US3604837A - Utility midspan adapter - Google Patents

Utility midspan adapter Download PDF

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Publication number
US3604837A
US3604837A US60676A US3604837DA US3604837A US 3604837 A US3604837 A US 3604837A US 60676 A US60676 A US 60676A US 3604837D A US3604837D A US 3604837DA US 3604837 A US3604837 A US 3604837A
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Prior art keywords
legs
adapter
leg
blocks
transmission line
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Expired - Lifetime
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US60676A
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James L Mixon Jr
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TE Connectivity Corp
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AMP Inc
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R11/00—Individual connecting elements providing two or more spaced connecting locations for conductive members which are, or may be, thereby interconnected, e.g. end pieces for wires or cables supported by the wire or cable and having means for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal, or conductive member, blocks of binding posts
    • H01R11/11—End pieces or tapping pieces for wires, supported by the wire and for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal or conductive member
    • H01R11/32—End pieces with two or more terminations
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
    • H01R4/50—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a cam, wedge, cone or ball also combined with a screw
    • H01R4/5083—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a cam, wedge, cone or ball also combined with a screw using a wedge
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
    • H02G7/00—Overhead installations of electric lines or cables
    • H02G7/05—Suspension arrangements or devices for electric cables or lines
    • H02G7/053—Suspension clamps and clips for electric overhead lines not suspended to a supporting wire

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an adapter for tapping a plurality of transmission lines and a streetlight to a main electrical line span at any point thereof.
  • the adapter comprises a stamped and formed conductor provided with a main leg and two sets of secondary legs, all of which legs are coined to a cylindrical configuration and in conformity with selected standardized wire gauge sizes.
  • a layer of insulation is provided over the adapter. In use, insulation is stripped from selected legs.
  • the main leg is spliced to a transmission line span at any point thereof.
  • the secondary legs are manually bent to project generally laterally of the adapter and are spliced to taplines.
  • a generally centrally located secondary leg is partially wrapped around the transmission line, thereby anchoring the adapter thereto at a location generally remote from its point of splice. The protruding end of the wrapped leg provides a tap on which a streetlight may be electrically attached.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a stamped and formed conductor having a plurality of legs.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for tapping a plurality of taplines to a main electrical transmission line, wherein the adapter is spliced and anchored to the transmission line.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for tapping a plurality of electrical transmission lines and a streetlight to a main transmission line.
  • Still a further object of the present invention is to tap a plurality of transmission lines to any point of a main electrical transmission line span by an adapter which is spliced and anchored to the transmission line and'provided with a tap on which a streetlight may be attached.
  • FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective of an adapter according to the present invention, spliced and anchored to a main transmission line, and having a plurality of legs respectively spliced to electrical taplines, with a leg anchored to the transmission line at a point remote from the location of splice and providing a protruding tap on which a streetlight may be attached;
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective of the adapter according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 which has been stamped from sheet stock to form a plurality of legs, which legs are coined to cylindrical configurations in conformity with standardized wire gauge sizes;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective of the adapter shown in FIG. 2 provided thereover with a layer of insulation material.
  • the adapter includes a pair of spaced connector blocks 2 and 3, each in the form of a threebranched fork defined between a pair of parallel lateral planar sidewalls 4. Immediately adjacent to the sidewalls 4 are a'pair of rectangular sidewalls 6 converging to form a tapered configuration.
  • a main, generally central longitudinal main leg 8 extends from the converging sidewalls 6 and is provided at its terminal end thereof with a generally rectangular portion 10 having a terminal planar end wall 12.
  • the branches of the block 2 are each provided thereon with parallel longitudinal legs 14.
  • the central one of the legs 14 additionally is connected to and projects from the converging walls 6 of the block 3.
  • the three branches of the block 3 are respectively provided with legs 16 and 18 provided respectively with terminal end portions 20.
  • the entire adapter 1 is advantageously stamped from a single piece of conducting material, for example, dimensioned laterally by the walls 4 and longitudinally between the endwalls 12 and 20.
  • the stamped legs 8, 1'4, 16 and 18 may be formed with rectangular configurations as exemplified by the rectangular portion 10 on the leg 8.
  • the legs are coined to the illustrated cylindrical configurations and in conformity with standardized wire gauge sizes.
  • the leg 8 may be coined to a 2/0 solid diameter of 0.364 inch to have the current carrying capacity of a 2/0 AWG, AAAC or AAC conductor.
  • the legs 14 and 16 may be coined to the same 2/0 solid equivalent conductor.
  • the leg 18 may be advantageously coined to a No. 4 AWG conductor equivalent which is of smaller diameter than the other legs as shown in the drawing.
  • the adapter I is then provided thereover with a surrounding coating or layer of insulation, generally indicated at 22, completely covering the blocks 2 and 3 and each of the legs l4, l6 and 18.
  • the insulation layer terminates in an integral sleeve portion 24 which encircles and partially extends over the leg 8. Accordingly, a substantial length of the leg 8 which protrudes from the sleeve 24 is not insulated.
  • the uninsulated main leg 8 is electrically tapped to a main electrical transmission line span, a portion of which is indicated at 26 by a suitable connector 28.
  • the connector 28 is of the AMP-PACT wedge-type manufactured by AMP lnc., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and connects the adapter 1 underneath and generally parallel to the line span 26.
  • Selective ones of the legs 14 and 16 may be manually bent from the positions shown in FIG. 2 to positions generally laterally extending from the adapteras shown in FIG. 1.
  • the insulation layer covering the legs may be partially stripped off as shown at 30 to expose a protruding end portion of the legs 14 and 16.
  • Such protruding and thus uninsulated end portions of the leg are spliced to electrical tap lines 32 by suitable electrical connectors 28', which connectors are similar to the connector 28.
  • the insulated leg l8 being of relatively smaller diameter is readily manually looped or partially wrapped over the transmission line 26 thus anchoring the adapter 1 to the transmission line 26 at a point remote from the location of the splice connection 28. Accordingly, the adapter 1 is suspended by the connector 28 and the leg 18 from the transmission line span 26. A portion of the insulation layer covering the leg 18 is partially stripped off as shown at 34 to expose a protruding uninsulated portion of the leg 18. The exposed portion is advantageously connected to a hanging-type streetlight (not shown).
  • a utility midspan adapter for connecting a plurality of taplines to a main electrical transmission line span at any point thereof. Additionally, the adapter is anchored to the transmission line span at a point remote from the location of the splice and provided with a protruding connector leg 18 to which a streetlight may be electrically connected.
  • a utility midspan adapter including: a pair of blocks, a plurality of legs extending from said blocks, one of said legs connecting said blocks, a main leg extending from one of said blocks, and one of said legs provided on the other one of said blocks being of smaller diameter than the other of said legs.
  • a method of connecting a plurality of electrical transmission lines to a main electrical transmission line span by a utility midspan adapter comprising the steps of:

