US2451516A

US2451516A - Seal terminal

Info

Publication number: US2451516A
Application number: US605171A
Authority: US
Inventors: Skobel Max
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-07-14
Filing date: 1945-07-14
Publication date: 1948-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1965-10-19

Description

Oct. 19 1948. M. SKOBEL SEAL TERMINAL Filed July 14 1945 FIG. 1.

INVENTOR.

M AX SKOB EL BY v WA... Q

FIG. 3.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1948 SEAL TERMINAL Max Skobel, Eatontown, N. J., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of War Application July 14, 1945, Serial No. 005,171

3 Claims. (01. 114-151) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to electrical terminals, and more particularly to those suitable for installment on transformers and other electrical equipment.

In a particular form of terminal arrangement used for transformers in the prior art, the terminals consisted of straight rods imbedded in glass for insulating same, that passed through holes in a plate forming the top of the transformer case, with the glass welded to the rods and plate. The disadvantage of this arrangement was that it increased the cost of production to make same, was relatively slow, and wassubject to breakage.

In the present invention, it is an object to provide a new and improved terminal arrangement that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

An additional object of this invention is to pro= vide a new and improved terminal arrangement which can be assembled expeditiously, effective in use, and capable of withstanding considerable rough treatment without serious inju y. and, also, economical to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved terminal arrangement for enclosed electrical equipment that can be assembled or disassembled readily, and at the same time prove an efiective device in use.

In a particular form of the invention, a terminal assembly comprises a plate adapted to engage a predetermined article arranged for electrical equipment on one side and for connecting a conductor or conductors on the opposite side. The plate has a passage or passages therethrcugh of predetermined size, with the material about the passage or passages of resilient nature, so as to hold same resiliently therein, when in place and projecting on either side for electrical attaclnnent to said conductors and equipment. It can be appreciated that the passages can be arranged parallel and spaced from each other, and with a single or plural terminal members that can be inserted through the passages. The plate may also be made entirely of insulating resilient material, so that where the terminal members pro- .iect therethrough they will be held securely and insulatingly.

For a better understanding of the present in vention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying the assembly shown in Fig. l in separated form before assembly, and

Figure 3 is a sectional detail of the plate assembly.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein a particular form of an electrical terminal assembly is shown, by way of example. It consists of a mounting plate ill of circular disc-like form, but relatively thick to give a certain amount of rigidity to the resilient insulating or rubber-like material of which it is composed. in Fig. l, passages or restricted diameter are provided in raised taper ing funnels or sleeves i2 extending perpendicularly above and below the upper and lower surfaces at the plate and integral therewith. These tunnels are circularly arranged on the plate and spaced equably from each other, a sufficient amount to provide proper electrical spacing in between the terminal members l3 that are in them. These members 3 are preferably arranged with enlarged, and flattened eyelet end portions or lugs it, formed from wire rods it which are or normal diameter for the remaining middle portion of the members. The members are forced into the passages in the resilient material which is expanded thereby as the eyelets pass through, and when through. flexes back to normal size to bind against the middle portions thereof, holding,- them securely in position and making the joint watertight and fieidble. The transformer it or other equipment used has its terminal leads l8 electrically connected to the lower eyelets o'r lugs it of the members it. it is then placed in a container casing i E of thin metal having its open upper portion i'l flared and cupped to take the plate iii. The cupped portion is afterwards bent or crimped over to secure the plate firmly therein to the casing, as well as keep the transformer underneath. Slots 20 are provided in the wall of the cupped portion of the casing. Flanges IQ of the upper reinforcing plate 23 project peripherally out from these slots. These flanges have screw holes 22 therethrough for screws to pass through to secure the unit to a panel or other structure. Holes 24 are punched through this plate 23 with ridges or projecting rims'25 formed on the upper surface, as indicated. A lower reinforcing plate 26 is provided under the insulating plate ill, but has no projecting flanges. It is punched like the upper plate 23, with similar holes 24 and ridges 25. The projecting rims serve to lock the sleeves [2 in place and stiffen them.

The terminal assembly illustrated can be made compact as the amount of space required by the sleeves is less than that required by an external lining of glass,'ceramics or rigid plastic materials, to provide the necessary insulation between the terminals and a metal mounting plate. At

1 the same time, the terminal members can be removed or replaced readily at any time without afiecting the working features of the device. No dimculties in production or assembly are involved in the use of this invention, because such assembly can be done cold, and manually or equivalently by machine. In the case of glass, heat at a high temperature is involved, which increases the cost and lowers the production rate, and requires heat-resisting materials in its make-up.

This, the invention avoids. In addition, the terminals in the invention can be given fairly rough treatment without injury. as they are held flexibly. This feature of flexibility enables the leads from the transformer or network to connect at slight angles and, in case of necessity, bend same a little. Such action would not be feasible with glass insulation arrangements. Any vibration occurring in the equipment is taken up by the rubber-like material used in this invention, and lessens the possibility of deficiency. in operation through a greater period of time, and keeps maintenance costs down. Other incidental advantages are provided by the invention that add to its value and utility.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be a preferred embodiment of thisinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and further modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the principles thereof. It is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A terminal assembly comprising in combination, .a pre-formed mounting plate of flexible insulating material with projecting funnel-like sleeves integrally attached thereto having longitudinally disposed passages of restricted diam eter therethrough, a plurality of reinforcing rigid plates disposed above and below said mounting plate with holes therein aligned with said sleeves to permit the latter to project therethrough and having raised ridges around the edges of the holes said ridges being shaped to apply compression to the bases of said sleeves, terminal rods having lugs on the ends thereof for insertion through said restricted passages by expanding said passages as the lugs pass therethrough, the diameter of said rods being larger than thediameter of said passages whereby after insertion the rods will be held securely and resiliently within said restricted passages and the lugs projected above and below said plates beyond said sleeves.

2. A terminal assembly comprising in combination, a pre-formed mounting plate of insulating material with projecting funnel-like sleeves integrally attached thereto having passages of restricted diameter therethrough, a rigid plate disposed against said mounting plate with holes therein aligned with said sleeves to permit the latter to project therethrough and arranged around the holes to compress the bases'of said sleeves, terminal rods having lugs on the ends thereof for insertion through said restricted passages by expanding said passages as the rods pass therethrough, the diameter of said rods being larger than the diameter of said passage, whereby after insertion the rods will be held securely and resiliently within said restricted passages and the lugs projected beyond the sleeves.

3. A terminal assembly comprising in combination, a'pre-formed mounting plate of semi-flexible insulating material of disc-like form with spaced projecting funnel-like sleeves integrally attached thereto having longitudinally disposed passages of restricted diameter therethrough, a plurality of reinforcing metal rigid plates of similar form to the mounting plate disposed above and below against said mounting plate with holes therein aligned with said sleeves to permit the latter to project therethrough and having raised ridges around the upper edges of the holes to compress the bases of said sleeves after placement and resiliently expanding in place, one of said reinforcing plates having a fastener flange thereon for securing it extraneously, plural terminal rods having lugs on the ends thereof for insertion through said restricted passages by expanding said passages as the lugs and rods pass therethrough, the diameter of said rods being greater than the diameter of said passages, whereby after insertion the rods will be held securely and resiliently within said restricted passages and the lugs projected above and below said plates beyond said sleeves.

- MAX SKOBEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS