US2698422A

US2698422A - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: US2698422A
Application number: US189611A
Authority: US
Inventors: John L Turner
Original assignee: AB Chance Co
Current assignee: AB Chance Co
Priority date: 1950-10-11
Filing date: 1950-10-11
Publication date: 1954-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1971-12-28

Description

Dec. 28, 1954 J. TURNER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 11, 1950 United States Patent ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR I0hn L. Turner, East St. Louis, 11]., assignor, by mesue assignments, to A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application October 11, 1950, Serial No. 189,611

6 Claims. (Cl. 339-109) This invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly to line taps such as are called hot line clamps especially adapted for application to a live electrical line in an electric power distribution system.

The object of the invention is the provision of an electric line tap or hot line clamp which is especially adapted for application to and removal from a live or hot overhead power line, using a conventional linemans hot line stick, without danger of damaging the line, in such manner that a power line may be readily and frequently tapped without subjecting the line to the danger of damage due to repeated arcing. Heretofore, it has been the usual, practice in tapping a hot line to attach a tap-off wire to a clamp of a type prior to this invention, and to apply the clamp directly to the line with a hot line stick. In many instances, arcing occurring between the line and the clamp in the course of applying the clamp to the line. resulted in severe burning or pitting of the line. Such arcing and damage also occurred upon-removal of the clamp. This invention provides a novel type of hot line clamp which may be applied to a hot line with a conventional hot line stick without having a tap-ofi wire connected thereto, the clamp having an electrical connector member to which a tapoff wire may be subsequently connected, again using a hot line stick, by means of another and auxiliary hot line clamp, which may be of any suitable prior type of clamp, all in such manner that any damage due to areing is inflicted upon the connector member rather than upon the line. The connector member is detachably mounted upon the clamp so that, if it should be severely damaged by arcing, it may be removed and a new connector member applied. Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.-

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and I arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

I in the accompanying drawing, in which one of vari ous possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. l is a plan view of a hot line clamp embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the clamp;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the clamp as applied to' a line wire, illustrating in dotted lines an auxiliary hot line clamp by means of which a tap-0E wire is connected;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 5 is a perspective of an alternative type of clamp nut that may be used.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, wherein one specific embodiment of the invention is illustrated, reference character 1 generally refers to a clamp for application to a bare live wire L (Fig. 3), the

clamp having jaws

3 and 5 which are pivotally connected together by means of a pivot pin 7. The jaw 3, which is the upper jaw as the clamp is applied to a line wire and as illustrated m Fig. 3, has depending side flanges 9 receiving the ends of the pivot pin 7, and the lower jaw 5 fits loosely between these flanges. Adjacent their free ends, the

jaws

3 and 5 are formed with opposed recesses 11 and 13, respectively, extending parallel to the pivot pm 7, for

2,698,422 Patented Dec. 28, 1954 receiving the line wire L. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the

jaws

3 and 5 have

teeth

15 and 17, respectively, at their free ends which interdigitate when the jaws are closed on line Wires of relatively small diameter. Both

jaws

3 and 5 andthe pin 7 are made of metal which is a good electrical conductor, such as brass or high conductivity bronze.

At 19 is shown a clamp bolt, preferably of bronze, having a head 21 above or outward of the upper jaw 3, the shank of the bolt extending through an opening 23 in the upper jaw, with a fairly close fit in this opening, and then extending through an opening 25 in the lower jaw 5. The opening 25 is of such form as to allow pivotal movement of the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw, being in the form of a slot extending transversely to the pivot pin 7. Also, as shown, the opening or slot 25 is in a boss 27 on the bottom or outer side of the lower jaw 5, the boss having its end convexly curved as indicated at 29. A nut 31 is threaded on the lower end of the bolt below the lower jaw 5, a flat washer 33 and a lock washer 35 being interposed between the boss and the nut. The nut is held captive on the bolt as by deforming the end of the thread on the bolt. The

jaws

3 and 5 may be opened to receive a line wire by threading the nut away from the jaw 5, and closed to clamp on a line wire received between the jaws by threading the nut toward the jaw 5, thereby to swing the jaws together. As the nut is threaded toward the lower jaw, the convex end 29 of the boss 27 rides nicely on the washer 33.

