US2375270A - Line connector device - Google Patents

Description

I y8, 1945- J. LQYONKERS 2,375,270

I LINE CONNECTOR DEVICE I Filed Jan. 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l five/72 a)": t]0%2z' lzzfers .3

y 1945- J. L. YONKERS ,375,270

LINE CONNECTOR DEVICE Filed Jan. 9. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- 'lummi mm 1w! w. III! H m .M. fill, ]l

' immy Patented May 8, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 2,375,270 LINE; GONNECTQR. DEV/ICE John nvonkers, Evanston, 111. Application January 9, 19.42,. Serial No. 426,164: I 2 Claims. Lorai -243) This invention relates. to: a connector and also to a tool for operating thereon: and. has particular reference to a tap connector for use on transmission. line wire or the like. As: is: well known, highv tension transmission line Wire is generally of hard drawn copper or aluminum on a steelcore and frequently requires. a tap line connection to be. made or taken down. In order to. establish a satisfactory connection, it is importantthat no permanent damage or deformation to the line wire results. Furthermore, in making or break ing such tap: connection it is'frequentlyz-necessary to operate while the lineis hot. By virtue of' the invention described herein,. asimpl and effective connector is provided and simLpIe-and eirective means are provided. for applying or removing: theconnector to and from the transmission line wire with a minimum of effort and danger. v

" For a further understanding of the invention reference is made to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a tool in perspective; Fig; 2- shows the tool operating on a connector, certain parts: beinginsection;

- Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a connector; I

Fig. l isa bottom view of a connector; I Fig. 5 shows a top view on line 5-5- of Fig. 6

of a modified tool operatingon a connector;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig'. 5; Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the modified tool; Fig. 8 is a section on 8-8 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a section on 99 of Fig. 8. Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, a line I0 is to have a tap ll connected thereto. The tap is maintained'on the line by the connector shown in exploded form in Fig. 3. This connector consists of a split bolt having a rounded head 13 and arms l4 and I5. Arms, l4 and I5 are threaded as a unit to form a split bolt having a space It between the arms. Cooperating with split bolt 12 is a nut I8 consisting of a nut proper l9 carrying a clamping head 20. Clamping head 2|] has a pair of slots 2| and 22 through which bolt arms l4 and I5 may pass. The nut and clamping head are relatively rotatable around the nut axis. The head may be supported on the nut in any suitable manner and as shown is carried by a strap 23, which is secured, as by riveting, to central portion 24 of clamping head and which extends down along the inside of the nut to the remote end 26 thereof. The strap ends are then flared out at 21 to lock the nut and head together against separation. Strap 23 should be narrow enough to lie within space 16 of the split bolt. The clamping head is relatively massive and: has sufficient body and .size. a well as shapejtobe grippedby a wrench. The clampin-ghead is made of a good conductor like copper, brass or bronze and-preferably the nut and retainingstrap 23 are also of good conducting material. When installed, the line'and tap'wires I are clamped: between clam-ping head'20 and bolt head t3.

A special tool may be provided so-that the clamp may be installed or-removed easily. shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this: tool has a primary wrench 3.0 having a handle portion 31 and 'jaws 32 and 33. Jaws 32 and 33mayhave any-suitalrvle shape and are adapted to engage clamping head 20.

The clamping head is shown here as square; Anyothershape may be used. Preferablywrench jaws 32and'33 have ,a thickness of theorder of that of clampin head 20' and i preferabljy somewhat thinner; j

Wrench: handle 30 carries at the free end there of a handle 35. The two are hinged together at 36 and a spring 3'! may be providedfor normally urging wrench 30- against handle 35. Handle 35 has a rounded apertured end 39 within which is rotatably mounted a socket wrench 41!. The rotatable mounting may be secured-in any desired manner. Thus socket, wrench "4?! has, a circum ferential outer groove 4"] within which a. split ring 4 2 may be disposed. Split ring, #2- may be secured to end 39 byscrews'43. I

' Socket wrench 48' is adapted to engage'nut l9. A simple means for turning socketv wrench 40 is provided. Thus socket wrench 40 may have a body long enough to extend below nut l9 (as seen in Fig. 2) and is provided with diametrically dis posed apertures 45. A fork 46 carries pins 41 at the ends thereof and these pins extend into apertures 45. A knurled handle 50 on fork 46 completes the construction.

