US1816665A

US1816665A - Cable connecter

Info

Publication number: US1816665A
Application number: US124332A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr George C Thomas
Original assignee: Thomas and Betts Corp
Current assignee: ABB Installation Products Inc
Priority date: 1924-01-22
Filing date: 1926-07-23
Publication date: 1931-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 1948-07-28

Description

1931- cs. c. THOMAS, JR 1,816,665

CABLE CONNECTER I Original Filed Jan. 22, 1924 INVENTOR A: L) M" George 6'. 7760mm Jr 4 4g 7 RNEYS Patented July 28, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE C. THOMAS, JR., OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO THE THOMAS & BETTS 00., OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY CABLE coivxncrna Original application illed January 22, 1924, Serial No. 687,787. Divided and this application filed July 23, 1928. Serial No. 124,332. v

This invention relates to cable connecters for anchoring cables to electric fixture boxes and the like, and the present application is a division of my earlier Patent Number 1,594,225, of July 27, 1926. a

An object of the invention is to produce new and improved cable connecters possessing a new mode of operation and which may employ operating means which is actuated from the inside and outside of a box to establish final anchorage of all parts, i. e. the operating means, which tightens up the parts, may be actuated from both sides of the box wall.

A further object is however to produce a connecter, the operating means of which may be entirely actuated from the inside of the box if the mechanic so desires.

A further object of the invention is to produce a cable connecter employin a connecter member suitable inssize to t in or through a box hole and soformed and constructed that a part of the box hole edge is exposed directly to a cable received therein so that the cable is in effect exposed against the box hole edge, and the connecter is also itself anchored to thebox hole edge.

The accompanying drawings illustrate examples of the invention wherein;

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view through the assembled cable, connecter and box; and Figure 2 illustrates an inside sectional view as taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an outside end elevation of the connecter, Figure 4 a side elevation thereof and Figure 5 an inside end elevation.

The remaining views illustrate a modified form of the invention wherein;

Figure 6 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled cable, connecter and box; while Figure 7 illustrates an inside cross-sectional view taken on the line 77.

Figure 8 shows an outside end view of the modified connecter, Figure 9 a longitudinal section, and Figure 10 an inside elevation.

Ordinary electric fixture boxes B are provided with holes H for the reception of cableconnecters and the cable 0 is introduced into the box hole H and a ichored there by operation of a connecter.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1 to 5 for description'of the subject matter divided out of my former patent application, there is shown a connecter member 6, for example in sleeve form and having tool receiving means such as a corrugated end or'nut end 7. The sleeve 6 is made with a box wall entr slot 8 formed transversely in the sleeve fiir the reception of the box hole edge H by which part of said box hole edge is exposed directly to the cable C w1thin the sleeve. The sleeve is also made with a groove 9 to receive two parts, namely,

the box hole edge and key plate, but more piirtticularly to receive the edge of the key p a e. 6 i

A key cam plate 11 is made with a cam or curved inclined edge 12 and is adapted to reglsterwith the roove 9 in the connecter. That edge of t e key plate 11 which is opposite to the cam edge 12, is intended to slide against the wall of a box B to thereby press the sleeve connecter 6 laterally with respect to the axis of the box hole. In assembling the parts the connecter 6 is mounted in the box hole H with the cable placed therein, the parts going together loosely whereupon the key plate 11 is placed between the connecter 6 and the box wall so that the flat edge of the plate 11 bears movably on the box wall while the cam edge 12 bears movably in the connecter groove 9. The mechanic drives the key plate into position with a tool or pries it with a screw driver thereby forcibly moving or sliding the plate against the connecter sleeve to move it laterally withrespect to the box hole axis causing a part of the box hole to project through the wall entry slot 8 and grip with considerable force against the cable which serves to simultaneously anchor the cable and the connecter in the box hole.

The mechanic may also attain final anchorage or final locking position of all parts by grasping the end 7 of the sleeve with a pair of pliers and slightly rocking sive showing or partially rotating the connecter in the box hole and at the same time he wedges or moves the key plate 11 into final place. By slightly rotating the sleeve 6 the gradually inclined cam plate edge 12 is drawn into place so that the key plate is tightened up between the box Wall and connecter groove 9 by slight rotation of the sleeve 8 to cause the cam edge 12 to climb into place.

