US2508475A - Cable connector - Google Patents

Description

May 23, 1950 H. D. STECIY-IER CABLE CONNECTOR Filed July 22, 1947 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /4a: 7 |s I I /7 3 P :II /0 J; 5 $9 6 2 Eli-3 INVENTOR.

HE RY 0. STECHER ATTORNEYS.

H. D. STEICHER CABLE CONNECTOR May 23, 1950 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed July 22, 1947 lllldllll l l WW6 W INVENTOR.

HENRY 43. 5756/1457? ATTORN EYS.

Patented May 23, 1950 :21 ":This 'inventionre'lates' to -cable connectors and more partici'ai'lar ly to i improvements ethere'in ZfOI the enhancement of aidaptability and faci'lity "of use,:emciency andssatisfaction of :ope'rationcand economy of 7 use manufacture :thereof.

it wamong the: obj ects of' my? invention to provide ran improved?cableeconnector having: a wide range of adaptabiiity rand:util-ity both'in respectto thesizes :of cables thatmaybe-securely"received and :gripped thereby and *respect' to e the certainty andfiacility -with whichttheiconnector may in turmbe-asecured toithe walL p'late or junction bOX'AWII'ih which it is 'to' be used. {Another-object of "any invention is to prov ide :a cable 'COIIIIECIJOI wherein cabiespc'f. ia wide range-of lsizes,'oan,-: and inherently #Will he, Show :concentii'c :01" the connector when axfds' assthe :same is gripped. and secured fitherein wlierewith, inter alia, theconductors of "the "czble will be centrally :disposed with relation {to the :axis of the rconnector zand safely an'd. unifornily spa'cd with respecttoithe surfaces thereof. Another object of rmw'irinvent-ion --:is fito rprovide a: connector athat gives 1a positive el'ectrical ground rconnection between "the sheathof theroable'andi'thecwvallrofttheroutletand junction Ebox mithwwhioh the econnectorais associated. eAnother subject :of my invention is to provide automatioaiiy adjusted -i-seat 1.01 *bottom support tfo-rz the semi oof the :sheath @f :the cable which snppontrsha'll'zserve-mith :equal utilityzand eificieney:throe hcutitheawholeiran emf sizesiof the cables adapted to beereeeived andagripned in the :connector. Another 1 obiect ,riS -.;to provide a blemonnectbr thateis geochemical a tos-manufactureiam'deof rstordyeandzrmagedonstruc ion and that-As :simple design, foolpmeinadepend l andzeiiicientiinonerationeandlinherently-capable of -;,a, lleng sand "useful 5 lif under earduous conditionszofeservdoe.

flhese rand :other w bi eets sand and-vantages zWill v ,2 thezzconnector contractedmrrd gripping'the ca'ble operative relation,:'the "cable," conductors and outlet 'Jbox being shown"*fragmentarily Figure '7 is a transverse section taken "in the plane o'f' the line "lisofiigure 6; iiandiFigure 8*shows one of the clamping members of my connector'inits'iiat sheet formprior tobeingscurved:and shaped for attachment to and incorporation -my :con

nector.

Inftheipreferred iformsof myfinventionherein illustrated my connector C c'omprises an "externally threa'ded-"nipplel iadapted to passthrough and closely fit'fthe: aperturett'inithe wall '3 *of the outlet or junction box, I 'uponswhich nnipple a nut 41-18 threadedlyrcarried ito a'fordibly engage the inner ori'lower 'faceofathefwall t3, drawing thenipple downwardly-es v'iewed toi-its snug lowermost position as i'shown; yits movement "through the apertureit-being limitedby the abutting engagement: (ifTthe flower 1 edges =5-2and 6; 'and/or lugs 5a and i611, of the-cable "clampingirmembers '1 and-ii? respectively :with Wine uppe'rand "outer "face of thewall '3 'adjacent thee-aperture 2 {the lowermost. parts 99 and l ll of theisa-id clamping members' 'l and 8 being respectively welded, brazed oraotherwise secured tothe: upper outer .exterior surface of'the nipplel Tor limited arcuatezdistances;preferably 'sonrieiirhan; less Ft'han ion diametrically opposite sides ofthenipple.