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Abstract

An adapter for splicing a plurality of taplines and a streetlight to a selected point on an electrical transmission line and including a stamped plurality of legs. One leg is spliced to the transmission line and the remaining legs project from the adapter and are spliced respectively to taplines. One of the legs is anchored to the transmission line and provided with a streetlight.

Description

United States Patent Inventor James L. Mixon. Jr.
Harrisburg. Pa. Appl. No. 60,676 Filed Aug. 3. 1970 Patented Sept. 14. 1971 Assignee AMP Incorporated Harrisburg, Pa.
UTILITY MIDSPAN ADAPTER 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.
US. Cl 174/72 R, 29/628, 29/629, 174/43, 174/44 Int. Cl "02g 7/00 Field of Search 174/40 R, 41, 43, 44, 71 R, 72 R; 29/592, 628, 629, 630 F; 113/1 19; 339/242, 243
[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,924,640 2/1960 Barton 174/44 X 3,115,540 12/1963 Greer.... 174/71 R 3,129,279 4/1964 Barton 174/43 3,31 1,698 3/1967 Cockroft et al 174/43 X Primary Examiner-Laramie E. Askin Attorneys-William J. Keating, Ronald D. Grefe, Gerald K. Kita, Frederick W. Raring, Jay L, Seitchik and John P. Vandenburg ABSTRACT: An adapter for splicing a plurality of taplines and a streetlight to a selected point on an electrical transmission line and including a stamped plurality of legs. One leg is spliced to the transmission line and the remaining legs project from the adapter and are spliced respectively to taplines. One of the legs is anchored to the transmission line and provided with a streetlight.
PATENlEnsaPl-mm 3604.837
INVENTOR JAMES L, MIXON, JR.
UTILITY MIDSPAN ADAPTER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an adapter for tapping a plurality of transmission lines and a streetlight to a main electrical line span at any point thereof.
According to the present invention, the adapter comprises a stamped and formed conductor provided with a main leg and two sets of secondary legs, all of which legs are coined to a cylindrical configuration and in conformity with selected standardized wire gauge sizes. A layer of insulation is provided over the adapter. In use, insulation is stripped from selected legs. The main leg is spliced to a transmission line span at any point thereof. The secondary legs are manually bent to project generally laterally of the adapter and are spliced to taplines. A generally centrally located secondary leg is partially wrapped around the transmission line, thereby anchoring the adapter thereto at a location generally remote from its point of splice. The protruding end of the wrapped leg provides a tap on which a streetlight may be electrically attached.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an adapter for tapping a plurality of transmission lines to a main electrical transmission line span at any point thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a stamped and formed conductor having a plurality of legs.
respectively spliced to transmission lines and with a main leg spliced to a main electrical transmission line span at any point thereof.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for tapping a plurality of taplines to a main electrical transmission line, wherein the adapter is spliced and anchored to the transmission line.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for tapping a plurality of electrical transmission lines and a streetlight to a main transmission line.
Still a further object of the present invention is to tap a plurality of transmission lines to any point of a main electrical transmission line span by an adapter which is spliced and anchored to the transmission line and'provided with a tap on which a streetlight may be attached.
Other objects and many attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon perusal of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective of an adapter according to the present invention, spliced and anchored to a main transmission line, and having a plurality of legs respectively spliced to electrical taplines, with a leg anchored to the transmission line at a point remote from the location of splice and providing a protruding tap on which a streetlight may be attached;
FIG. 2 is a perspective of the adapter according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 which has been stamped from sheet stock to form a plurality of legs, which legs are coined to cylindrical configurations in conformity with standardized wire gauge sizes; and
FIG. 3 is a perspective of the adapter shown in FIG. 2 provided thereover with a layer of insulation material.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With more particular reference to the drawings, there is illustrated generally at l, a utility midspan adapter according to the present invention. The adapter includes a pair of spaced connector blocks 2 and 3, each in the form of a threebranched fork defined between a pair of parallel lateral planar sidewalls 4. Immediately adjacent to the sidewalls 4 are a'pair of rectangular sidewalls 6 converging to form a tapered configuration. A main, generally central longitudinal main leg 8 extends from the converging sidewalls 6 and is provided at its terminal end thereof with a generally rectangular portion 10 having a terminal planar end wall 12. The branches of the block 2 are each provided thereon with parallel longitudinal legs 14. The central one of the legs 14 additionally is connected to and projects from the converging walls 6 of the block 3. The three branches of the block 3 are respectively provided with legs 16 and 18 provided respectively with terminal end portions 20.
