US980237A - Clamp. - Google Patents

Description

J. W. FRASER.

GLAMP.

APPLIOATNH FILED DEG.10,1909,

Patented Ja11.3, 1911.

JAMES WM. FRASER, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

Application filed December 10, 1909. Serial No. 532,497.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES \VM. FRASER, a subject of Great Britain, and a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps, but more particularly to suspension clamps for electric conductors, although the device may be used in any other connection in which it is found applicable.

The objects of the invention are to improve upon the construction of such devices, facilitate the quick stringin and adjustment of a line wire, avoid siarp bends or kinks in the wire adjacent the clamp and afford simple and eflicient means for producing a wedging action to firmly clamp the conductor or wire in the device.

In using the clamps with suspension insulators, the device is so designed that the conductor and strain insulator may be pulled into approximately the same line without producing undue bending strain on the conductor.

The invention consists of the device sub- I stantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed in its preferred form in this specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a clamp embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectlonal view on the line 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a side view of the clamp connected to suitable suspension insulator; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a transmission line tower and suspension insulators; Fig. '5 is a side view of a clamp having a conductor inserted therein and protected by a shield; and Fig. 6 is an end elevation partly broken away of the top portion of the tower, with the suspension insulator at an angle to the vertical.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred form of the invention is illustrated, A represents a holder or'shoe forming the body portion of the clamp. This shoe is' preferably of hook-shaped or U- shaped form for retaining the conductor B. The holder or shoe comprises the back portion 0, the retainin lip D forming a hook, the neck portion F extending outwardly from the back C atan angle on the side toward the lip D, and connected to themed;

E is an eye F or other means for suspending the clamp.

The inner plain portion G of the neck E forms a bearing surface for the beveled end H of a block or wedge J which block is adapted to enter between the back portion C and lip D of the clamp and bear upon the conductor 13, the bearing surface of said wedge J being preferably longitudinally concave as shown. Suitable bolts K pass transversely through the block J and back portion 0 for tightening the parts and forcing the block inwardly to clamp the conductor. As the bolts are tightened, the beveled portion II of the block cooperates with the hearing portion G of the neck E and the block is forced downwardly. Preferably the beveled portion H of the block J is curved, so that the point of contact is tangent to the plain surface G of the neck E.

The base portion L of the body member A is sufficiently long to suitably support the conductor and is preferably convex in a longitudinal direction on its inner surface and beveled at the ends 0 to avoid sharp corners and prevent bends and undue strain in the conductor. The corners P of the block or wedge J are also preferably rounded.

The device is shown in the drawings by way of illustration in connection with transmission line tower Q provided with the cross arms R and suspension insulators S of any suitable character. In this instance skirted insulators are shown hung one from another by the hooks T and eyes U. The clamp is adapted to be hung from the lowermost insulator S as shown in the drawings. If desired, a shield or sleeve V may inclose the conductor B within theclamp to protect the wire from abrasion or to protect the wire from arcs. The clamp is so designed that if the bolts are not properly tightened or if under any abnormal stress-the conductor should pull through the clamp, very little or no abrasion will occur.

In using the clamps in connection with suspension insulators, the main body portion .A of a clamp is attached to the lower end of a suspension insulator and the conductor after being pulled up to the roper sag is placed in the groove of the b0 y portion A. After final adjustment as to tension and sag of the wire, the body member of the clam and the insulators are adjusted in a vertica line, and then the block or wedge J is placed in position and the parts tightened by the bolts so that a strong wedging and compressive action results, thus firmly fixing the conductor in theclamp. The action of the clamp is such that by adjusting the bolts to the proper tension the conductor will break rather than pull out.

In Fig. 6 a detail view is shown illustrating relative positions of the suspension insulators, clamp and conductor, in which the conductor B has assumed a position approximately in the same line with the insulators.

This may be due to various causes, as for ina groove provided with a bottom portion inwardly convex in a longitudinal direction for the reception of a conductor or other art to be clamped, the outer ends of the bottom of the groove being cut away, a wedge or block having a bottom portion concave in a longitudinal direction and adapted to enter said groove, a bearing portion on the holder, a beveled portion on the wedge cooperating with said bearing portion and means for tightening the parts to force the block or wedge into the groove.

2. A suspension clamp for electric conductors, comprising a holder or shoe having a groove in its base portion, the outer ends of the bottom of the groove being beveled, a neck extending outwardly at an angle to said holder and provided with a bearing surface, a wedge adapted to enter said -groove and having a beveled outer end adapted to cooperate with the bearing surface of said neck, and transverse bolts assing through the wedge and holder for tightenmg the parts.

3. A suspension clam for electric conductors, comprising a ho der or shoe having a back portion, a retaining lip forming a hook, a neck portion extending outwardly at an angle from the back on the side toward the lip, a block or wedge having a beveled end adapted to bear against the neck portion, and bolts passing transversely through the block and back portion of the shoe for tightening the parts and forcing the block inwardly to clamp the conductor.

4. A suspension clamp for electric conductors, comprising a holder provided with a groove for the reception of the conductor, a neck portion on said holder extending at an angle thereto, a bearing surface on said neck, a block adapted to enter the groove in the holder, means connecting said block and holder and means on said block for cooperating with said bcaring surface to force 5 the block into the groove.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib- 111g witnesses.

JAMES \VM. FRASER.

Witnesses:

E. O. MARSHALL, L. C. MoRmsoN.

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