Preferably the nipple I is'qnuch the v same asfa conventional pipe nipple externally "threaded throughout at 'leas'tall o'f"its *lengththat is ex-' posed below the wall 8 :df the "junction box when it is :disposed tin operative relation therewith. Preferablyaalso-tthe lower Eirmer corner l I of the nipple is rounded to avoid abrasive or cutting contact :w'ith'thecconductors I2, seeF-ig. i6,-:th'at pass therethrough when my connector ireceivingand grippingL -the armoredcable K inits: operative and intended :relationship. The lower threaded portions of the nipple :l are also :available to receiveza'ninsulatingi andrprotective bushing I3, shown {in dotted .lines .(in Eigure :6, which according to 'known practice -overlies thelzilower end of the'inipplesiandzafiords 'agsmoeth protective and r insulatingscontact with the conductors f I 2.

The clamping *members ;;and :8 'of my :connector :are pr'eferably identical, each "being stamped :and :formed. of lightgyielding somewhat resilient'sheetistoclc of'conducting material sheet steel ibeingia :preferable imaterial forums: with: an ironzor steelznippleawherewith'.to be easilysecured thereto as by :welding. .Each :of the clamping members-is blanked zoutras shown inQE'igure -B,

thcsmember itbeingitherein specifically illustrated 3 and referred to. In its blanked out form the clamping members each comprise a main body portion, the portion H! in the member 8 and the portion I 411 in the member 1, which with the lower attaching portions I!) and 9 respectively are adapted to be curved in the first instance into I substantially true cylindrical form of internal diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the smooth cylindrical exterior of the upper portion of the nipple l wherewith the portions 9 and I0, overlying the said upper outer surface of the nipple l closely conform to said surface and are readily secured thereto as by spot welding, as shown in other figures of the drawings. Each of the clamping members also comprises clamping tangs; the member 8 having tangs l5 and I6 which, when the members are secured to the nipple, are juxtaposed to the clamping tangs l I and I8 of the clamping member I, see also Figures 1 and '7. The several clamping tangs are appropriately apertured to receive clamping screws I9 and 28, Figure 1. The aperture in one of each juxtaposed pair of tangs may be tapped to threadably receive the clamping screws or if desired appropriate nuts for the clamping screws may be provided which may either be free or adhesively secured to the tangs with which they coact. The

several clamping tangs are bent outwardly from the body M of the stock to stand at substantially. right angles thereto along the dotted lines shown in Figure 8; the root of the tang l6 preferably overlying the middle of the corner portion ll! of the member 8 whereby the tang l6 of the mem-' her 8 tends to have a relatively fixed portion relative to the nipple during the clamping operation whereas the tang being most remote from the lower corner portion ll) of the member has wide freedom of movement along with the adjacent portions of the body I4 of the member wherewith to accomplish the clamping of the nipple as will more fully appear. correspondingly the tang I! of the member 1 is associated with the relatively fixed part of the member while the tang I8 is associated with the relatively movable part thereof. 7

Each of the clamping members I and 8 also comprises a third tang, the tang 2| for the member 8 and the corresponding tang 22 for the member I, which tangs respectively are bent at right angles to the body portion along the line of the lower free edge thereof to form seats for the lower or innermost end or edge of the armored sheath of the cable K when the same is inserted into the connector and operatively received and gripped therein, see particularly Figures 1, 5

and 6; l

The length L of each of the clamping membersmeasured in thedirection shown in Figure 8 from the edge 23 of the fixed end of the member 8 to the edge 24 of the free end thereof, i. e. the circumferential length of the main body portion when the members are secured to the nipple,

as shown in the other figures, is preferably but slightly less than half the circumference of the see Figures 1 and 5. Preferably the spacing between the juxtaposed endsof these members is a minimum consistent with afiording freedom of movement of the free ends of the members radially inwardly and circumferentially with respect to the fixed ends of the members as from the position shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5 to more or less the position shown in Figures 6 and '7 when the clamping members are substantially constricted into gripping engagement with the sheath of the cable K.

