US2716150A - Entrance connector for a container - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 23, 1955 I. F. MATTHYSSE ENTRANCE CONNECTOR FOR A CONTAINER Filed July 19, 1950 MN Wm M IN VEN TOR. Irving l'rederickl lattbpse BY M iu gwf ATTO NE'Y United States Patent par;

ENTRANCE CGNNECTOR FOR A CONTAINER Irving Frederick Mattliysse, New York, N. Y., assignor to Burndy Engineering Company, Inc., a corporation of New York Application July 19, 1950, Serial No. 174,710

1 Claim. (Cl. 174-152) My invention relates to electrical connectors for a container, and more particularly to an entrance connector for a submersible transformer that will function as a means to seal the transformer and to form an electrical connection thereto.

In the past electrical transformers were sealed and tested at the factory and shipped to the field for installation. In order to connect the transformer into a circuit, it was necessary for the maintenance or construction crew to break the seal to join the cable to an internal connector. The procedure necessitated a retesting of the transformer. In addition in order to provide a watertight connection the use of lead sheathed cables were required and the watertight joint was effected by wiping the lead on the cable to a wiping sleeve.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide an electrical entrance connector for a container, such as a transformer which connector may be installed at the factory and which will provide a seal for the container.

Another object is to provide an electrical entrance connector for a sealed container which can be internally connected at the factory and which has an external means to permit making an electrical connection without the necessity of entering the container and thereby breaking the seal.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sealed connection to a container in which non-leaded cables can be used therewith.

Further objects are to provide an electrical connector which will decrease the time required to install a e submersible transformer; and to provide a connector which is of a simple and economical construction.

I accomplish these and other objects and obtain my new results as will be apparent from the device described in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation view, partially in section of the electrical connector embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section view, taken along plane 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing reference character designates generally my novel electrical connector shown mounted to the casing wall 11 of a sealed container, such as a submersible transformer. The connector 10 comprises a centrally positioned metal rod 12 of conducting material, such as copper, which is mounted within an insulating sleeve 13, preferably of Diaprene. The insulating sleeve 13 is centrally positioned on the rod 12 to permit the ends 14 and 15 of the rod to extend therefrom for a purpose herein described. A circular collar 16 is longitudinally bored at 17 to receive the insulating sleeve 13, and is provided with an annular neck portion 18 and shoulder 18a mounted in a corresponding circular aperture 19 in the casing wall 11. The collar 16 may be welded at 20 and 21, or otherwise secured to each side of the casing wall 11, to provide a watertight connection. On the outer side of the transformer wall the collar 16 has a threaded recess 22 with an internal shoulder 23 to accommodate a tight fitting resilient insulating washer 24 which extends around the sleeve 13, and similarly to sleeve 13, may also be made of Diaprene. A clamping nut 25 loosely encloses sleeve 13 and is threadedly received within the recess 22. The nut 25 functions when tightened to compress the insulating washer 24 against the shoulder 23, and to the longitudinal wall of recess 22, and into tight contact with the sleeve 13 which is pressed into engagement with the rod 12 to insure a watertight joint. A flat metal washer 26 may be positioned around the insulating sleeve 13 and between the insulating washer 24 and the clamping nut 25 to provide a bearing surface for the nut 25 and prevent damage to the insulating washer when the nut 25 is tightened. The annular width of the washer 26 is approximately the same as the insulating washer 13 to insure an evenly distributed compression on the washer.

