US3037184A

US3037184A - Clamping device for electrical conductors

Info

Publication number: US3037184A
Application number: US834212A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Malcolm Bethea
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-08-17
Filing date: 1959-08-17
Publication date: 1962-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1979-05-29

Description

May 29, 1962 M. BETHEA, JR CLAMPING DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS INVENTOR Mar/calm Bet hea I; BY M,M YM

Rttome ys United States Patent 3,037,184 CLAMPING DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Malcolm Bethea, Jr., P.0. Box 1407, Birmingham, Ala. Filed Aug. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 834,212 6 Claims. (Cl. 339-265) This invention relates to a clamping device for electrical conductors and more particularly to a clamping device for connecting to an electrical conductor after the ends of the conductor have been attached to a suitable supporting structure, thereby eliminating the necessity of cutting the electrical conductor in order to attach the clamping device thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide a clamping device for connecting to an electrical conductor in which the device may be disassembled before attachment to or removal from an electrical conductor without the component parts of the device being separated from each other, thereby facilitating installation of the device.

A further object of my invention is to provide a clamping device for connecting to an electrical conductor of the character designated which shall include clamping jaws and a pivoted clamping member carried by one clamping jaw adapted to be connected releasably to another clamping jaw, whereby a conductor or conductors may be inserted between the clamping jaws.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a clamping device for connecting to an electrical conductor of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one which may be assembled and disassembled by unskilled labor in a minimum of time.

Clamping devices embodying features of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the clamping device, the conductor being shown broken away and in section;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental view, partly broken away and in section showing the outwardly flaring side wall of the openings for receiving one of the U-shaped clamping members;

FIG. 5 is a fragmental view, partly broken away and in section, showing a leg of the U-shaped clamping member moved to tilted position against the outwardly flaring side wall of the opening for receiving the leg; and,

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view, the conductor being in section, showing a modified form of clamping device in which the intermediate clamping jaw is eliminated.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show clamping jaws 10 and 11 having

elongated grooves

12 and 13 along the inner faces thereof for receiving the adjacent portions of electrical conductors 14. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the clamping jaw 11 is provided with spaced apart openings 16 for receivingthe leg members 17 of a generally U-shaped clamping member 18. The end portions of the leg members 17 are threaded as at 19 for receiving retaining nuts 21. As shown in FIG. 3, suitable recesses 22 may be provided in the outer surface of the clamping jaw 11 for receiving resilient, cup-shaped washers 23. However, my improved clamping device is also adapted for operation without the resilient washers 23.

The base 24 of the U-sha-ped clamping member 18 is formed of a resilient material and encircles the clamping jaw 10 adjacent one side thereof, as shown in FIG. 2. The U-shaped clamping member 18 is hingedly connected to the clamping jaw 10 by an inwardly curved flange ice member 26 carried by the clamping jaw 10 which encircles the base 24 of the U-shaped clamping member 18.

The outer surface of the clamping member 10 is curved, as shown in FIG. 3 to provide a curved seat 27 which is disposed to engage the inner surface of the resilient base 24 of the U-shaped clamping member 18. The base portion 24 of the U-shaped clamping member assumes the dotted line position, as shown in FIG. 3, when the clamping member 18 is first positioned adjacent the clamping jaw 10. However, upon tightening the retaining nuts 21, the resilient base portion 24 moves to the solid line position, as shown in FIG. 3, thereby urging the clamping jaws 10 and 11 toward each other.

Spaced apart openings 28 are provided adjacent opposite ends of the clamping jaw 11 directly opposite the openings 16 for receiving leg portions 29 of a U-shaped clamping member 31 having a base portion 32 which encircles the side of the clamping jaw 10 opposite the U-shaped clamping member 18, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. The ends of the leg portions 29 are threaded as at 33 for receiving retaining nuts 34- Which urge the base portion 32 into engagement with the adjacent surface of the clamping jaw 10 upon tightening the nuts 34. The outer surface of the clamping jaw 10 is curved to provide a curved seat 27 for receiving the base portion 32 in the identical manner as the curved seat 27 shown in FIG. 3 receives the base portion 24 of the U-shaped clamping member 18.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the outer side of each of the openings 23 in the clamping jaw 11 flares out wardly toward the inner surface of the clamping jaw 11 as at 36, whereby the U-shaped clam-ping member 31 is adapted to move out of engagement with the clamping jaw 10 upon loosening the nuts 34. That is, upon loosening the nuts 34, the U-shaped clamping member 31 is adapted to move to the tilted position, as shown in FIG. 5. After the U-shaped clamping member 31 is moved out of engagement with the clamping member 10, the clamping member 10 may be pivoted about the base portion 24 of the U-shaped clamping member 18, whereupon the conductors 14 may be inserted into or removed from the clamp.