The slot 8 and groove 9 form spaced abutment means to receive the box hole edge into the connecter and to guide and retain movably the connecter in the box hole during actuation of the parts, i. e. during actuation of the operating means to anchor all parts in rigid relation. Furthermore the abutment means anchors the connecter in the box against longitudinal displacement.

The sliding key plate 11 operates entirely inside the box by driving 'or forcing it into tight position between the box wall and connecter, and thus the fastening function may be accomplished by actuation of parts entirely within the box. I

On the other hand, the nut end 7 may be forcibly turned, if desired, on the outside of the box to aid in drawing or pulling the plate 11 into place between the connecter and box wall. As the sleeve 6 is rocked or partially rotated, the mechanic presses the key plate 11 forwardly and the friction of the cam edge 12 against the groove 9 draws the plate in under the connecter and forces the connecter sidewise in the box hole to grip the cable against the exposed box hole edge.

Thus the operating means may be actuated either entirely inside the box or both from the inside and outside.

Referring now to Figures 6' to 10 inclu a modified form of the invention there is shown a sleeve 14 with double opposed

entry slots

15 and 16 for the recep' tion of the box hole edge and for reception of an'improved key wedge fork. A neck 18 joins the sleeve 14 to an abutment flange 19. The sleeve 14 together with the neck 18 and abutment flange 19 define aforesaid the oppositely

related entry slots

15 and 16.

The modified form of connecter therefore embodies a member having a portion, as for example the art 14, which is suitable in size to fit in t e box hole with an abutment 19 that limits the distance into which it may be projected, while the connecter member is so shaped and formed, as for example by reason of the

slots

15 and 16 or other means, that a part of the box wall edge is left directly exposed to the cable.

An improved key wedge fork embodies a wedge prong having a wedging edge 22 and including a straight guide prong 23 and the two parts are joined by a neck 24. The inside fork opening defined by the opposed

prong parts

21 and 23 is sufliciently hole edge H and causing the cable wide to admit the connecter 14 and particularly to admit the neck 18 thereof so that the

opposed slots

15 and 16 register with the inner edges of the

key prongs

23 and 21.

In assembling the parts constituting the connecter shown in the latter Figures 6 to 10 just described, the connecter 14 is inserted loosely in the box hole whereupon the cable C is introduced into the connecter. The

opposed connecter slots

15 and 16 receive a part of the box hole edge and receive the prongs of the key wedge fork. Also the fork 2.1-23 fits against the wall of the box and thus anchors the connecter in the box hole. The edge 22 of the wedge prong 21 grips the cable and is placed between the cable and a Wall of the box thus moving the cable laterally with respect to the box hole axis thereby forcing the exposed part of the box hole edge which is opposite the wedging edge 22, against the cable. In other words, the cable is gripped between the edge 22 and box hole edge H. At the same time the straight key fork 23 moves into ,one of the slots of the sleeve 14 to form an abutment against the box wall in opposite relation to the'wedgeprong 21 to prevent said part 21 from tilting out of place.

The mechanic taps or drives the key wedge fork 21-23 into position thereby jamming the cable against the inside box to be gripped against the box hole edge. At the same time the key fork establishes a firmly keyedand wedging connection with the cable and it against longitudinal displacement.

The fact that the prong 23 of the key fork abuts the box wall on the side of the cable opposite the wedge prong 21 means that prong 21 cannot be accidently displaced outwardly, that is, the edge which bears against the box wall cannot be pried loose because the neck 18 transmits any tilting strain exerted by the wedge 21 upwardly to the prong 23 which in turn braces the entire plate 2123 against tilting displacement.

It is to be notedthat the abutment flange 19 is large enough to cover over the box hole H and thus form a well closed and well sealed box and cable connection after the parts are assembled.

This improved connecter takes advantage of the fact that the cable is anchored to the exposed box hole edge and the connecter is likewise anchored in and over the box hole ed e.

