US2092343A

US2092343A - Connecter

Info

Publication number: US2092343A
Application number: US134157A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert J Wayman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-03-31
Filing date: 1937-03-31
Publication date: 1937-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 1954-09-07

Description

Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE Application March 31,

Claims.

This invention relates to electric cable connecters and in particular to a connecter for making a water-tight and moisture-proof joint between an electric cable and a terminal box, meter casing or other housing member. The connecter is also constructed to prevent theft of current. The present invention is an improvement over the connecter disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 56,597, filed December 30, 1935.

In my copending application above identied, I have disclosed a moisture-proof and theft-prooi electric cable connecter involving a connecter sleeve which surrounds the cable and has a threaded connection with the terminal box or meter casing. 'Ihe sleeve is provided with a cap having a conductor aperture through which the cable extends. The space within the sleeve surrounding the conductor is illled with a plastic, adhesive, water-proof sealing compound, and the cap on the sleeve is arranged to compress this compound around the conductor and into contact with the walls of the sleeve. In my prior construction, it is necessary to provide a series of caps with diiIerent sizes of conductor apertures in order to accommodate different sizes and shapes of cables. An object of the present invention is `to devise a construction for retaining the sealing compound in the connecter sleeve without the necessity of providing caps with different sizes of apertures.

A specinc object of the present invention is to devise a cap for the connecter sleeve having a construction for adjusting the size of the conductor aperture. By the use of the present invention, a single cap element will accommodate several different sizes of electric cables.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is an elevational view of an assembled connecter showing the cable arranged in position within the connecter;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 showing the adjustable aperture adjusted for a cable of large size and of oval cross-section;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 4 4 oi Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of Figure l,

Figure 6 is a view like Figure 2 showing the aperture adjusting members adjusted to accommodate a substantially round cable of smaller size than in Figure 2;

Figure 'i is a view like Figures 2 and 6 showing the aperture adjusting members adjusting to 1931, sensi No. 134,157

(ci. 24v-z5) accommodate a still smaller cable of oval crosssection.

Referring to the drawing, the connecter is formed of a sleeve I having a screw thread formed on one end thereof for threaded engagement with an internally threaded socket on a terminal box or meter casing or any other housing into which the cable is to be introduced. Near the threaded end of the sleeve is arranged a partition 2 which closes the end of the sleeve, except for conductor apertures 2a and Ib formed in the partition wall. At the other end of the sleeve is arranged a detachable cap 3 having a conductor aperture 3a of a diameter sumciently large to receive the largest size cable to be accommodated by the connecter. Concentric with the aperture 3a is an annular groove 3b formed on the inner face of cap 3 for receiving the end of the sleeve I. The annular ring 3c forming the inner face of groove 3b extends into the end of sleeve I and compresses the sealing compound into contact with the cable and with the walls of the sleeve. The cap 3 is secured to the sleeve I by means of screws la and Ib which .pass through holes formed in ears located on opposite sides of cap 3 and have threaded engagement with projections or lugs Ia and Ib located on opposite sides of the sleeve I. Projections Ia and Ib are preferably located in the same plane with a section of the sleeve I which is formed with hexagonal cross-section as shown at Ic in Figure 5, although these projections may be located either above or below the hexagonal section. It will be understood that the hexagonal section Ic is provided so that a wrench may be employed to turn the connecter in mounting it in its socket.

Arranged on the outer face of cap 3 are two

aperture adjusting members

5 and 5 which are identical in construction. 'I'he shape of these members is clearly shown in Figure 7, and each member is formed as abifurcated sheet metal plate having two legs 5a and` 5b and a shank 5c with an elongated slot 5d formed in the shank portion. The aperture adjusting elements 5 and 5' are maintained in adjusted position on the cap by reason of the screws 4a and 4b passing through the slots 5d. The cap 3 is provided with two lugs ld and 3e on the buter face thereof, and these lugs serve as guides for the aperture members 5 and 5' and hold these members against lateral displacement. Lugs 3d and 3e also extend over members 5 and 5' as shown in Figure 4 andA maintain them in .position against the outer surface of the cap .3. I iind that a convenient shape` for the members 5 and 5' is obtained by Vtheir legs in overlapping relation so that each aperture member straddles the conductor cable. By adjusting the position of the two

