US3001166A

US3001166A - Transformer connector

Info

Publication number: US3001166A
Application number: US751344A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Edward S Cornell
Original assignee: PENN UNION ELECTRIC CORP
Current assignee: PENN UNION ELECTRIC CORP
Priority date: 1958-07-28
Filing date: 1958-07-28
Publication date: 1961-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1978-09-19

Description

Sept. 19, 1961 E. s. CORNELL, JR

TRANSFORMER CONNECTOR Filed July 28, 1958 l H 1 INVENTOR. 542 1 3,001,166 TRANSFORMER CDNNECTOR Edward S. Cornell, .lr., Westport, (Iona, assignor to Penn- Union Electric Corporation, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 28, 1953, Ser. No. 751,344 4 Claims. (Cl. 539--32) The present invention relates to novel electrical connectors, and more particularly to novel connectors especially suitable for use in association with transformers and the like.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel transformer connector of more eflicient and economical construction than transformer connectors now in general use and capable of providing an improved connection with a tap wire or the like.

A more specifieobject of the present invention is to provide a novel transformer connector capable of receiving wires extending at different directions between a pair of members and constructed so that the members may be readily clamped together without turning or tilting relative to each other so as to obtain a secure connection with a wire.

Still another specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel transformer connector of the above described type wherein a wire may be clamped between a relatively long, uninterrupted and directly opposed surfaces or seats for enhancing the mechanical and electrical connection between the wire and the connector.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG.2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing elements of a connector incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary planned view showing a connector ll'I 'o'ating features of the present invention;

HO. 5 is a perspective view showing a connector incorporating a slightly modified form of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing elements of the connector shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a portion of a connector incorporating another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 in FIG. 8 and further shows the connector applied to a wire or conductor.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a connector 10 incorporating one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. The connector comprises an elongated electrical insulator 12 formed from ceramic or any other suitable material and having an axially extending bore 14 therethrough which opens at one end in a recess 16 which is defined by an axially extending flange 18. A body member 20 of any suitable electricity conducting material such as aluminum, brass, copper or the like is provided, which body member has an end portion 22 disposed within the recess 16. The end portion 22 has a reduced diameter internally threaded extension 24 which projects into the bore 14 of the insulator and threadedly receives an end portion of a rod 26.

Patented Sept. 19, 1961 ice The rod 26 which is constructed from any suitable electricity conducting material has an outer end portion 28 which is threaded and adapted to receive a nut 30 or the like so that the rod may serve to connect the device It) both mechanically and electrically with a transformer, not shown. It is understood that the rod 26 might be brazed or similarly secured to the transformer and body member 20 rather than threadedly connected, if desired. A washer 32 of any suitable plastic or sealing material is provided in an annular seat formed in the end portion 22 for preventing moisture or any other foreign material from entering the bore of the insulator. An element 34 extends from an integral connection with the end portion 22 through a suitable notch or recess 36 formed in the axially extending insulator flange 18 for providing a predetermined spark gap between the housing of a trans,

former, not shown, and the exposed portions member 20.

A main section 38 of the body member 2% is laterally offset from the end portion 22 and integrally connected thereto by means of a reduced neck portion 4a. The body section 30 which is of generally circular exterior configuration preferably extends transversely of the axis of the neck portion 40 and the insulator. The body section 38 is bolt-like in that it is provided with external helical thread convolutions 42 for receiving a complementary nut member 44 for the purpose discussed in detail below.

The bolt-like body section 33 is provided with an axially extending slot 46 which completely transverses the body section and opens at opposite sides thereof. Another axially extending slot 48 is provided which intersects the slot 46 and extends to and opens at a side of the bolt-like body member between the opposite sides which are interrupted by the slot 46. It will be noted that bottoms 5t) and 52 of the slots 46 and 48 provided elongated uninterrupted and transversely contoured or curved seats respectively for accommodating a wire 54 extending transversely of the insulator as shown in full lines in FIG. 1 or axially of the insulator as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. Preferably the slots 46 and 48 and thus the seats and 52 are disposed at right angles to each other and so that the slot 48 intersects a mid portion of the slot 46. This enables the bolt-like body section 38 to have substantial axially extended threaded

shank portions

55, 56 and 58 symmetrically disposed at opposite sides of the slots for accommodating and support ing the nut member 44 in any manner which prevents the nut member from tilting relative to the axis of the bolt-like body section.