The slots shown in both forms of sleeve connecter are simply an example of means by which the box hole edge is exposed and other sleeve forms may be produced for the same purpose. This connector is so formed as to expose the box hole edge and carries also the key fork stands behind or at the end of the sleeve 14 thus anchoring spaced abutments in between which the box hole edge is received to guide and retain movably the connecter during operating movement of the parts. The abutments prevent longitudinal displacement and unloosening of the parts after final assembly and final position of all parts are attained.

What I claim is:

1. Cable and box connecting means comprising, a box provided with a cable and connecter receiving hole, a connecter member of suitable size to fit into the hole and formed to expose a part of the box hole edge directly to a cable, and including spaced means in between which the box hole edge is received to guide and retain movably the connecter during movement of the parts to final fixed position, and operating means on the outside and on the inside of the box including means operable outside the box and including a separate member operable inside the box, by which the connecter is forcibl moved laterally with respect to the axis of the box hole to grip the cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter.

2. Cable and box connecting means comprising, a box provided with a cable and connecter receiving hole, a connecter member of suitable size to fit into the hole and formed to expose a part of the box hole edge directly to a cable, and including spaced means in between which the box hole edge is received to guide and retain movably the connecter during movement of the parts to final fixed position, and operating means on the outside and on the inside of the box including tool receiving means and a separate key plate, by which the member is forcibly moved laterally with respect to the axis of the box hole to grip the cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter.

3. Cable and box connecting means comprising, a box provided with a cable and connecter receiving hole, a sleeve of suitable size to fit into the hole and having an entry slot into which projects a part of the box hole edge to grip directly against the cable, and operating means on the outside and on the inside of the box including a separate wedging means inside the box, by which the member is forcibly moved laterally with respect to the axis of the box hole to grip the cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter.

4. Cable and box connectingmeans comprising, a box provided with a cable and connecter receiving hole, a sleeve disposed in the hole and having an entry slot through which projects a part of the box hole edge to grip against the cable, and operating means on the inside of the box including a separate wedging means forced between the sleeve and box portion, by which the member is forcibly moved laterally with respect to the axis of the box hole to grip the cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter.

5. A connecter comprising a member suitable in size to fit in ajbox hole, and formed to expose a part of a box hole edge to a cable, and a separate wedging member adapted to be forced between the connector and thebottom of a box to move the connecter laterally with respect to the box hole axis to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter.

6. A connector comprising a member suitable in size to fit in a box hole, and formed to expose a part of a box hole edge to a cable, a separate wedging member adapted to be forced between the connecter and a box portion to move the connecter laterally with respect to the box hole axis to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter, and means to receive a tool carried on that portion of the connecter adapted to be placed outside the box by which the connecter may be rotated to aid in drawing the wedging member into place.

7 A connecter comprising a sleeve adapted to fit in a box hole, and having a slot into which a box hole edge may project, and a separate wedging member adapted to be forced between the connecter and the bottom of a box to move the connecter laterally with respect to the box hole axis to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and connecter.

8. A connecter comprising a sleeve adapted to fit in a box hole, and having a, slot into which a box hole edge may project, a separate wedging member adapted to be forced between the connecter and the bottom of a box to move the connecter laterally with respect to the box hole axis to grip a cable between the exposed box hole edge and connector, and said sleeve having a groove in which the wedging member slidably fits.

9. A connecter comprisin a sleeve ada ted to fit in a box hole, an provided with opposite box wall entry slots into one of which a box hole edge is received to grip against a cable, means including a fork one prong of which slides into one slot and grips against the cable to move it laterally in a box hole and grip said cable aforesaid, and another prong of which passes through the other slot and is adapted to bear against a box wall.

10. A connecter comprising a sleeve adapted to fit in a box hole, and provided with opposite box wall entry slots into one of which a box hole edge is received to grip against a cable, means including a fork one,

other prong of which passes through the other slot and is adapted to bear against a box Wall, and an abutment flange included on the sleeve adjacent the slots to close a box hole.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GEORGE C. THOMAS, JR. 7/