US2526937A - Fitting - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 24, 1950 E c C'RlPE 2,526,937

FITTING Filed May 11, 1949 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FITTING v Earnest C. Gripe, Goshen, Ind.

Application May 11, 1949, Serial N 0. 92,639

2 Claims.

This invention has reference to a fitting for providing connections between copper and aluminum cables, rods, and the like.

By way of background, it may be noted that it has been a problem of long standing to provide a fitting between the metals indicated that will eliminate corrosive action therebetween. This problem has confronted such manufacturersas thoseengaged, for example, in the production of lightning rods. The problem has additionally been recognized by utility companies and in other fields in which connection of the type indicated must be made.

Heretofore, solder-sealed joints have been used almost exclusively for the purpose of making connections between copper and aluminum cables, both by utility companies as mentioned and by lightning rod manufacturers. However, it has been found that a soldered connection has not been entirely satisfactory, since it does not produce ajoint which is positively moisture sealed so as to eliminate the corrosive action normally tending to occur between the two metals.

It is a mainobject of the present invention, accordingly, to providea fitting for connecting aluminum and copper members which will be entirely moisture sealed, so as to eliminate entirely the corrosive action between said metals.

It is a further important object to provide a fitting of the character described which will nevertheless provide a full and complete conductive action between the joined members.

Another important object is to provide a fitting as described that will not be expensive, but which will nevertheless be of great strength.

Another important object is to provide a fitting of the type stated which will be applicable not only to the making of connections in lightning rod assemblies, but also to other electrical connections as Well.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a fitting as formed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a view therethrough partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an elevation of another form of fitting.

Figure 6 is an end elevation Of the fitting of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 designates a copper member one end of which is solidly formed and the other end of which is formed with the socket or bore 6 receiving the steel ground bar I, said bar being clamped tightly within the member, as by providing a boss on said member threaded as at 8 receiving the set screw 9.

On the solid end of the copper member 5 I provide the reduced extension comprising the cylindrical tail piece Ill having intermediate its ends the circumferential groove II. This is integrally cast upon the copper member, and by is'formedwith the channel [4 extending inwardly from one end, over which extend the oppositely directed and alternating fingers or tongues l5 adapted to hold in the channel the cable l6. It will be understood that spurs or the like can be formed integrally in the inner surface of the channel to impart a better grip upon the cable I6.

The other end of the aluminum member I3 is solidly formed as at IT and at this time, it may be noted that the copper and aluminum members are joined as follows. Assuming that the copper member has been formed to the shape described and illustrated, the aluminum fitting is provided by pouring molten aluminum over said copper or bronze fitting having the grooved tail piece I0. As a result, the two metals knit together, forming the sealed Water-tight splice or joint. Thus, the aluminum member, in molten state, flows against the shoulder l2, and against all surfaces of the tail piece l0, including the side walls and end wall of said tail piece, and including also the walls of the circumferential groove II. The aluminum member thus is provided by this operation with an annular tongue complementary to the groove 1 I, and a cylindrical socket complementary to the cylindrical tail piece I0, as Well as with a shoulder abutting against the shoulder l2. The metals, of course, become in a sense a single integral fitting, fully moisture sealed, fully conductive, and of reat strength.

Alternatively, the aluminum member might be the member first formed, and in this event, said aluminum member would be formed with a socket having an inwardly extended annular tongue. In this alternative method, the copper or bronze member 5 would be in a molten state, and would be poured into said tongued socket to provide a fitting as desired and as illustrated in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, there has been here illustrated another form of fitting, this being specially formed for use as a T-connector. In this form of the invention, I provide the copper member 18 having one end formed solidly and with a tail piece as in the previous form of the invention. For the greatest part of the length of said member I8, said member is formed with staggered and oppositely extended tongues or fingers l9, adapted to extend over the channel 20 formed in said member for receiving a cable, not shown.

The aluminum member is designated 2|, and is provided with the header or cross member 22, having along one side the tongues 23, while a pair of tongues 24 are disposed on the sides of the central or solid portion of said member. Reinforcing webs or gussets 25 are provided, and the cross member 22 is provided with the channel 26 for receiving a cable, not shown, said cable being more tightly retained in said channel by the provision of transverse ribs 21, the channel 25 of the copper transverse ribs 28 for its cable.

It will be: understood that the actual joint or splice between the aluminum and cable members illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 is the same as that shown in the first form of the invention.

I have found, by extensive tests, that particularly in lightning rod. assemblies, a fitting as illustratcd and described represents a great improvement over previous practices. For example, aluminum cable or aluminum rods have not proven satisfactory for use in the ground becauseof alkaline conditions, thus making it necessary on all aluminum lightning conductor systems to switch over to a satisfactory ground metal and an approved clamp or connector is required for member being provided with similar;

this connection; I have found that the connector formed as illustrated and described above is admirably suited to meet these particular conditions.

It will be understood that although I have shown the connection of Figures 1 and 2 as havig a socket at one end for securing a ground bar 1, and at the other end for receiving a cable IE, it is nevertheless possible to make a connector with cable-engaging fingers at both ends. In such case, the same principle of connection between the copper and aluminum components would still be used, of course.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fitting, a copper member including at one end means for receiving a conductive element, a circumferentially grooved tail piece on the other end of said member, an aluminum member including at one end a cable receiving channel, and the other end of said aluminum member being cast over the tail piece.

2. A lightning rod fitting including a copper member having at one end a means for clamping a conductive element to said member, areduced and circumferentially grooved cylindrical tail piece cast on the other end of said member, an aluminum member having at one end a cable receiving channel, oppositely extended tongues formed on the aluminum member and extending over the channel to grip a cable held therein, the other end of said aluminum member beingformed solidly and being cast over the tail piece.

EARNEST C. CRIPE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,020,826 Johnson Mar. 1-9, 1912 1,115,790 Drevitson Nov. 3, 1914 1,169,642 Heeter et al. Jan. 25,1916 1,994,916 McCafierty' Mar. 19, 1935 2,191,607 Chamberlain et al. Feb.' 27, 1940

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