US2657290A

US2657290A - Feeder tap

Info

Publication number: US2657290A
Application number: US183603A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward P Smith
Original assignee: Ohio Brass Co
Current assignee: Ohio Brass Co
Priority date: 1950-09-07
Filing date: 1950-09-07
Publication date: 1953-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 1970-10-27

Description

E. P. SMITH Oct. 27, 1953 FEEDER TAP Filed Sept. 7, 1950 Nm( m M mm. WQ m 5 WM. mmm; I D k U @E WN AN MN NW mv m.\

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 27, 1953 FEEDER TAP Edward P. Smith, The Ohio Brass Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Company, Mansfield,

Ohio, a

corporation of New Jersey Application September 7, 1950, Serial N o.- 183,603

13 Claims.

This invention relates to feeder taps whereby a stranded cable may be electrically connected to a conductor, in particular' a trolley wire connected to a source of power, and finds its principal use in electred mines.

Prior feeder taps have been provided with casings which were to engage at one end with an insulating cap and vents were provided in the cap to relieve pressure within the casing. Manuiacturing tolerances often caused imperfect positioning of the partsv within the casing or left a space between the insulating cap which, under certain conditions of use, could become lled with wet mud and might then deliver a charge of electricity to an operator whose hand might come into contact with the mud. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an insulating cap which will not only accommodate manufacturing :tolerances and insure predetermined relative positioning of the parts of the tap, but will also insure against an operator receiving a shock when in Contact with the guard.

Another object of this invention is to provide a feeder tap in which certain features incorporated in the construction are safeguarded from becoming a source of danger to the one using the device at the time of contacting the live trolley wire.

Still another object is to provide a terminal for receiving and clamping the stranded cable in a simple and efficient manner.

While reference is made to the use of the device with a stranded cable, it may be used with a solid conductor, but its-most common use is with a stranded cable.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view in partial section of one form of feeder tap embodying the .principal features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of one end of the invention showing in particular the guard member but omitting the hook shaped member in full.

Figs. 3 and 4 each show a side or edge AView of a quarter section of a guard rof modified construction.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a feeder tap, showing :still another guard embodying this invention.

Generally, a feeder tap of this invention-comprises a recessed handle of insulating material, a cable terminal inthe recess of the 4handle and near one yend thereof, :a removable plug in the handle near the other end, these two parts being formed to receive a fuse to electrically connect them together, and a guard formed of insulating material secured to the plug and having a flanged portion surrounding a part of the handle. The cable terminal comprises in general a body having a longitudinally extending, transversely corrugated opening to receive an electrical conductor and also having an aperture communicating with this opening, and means comprising a member adjustably secured in the aperture of the body to extend into the opening and cooperate with the body to grip and hold a connector in the opening and in electrical connection to the body. The guard for the device has a disc portion having means to receive fastening means to attach the guard to a tap, and has a flanged portion projecting from the disc and forming with the disc a cup-shaped recess in which the end of the feeder tap may be received.

The feeder tap shown in Fig. l comprises a handle i composed of an insulating casing 2 of tubular formation, preferably of canvas or paper treated with a ycondensation product such as phenolaldehyde, or other suitable plastic. The casing 2 is preferably lined with a thin layer 3 of asbestos.

The casing r2 and lining 3 constitute the insulated handle E. The casing is internally threaded at each end as for instance at il and 5. A bushing E of insulating material is threaded into the cable receiving end of the casing and has a through opening 'i to receive the cable, and may be made a Xed part of the casing as by the use of a cement.

The casing 2 is provided at the other end with an internally and externally threaded sleeve 3 having its outer end ush with the end face Q of the casing 2. The .threaded sleeve S cooperates with the threads .Il Aand is held permanently in place.

A metallic plug .it is screw-threaded into the sleeve 8 land projects a small distance from the end Vface 9 of the casing 2. A guard li is secured to the end face of the plug il).

The guard t l is formed of insulating materials which may be formed of a resilient or elastic composition such as rubberor rubber susbtitutes or synthetics or plastics. A hard composition is very apt to be broken due to rough usage about a mine.

The guard Il is provided with a disc l2 and an nsertplate i3 of metal secured to the guard at the time theguard is formed in a proper mold. The guard il is provided with two openings it which register with openings i in the plate I3, for the reception of the screws iii, the heads of which are well concealed in the openings I4, and if desired the portion of the holes I4 not occupied by the screw heads may be iilled with an insulating material, such as sealing wai; or a plastic, a common practice.