At 37 is shown an electrical connector member in the form of a bail having a U-shaped main part with inward extensions 39 at the ends of the arms of the U in the plane of the U, and havingspaced-apart end portions 41 extending parallel to one another from the ends of extensions 39 in a plane at an angle to the plane of the U. The bail, as illustrated, is bent from a single length of a rod of a metal which is a good electrical conductor, such as copper. The upper jaw 3 of the clamp is provided with a pair of tongues 43, integral with the jaw, extending upward on opposite sides of the jaw and on opposite sides of the bolt head 21. These tongues are reinforced in the lower portions by integral ribs 45, their upper ends, however, being unreinforced so that they may be bent over upon the bolt head. The end of the upper jaw 3 toward the pivot pin is formed at its opposite sides with upwardly extending flanges 47, these flanges being spaced from the adjacent edges of the tongues. The bail 37 is detachably mounted on the upper jaw of the clamp in electrically conductive relation thereto with its extensions 39 extending between the flanges 47 and the adjacent edges of the tongues, and with its end portions 41 extending under the bolt head 21 on opposite sides of the shank of the bolt, between the shankand the tongues, the U-shaped part of the bail extending downward and outward from the pivot pin end of the clamp (see Fig. 3). The upper ends of the tongues 43 are bent over upon the bolt head, as indicated at 49, to hold the bolt in fixed position relative to the upper jaw 3 and also to hold the bail ends 41 clamped between the bolt head and the upper jaw. The flanges 47 form means engageable by the inward extensions 39 of the bail for preventing disengagement of the bail from the upper jaw. The bail ends 41 extend on opposite sides of an upstanding car 51 formed integrally with the upper jaw 3 on the side of the bolt head towards the free end of the jaw. The car 51 is adapted for engagement with the head of the bolt to prevent rotation of the bolt. Tongues 43, of course, also prevent rotation of the bolt.

The clamp 1 is applied to a hot overhead line wire by inserting the nut 31 in a socket wrench on the end of a hot line stick, the jaws of the clamp being opened. The entire clamp is then lifted by means of the hot: stick and applied to the line wire. The stick is then used to rotate the nut to thread it toward the lower jaw 5, and thereby to cause the

jaws

3 and 5 to clamp on the line wire. After the clamp 1 has been applied to the line wire as above described, a tap may be made by applying a hot line clamp 53 having a tap-off wire 55 attached thereto to the lower bar portion of the U-shapedpartpf the bail, as illustratedin Fig. 3. The auxiliary hot line clamp 53 shown in Fig. 3 is of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,506,010. Any other suitable type of hot line clamp adapted to be applied to the bail by a hot line stick may be used. No speeific description of the auxiliary hot line ciairTp is given because the details of this c'l'a'nip are not essential so far as this invention is concerned, and those skilled iii the art "will readily be able to select -a type of auxiliary hot line clamp suitable for the purpose.

By following the above procedure, any eating that may occur will occur between the auxiliary hot line clamp and the bail. If such arcing should severely damage the bail, the clamp 1 ma be removed from the line wire L using a socket wrench type of hot line stick to turn the nut 31 to loosen the clamp 3; and '5. This may be done either with the auxiliary hot line clar'np remaining applied to the bail, or the auxiliary hot line clamp may be first removed before the clamp 1 is removed. Then the tongues '43 !h3f3? be beht back to fiee the head 'of the bolt, fto e'nable the damaged bail to be removed and anew bail applied. After the new-bail has been properly positioned, 'the bolt is rte-fastened by bending over the ends 6f the tongues.

Fig. illustrates an alternative type of clamp nut,

designated 57, that ihay be used 'ihste'ad or the nut 31. As shown, the nut 57 isfbi'rfied to ha e a downwardly extending eye 59 adapted fro -receive a hook on the end of a hook 'typ'e hot line stick. Where nut 57 is used, it is also held captive on the bolt 19, p

In view of the above, it 'will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changescould be made in the above 'constructiohs' without departing from the {scope 'of the "in'vention, it is intended that all matter contained imttre above description or shown in 'the "ac'c'oni anym drawing :shall be interpreted as illus'tfative and not in a limiting sense. Iela'irn: 4 1. A hot line c'lafn'p comprisihg 'a pair of electrically conductive clamp jaws, a 'clarnp bolt extending through the jaws having a head at one end outward offon'e jaw and a nut threaded on its other end outward of the other jaw, an electrically cenducrive bail clamped between the head of the bolt and saiderre jaw for application thereto of an auxiliary tap-'o'fi clamp, and iire'ans on said one jaw for releasably holding the bolt in fixed position relative thereto and holding the bail clamped between the bolt head and said one jaw.