Where two conductors 14 are being clamped in spaced relation to each other, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, an intermediate or third clamping jaw 37 is mounted between the clamping jaws 10 and 11. The clamping jaw 37 has

elongated grooves

38 and 39 adjacent opposite sides thereof, the groove 38 being in faced relation to groove 12 and the groove 39 being in faced relation to groove 13. That is, a conductor 14 is adapted to be clamped between the clamping jaw 10 and the clamping jaw 37 while a second conductor 14 is adapted to be clamped between the clamping jaw 37 and the clamping jaw 11, as clearly shown in FIG. 2.

To prevent separation of the clamping jaw '37 from the U-shaped clamping member 18 upon release of the U-shaped clamping member 31 from the clamping jaw 10, loop members 41 are provided at the side of the clamping jaw 37 adjacent the U-shaped clamping member 18 in position to encircle the leg portions 17 thereof. To maintain the side of the clamping jaw 37 opposite the loop members 41 in alignment with the U-shaped clamping member 31, outwardly extending detents 42 are provided on the clamping jaw 37 in position to engage opposite sides of each of the leg portions 29 of the U- shaped clamping member 31.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved clamping device shown in FIGS. 1-5 will be readily understood. The clamping jaw 10 is hingedly connected to the base 24 of the U-s'haped clamping member 18 by the inturned flange 26 and the intermediate clamping jaw 37 is slidably connected to the leg portions 17 of the U-shaped clamping member 18 by the loop members 41. The clamping jaw 11 having spaced apart openings 16 therethrough for receiving the leg portions 17 of the U-shaped clamping member 18 is held in assembled relationship with the clamping member 18 by the retaining nuts 21. The leg portions 29 of the U- shaped clamping member 31 extend through the openings 28 provided in the clamping jaw 11, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, and is held in assembled relationship relative thereto by the retaining nuts 34. The detents 42 carried by the intermediate clamping member 37 engage opposite sides of the leg portions 29 of the clamping member 31 whereby the clamping jaw 37 is held in proper alignment with the clamping member 31. In view of the fact that the outer sides 36 of the openings 28 flare outwardly toward the inner surface of the clamping jaw 11, the clamping member 31 is adapted to move to the tilted position shown in FIG. 5, upon loosening the retaining nuts 34. In other words, upon loosening the retaining nuts 34, the base 32 of the clamping member 31 moves out of engagement with the adjacent side of the clamping jaw whereby it is released therefrom. With the U-shaped clamping member 31 moved to the tilted position, as shown in FIG. 5, the clamping jaw 10 is free to move about its hinge connection to the U- shaped clamping member 18, thereby providing easy insertion of the conductors 14 into the clamp or removal of the conductors from the clamp.

In FIG. 6 of the drawing, I show a modified form of clamping device in which the intermediate clamping member is eliminated. The clamping device comprises a clamping jaw 1i hingedly connected to the base 24 of a U-shaped clamping member 18 by an inturned flange 26 The legs 17 of a clamping member 18 extend through spaced apart openings 16 carried by a second clamping member 11. The leg portions 17 of the clamping members 18 are provided with threads 19 for receiving suitable retaining nuts 21.

Encircling the opposite side of the clamping jaw 10* from the clamping member 18 is a U-shaped clamping member 31" having a base portion 32 and leg portions 29. Suitable threads 33 are provided on the leg portions 29 for receiving retaining nuts 34. Spaced apart openings 28 are provided in the side of the clamping jaw 11*- opposite the openings 16 for receiving the leg portions 29 of the clamping member 31 The outer side of each of the openings 28 flares outwardly toward the inner surface of the clamping jaw 11 whereby the clamping member 31 may be moved to a tilted position and out of engagement with the clamping jaw 10*. That is to say, the clamping jaws 10 and 11 are identical in construction to the clamping jaws 10 and 11 and the U-shaped clamping members 18* and 31 are identical in construction to the

members

18 and 31, with the exception that the

leg portions

17 and 29 may be of a shorter length or a longer threaded portion may be provided on the

leg portions

17 and 29 whereby the

retaining nuts

21 and 34 may be moved inwardly a suflicient distance to clamp a conductor 14 between the clamping jaws 10 and 11, as shown in FIG. 6.

The operation of the clamping device shown in FIG. 6 is very similar to the operation of the clamping device shown in FIGS. 1-5, the principal difference being that the intermediate clamping jaw 37 is eliminated. To insert the conductor 14 into the clamping device, the nut 34 is loosened whereby the base portion 32 of the U-shaped clamping member 31 is free to move out of engagement with the adjacent side of the clamping jaw 10. The clamping member 31 is thus adapted to move to the tilted position and out of engagement with the clamping jaw 10* whereby the conductor 14 may be easily inserted or removed from the clamping device.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved clamping device for connecting to an electrical conductor. By providing a clamping device having one clamping member which is adapted to move out of engagement with at least one of the clamping jaws, the electrical conductor may be readily inserted in the clamp or removed therefrom without having to cut the electrical conductor. Also, by providing a composite clamping device in which the component parts thereof are attached to each other, even when in the disassembled position, there is no danger of loosening the parts of the clamp prior to or while the clamping device is being attached to the conductors.