The entire adapter 1 is advantageously stamped from a single piece of conducting material, for example, dimensioned laterally by the walls 4 and longitudinally between the endwalls 12 and 20. Initially the stamped legs 8, 1'4, 16 and 18 may be formed with rectangular configurations as exemplified by the rectangular portion 10 on the leg 8. Subsequent to stamping, the legs are coined to the illustrated cylindrical configurations and in conformity with standardized wire gauge sizes. For example, the leg 8 may be coined to a 2/0 solid diameter of 0.364 inch to have the current carrying capacity of a 2/0 AWG, AAAC or AAC conductor. The legs 14 and 16 may be coined to the same 2/0 solid equivalent conductor. The leg 18 may be advantageously coined to a No. 4 AWG conductor equivalent which is of smaller diameter than the other legs as shown in the drawing.
With reference to FIG. 3, the adapter I is then provided thereover with a surrounding coating or layer of insulation, generally indicated at 22, completely covering the blocks 2 and 3 and each of the legs l4, l6 and 18. The insulation layer terminates in an integral sleeve portion 24 which encircles and partially extends over the leg 8. Accordingly, a substantial length of the leg 8 which protrudes from the sleeve 24 is not insulated.
In use, reference will be made to FIG. 1. The uninsulated main leg 8 is electrically tapped to a main electrical transmission line span, a portion of which is indicated at 26 by a suitable connector 28. The connector 28 is of the AMP-PACT wedge-type manufactured by AMP lnc., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and connects the adapter 1 underneath and generally parallel to the line span 26. Selective ones of the legs 14 and 16 may be manually bent from the positions shown in FIG. 2 to positions generally laterally extending from the adapteras shown in FIG. 1. The insulation layer covering the legs may be partially stripped off as shown at 30 to expose a protruding end portion of the legs 14 and 16. Such protruding and thus uninsulated end portions of the leg are spliced to electrical tap lines 32 by suitable electrical connectors 28', which connectors are similar to the connector 28.
With reference yet to FIG. I, the insulated leg l8, being of relatively smaller diameter is readily manually looped or partially wrapped over the transmission line 26 thus anchoring the adapter 1 to the transmission line 26 at a point remote from the location of the splice connection 28. Accordingly, the adapter 1 is suspended by the connector 28 and the leg 18 from the transmission line span 26. A portion of the insulation layer covering the leg 18 is partially stripped off as shown at 34 to expose a protruding uninsulated portion of the leg 18. The exposed portion is advantageously connected to a hanging-type streetlight (not shown).
Thus what has been described is a utility midspan adapter for connecting a plurality of taplines to a main electrical transmission line span at any point thereof. Additionally, the adapter is anchored to the transmission line span at a point remote from the location of the splice and provided with a protruding connector leg 18 to which a streetlight may be electrically connected.
Other modifications and embodiments of the invention are to be covered by the scope of the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
1. A utility midspan adapter including: a pair of blocks, a plurality of legs extending from said blocks, one of said legs connecting said blocks, a main leg extending from one of said blocks, and one of said legs provided on the other one of said blocks being of smaller diameter than the other of said legs.
2. The structure as recited in claim 1 and further including: a layer of insulation covering each of said blocks and each of said legs, with a portion of said main leg protruding from said insulation layer.
3. A method of connecting a plurality of electrical transmission lines to a main electrical transmission line span by a utility midspan adapter comprising the steps of:
stamping said adapter from a electrical conductor material,
coining a plurality of legs on said adapter to cylindrical configuration and in conformity with standardized wire gauge conductor sizes,
providing a layer of insulation over said legs,
electrically connecting a leg to a selected point on said transmission line span,
electrically connecting selected laterally extending legs to respective electrical transmission lines.
4. The method as recited in claim 3 and further including the step of: anchoring a selected another one of said legs to said transmission line span.
5. The method as recited in claim 4, and further including the steps of: stripping off a portion of insulation layer on said anchored leg, exposing an uninsulated portion'thereof. and attaching a Streetlight to said uninsulated portion of said anchored leg.
6. The method as recited in claim 3, and further including the steps of: manually bending selected legs to extend generally laterally of said adapter, and stripping off portions of said insulation to expose a protruding uninsulated portion of said selected legs prior to connection of said adapter to said span.