To use the tool, primary wrench 30 is moved to engage clamp head 20. Socket wrench 40 is turned so that it may engage nut l9 and permit handle 35 to come up parallel to handle 30. Then socket wrench 40 may be operated by knurled handle 50 to tighten or loosen clamp head 20. It is clear that all the forces used on the entire clamp are taken up by handles 30 and 50. No turning force on line wire I0 is applied. The entire tool is always on the same side of line It. The operation is so simple and convenient that a lineman can work with gloves. The handles may be made of insulating-material if desired.

In this form of the invention, the relative sizes equal to, larger or smaller than nut IS. The wrench size referred to is the distance between oppositely gripped surfaces and has no reference to square, hexagonal or other wrenches. However, by having nut 19 so shaped that parts project; beyondclamping head 20, as by having clamping head square and nut 19 hexagonal for the same size wrench, jaws 32 and 33 are locked in position as shown in Fig. 2. At the same time, socket wrench 40 is maintained in positionby; the spring hinge action. Z i

It is clear that this form of tool may be used with ease. The two handles remain close together on the same side of the Wire. The tool is locked into position so that no delicacy in manipulation is necessary as would be the case with several wrenches. This is an important consideration when working in dangerous or'barely' accessible locations.

Referring now to Figs. 5 fied tool is shown. The clamp remains substantially' the same. In this form primary wrench 130 has a rounded end l3! witha nut engaging aperture I32 of any suitable shape. This aperture normally engages clamp head 20. Rotatably mounted on one side of end I3 is a socket wrench I40. Socketwrench M0 may be mounted in any suitable manner. Thus socket wrench I48 may have an outwardly extending peripheral flange Ml engaged by an annular Z I42 secured to end I3 I. In this form, it is necessary thatclamp head 20. be as largeor larger than nut I9 so that primary wrench opening I32 may clear nut l9.

7 7 Socket wrench I40 preferably has'an interior shoulder l 43 defining the end of the socket wrench part and thus limiting movement of the socket wrenchmp (as seen in Fig. 6) toward the top of the clamp. Both the clamp andnut are proportioned so that in the top position of. the tool, as seen in Ffig. 6, shoulder I43 engages the bottom of the nut. In the event thatnut I9 is smaller than clamp'head'ill, then it is clear that socket wrench I40 will be stopp d by the bottom of clamp head. 1

For turning socket wrench MIL-a handle I50 having fork tines HI and 152 is provided. Pins I53Qcarried by the tines engage in aperture I54 in the bottom part of socket wrench I40.

It is clear that the tools. are simple, easy to operate and highly efficient.. The tools are completeinthemselves and by controlling the hanto 9 inclusive, a modiof the invention may be made of thinner material than has been the practice without sacrificing strength since even'copper has substantial tensile strength.

What is claimed is: 1.' A connector for joining a tap line to a transmission line comprising a bolt having a shank, a slot extending from one end of a shank and terminating at the head to form a bight for receiving wires to be joined, a flat washer on said shank having a web portion in the slot of said shank, said washer having a tool engageable peripheral surface, and a nut on said shank for moving the fiat washer toward the bight of the bolt, whereby when a high tension line and a wire are placed between the might of the bolt and'the web of the washer a lineman may; from that side of the connector away from the transmission line, hold the bolt from rotation by holding the washer whileat the same time drawing up the nut.

- 2. A connector comprising a bolt having a shank, a slot extending from one end of a shank and terminating at the head to form a bight for receiving Wires to be joined, a clamping member is moved against them,'a lineman may, from a single side of the wires hold the bolt from rotation by holding the peripheral surface of the clamping member while at the same time drawing up on the nut.

p JOHN L. YONKERS.

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