The length L as measured between the root oi the tang l5 and the approximate end of the anchor portion as at the dotted line 21, as shown in Figure 8, and correspondingly between similar points in the member 1 is a measure in relation to the length L of the contractability of the clamping members, regard being had for the circumferential space provided between the juxtaposed ends thereof as will more clearly appear from comparison of Figures 1 and '7. The radial contraction of the clamping members of my connector is greatest near but not necessarily immediately adjacent the extreme free ends of the members I and 8 but rather in the zone of the seats 2| and 22 as the latter are preferably spaced a little-from the extreme free ends 24 and 25 respectively, see Figs. 7 and 8; the free end and swinging part of each clamping member moving both radially and circumferentially inwardly with respect to the fixed end of the opposite clamping member as the juxtaposed tangs are drawn together; the fixed ends of the clamping members adjacent the edges 23 and 25 respectively andabove the lower corner portions l0 and 9 respectively serving as the anchors toward and in respect to which the juxtaposed free ends respectively are drawn. Generally speaking each of the body portions of each of the clamping members comprises an anchor portion and an integrally formed free flexible, strap-hinge-like, portion: such that as in the member 8, Fig. 8, that part of the body portion l4 above the portion In and rightwardly of the dotted line 21, see also Figure 2, by virtue of its arcuate form and secure attachment to the nipple gives it stifiness and ri-- gidity appropriate for its anchoring function while that part of the body'leftwardly of the line 2! is free to swing, flex and bend as the juxtaposed clamping tangs are moved relative to each other. The stiffness of the anchoring portions for a given gauge of stock of the members 1 and 8 is a function of the arcuate length thereof, 1. e. of the arcuate length of the portions 9 and If]. It is within the purview of my invention to modify the stiffness of the anchoring portions within desirable limits by modifying the arcuate lengths of the portions 9 and [0; the latter being quite stiff when extending for and correspondingly less stiff when reduced to shorter arcuate lengths. When reduced to about 30 of are for example' the stiffness may well be so reduced as to invite longitudinal bending of the anchor portions, inviting radial inward movement of the upper por-' tion thereof especially when the members are much constricted and "facilitating constriction especially of the upper portions of the members in the zone of theclamping tangs wherewith to increase the snugness and unit pressure of the grip at and near the upper edge of the clamping" members in relation to the whole gripping force in instances where that mode of operation isfound desirable or sought to be achieved.

In the operation of my connector, the same having first been secured in the wall 3 of the out let box substantiallly as shown in Figures 1 to inclusive with the clamping members in their Area enormal initial mentions; :the zconneotor vreadyeto r-receivertheeendeof5am roable iwhoserexaternalrdiameter doe noteexeeedlthe cxternallniameter .of zthel Ill-lame 2| sand. with like 2 facilityiis ready to receiveea avideerangelot-oableslofzlesser diameter down to thamo .whiehr-theeconneotorlis .-ultimatQl-y-l9 nstrictable*within?theelimitsrhereinabove discussed. -.-The.illustrated.oable Krhayin a,.materially smallereexternal diameter gthantthc nipple, as shown in Figures G an-d -;with its a armor ;.properl-y K out half sshorteof .thesends aofrits conductoraaccording to .famil-iaripractiec.:isrinsorted.into-,theconnector.with-the conductorstex- -.-tendin g .therethnough, .the .end of. the; armored sheath entering "the connector .until H7118 fiend-tot 5;;

the sheathcontacts and.--,seats rupon -.the. .seating portions. ,2 l. and 41,2 of .theclampinennembers; :it being advisable to .anticipatorily .oonstrict the ,connectingnnembers. to..approximatelyi the sizenf .the-.cab1e .to;insure.rthat ,the..-seats. .2 l .andJL-both .underlie .azod ,engage the -.sev.ere;d .end of .the

sheath preliminary .to making a final cl mping gripn non the cable. Thereafter.withmthe parts disposed approximately shown .in Eigllres .36 and 7 thejuxtabosed .Q i-I'S. .of tapes .Qfll'le..01am

