US3125398A

US3125398A - Electrical connector for neutral bars

Info

Publication number: US3125398A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-17

Description

Munich 17, 1964 c. w. WOLF ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR NEUTRAL BARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fiied June 28, 1961 INVENTQR. J a mmz Maf WM. 33 L. 8 4.

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March 17, 1964 c. w; WOLF ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR NEUTRAL BARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1961 United States Patent Office 3,125,398 Patented Mar. 17, 1964 3,125,398 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR NEUTRAL BARS Cienient W. Wolf, Mount Clemens, Mich., assignor to Square D Company, Park Ridge, Ill., a corporation of Michigan Filed June 28, 1961, Ser. No. 122,376 6 Claims. (Cl. 339-272) This invention relates generally to neutral bars such as are commonly employed with electrical panelboards or load centers, and more particularly to a connector which is readily attachable to such neutral bars for receiving a larger wire than can be accommodated by the neutral bar itself. The principal use of the connector of this invention is in existing panelboards having circuit breakers therein of a predetermined maximum current rating and having neutral bars therein constructed to accommodate associated neutral wires of a predetermined maximum diameter. By attaching the connector of this invention to such a neutral bar, a circuit breaker of a larger current rating may be installed in a panelboard and the larger neutral wire associated therewith may be accommodated by the neutral bar as modified by the connector.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple electrical connector readily attachable to a neutral bar and operable to secure a larger wire than can be accommodated by the neutral bar itself.

Other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a neutral bar with a connector constructed in accordance with the invention attached thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the body portion of the connector with the clamping screw and formed clamping plate therein;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the attaching base member of the connector;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing a modified form of connector constructed in accordance With the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line Ill-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the body portion of the modified connector with the clamping screw and formed clamping plate therein; and

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the attaching base member of the modified connector.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 through 6 will first be described.

The connector is generally indicated by the numeral 10 in FIGURES 1 to 3 and is shown mounted on a portion of a neutral bar 12. The neutral bar 12 may be formed as claimed in copending application, Serial No. 168,733, filed on January 25, 1962, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, and is provided with a series of holes 14 extending therethrough for receiving the ends of electrical conductors such as a conductor 16. Each hole 14 communicates with a threaded hole 18 extending through the top of the neutral bar for receiving a clamping screw such as a screw 20 adapted to clamp the end of a conductor 16 to the neutral bar.

A conductor 22 too large to be received by a hole 14 may be connected to the neutral bar 12 by the use of a connector 10 constructed in accordance with the invention. The connector 10 includes a generally U-shaped body portion 24,

legs

25 and 26 of which are provided with generally rectangular apertures 27 and 28 (FIGURE 5) and base or bight portion 29 of which is centrally provided with a threaded hole for receiving a clamping screw 30 having a formed clamping plate 31 pivotally connected to the lower end thereof. In the embodiment shown, the clamping plate 31 has a pair of

opposite extremities

32 and 33 projecting into the

apertures

27 and 28, respectively, and a second pair of

extremities

34 and 35 projecting at right angles to the

extremities

32 and 33 between the

legs

25 and 26. The

extremiities

32, 33, 34, and 35 are preferably concave-convex with the concave side directed away from the screw 30.

The aperture 27 divides the leg 25 into a pair of

side portions

37 and 38 connected at their outer ends by a connecting portion 39. Similarly, the aperture 28 divides the leg 26 into a pair of

side portions

41 and 42 connected at their outer ends by a connecting portion 43.

The connector 10 also includes an attaching base mem ber 45 best shown in FIGURE 6. The base member 45 is generally rectangular in shape but is provided with a pair of

opposite notches

46 and 47 centrally of the longer sides thereof, a hole 48 adjacent one end thereof, a nub or boss 49 adjacent the other end thereof, and a tang 50 centrally of the shorter side thereof adjacent the boss 49. The tang 50 is bent over to project oppositely from the boss 49.

The attaching base member 45 is assembled in the body portion 24 with the clamping screw 30 and formed clamping plate 31 in raised position, the member 45 being inserted edgewise between the

legs

25 and 26 and then maneuvered to the fiatwise position of the drawings with the

side portions

38 and 42 of the

legs

25 and 26 received in the

notches

46 and 47, respectively, and with the tang 50 extending away from the clamping screw 30.

