in flanges 99 of said ears 95.

When it is desired to mount the device be tween two cross arms 100 and 101 (Fig. 10), as is frequently the case, lugs 96 are removed entirely and relatively long mounting bolts 102 are inserted through aligned openings in cross arms 100 and 101 and through the openings in ears 95. The free ends of bolts 102 may havethreaded engagement with suitable nuts 103 or they may be otherwise secured in place.

From the foregoing, it will now be apparent that most any desired positioning and mounting of the angle bell is thus permltted. This is advantageous in that the desired positioning or mounting varies in different installations, and it has heretofore been necessary to make the bell for right or left or cross arm mountings, as desired. When made up for a left hand mounting, the bell could not be mounted right handed and vice versa.

The ninety degree angle shown in Figs. 8, 9

- and 10 is simpl illustrative of an angle bell.

other form of bell. While the aerial connections described in connection with Figs..'1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are especially adapted for use with bells for outdoor service, where the susceptibilityto the entrance of moisture is greatest and weather conditions are severest, it is to be understood that such connections may be used in connection with indoor bells, should* it be desirable, and the improved mounting described in connection-with Figs. 8, 9 and 10, is, of course, equally applicable for in-' door or outdoor service.

The making of the connections between the cable conductors and terminal studs provldes a high insulating factor of safety.

nut member threaded upon the shank of the terminal member and "contacting said cap member for adjustably clamping the terminal member against said seating member and in place without stressing theeonductor.

2. In combination, an outlet member, a cap member mounted thereon, a terminal member having an abutment and a threaded shank, a seating member threaded into said cap member and adapted to contact the abutment on the terminal member, and a nut member threaded upon the shank of the terminal member and having contact with the cap member for clamping the terminal member in contact with said seating member.

3. In combination, an outlet member, a cap member mounted thereon, a terminal member having an abutment and a threaded shank, a seating member threaded into said cap member and adapted to contact the abutment on the terminal member, a nut member threaded upon the shank of the terminal member and having contact with the cap member for clamping the terminal member in contact with said seating member, a pair of nuts threaded upon the shank of the terminal member for locking said last nut member against displacement and a terminal secured between said lock nuts.

4. In combination, an outlet member, a cap member on the end of said outlet member and overhanging the same, a conductor ex- I so tending into said outlet member, a terminal member disposed in said outlet member and secured mechanically and electrically upon said conductor, and a take-up member adj ustably mounted in said cap memberand adapt- 6! ed to be adjusted engage the terminal upon the shank of the terminal connection and member for seating same in different positions andmeans for clamping the terminal member against said take-up member.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of an .insulating'sleeve, closure means and a terminal connection at the outer end of said sleeve, said rminal connection comprising a terminal stud having a shoulder and a threaded shank, a take-up member mounted to be adjusted into contact with the shoulder on the terminal connection in the direction of the length of the conductor and forming an adjusta le stop and seat for the terminal connection and a nut threaded contacting sald -closure means for clamp n the terminal connection in contact with sai take-up member. a 6. An end bell having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a sheathed cable extending into the bell throu h one ofthe 0 enings, the end of the cab e being bared o the sheath, means rigidly securing the sheath to the bell, a terminal secured to the end of the cable within the bell, an insulating compound filling the lower portion of the bell, a' hollow insulator extending into the bell through the other opening, said insulator extending into the compound thereby closing communication between the opening and the portion of the bell above the top of the compound, acap member on the. external end of the insulator and sealed thereto, said cap having a projecting flange and said terminal member extend- 4 ing into the opening in the insulator and having a threaded shank extending beyond the insulator cap, a cap nut. having threaded engagement with the shank, said cap nut extending over the flange of the cap and providing a closure therefor, a conductor connector, and means including a lock nut for securing the connector to the end of the terminal. 7. In a device of the class described, an insulating sleeve, closure means and a terminal connection at the outer end of said sleeve, said terminal connection comprising a terminal stud having a'shoulder and a threaded shank, and means for clamping said stud in place, said means comprising an adjustable take-up plug having threaded engagement with said closure means, and engageable with the shoulder of the terminal stud, and nut means threaded upon the threaded shank and having engagement with said closure means for clamping the terminal stud against the take-up plug.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of an insulating sleeve, a cap at the end of said sleeve, said cap having a projecting flange, a terminal member mounted in said sleeve and having a threaded shank extending through said ca a cap 'nut threaded upon the projecting s ank of said terminal member, said cap nut contacting thecap member and recessed to engage over the projecting flange of said cap, and a take-up member threaded into said cap and having adjustable cooperation with the terminal member. I

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of an insulating sleeve, closure means at the end of said sleeve, said closure means having a projecting flange, a terminal [member mounted in said sleeve and having a threaded shank extending through said closure means, a cap 'nut threaded upon the projecting shank of said terminal member and recessed to engage over the projecting flange of said closure means and to contact the closure means, a contact nut threaded upon the projecting shank of the terminal member into engagement with the cap nut and a take-up member threaded into said closure means and having adjustable .cooperation with the terminal member.

10. In a device of the class described, an

insulating sleeve, closure means including a cap member, and a terminal connection at the outer end of said sleeve, said cap member having a projecting flange and said terminal connection including a stud having a shoulder and a threaded shank projecting through said cap member, means for clamping said stud in place, said means comprising an adjustable take-up plug having threaded engagement with said cap member and engageable with the shoulder of the terminal stud, and recessed nut means threaded upon said threaded shank and engaging the cap member to clamp the terminal connection against the take-up plug.

11. In combination, a hollow insulator, a cap upon the top of the insulator, a terminal passing through the cap, the cap and terminal having inter-engaging shoulders, an adjustable mounting for one of said shoulders and a cap member seating on said first cap and closing the same, said second cap member having adjustable engagement with the terminal to draw said shoulders into engagement. 12. In combination, a hollow insulator, a terminal projecting through the end of the same, a cap about the end of the insulator through which the terminal projects, means free of the terminal member for adjustin the positionof the terminal in the cap an means for clamping the terminal against said adjusting means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 15 day of March, 1923.

ALWIN G. STEINMAYER.

Images