The guard disc i2 and plate I3 are positioned on a portion of the outer end face of the metal plug lil and secured thereto by the screws I5. The projection of the plug iii from the end face 5 of the casing 2 provides a clearance between the plate I3 and the end face of the handle theree by assuring proper assembly will be secured with respect to the parts within the handle i should the several parts comprising the interior menibers of the handle be not machined exactly to specifications.

The guard II is provided with vent holes Il which extend longitudinally through the guard disc I2 and the plate i3 and which holes i'i register with similar holes il which extend longi tudinally through the plug Iii and open into the interior recess it of the handle I.

The plug ifi is provided with a plurality of integral inwardly projecting and spaced resilient iingers i5 forming a socket Eil to receive the metal end 2i of a fuse 22.

Within the recess iii at the cable end thereof is a cable terminal Si?, comprising a body portion 24 seated against the plug e and having a plurality of integral inwardly projecting and spaced resilient fingers 25 forming a sociret EEE to receive the other metallicl end 2l of the fuse 22.

The cable terminal 23 is provided with. a central longitudinally extending and elongated paasage 2S with one or more socket screws extending into the passage 23 from the periphery of the body portion iii to engage and grip the cable conductor. The wall of the passage 28 is preferably roughened or corrugated as by thread ing to better grip the cable and the screws should not project from the surface of the body 24 when the cable is gripped.

When a cable is to be operatively connected with the present tap device, screws 29 are turned to withdraw them at least partially from passage 28 to allow the cable to be introduced into that space. With the cable in place in the passage, the screws are turned down until they tightly clamp the cable against the opposite threaded wall portions of the passage, thereby deforming the cable and substantially iilling a portion ofthe passage in the vicinity of the screws. ln this position, the screws tightly retain the cable in the passage in electrical contact with the terminal until it is desired to disengage the cable and terminal, whereupon the screws may be adjusted again to withdraw them partially from the passage, thereby releasing the cable.

The corrugations in the walls of passage 2t may, in some instances, be omitted, particularly when the cable to be used with the device, is comprised of relatively small wires, some of which are apt to be injured or severed by the corrugations.

The inner ends of the cable terminal 23 and oi the plug i0 are each threaded to receive threaded studs on the opposite ends of the fuse terminals 2I-2'I.

rihe plug is is also threaded to receive the threaded end of the hook shaped member 3i).

vReferring to .iT-ig. l, the space between the plate I3 and end face il of the casing and designated 3I, assures the full insertion of the fuse ends 2I-2'I in their respective sockets 2li-2:6.

The space Si however surrounds the plug ID which is electrically connected to the trolley wire when the hooia til engages the trolley wire. This means that if the space CtI is not protected or guarded in some manner, then damp coal dust and moisture may iill the space ESI and will be charged and one holding the device may receive a shock if his hand should Contact the said lling in the space 3i, as the trolley circuits are usually 50G-60G volts grounded.

To avoid such possibility, the guard II is provided with the circumferential depending ange 32 surrounding the end portion of the handle l in spaced relation thereto. While the annular space 33 connects with the space 3| the ange 32 will tend to maintain the space 3! reasonably free of the said conducting deposit and give reasonable security against shock.

This feature of my invention however, may be improved by providing a lip 34 on the inner rim of the flange which will engage the side wall of the handle and thus close the said annular space Si as shown in 3. In Fig. 4 is shown another method by which this may be accomplished, namely, by eifecting contact between the ilange 32, or some part thereof, and the handle I.

This contact is preferably made at the rim of the flange next t e handle such that the said annular space is not eliminated but is closed to the entrance of dust and dampness to the spaces 3l and 33.

In Fig. fi, the closure is accomplished at the inner rim of the :'lange 32 next the face of the handle by sloping the wall 35 forming the space L23 until its peripheral edge 35 engages the surface of the handle.

The constructions shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are considered preferable to one eliminating entirely the space 33 as by contacting the length of the inner wall of the flange with the adjacent face of the handle as shown in Fig. 5.

If the portion i2 of the disc is formed of a hard insulating material, it is desirable to form the flange 32 of resilient or elastic insulating material formed as an integral part of the disc I2 in order that it may have slight yielding fit with the handle.

In order to replace the fuse 22 should the link 3l blow or to connect or disconnect a cable from the terminal 223, the plug i!) is unscrewed from the bushing which permits removal of the fuse and 'terminal 23 which may come out with the plug since all parts .screw connected together.

it will be noted that the assembled parts of this invention afford increased venting capacity and part of the space provided for accommodation of manufacturing tolerances also serve as part of the venting system. The spacing between plate iB and the adjacent end of the handle I may serve to relieve internal pressure in the handle and also to insure predetermined posi tioning of the parts of the device in spite of variation in dimensions due to manufacturing tolerances.