ing memberare.forcihlvdnawn toward .each other preferably with. and to substantially like. spacings. therebetween bylthe clamping screws .1 9,.and 20 .the free end portionspflthe clamping ,members'first makingjforcible,contact with J iamctri- .cally. opp te des of tthe sheath of .the .cable. Thenaslthe c1amping.pressure.'.., lincreasedadditional increments of thebody portions and Ma of theolampingpaemhers adjacent tl lefree ends thereof also *embrace "and make snug and ,extended contact with-"the external surface ofxthe receiving -.,-a little ,anore snugly and eabundantly than it does the smallest sizes which it can receive -wherefor it automatically accommodates itself -to the' burdens-and duties it is reguired to to carry and perform. 1

Throughout the clamping operation the cable is fixed longitudinally of the connector by the radial grip of the members I and 8 thereupon and, by virtue of the seat portions 2! and 22 underlying and engaging the extreme end of the armored sheath, the sheath is prevented from deleteriously entering beyond the desired point in the connector and/or in relation to the outlet or junction box. Correspondingly as the clamping members are drawn toward each other in their cable gripping relation and so long as reasonable regard is had for maintaining similar spacing between the juxtaposed clamping tangs the cable as a whole, its sheath and the tails of the conductors which extend through the connector and the nipple portion thereof are accurately centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of the connector and from the interior walls and surfaces thereof. Turning back the clamping screws l9 and 20 quickly releases the grip of the clamping members on the cable and permits the genial: rrelcase ithfil'fiQfi'WhCH rthessam-e 1 11's aidesired. :Dheiinteeral:andtorwelded-reclamation :between he-clammnemeHrbers and rthermnpleias wellqas the tight direct engagement betweenqthezlowermost edges 5 and B of the clamping ;members direct-1y with :the wall of :the ;outlet or junction box saiiorclsla direct; positive ground contact and connection .betweentm sheath cf the cable-and .theawalli ,ofthe'boxrwhenmhe cable is. grippedin my connector.

The .prov.ision of ,the .seats .2 l ,and .22 ,atrand movable with the free portions. of .the clamping members that. have .maximum radial, motion has the advantage. among other things, of insuring I substantially-as .fullandsmmetrioal. a fbottomf for the end Ofthesmaller diameter sheaths .to'

hearland stop upon-.as amaximumsizeshe h would, have in the ,absence of the seats Landon .directiyupon the. upper .en'dsurface .of the. nippie. .Thuslthe .seatsiZl and (.2 2. contribute. inthis respect to theadaptability, .of. myloonnector especially' in that part of the range of cable sizes, near and less thanthe internal diametenof the nipple. On the other hand lily-connector has wideadvantage andptility' informs without the seatsfl and .22 especiallyfortherangerofusizes of cables. the external diameter ,o'f, the sheaths of which exceed'theinSide diameter of ithenipple. iIn such connectors the ends of the sheath are fbottom-ed ion the'top end of 'jthenipple and ithe clamping operationsand resultsare well and'jfully performed and accomplished.

The simplioity'of 'oonstructionand design of my connector lends itself toieconomy of manufacture. Apart 'fromthe clamping screws and the three'nuts' theconnector comprises merely a pip-enipple vi ith'gthe'pairpf identical stamped clamping members welded-thereto. ,ThusI, have to make essentially'buttwoidifferent parts, each of which. are economically produced. ,Assembling of the partsinvolves merelythe useofasimpie fixtureand appropriate WeIdin 'apparatus. The same-'simplic'ity-of design that contributes to the ease of manufactureenhancesthe utility and ruggedness of the finish'e'd connectorand insures its long life under arduous and'varying conditions or service.

