US2096796A

US2096796A - Grounding set

Info

Publication number: US2096796A
Application number: US35896A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ulrich C Dunaway
Original assignee: James R Kearney Corp
Current assignee: James R Kearney Corp
Priority date: 1935-08-12
Filing date: 1935-08-12
Publication date: 1937-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1954-10-26

Description

Oct. 26, 1937. c. D w 2,Q96,796

GROUNDING SET Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES GROUNDING SET Application August 12, 1935, Serial No..35,896

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally toelectrical grounding sets adapted for use in grounding electrical conductors, and more specifically to grounding sets made up of a plurality of clamps adapted for attachment to the various conductors of a imilti-phase line for the purpose of grounding .said line, the predominant object of the invention being to provide a grounding set which, because of the improved construction and arrangem-ent of the individual. clamps thereof, is capable of performing its intended function in an improved and highly efficient manner.

Fig. 1 is .a fragmentary elevation illustrating the improved grounding set in use.

" 5 Fig. 2 is 'a front elevation illustrating the clamps of the improved grounding vset arranged in .clusterform with the auxiliary clamps mounted on bar elements associated with the main clamp, andwith the clamp-operating'handles, and the .20 conductors broken. .away. i

Fig. 3 is view partially in vertical section and partially in. elevation showing the main. clamp :and one of the auxiliary clamps mounted on a bar element associated withthe main clamp.

.25 ,Fig. eisa'section of .the main clamp taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, with parts of the. bar elements of saidmain clamp broken away.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the clamps of the improved grounding set assembled in cluster form .30 and with the handles of the clamps and the conductors broken away.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of 35 the invention, A designates the main clamp of the improved grounding set, and B and C designate the auxiliary clamps of said grounding set. The main clamp A includes a fixed jaw I which is adapted to overlap an electrical conductor to '40 which the clamp is to be attached, said fixed jaw having a tapered wire-receiving seat 2. At the lower end of the fixed jaw I an outstanding lug 3 is provided through which a screwthreaded opening 3 is formed, and extended through said .45 opening is a screwthreaded operating element 4. at the upper end of which is arranged a movable jaw 5. The operating element includes a portion 6 of reduced diameter which is extended into an opening formed in the'movable jaw 5,

50 said portion .6 being provided with an annular depression 1 into which the inner end portion of a screwthreaded element 8 carried by the movable jaw 5 is extended. Because of this arrangement the operating element is rotatably connected to 55 the movable jaw.- The movable jaw 5 is provided with wing portions 5' which embrace the opposite side edges of the fixed jaw I so as to guide the movable jaw during movement thereof and also the ope-rating element is provided with a non-- circular head portion l] at its lower end which receives the head of a suitable clamp stick Ill so as to facilitate rotation of the operating element t in order to move the movable jaw toward and from the fixed jaw. The clamp stick I0 may be of the type which is permanently associated with 10 a clamp, or, if desired, a clamp stick may be employed which is removable from the clamp.

The main clamp A includes a Web"! I which is associated with the fixed jaw of said-main c'lamp as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. Also, adjacent to the lower portion of the fixed jaw of the, main clamp. a rearwardly and upwardly projected extension I2 is provided. Formed integrally with the web I 'I of the main clamp is a tubular portion. I3 which receives in the. opening formed therethrough an end portion Id of an electrical conductor I5 from which the insulation of the conductor has been stripped. Theend portion .I4 of the electrical conductor is clamped within the tubular portion I3 by means of clamping screws I6 which extend into the opening through said tubular portion and forcibly engage the end portion of the conductor in a manner to provide positive electrical connection between the exposed end portion ofthe conductor and the tubular portion I I3. Extended downwardly from the tubular portion I 3 is an extension I! which is of arcuate shape in cross-section. The extension I! is formed integrally with the tubular portion I3 and with the web II, and said extension is provided with an outstanding ear I8. The extension I I has associated with it a metallic strap; I9 which ine cludes an arcuateportion which correspounds to the arcuate portion of the extension I?! but is curved in the opposite direction. The metallic :40 strap I9 includes ear portions at its oppositeends through which apertures are formed, said apertures being alined with screwthreaded apertures formed'in the ear I8 of the extension I! and in the web II, and bolts 20 are extended through .45 the apertures formed through the strap and screwed into the apertures in the ear I8 and the web II so as to secure the -strap in place. The extension I! and the metallic strap I9 constitute a clamping or holding device for the 5 0 electrical conductor I5, the insulated portion of the conductor adjacent to the exposed end portion I4 thereof being securely clamped between the associated arcuate portions of the extension and the strap. By so clamping the conductor in place accidental breaking of the metallic strands of the portion I4 of the conductor adjacent to the point where the insulation ends, because of vibration or movement of the conductor when in use, is prevented.