To attach the connector 10 to the neutral bar 12, the screws 20 are first removed from three consecutive holes 18. The connector is then assembled to the bar by placing it over the top of the bar with the

legs

25 and 26 on opposite sides and inserting the tang 5!} of the attaching base member 45 in an end one of the three holes. A screw 20 is then inserted through the hole 48 in the member 45 and threaded securely into the other end hole of the three consecutive holes 18.

The body portion 24 may then be raised to the position shown in FIGURE 1 and 2 and an end of the conductor 22 inserted, after which the clamping screw 30 may be tightened to clamp the conductor 22 against the boss 49 as shown in FIGURE 3.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 7 through 12 includes a connector generally indicated by the numeral 10 having a body portion 24, a clamping screw 30, and a formed clamping plate 31 identical to the body portion 24, clamping screw 30, and formed clamping plate 31, respectively, of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 through 6 and therefore identically numbered and not herein further described.

The connector 10' also includes an attaching base member best shown in FIGURE 12. The base member 55 includes a generally cross-shaped portion 56 adapted to fit within the body portion 24, and an extension 57 adapted to be secured to the neutral bar 12. The crossshaped portion 56 has a nub or boss 58 formed centrally of the top surface thereof, projecting

end portions

59 and 60 adapted to extend parallel to and between the

legs

25 and 26, and projecting

side portions

61 and 62 adapted to project through the

apertures

27 and 28, respectively. The

side portions

61 and 62 are bent downwardly to extend in a direction away from the boss 58 and are formed with

tapered faces

63 and 64 at the respective bends.

The extension 57 forms a continuation of the projecting end portion 60, but it is formed wider than the portion 60 to provide a pair of notches 65 and 66 adapted to receive the

respective side portions

38 and 42 of the

legs

25 and 26 as shown in FIGURE 10. The extension 57 is further provided with a hole 69 and an open-ended slot 70.

The attaching base member 55 is assembled in the body portion 24 with the clamping screw 30 and formed clamping plate 31 in raised position, the member 55 being inserted between the

legs

25 and 26 edgewise and then maneuvered to the fiatwise position of the drawings with the

side portions

38 and 42 of the

legs

25 and 26 received in the notches 65 and 66, respectively, and the projecting

end portions

61 and 62 in the

apertures

27 and 28, respectively, the

tapered faces

63 and 64 providing sufficient clearance to enable the member 55 to be turned into proper position relative to the body portion 24.

To attach the connector to the neutral bar 12, at least three consecutive screws are first removed from their respective holes 18, and a fourth one partially threaded out. The connector is then assembled to the bar by placing it over the top of the bar with the legs and 26 on opposite sides and inserting the base member 55 under the partially removed fourth screw 20 so that said fourth screw is received in the open-ended slot 70. The fourth screw is then tightly secured after one of the other screws is inserted through the hole 69 and tightened to the bar. The downwardly turned outer ends of the projecting

end portions

61 and 62 aid in maintaining the body portion 24 of the connector 10' assembled to the bar.

It will be seen that a simple electrical connector has been provided which is readily attachable to a neutral bar for securing a larger wire than can be accommodated by the neutral bar itself.

I claim:

1. A neutral bar assembly comprising an elongated neutral bar having a portion generally rectangular in cross section and having a series of holes of predetermined size extending therethrough from one side to another and respectively adapted to receive the ends of electrical conductors, said neutral bar also having a corresponding series of threaded holes extending through a top surface thereof substantially perpendicularly to and respectively communicating with said conductor receiving holes, said threaded holes being adapted to receive screws for clamping to said neutral bar within said conductor receiving holes electrical conductors of a size up to the predetermined size of said conductor receiving holes, and a connector secured to said neutral bar, said connector including a generally U-shaped body having a bight portion and a pair of substantially parallel legs extending from said bight portion and adapted to straddle said neutral bar, each of said legs having a generally rectangular aperture therethrough dividing the respective leg into a pair of substantially parallel side portions extending from said bight portion and a connecting portion joining the ends of said side portions opposite said bight portion, a clamping screw threadedly mounted in said bight portion, and a generally fiat attaching member secured to said neutral bar and extending longitudinally thereof, said attaching member having oppositely projecting portions extending transversely of said neutral bar respectively into said apertures, said body being reciprocably mounted on said transversely extending portions, and said apertures being larger than the predetermined size of said conductor receiving holes in said neutral bar after allowance is made for said transversely extending portions of said attaching member.