members

5 and 5 transversely of the cap, the conductor aperture can be adjusted to accommodate the particular size of conductor employed. In Figure 2 the aperture adjusting members 5 and 5' are set to accommodate a conductor of relatively large size, and in this case the major axis of the conductor aperture is in line with the line passing through the screws da and Ib or parallel with the'direction of adjustment of

members

5 and 5. In Figure 6 the aperture adjusting members 5 and 5' are shown in a position adjusted to accommodate a substantially round -conductor cable; and in Figure '7 the aperture members have been adjusted to a greater overlapping position to accommodate a smaller conductor having an oval cross-section with the major axis of the conductor aperture located at right angles to the axis of the aperture in Figure 2. I

In installing the connecter, the sleeve I is screwed into its socket on the casing or housing to receive the cable, the threaded connection between the sleeve and the housing being made waterproof by application of suitable dope to the threads as is well understood. The end of the cable 6 is then prepared by removing the outer fabric covering to expose the two insulated conductors 6a, 6b and the neutral conductors Sc. The cap 3 is slipped over the end of the cable, and the conductors 6a and 6b are introduced into the open end of sleeve I and are threaded through the aperture 2b in the partition 2 of sleeve I,

, while the neutral conductors 5c are twisted together and threaded through the aperture 2a in this partition. The conductors Sa, 6b and 6c are then connected to the appropriate terminals within the housing, and the space surrounding the cable 6 within the sleeve I is filled with a plastic adhesive waterproof sealing composition 1 having a high dielectric strength. For this purpose, I prefer to'use the plastic adhesive sealing material known commercially as Duxseal because of its high dielectric strength, its insolubility in water, its resistance to all weather conditions and its substantially permanently plastic and adhesive character. x

After the sleevehas been filled with the sealing composition 1, the cap 3'is brought into position over the end of the sleeve and is clamped to the sleeve by screws 4a and 4b as shown in Figure 3. Before the screws are made-up to a position to cause substantial compression of the sealing compound, the

aperture adjusting members

5 and 5 are pushed inwardly until they engage the cable 6, thereby preventing escape of any substantial amount of the compound from the sleeve when the screws are made-.up and the cap 3 is clamped to the sleeve I. It will be observed that the ring 3c serves to displace a certain amount of compound in the end of the sleeve I and thereby cornpresses the sealing compound into intimate contactA with the inner surface of the sleeve and also into intimate contact with the surface of the cable 6 and the conductors of the cable. 'Ihe compound is also forced into the space between the cable 6 and the aperture 3a in cap 3. Partition wall 2 prevents escapev of any substantial amount of the compound from the inner end of the sleeve.

By providing separate conductor apertures 2a and 2b in the partition 2 as shown in Figure 5, the connecter is thereby rendered theft-proof, that is, it is not possible to remove the connecter from its socket and shunt current around the meter by inserting a wire in the connecter socket and hooking it onto the terminals inside. With the ends of the conductors connected to terminals within the meter casing or terminal box, the sleeve I cannot be unscrewed from its socket due to the fact that the conductors arranged within separate apertures will prevent substantial turning of the'sleeve. For this purpose, I prefer to form the partition 2 integral with the sleeve I, but obviously this partition may be formed of a separate piece suitably secured to the sleeve to prevent relative turning of the partition within the sleeve.

It will be understood that the connecter is entirely weather-proof and water-tight due to the character of the sealing composition employed. The sealing material retains its plasticvand adhesive qualities for a long period of time and is not subject to ageing and shrinking as occurs in the case of rubber packings or bushings. The adhesive quality of the compound causes it to adhere to the surfaces of the connecter and the conductors and prevents the development of air spaces at these surfaces. The plastic quality allows slight relative movements between the various parts without cracking of the compound or the development of voids.