2. A hot line clamp comprising upper and lower electrically conductive clar'np .jaW's, a clamp boit extending through the jaws having a head above the jup'per aw and a nut threaded on the bolt below the l'owe'r jaw, an electrically conductive bail clamped between the head of the bolt and the upper jaw, and tongues on the upper jaw bent over the head of the bolt f0'r.1'eleasab1y holding the bolt in 'fixed'position relative to the upper aw and holding the bail clamped between the bolt head and the upper jaw. V

'3. A hot line clamp comprising upper and lower electrically conductive cl-amp .jaw's pivotally "connected tog'ether at one end, a clamp holt extending through the jaws having a head "above the upper jaw and a nut threaded on the bolt below the lowerjaw, said jaws being adapted for clamping a line wire therebe'tween on 'the side of the bolt opposite the pivot connection of the jaws, an electrically conductivebail having end portions clamped between the head of the 'bolt and the upper jaw, with a U-shaped art extending -'aownwara and outward at the pivot end of the jaws, and tongues on the ,upper jaw bent over the head of the bolt for releasably holding the bolt in fixed position relative to the upper jaw and holding the ends of the bail clamped between the bolt head and the upper jaw.

4. A hot line clamp comprising upper and lower electrically conductive clamp jaw's 'pivotally connected together at one end,;a clamp bolt extending through the jaws having a head above the upper jaw and a nut threaded on the bolt below the lower jaw, said jaws being adapted for clamping a line wire therebetween on the side of the bolt opposite the pivot connection of the .jaws, an electrically conductive bail having a U-shaped main part with inward extensions at the ends of the arms of the U and with spaced-apart end portions extending from the ends of the extensions in 'a plane at an angle to the plane of the U, the end portions being clamped between thehead of thebolt and the upper jaw, with the U-shaped part extending downward and outward at the pivot end "of the jaws, tongues on the upperja'w on opposite sides ofthe bolt head bent over the bolt head for releasably holding the bolt fixed position relative to the upper jaw and holding the ends "of the. bail clamped between fthebolt head and the upper jaw, theend 'po'r tions of the bail "extending between the sides of the bolt and the tongues, and fme'ans on the upper'jaw spaced from the edges of the tongues toward the pivot connec: tion 'of the jaws engag'eabl'e by the inward extensions of the bail for preventing disengagement of the bail from the upper jaw. 1 l 1 5. A hot line 'ci'arnp comprising a pair or electricall'y conductive clamp jaws, a clamp bolt extend-ing through the jaws having ahead at one end outward of one .jaw and a nut threaded on its end outward of the other fjaw for movingjthe jaws toward one another for attachrrteht to a line "wire acceptable laterally between IhfijfilWS on one sideof'th'e bolt, ahd an electrically 'ebnjdil'c't'ive coil;- nector 'rner hber comprising a 'ro'db'en't to form a bail 'andjha'vingendfportions received between the head bf the bolt and said one jaw tor holding it to said one jaw V and an auxiliary tap=oif cl'arnp receiving portion offset acceptance of a line wire between the jaws. v

I 5, further from the jaws and positioned so a's no't to obstruct lateral 6. A h' t line clamp as set forth f laim comprising means on 's'aidone jaw 'releasablyengaging the bolt andholding it against axial movement with the said end portions of the bail lclarnpejd between the head of the bolt [and the said one jaw, said means being dis engageabl'e from the belt for releasing the hail from said one jaw.

References Cited in the tile or this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS *Da-te Number H Name W p I 1,241,756 Nielsen Oe't,,2, 11 917 1,4915 17 Bush May. 13, 192-11 1,500,498 Johnson July 8; 1924 1 5 499 b ns ---V- yjg 2. 1,542,680 Eberling June' 16, 1925 1,964,511 "Grover June 26 1934 2,114,940 Rudd "Apr. 19, 1 938 2,156,013 Graves Apr. 25, 1 939 2333 d y M 3! -2; 1942 2,370,857 Gunzburger Mar. f6, 1945 2,426,857 Birke'nmaier Sept. 2, 1 947 2,506,010 Birkenmaiernn May 2, 1950