Since certain changes may be made in the above description and different embodiment of the invention made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be considered illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the present invention so that those skilled in the art maybe able to gain aesvgaao v a` better understanding*andpractice-the same; I state that what IA desire to ysecure by Letters Patent is defined; in what is claimed;

I-claim as my invention:

l. In a feeder tap comprising a recessed-handle of insulating material and a cable terminal in the recess adjacent one end thereof with means to receive a cable conductor and means to prevent displacement of` said4 cable terminal in one direction anda metal plug atl the other end' of the recess and a fuse connecting the plug and terminal, the combination with the plug ofY a guard formed of'resilient insulating material and having a disc portion attached' to the outer end of the plug for movement with` the plug and a ilange projecting from the disc portion and-surrounding a portion of` thejhandle at `the said other end ofthel handle, the; plug provided with means to receive other means connectable to a source of power.

2. In a feeder tap comprising a tubular handle of insulating material witha cable terminal in the handle recess adjacent one end-thereof'and a metal plug at the other end of the handle and removably attached thereto, and an insulating bushing secured to the handle at said one end and a fuse insaid handle recess connecting the metal plug and terminal, the combination with the metaliplugof, a; guardformed of elastic insulating material and havingra disc portion attached to the outer end of the plug for movement with theplug and disposed in` spaced relation to the adjacent endface ofthe handleand also having a flange portionsurrounding a portion of the outer face of thehandle to protect the space formed between the discV portion and the end face of thehandle from theentrance of foreign matter into said space, and .means to connect the plug to asourceiof. power.

3. A feeder. tap comprising a tubular handle member formed or insulating material, a cable terminal at one end, aplug at the other end and a fuse connecting.theterminal'and plug, the cable terminal comprising a body member provided with a longitudinal passage. to receive afcable conductor, the terminal also provided with a plurality of socket type screws to engage and secure the conductor in the passage, the screws being so proportioned they will not project outwardly from the surface of the body when gripping the cable conductor, the terminal also having a recess at one end formed by a plurality of resilient fingers to receive the other end of the fuse, the plug also provided with a member conneetable to a source of power, a guard secured to the outer portion of the plug and provided with a plate spaced from the adjacent end face of the handle and the guard provided with a projecting flange surrounding a longitudinal portion of the side face of the handle but in spaced relation thereto, the rst said space and the second said space intersecting to form a continuous passage from the plug to the outer face of the said ange.

4. In a feeder tap comprising a tubular handle of insulating material and terminal means within the handle to receive the conductor of a cable and other means at one end of the handle to connect the tap to a source of power, the combination with the last said means of a guard of insulating material secured to the tap at the live end thereof, the guard provided with a circular disc portion and an annular flange portion projecting from the disc and forming a cup-shaped recess into which an end of the handle projects, the flange extending longitudinally of a portion 6 of the handle and formingtherewith an annular' space,- andthe said terminal means and thesaid other means each provided-'with means toreceive conducting'means toelectrically-connect the-said means, the said other meansprovided :with means to receive means to engage asourceof-'-po\trer,` and the said terminal means comprising a bodymember providedV with a longitudinal' passage vto receive a cable conductor, corrugations in the walls of the passage and a plurality'ofvsocket-type screws to engage and secure the conductortv in the passage.

5. A feeder'tap as'described-in'claimi characterized by the guard being formedA ofan elastic insulating material and the rimof said flange provided with means to engage-theadjacentfsurface of the handle to prevent entranceofl'dirt and moisture to said annular space.

6. A feeder tap comprising, a tubular' handle formed of insulating material, a cable terminal at one end and a removable plug at theV other end, the plug andthe terminal each provided with means to receive fusible means to electrically connect the plug andterminal, means connected to the plug to connect tok a sourceof power. the terminal provided with a longitudinal passage to receive the conductor of 'a cable andthe terminal also provided with screw threaded means to engage the conductor, the plug projecting from the adjacent end face of "the handle anda guard secured to the projecting portion of the plug for movement with the plug, the guard.' formed of insulating material with a, disc, portion in spaced relation to the saidendface of/thehan.- dle and a projecting flange portion extending along the side wall of thevhandle` inspacedlrelation thereto, the spaces formedby the. guardand the handle intersecting and the. ysaidflangeoffer-,- ing protection to the` space formed by the guard disc and adjacent end face of the handle.-

7. In a feeder tap. comprising,l a recessed handle formed of insulating material adapted to receive a fuse and acableterminal in the recess to receive a cable conductorA andmeans to prevent displacement .of the terminalinone direction, and a metal member at the other end of the handle, the cable terminal and the metal member each provided with means adapted to receive an end of a fuse whereby the member and the terminal may be electrically connected, the combination with the said metal member of a guard formed of elastic insulating material, the guard having a disc portion and also a projecting flange surrounding an adjacent longitudinal portion of the handle in spaced relation to the said handle, and means at the free inner edge of the flange to engage the handle to prevent access of foreign matter to the space between the handle and flange.