The end 14 of metal rod 12 which enters the transformer is electrically connected to a conductor 27 by a metal sleeve 28, such as of copper, preferably by crimping as at 29. At the outer side of the transformer a metal socket member 30 is provided as a means to make the electrical connection between the conductor 27 within the transformer and an external service cable 31, which service cable may be either a leaded or non-leaded type. The socket member 30 may be made of a bronze alloy having longitudinally drilled apertures 32 and 33 extended from opposite ends and separated by an integral intermediate wall 34. The aperture 32 snugly receives the end 15 of the rod 12 which is secured therein, preferably by brazing. The inner end of the socket snugly abuts the end of the insulating sleeve 13 as at 35. The wall of aperture 33 is tapered and has a length sufficient to accommodate a compression nut assembly 36 for mechanically and electrically detachably securing the service cable 31 thereto. The compression nut assembly 36 comprises a compression cone sleeve 37, longitudinally bored at 38 to receive the service cable 31. The cone sleeve 37 is longitudinally partially slotted from both ends to form a plurality of resilient fingers 39 peripherally spaced, and integrally connected together by a rim portion 39a of the sleeve. The outer surfaces of the fingers 39 are tapered to conform to the tapered wall of the recess 33, which wall acts as a bearing surface to wedge the fingers 39 into engagement with the cable 31. The bored surface 38 of the fingers 39 may be serrated to provide a good gripping surface. The size and dimensions of the clamping sleeve 37 will vary in accordance with the size of the cable to be accommodated. The socket member 30 is internally threaded at 40 to receive a clamping nut 41 longitudinally bored and freely positioned over the cable 31. The inner end of nut 41 is provided with a bevelled bearing surface 42 adapted to slidably engage a corresponding surface 43 on the rim 39a of the clamping sleeve 37. The nut 41, when tightened, forces the fingers 39 inwardly against the tapered wall 39 to clamp the cable 31 radially. The socket member 30 is provided with wrench engaging surfaces 44 to facilitate tightening of the clamping nut 41.

Where a permanent connection is desired between the socket member 30 and the service cable 31, the socket member may be constructed of a malleable metal similar to sleeve 28 to permit crimping the socket member to the cable. To complete the installation, the end of the connector outside of the casing wall 11, to the right as illustrated in the drawing, may be taped, not shown, to seal the external cable joint.

By my invention I have provided a connector that can function as a means to seal a closed container, such as a submersible transformer, as well as to provide an electrical connection between the transformer and the circuit with which it is to be used. My novel connector can be installed at the factory, eliminating the prior practice of providing a temporary seal for the transformer which wasbroken during installation, necessitating a retesting of the transformer. In addition by electrically joining the connector internally within the transformer at the factory, a simplification of the installation in the field is achieved. With my connector a non-leaded or lead-covered cable may be used for I provide a sealing means independent of the. type of cable that is utilized. By providing a centrally positioned conducting rod in my connector, I can join the connector to the respective cables by indenting or by a cone shaped clamping assembly, or any other suitable means. Where I provide a detachable clamping means the circuit may be changed without affecting the connection Within the transformer.

I have thus described my invention, but I desire it understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claim, and by means of which, objects of my invention are attained and new results accomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

I claim:

An electrical connector for joining an outside conductor through an apertured container wall to an inside conductor comprising a rigid element of conducting material adapted to extend through the container wall; a nonconducting sleeve concentrically positioned about said conducting element and sealed thereto; a collar having an opening to permit said collar to be concentrically positioned about said sleeve, and adapted to be mounted and sealed to said container wall through the aperture therein; said conducting element having free ends extending longitudinally beyond the sleeve and provided with sockets On both sides of the container wall for inserting conductors therein; means for securing the conductors to said sockets; said collar having a threaded bore and a circular seat in said bore; a resilient apertured cylindrical member positioned in said seat; an apertured flat metal washer positioned over said resilient member; and a clamping nut having a central bore and an externally threaded end terminating in a bearing surface for engaging against the flat metal washer; the opening in said collar, resilient member, washer and clamping nut having a diameter sufiicient to freely accommodate the sleeve; said resilient member being sealed to said collar on one face and to said sleeve throughout the length of said aperture when the clamping nut is suitably tightened, to completely seal the sleeve to said container wall when the collar is installed thereon, said conducting element, one of said sockets, and sleeve being smaller in diameter than the opening in the collar to permit said parts to be moved therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 514,304 Clift Feb. 6, 1894 1,049,404 Sakai Jan. 7, 1913 1,426,337 Sperry Aug. 15, 1922 1,699,744 Marbury Jan. 22, 1929 1,829,764 Sloane Nov. 3, 1931 1,844,409 Rypinski Feb. 9, 1932 2,170,393 Tornblom Aug. 22, 1939 2,264,816 Treanor Dec. 2, 1941 2,276,969 Heinichen Mar. 17, 1942 2,441,457 Treanor May 11, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 77,584 Sweden Feb, 17, 1932 813,730 France Mar. 1, 1937 507,007 Great Britain June 7, 1939

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