While I have shown my invention in two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a clamping device for connecting to an electrical conductor, -a first clamping jaw having at least one groove on the inner side thereof for receiving a conductor, a second clamping jaw having at least one groove on the inner side thereof for receiving a conductor, there being a first pair of spaced apart openings through said first clamping jaw and disposed to lie along one side of the conductor positioned adjacent said first clamping jaw, there being a second pair of spaced apart openings through said first clamping jaw and disposed to lie along the other side of said conductor positioned adjacent said first clamping jaw, a first U-shaped clamping member having a base portion pivotally connected to one side of said second clamping jaw whereby said second clamping jaw is adapted for pivotal movement relative to said first U-shaped clamping member with the legs of said first U-shaped clamping member extending through said first pair of openings in said first clamping jaw whereby lateral movement of the legs of said first U-shaped clamping member [relative to said first clamping jaw is limited, a second U-shaped clamping member having a base portion disposed to engage a portion of said second clamping jaw at the opposite side thereof from said first U-shaped clamping member with the legs of said second U-shaped clamping member extending through said second pair of openings in the first clamping jaw whereby lateral movement of the legs of said second U-shaped clamping member relative to said first clamping jaw is limited, the outer sides of said second pair of openings through the first clamping jaw being flared toward the inner surface of said first clamping jaw whereby the base portion of said second U-shaped clamping member is adapted to move out of engagement with said second clamping jaw while the legs of said second U-shaped clamping member are extending through said second pair of openings in said first clamping jaw, and retaining means for the end portions of the legs of said U-shaped clamping members disposed to urge the base portions of the U-shaped clamping members into engagement with said second clamping jaw.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 in which the base portion of each U-shaped clamping member is resilient and the inner surface of said base portion of the U- shaped clamping members and the adjacent surface of the adjacent clamping jaw are out of parallel alignment with each other whereby said base portion is deflected from its original position upon tightening said retaining means.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 in which the first and second clamping jaws are separated by a third clamping jaw having conductor receiving grooves in opposite sides thereof whereby a conductor is adapted to be clamping between said first damping jaw and said third clamping jaw and a second conductor is adapted to be clamping between said first clamping jaw and said third third clamping jaw.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 in which loopl-ike members are provided at one side of said third clamping jaw in position to encircle the leg portions of said first U-shaped clamping member, whereby said third clamping jaw is attached to said first U-shaped clamping member.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 in which detents are provided on said tnird clamping jaw at the side thereof opposite said loop-like members in position to engage the sides of said second U-shaped clamping member.

6. In a clamping device for connecting to an electrical conductor, a first clamping jaw having at least one groove on the inner side thereof for receiving a conductor, a second clamping jaw having at least one groove on the inner side thereof for receiving a conductor, there being a first pair of spaced apart openings through said first clamping jaw and disposed to lie along one side of the conductor positioned adjacent said first clamping jaw, there being a second pair of spaced apart openings through said first clamping jaw and disposed to lie along the other side of said conductor positioned adjacent said first clamping jaw, a first U-shaped clamping member having a base portion and legs which extend through said first pair of openings through the first clamping jaw whereby lateral movement of the legs of said first U- shaped clamping member relative to said first clamping jaw is limited, a hinge member carried by one side of said second clamping jaw and disposed to at least partially surround the base portion of said first U-shaped clamping member whereby said first U-shaped clamping member is pivotally connected to said second clamping jaw and said second clamping jaw is adapted for pivotal movement relative to said first Ushaped clamping member, a second U-shaped clamping member having a base portion disposed to fit over a portion of said second clamping jaw at the opposite side thereof from said first U- shaped clamping member with the legs of said second U-shaped clamping member extending through said second pair of openings through the first clamping jaw whereby lateral movement of the legs of said second U-shaped clamping member relative to said first clamping jaw is limited, the outer sides of said second pair of openings through the first clamping jaw being fiared toward the inner surface of said first clamping jaw, whereby the base portion of said second U-shaped clamping member is adapted to move out of engagement with said second clamping jaw While the legs of said second U- shaped clamping member are extending through said second pair of openings in said first clamping jaw, and retaining means for the end portions of the legs of said U- shaped clamping members disposed to urge the base portions of the U-shaped clamping members into engagement with said second clamping jaw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,771,591 Vordtriede Nov. 20, 1956 2,948,878 Toedtman Aug. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 674,428 Germany Apr. 14, 1939 730,566 Germany Jan. 14, 1943