8. In a feeder tap comprising a recessed handle formed of insulating material, and fuse holding means in said handle, the combination of a terminal in said handle for electrical connection to a source of power and comprising a cylindrical body having a longitudinally extending, transversely corrugated opening to receive an electrical conductor and an aperture communicating with said opening, and means comprising a member adjustably secured in said aperture to extend into said opening and cooperate with the body and to grip and hold the conductor in said opening in electrically conducting relation to the body.

9. In a feeder tap comprising a recessed handle formed of insulating material, and fuse holding means in said handle, the combination of a terminal in said handle for electrical connection to a source of power and comprising a cylindrical body having a longitudinally extending, generally cylindrical, transversely corrugated opening to receive an electrical conductor and a screwthreaded aperture communicating with said opening, and sc1'ewthreaded means to be screwed into said aperture and to extend into said opening and cooperate with the body to grip and hold the conductor in said opening in electrically conducting relation to the body.

10. A feeder tap comprising an insulating casing, a fuse in the casing, a cable terminal in the casing and engaging one end of said fuse, an insulating bushing secured in the end of said casing and engageable with said terminal, a plug screw-threaded in the other end of the casing, engaging the other end of said fuse and having means to engage with a source of power, and an insulating guard attached to the outer end of said plug and having a cup-shaped recess into which the adjacent end of said casing projects, said recess having inner end and inner side walls spaced from the outer end surface and outer side surface of said casing.

11. A feeder tap comprising an insulating casing, a fuse in the casing, said fuse having threaded studs projecting axially from opposite ends thereof, a cable terminal in the casing and having an axial threaded opening to receive the adjacent stud of the fuse, an insulating bushing secured in the end of said casing and engageable with said terminal, a plug screw-threaded in the other end of the casing and having an axial threaded opening to receive the other said stud of said fuse and having means to engage with a source of power, and an insulating guard attached to the outer end of said plug and having a cup-shaped recess into which the adjacent end of said casing projects, said recess having inner end and inner side walls spaced from the outer end surface and outer side surface of said casing.

12. A feeder tap comprising an insulating casing including a tube and a liner therefor, an insulating bushing screw-threaded in one end of the tube and engaging the adjacent end of the liner, a sleeve secured in the other end of the tube and engaging the end of the liner adjacent thereto. a fuse assembly in said casing and including a cable terminal engaging the said insulating bushing, a plug screw-threaded in said sleeve and a fuse connecting said terminal and plug, said plug having vent holes extending therethrough, and an insulating guard attached to the outer end of said plug and having a cup-shaped recess into which the adjacent end of said casing projects, said recess having end and side walls spaced from the end surface and outer side surface of said casing and communicating with the interior of the casing through said vent holes.

13. A feeder tap comprising an insulating casing, a cable terminal in the casing, a sleeve screwthreaded in one end of the casing and a power source engaging plug screw-threaded in said sleeve, a fuse having frictional and screwthreaded engagement with said terminal and plug, and an insulating guard engaging the outer end of said plug, and spaced from the ends of said sleeve and casing, said guard having a cupshaped recess to receive the adjacent end of said casing and having an inner cylindrical side Wall spaced from the outer side of the casing.

EDWARD P. SMITH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,594,925 Chandler Aug. 3, 1926 1,654,475 Wyman Dec. 27, 1927 1,679,142 Wyman July 3l, 1928 1,922,883 Chandler Sept. 15, 1931 1,929,920 Fullman Oct. 10, 1933 2,037,630 Hudson Apr. 14, 1936 2,068,152 Rowe Jan. 19, 1937 2,083,923 Rowe June l5, 1937 2,288,680 Chandler July 7, 1942 2,313,333 Center Mar. 9, 1943 2,419,152 Mosebach Apr. 15, 1947 2,436,712 Burrell Feb. 24, 1948 2,625,579 Frazee Jan. 13, 1953