"Mention'has been made of lugs-ba 5a which I-provide as-a modified 'form'of myinrentionto afforda wider"bearingarea between the connector and the top "face-of the plate *3 to accommodate the I use ol *my connecto-r --With a *wider of tolerance for the diameter of the aperture il. 'Preferably the "lugs are formed fromtangs -extendingwas :the -tangfia the member ti li'igure 8, beyond the .edge 5 and bent at right angles to have their lower surfaces substantially flush with the edges 5 and 5. When it is sought to use my connector with plates having apertures approximately as large or larger than the outside diameter of the portions 9 and It then the lugs 5a and 6a, extending to a greater diameter will be available to bear on the plate, juxtaposed to the nut 4, to facilitate clamping the connector to the plate. When the aperture more nearly fits the nipple, as shown in the drawings, the lugs will not interfere with the desirably high unit pressure and electrical contact between the edges 5 and 5 and the plate 3. When the lugs alone make contact with the plate similar advantages are preserved.

, While I have illustrated and described a preferred and modified embodiment of my invention, changes, modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the substance and spirit thereof and I do not care to be limited in the scope of my patent to the preferred form herein specifically disclosed nor in any manner other than by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A cable connector characterized by generally cylindrical oppositely and symmetrically disposed cable clamping members, each having an anchored portion and a circumierentially adjacent free radially swingable portion, the said free portions and anchored portions of the members alternating circumferentially of the connector and the free portion of one member being juxtaposed to the anchored portion of another member, and means for moving the said free portions relative to said anchored portions.

2. The connector of claim 1 with a nipple member rigidly attached to said anchored portions at spaced points at one end thereof, edges of said free portions lying proximate to and spaced from said end with freedom to move transversely thereof.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein the wall of said nipple is thicker than the thickness of said clamping members and the end of said nipple is flat and normalto the axis thereof, said anchored portions having extensions of limited ar cuate length welded to the exterior of the end of said nipple, said clamping members having an initial disposition coaxial of said nipple substantially in the continuation of the external cylindrical surface thereof, the end of said nipple being engageable with the end of the cable sheath to be gripped in said connector.

4. The connector of claim 3 in which said members have clamping tangs at the circumferential ends thereof and said extensions are approximately 90 in arcuate extent and said anchored portions are substantially unyielding radially adjacent said tangs.

5. The connector of claim 1 with a rigid nipple, said anchored portions having extensions of lim ited arcuate length welded to the end of said nipple, said means comprising clamping tangs associated with the circumferential ends of said members and longitudinally remote from said nipple.

6. The connector of claim 5 in which the arcuate extent of said extensions and anchored portions is small in relation to the longitudinal extent of said anchored portions wherewith to be longitudinally flexible under the influence of said means.

7. The connector of claim 1 with a: rigid nipple disposed coaxially of said members, means for attaching the anchored portions of said members to an end of said nipple and means associated with the free portions of said members upon which the end of a cable sheath may bear.

8. The connector of claim 7 in which said last named means comprises inwardly extending seating tangs carried by said free portions remote from the anchored portions of the same mem bers and adjacent to and movable with respect to the end of the nipple.

9. A cable connector comprising a rigid cylindrical nipple and a pair of cable clamping mem bers secured thereto and extending coaxially thereof, said clamping members being formed of light flexible stock and, in idle open position, de-

fining substantially a right cylindrical extension of the outer cylindrical surface of said nipple, each clamping member being secured at a lower corner thereof to diametrically opposite points on the end of said nipple, each clamping member having approximately of circumferential length in said connector and having an arcuate portion remote from said corner free for movement relative to said corner of each member and lying therebetween, and means for moving the said free portions relative to said corners.

10. The connector of claim 9 in which said corners overlie and conform to the adjacent cylindrical surfaces of said nipple and are welded thereto over a substantial arcuate length thereof and the longitudinally adjacent portions of said member are constrained to substantial rigidity thereby.

11. The connector of claim 10 in which each of said members has a clamping tang extending outwardly near each of its upper corners, one of said tangs of each member being rooted in the substantially rigid portion thereof and juxtaposed to the other tang of the other member.

12. The connector of claim 9 in which said members comprise seats movable with said free portions and engageable with the end of the cable sheath and containing the same against longitudinal inward movement.

HENRY D. STECl-IER.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 911,267 Pittman Feb. 2, 1909 1,799,783 Church Apr. 7, 1931

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