The auxiliary clamps B and C are exact counterparts of the main clamp as thus far described; in other words, each of the auxiliary clamps B and C includes a fixed jaw 2| and a movable jaw 22, the movable jaw of each auxiliary clamp being operated by means of a screwthreaded operating element 23 which passes through a screwthreaded opening formed through a lug 24 located at the lower end of the fixed jaw. In like manner the lower end of the operating element of each auxiliary clamp is provided with a head portion adapted to be received into the head of a suitable clamp stick 25 in order to facilitate rotation of the operating element of the clamp when the movable jaw is to be moved with relation to the fixed jaw. Also each auxiliary clamp B and C is provided with a tubular portion 26 corresponding to the tubular portion I3 of the main clamp, this tubular portion 26 receiving an end portion 21 of a

conductor

28 or 29, as the case may be, which end portion is clamped within said tubular portion by means of clamping screws 30 so as to make positive electrical connection between these clamps and the conductor. In addition each auxiliary clamp B and C includes conductor clamping or holding means provided by an extension 3| of arcuate cross-section and a metallic strap 32 which includes a similar arcuate portion, the metallic strap being secured in place by bolts 33. Each auxiliary clamp includes also a web 34 with which the tubular portion 26 and the extension 3| are integrally formed, together with a rearwardly and upwardly extended portion 35 which corresponds to the extension [2 of the main clamp.

The main clamp A and the auxiliary clamps B and C being duplicates in basic structure, it is necessary to apply an attachment or adapter to the clamp which is to serve as the main clamp so as to adapt it for such service. This attachment is designated generally in the drawings by the reference character 36 and includes a downwardly extended portion 31 provided at its upper end with a pair of ears 38. The ears 38 are provided with perforations through which bolts 39 are extended, said bolts being screwed into screwthreaded openings formed in the extension I2 so as to secure the attachment 36 to the clamp proper.

The downwardly extended portion 31 of the attachment 36 includes a pair of oppositely dispose-d tubular portions 40 (see Fig. 5) into the hollow interiors of which exposed end portions 21 of the

conductors

28 and 29 are extended, these end portions being at the ends of the

conductors

28 and 29 opposite to the ends thereof which are connected to the clamps B and C and said end portions being clamped within said tubular portions by clamping screws 4| so as to provide positive electrical connection between the conductor and the tubular portions 40. At points beneath the tubular portions 40 the downwardly extended portion of the attachment 36 is provided with arcuate portions 42 which receive the insulated portions of the

conductors

28 and 29 which are located adjacent to said exposed end portions 21' of said conductors. These insulated portions of the

conductors

28 and 29 are held in fixed positions by being clamped between the arcuate portions 42 and similar arcuate portions 43 formed in metallic straps 44 which are secured to the downwardly extended portion of the attachment 36 by suitable bolts 45. By clamping the insulated portions of the

conductors

28 and 29 which are located adjacent to the exposed end portions 21 thereof in place as described, vibration and other movement of the

conductors

28 and 29 will not be likely to cause breakage of or strains on the strands of the exposed end portions 21 of said conductors at points adjacent to the ends of the insulation of said conductors.