2. A neutral bar assembly as claimed in claim 1, including a clamping plate pivotally connected to the lower end of the clamping screw mounted in said bight portion, said clamping plate having oppositely projecting portions extending transversely of said neutral bar respectively into said apertures.

3. A neutral bar assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said attaching member is formed with a pair of oppositely disposed notches respectively adjacent said transversely extending portions thereof, and each of said legs of said body has one of its said side portions disposed in a respective one of said notches.

4. A neutral bar assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transversely extending portions of said attaching member project through said apertures beyond said legs of said body and are bent toward said neutral bar.

5. A neutral bar assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of said attaching member projects beyond said body longitudinally of said neutral bar and said projecting one end is provided with a mounting hole extending therethrough and an open-ended slot spaced longitudinally of said mounting hole, and said attaching member is secured to said neutral bar solely by two screws extending respectively through said mounting hole and said open-ended slot and threaded respectively into a pair of adjacent threaded holes of said neutral bar.

6. A neutral bar assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of said attaching member projects beyond said body longitudinally of said neutral bar and said projecting one end is provided with a mounting hole extending therethrough and the other end of said attaching member is provided with a bent tang, and said attaching member is secured to said neutral bar solely by a single screw extending through said mounting hole and threaded into one of said threaded holes of said neutral bar, the said bent tang projecting into a third of said threaded holes of said neutral bar spaced from said one threaded hole by a second of said threaded holes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,943,660 Edwards Jan. 16, 1934 2,476,863 Hawes July 19, 1949 2,539,628 Kingdon Jan. 30, 1951 2,748,365 Speck May 29, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 496,659 Canada Oct. 6, 1953

Claims

1. A NEUTRAL BAR ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED NEUTRAL BAR HAVING A PORTION GENERALLY RECTANGULAR IN CROSS SECTION AND HAVING A SERIES OF HOLES OF PREDETERMINED SIZE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH FROM ONE SIDE TO ANOTHER AND RESPECTIVELY ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE ENDS OF ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS, SAID NEUTRAL BAR ALSO HAVING A CORRESPONDING SERIES OF THREADED HOLES EXTENDING THROUGH A TOP SURFACE THEREOF SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY TO AND RESPECTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CONDUCTOR RECEIVING HOLES, SAID THREADED HOLES BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SCREWS FOR CLAMPING TO SAID NEUTRAL BAR WITHIN SAID CONDUCTOR RECEIVING HOLES ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS OF A SIZE UP TO THE PREDETERMINED SIZE OF SAID CONDUCTOR RECEIVING HOLES, AND A CONNECTOR SECURED TO SAID NEUTRAL BAR, SAID CONNECTOR INCLUDING A GENERALLY U-SHAPED BODY HAVING A BIGHT PORTION AND A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL LEGS EXTENDING FROM SAID BIGHT PORTION AND ADAPTED TO STRADDLE SAID NEUTRAL BAR, EACH OF SAID LEGS HAVING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR APERTURE THERETHROUGH DIVIDING THE RESPECTIVE LEG INTO A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SIDE PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM SAID BIGHT PORTION AND A CONNECTING PORTION JOINING THE ENDS OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS OPPOSITE SAID BIGHT PORTION, A CLAMPING SCREW THREADEDLY MOUNTED IN SAID BIGHT PORTION, AND A GENERALLY FLAT ATTACHING MEMBER SECURED TO SAID NEUTRAL BAR AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, SAID ATTACHING MEMBER HAVING OPPOSITELY PROJECTING PORTIONS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID NEUTRAL BAR RESPECTIVELY INTO SAID APERTURES, SAID BODY BEING RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED ON SAID TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING PORTIONS, AND SAID APERTURES BEING LARGER THAN THE PREDETERMINED SIZE OF SAID CONDUCTOR RECEIVING HOLES IN SAID NEUTRAL BAR AFTER ALLOWANCE IS MADE FOR SAID TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING PORTIONS OF SAID ATTACHING MEMBER.