The connector 10 also includes a clamping member 60 preferably formed in one piece. The clamping member has angularly disposed

leg portions

62 and 64 respec tively slidably disposed in the slots 46 and 48 and providing elongated, uninterrupted and transversely contoured or

arcuate seats

66 and 68 in opposing relationship to the

seats

50 and 52. As shown in the drawings, the clamping member is disposed beneath the nut member 44 so that when the nut member is tightened, the clamping member 60 is forced toward the bottoms of the slots so that a who will be clamped between a pair of the opposing seats.

it is to be noted that the lengths of the clamping

member leg portions

62 and 64 are such that ends of the leg portions project beyond the sides of the bolt-like body member 38 so that they may be engaged by the annular clamping end of the nut member 44. With this arrangement, the clamping force from the nut member is applied to symmetrically disposed circumferential areas of the clamping member so as to resist twisting or tilting of the clamping member. In addition the clamping member is provided with a central enlargement 70 at the junction of the body of the leg portions which is disposed in the junction of the slots 46 and 48. The enlargement is shaped so as to engage the adjacent inner edges of the bolt-like body member for guiding the clamping member and further resisting any tendency of the clamping member to tilt or twist relative to the bolt-like body member. Thus, the clamping member is actuated and guided in a manner which insures that the clamping seats thereof are disposed directly oppositely from and substantially parallel to the clamping seats of the body member 38 so as to promote a secure connection with a wire when the wire is clamped between a pair of opposed seats.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 show a modified form of the present invention which is similar to the structure described above as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suffix a added to corresponding elements. This embodiment differs only in that the slot means 4-8 is extended so that it completely traverses the bolt-like body section and the leg portion 64a of the clamping member 60a is extended so as to project through the slot means 48a. This structure wherein the slots and the clamping member are cross shaped rather than T- shaped as in the embodiment described above, enables a wire to be applied to the connector from four directions rather than three and further enables the clamping nut 44a to apply pressure to four equally circumferentially spaced areas of the clamping member.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another slightly modified form of the present invention which is similar to the structures described above as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with a sufiix b added to corresponding elements. It is understood that this embodiment as well as the embodiment shown in FIGS. -7 will include an electrical insulator and conductor extending therethrough similar to the insulator 12 and conductor 26 described above. This embodiment diifers over the connectors shown in FIGS. 1-4 only in that the body section 38b is provided with an extension 72 which elongates the seat 52b, and the leg portion 64b of the clamping member 6012 is extended so as to be coextensive with the elongated seat 52b. This arrangement enables the opposed clamping seats to be elongated for accomplishing a more secure mechanical and electrical connection with a wire without requiring-an undue increase in the stock material used in the connector. If desired, a similar extension could be provided for elongating the wire accommodating seat 50b, and the leg portion 62b of the clamping member could also be elongated so as to be coextensive with such similar extension which is not shown.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A transformer connector including a one-piece electricity conducting body member comprising an externally threaded section, first and second angularly disposed slot means in said section and extending generally along a central axis of said threaded section and opening at sides of said threaded section, bottoms of said slot means providing first and second angularly disposed wire accommodating seats facing axially of said section and extending transversely of said axis in first and second directions and to sides of said section, said one-piece body member including a second section integrally joined to said threaded section adjacent the bottoms of said slot means and extending laterally therefrom at an angle with respect to said axis, said second section including means for receiving and detachably securing an electrical conductor extending in a direction disposed transversely with respect to said axis and generally parallel to one of said first and second directions, a clamping member including angularly disposed legs slidably disposed in said firstand second slot means and having end portions projecting beyond said sides, said legs including angularly disposed wire accommodating seats paired with and facing said first mentioned seats for selectively accommodating wires disposed so as to extend in said first and second directions with respect to the connector, and a nut member threaded onto said threaded section and engageable with said leg end portions for shifting said clamping member toward said first mentioned seats when the nut member is tightened for securing a wire between the clamping member and one of said first mentioned seats.

2. A connector, as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second slot means have a combined T-shaped cross section and said clamping member has a T-shaped cross section.

3. A connector, as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second slot means have a combined cross shaped transverse cross section and said clamping member has across shaped transverse cross section.

4. A connector, as defined in claim 1, wherein said body member threaded section has a generally circular peripheral configuration, said body member including a lug integral with and projecting laterally from said threaded section adjacent one of said seats and providing an extension of said one seat, the leg portion of said clamping member overlying said one seat extending laterally outwardly from said threaded body section and being substantially coextensive with said lug.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,029,140 Treanor Ian. 28, 1936 2,193,202 Millermaster Mar. 12, 1940 2,586,354 Leonard Feb. l9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 62,918 Denmark Nov.'20, 1944 394,042 Germany Apr.i12, 192A