Claims (6)

1. A utility midspan adapter including: a pair of blocks, a plurality of legs extending from said blocks, one of said legs connecting said blocks, a main leg extending from one of said blocks, and one of said legs provided on the other one of said blocks being of smaller diameter than the other of said legs.
2. The structure as recited in claim 1 and further including: a layer of insulation covering each of said blocks and each of said legs, with a portion of said main leg protruding from said insulation layer.
3. A method of connecting a plurality of electrical transmission lines to a main electrical transmission line span by a utility midspan adapter comprising the steps of: stamping said adapter from a electrical conductor material, coining a plurality of legs on said adapter to cylindrical configuration and in conformity with standardized wire gauge conductor sizes, providing a layer of insulation over said legs, electrically connecting a leg to a selected point on said transmission line span, electrically connecting selected laterally extending legs to respective electrical transmission lines.
4. The method as recited in claim 3 and further including the step of: anchoring a selected another one of said legs to said transmission line span.
5. The method as recited in claim 4, and further including the steps of: stripping off a portion of insulation layer on said anchored leg, exposing an uninsulated portion thereof, and attaching a streetlight to said uninsulated portion of said anchored leg.
6. The method as recited in claim 3, and further including the steps of: manually bending selected legs to extend generally laterally of said adapter, and stripping off portions of said insulation to expose a protruding uninsulated portion of said selected legs prior to connection of said adapter to said span.
US60676A 1970-08-03 1970-08-03 Utility midspan adapter Expired - Lifetime US3604837A (en)

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4976627A (en) * 1989-03-31 1990-12-11 Thomas & Betts Corporation Grid/ground connector

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2924640A (en) * 1957-04-16 1960-02-09 Arthur F Barton Electrical connecting device
US3115540A (en) * 1959-10-01 1963-12-24 Penn Union Electric Corp Electrical stirrup connector
US3129279A (en) * 1960-02-12 1964-04-14 Crawford Boston J Electrical connecting clamp assembly
US3311698A (en) * 1965-06-11 1967-03-28 Cockroft Service attachment connector for secondary distribution system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2924640A (en) * 1957-04-16 1960-02-09 Arthur F Barton Electrical connecting device
US3115540A (en) * 1959-10-01 1963-12-24 Penn Union Electric Corp Electrical stirrup connector
US3129279A (en) * 1960-02-12 1964-04-14 Crawford Boston J Electrical connecting clamp assembly
US3311698A (en) * 1965-06-11 1967-03-28 Cockroft Service attachment connector for secondary distribution system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4976627A (en) * 1989-03-31 1990-12-11 Thomas & Betts Corporation Grid/ground connector

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