Extended outwardly in opposite directions from the oppositely disposed tubular portions 40 of the attachment 36 is a pair of bar elements 46 which preferably are provided with enlarged head portions 46. These bar elements are formed integrally with the remainder of the attachment 36 and webs 41 are employed for providing the required rigidity at the points Where said bar elements join the tubular portions 40.

The auxiliary clamps B and C are temporarily mounted on the bar elements 46 of the main clamp A when the improved grounding set is not in actual use or if only the main clamp is in use. However, when the improved grounding set is in use in grounding a three phase line such as that illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the conductors of the line are designated by the reference characters L L L the clamps A, B, and C, are arranged in gang as shown in said .view. It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the conductors 2B and v29 lead from the clamps B and C to the attachment 36 of clamp Av and that the long ground conductor l5 leads downwardly fromsaid clamp A to a permanent ground (not shown) at. the base of the pole P. When the improved grounding set is being placed in use the main clamp A with the auxiliary clamps B and C mounted on the bar 5.

element 46 thereof is elevated and the main clamp is secured to the center conductor, after which the clamps B and C are removed from the bar elements and are attached to the other conductors in the order most convenient to the operator.

The operating element 4 of the clamp A is illustrated as having a noncircular head 9 and the statement is made herein that the operating elements of the clamps B and C are provided with similar heads. It is obvious however that the operating elements of the clamps may be provided with eyes instead of noncircular heads if desired. Also, as has been already stated herein; the clamp sticks for rotating the operating elements of the clamps may be permanently attached to the clamps or removably attached I thereto as desired.

I claim:

1. A grounding set comprising a plurality of clamps of like construction adapted for attachment to electrical conductors, a ground conductor connected to one of said clamps, an adapter detachably fixed to the latter clamp, said adapter comprising a member which includes a central portion from which integral bars extend outwardly in opposite directions, means for securing said adapter to said clamp, said means including parts on said adapter and said clamp which'are secured together by fastening means, conductor clamping means forming parts of said central portion of said adapter and. adapted to clamp to said adapter conductors leading from other clamps of the grounding set, and conductor holding means forming parts of the central portion of said adapter and adapted to grip and hold conductors leading from said other clamps of the grounding set to said adapter.

2. A grounding set comprising 'a plurality of clamps of like construction adapted for attachment to electrical conductors, a ground conductor connected to one of said clamps, an adapter detachably fixed to the latter clamp, said adapter comprising a member which includes a central portion from which integral bars extend outwardly in opposite directions, means for securing said adapter to said clamp, said means including parts on said adapter and said clamp which are secured together by fastening means, conductor clamping means forming parts of said central portion of said adapter and adapted to clamp to said adapter conductors leading from other clamps of the grounding set, and conductor holding means forming parts of the central portion of said adapter and adapted to grip and hold conductors leading from said other clamps of the grounding set to said adapter, said clamp part to which said adapter is secured being present in each clamp of the grounding set in the form of an outwardly projected extension whereby any one of the clamps of the grounding set may have the adapter associated therewith.

3. A grounding set comprising a plurality of clamps of like construction adapted for attachment to electrical conductors, a ground conductor connected to one of said clamps, an adapter detachably fixed to the latter clamp, said adapter comprising a member which includes a central portion from which integral bars extend outwardly in opposite directions, meansfor securing said adapter to said clamp, said means including parts on said adapter and said clamp which are se cured together by fastening means, conductor clamping means forming parts of said central portion of said adapter and adapted to clamp to said adapter conductors leading from other clamps of the grounding set, and conductor holding means forming parts of the central portion of said adapter and adapted to grip and hold conductors leading from said other clamps of 'the grounding set to said adapter, said clamp part to which said adapter is secured being present in each clamp of the grounding set in the form of an outwardly projected and upwardly inclined extension whereby any one of the clamps of the grounding set may have the adapter associated therewith, and the upwardly inclined arrangement of said extension serving to cause the adapter attached thereto to be disposed in angular relation with respect to the associated clamp to insure freedom of the conductors leading to said adapter and to the clamp with which it is associated.

ULRICH C. DUNAWAY.