What I claim is:

1. A connecter for an electric cable comprising a sleeve element, and adjustable aperture means located at one end of said sleeve comprising a pair of bifurcated plates arranged in opposed overlapping relation transversely of the axis of said sleeve and being adjustable transversely of said sleeve whereby an adjustable aperture is formed between the legs of said bifurcated plates.

2. A connecter for an electric cable comprising a sleeve element, an annular cap for said sleeve arranged at one end thereof, a pair of bifurcated plate elements carried by said cap and arranged in opposed overlapping relation transversely of the axis of said lsleeve and being ad- :lustable transversely of'said sleeve whereby an adjustable aperture is formed between the legs of said bifurcated plate elements.

3. A connecter for an electric cable comprising a sleeve element, and an adjustable aperture means arranged at one end of said sleeve, said .aperture means comprising a pair of bifurcated plate elements arranged in opposed overlapping relation Vtransversely of the axis of said sleeve and embodying means for guiding said plates for movement transversely of said sleeve and parallel with the axis of bifurcation, and means for clamping said plates in adjusted position.

4. A connecter'for an electric cable comprising a sleeve element, an annular cap arranged at one end of said sleeve, and an adjustable aperture means carried by said cap comprising a pair of bifurcated plate elements arranged in opposed overlapping relation transversely of the axis of said sleeve and embodying means for guiding said plates for movement transversely of said sleeve and parallel with the axis of bifurcation,

and Ameans for clamping saidplates on said cap in adjusted podtion.

5. A connecter for an electric cable comprising a sleeve surrounding said cable, a sealing compound arranged within said sleeve, and adjustable aperture means located at the end of said sleeve and cooperating with said cable to hold said compound within said sleeve.

6. A connecter for an electric cable comprising a sleeve surrounding said cable, a sealing compound arranged within said sleeve, a cap for said sleeve at one end thereof and embodying an adjustable aperture surrounding said cable and for retaining said compound in said sleeve.

'1. A connecter for an electric cable comprising a sleeve surrounding said cable, a sealing compound arranged within said sleeve, an annular cap forsaid sleeve at one end thereof and having an annular ring on the inner face thereof arranged to be positioned within the end of said sleeve, adjustable means for clamping said cap to said sleeve whereby said annular ring displaces some of the sealing compound within said sleeve, and adjustable aperture means carried by said cap and surrounding said cable to prevent sealing compound from escapingthrough said cap.

8. A connecter for an electric cable comprising a sleeve element, an annular cap arranged at one end of said sleeve, a pair of bifurcated plate elements arranged in opposed overlapping relation on the outer face of said cap, each of said plate elements having an elongated slot formed therein parallel with the axis of bifurcation, and means for securing said cap to said sleeve comprising a pair of screw elements passing through said elongated slots in said plate elements and having threaded engagement with lugs positioned on opposite sides of said sleeve element.

9. A connecter for an electric cable comprising a sleeve element, an annular cap 'arranged at one end of said sleeve, a pair of bifurcated plate elements arranged in opposed overlapping relation on the outer face oi' said cap, each of said plate elements having an elongated slot formed therein parallel with the, axis of bifurcation, and means for securing said cap to said sleeve comprising a pair of screw elements passing through said elongated slots in said plate elements and having threaded engagement with lugs positioned on opposite sides of said sleeve element, said cap being provided with a pair of vlugs arranged to guide said plates for movement transversely of said sleeve and parallel with said elongated slots, said last mentioned lugs being also arranged to hold said plates in contact with said cap.

10. A water-proof and theft-proof connecter for an electric cable comprising a sleeve surrounding said cable and having a screw-thread formed on one end thereof for screwing into a terminal housing, a sealing compound arranged within said sleeve, an annular cap for said sleeve at one end thereof and having an annular ring on the inner face thereof arranged to be positioned within the end of said sl'eeve, adjustable means for clamping said cap to said sleeve whereby said annular ring displaces some of the sealing compound within said sleeve, adjustable aperture means carried by said cap and surrounding said cable to prevent sealing compound from escaping through said cap, said sleeve being provided with a partition closing the threaded end thereof and having separate apertures for the conductors of said cable, whereby said sleeve is locked against4 removal from its socket.

ALBERT J. WAYMAN.