US2232857A

US2232857A - Solderless connector

Info

Publication number: US2232857A
Application number: US220902A
Authority: US
Inventors: John G Jackson
Original assignee: Square D Co
Current assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
Priority date: 1938-07-23
Filing date: 1938-07-23
Publication date: 1941-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1958-02-25

Description

Feb. 25, 1941. J. G. JACKSON SOLDERLESS CONNECTOR Filed July 23, 1958 IN VEN TOR flcisarz,

Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES SOLDERLESS CONNECTOR John G. Jackson, Detroit, Mich; assignor to Square D Company, Detroit, Mich, a corpora- 4 tion of Michigan Application July 23, 1938, Serial No. 220,902

4 Claims.

My lnvention relates to connectors for electrical conductors and has for its object the'provision of an improved, simple and economical form of connector of the solderless type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solderless connector formed of a continuous conducting strap preferably shaped at one end into an inverted U and having a threaded opening in thebight of the U receiving a clamping stud whose diameter is larger than the space disposed between the legs of the U; the pressure exerted by the clamping stud then being competent to work on a direct line upon the terminal end of the engaged cable and upon the abutment portion of the conducting strap .upon which the terminal end of said cable lies.

Other objects and features of this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification and append-.

ed drawing illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the connector with a cable clamped therein.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-lI of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken .along line III-1II of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 but showing a modified construction.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectionalview taken along line VIVI of Figure 4. r

The connector, I, as illustrated in the drawing, is formed of a single piece-conducting strap having one end bent into an inverted U shape with'opposite legs 2, and a bight 3, and with its opposite end forming a terminalextension 4 having an opening 5 therein whereby the connector may be attached to a switch terminal or other support by means of a stud or other attaching means. The legs 2 are provided with openings 6 through which the terminal end of a cable 1 to be clamped, is received. The bight 3 of the U is provided with a threaded opening force that is exerted by this stud will act on a direct line upon the terminal end of the cable I and upon the clamping surface furnished by the abutment 9 defining the bottom of openings 6. Thus the terminal end of the cable 1 will 5 be engaged by clamping surfaces opposing each other in the direct line of action of the applied force, one furnished by the clamping stud 8 and the other by the abutments 9 and accomplished through requiring the diameter of the clamping 11 stud 8 to be larger than the space disposed between the'legs 2; the advantage derived from the cooperation of these fastening surfaces being the obtainance of a positive, safe and rigid connection.

The clamping stud 8 acting upon the terminal end of 'the cable I compresses it and causes it to become slightly deformed. The deformation thus acquired assists in the procurance of a more secure connection, for the deformation opposes withdrawal of the terminal end of the cable 1.

Figures 4 to 6 inclusive show a modification in which the sheet metal strap is return bent, in the opposite direction to the preferred form, as depicted in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, into a rectangular shape ID with a terminal extension II and openings l2 in sides of the rectangle similar to openings 6 in the preferred U shaped connector. The leg l3 possesses a rivet extension M which fits into an opening in the conducting strap and is headed to give rigidity and stability to the rectangular frame. The clamping stud l5 used here has a larger diameter than is the space between the legs, in order to obtain the same effect as is procured by the preferred shape, 1. e., the line of force exerted by the clamping stud l5 acting in a direct line upon the terminal end of the cable and'upon abutments l6 upon which the cable lies.

In this modification, a stud l5 having a different head than the stud 8 in Figure 1 is depicted. The type of stud used is immaterial and either or any other type may be used with either form of connector.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto; as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible-in- 50 openings therethrough for the reception of a cable terminal, a clamping stud threaded into a part rigid with said walls and having a diameter substantially greater than the space between said walls and adapted to apply a clamping pressure on said cable terminal, the thickness of said walls being sufficient to provide a substantial surface at the lower portion of the openings which the clamping stud overlaps to provide for the application of a clamping pressure from said stud, at right angles through the cable, to" the overlapped portion of the surfaces defining the openings in the walls.

2. An electric cable terminal connector comprising an inverted U-shaped conducting element having its opposite legs provided with aligned transverse openings adapted to receive the terminal end of the cable and having its bight provided with a threaded opening, a clamping stud threaded into said bight opening and having a diameter greater than the space between the legs of the U whereby the bottom surface 01' the stud overlies portions of the surfaces defining the openings through the legs and whereby a direct straight line clamping pressure is applied to said cable end between the bottom of said stud and the portions ofthe surfaces defining the openings which it overlies.

3. An electric cable terminal connector comprising a conducting element of open-ended rectangular shape having the opposite sides thereof provided with-aligned transverse openings, and a clamping stud threaded through the top surpressure is exerted on the cable end between the bottom of thestud and the abutments formed by the portions of the surfaces defining the openings in the sides which the stud overlies.

4. An electric cable terminal connector comprising a conducting strap return bent at one end to provide an open-ended rectangular frame, a

the opposite end of said strap forming a connector terminal having means whereby it may be secured to a conductin element to which the cable is to be conductively attached, the said one end of said strap being rigidly connected to the main body of the strap to prevent displacement of said frame, the opposite upstanding sides of said frame being provided with aligned transverse openings adapted to receive the terminal end of said cable, and a clamping stud threaded through the top surface of the said rectangular frame and having a diameter greater than the space between said sides whereby the bottom of said stud overlies portions of the surfaces defining said openings to apply a straight line clamping force to said cable end against the abutments formed by the portions of the faces defining the openings which the stud overlies.

JOHN G. JACKSON.