Electrical clamp connector

Details Electrical clamp connector Electrical clamp connector

2000-08-22

2001-12-04

Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...

Screw-thread operated securing part

Reexamination Certificate

active

06325678

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to connectors for wire conductors. More particularly, the present invention relates to clamp-type connectors for electrically connecting ground conductors in a communication system.
Connector devices of numerous types and configurations have been advanced for receiving and securing the ground conductors for communication systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,426,319 discloses a neutral wire connector for electrically connecting a plurality of aluminum or copper wires. The device employs a plurality of wire receiving and screw receiving openings selectively dimensioned and shaped for receiving wires of various dimensions to secure the wires in place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the invention in a preferred form is an electrical clamp connector which clamps at least two conductors between the concave holding surfaces of opposed jaws. The electrical clamp connector comprises interconnecting male and female clamp sections fastened together by a bolt, each section including an integrally extending jaw. The male clamp section has a body which forms a tongue and is traversed by a threaded axial bore. The female clamp section has a body which defines a complementary groove and includes an opening sized to receive the fastening bolt. The exterior surface of the female clamp section body is rounded to facilitate installation and access in regions of limited headroom. A preferred embodiment of the electrical clamp connector is formed when the male clamp section tongue is received in the female clamp section groove with the bolt passing through the opening in the female clamp section to engage the threaded bore in the male clamp section.
The clamp jaws extend transversely to the bodies of the clamp sections and each jaw preferably includes a V-shaped concave holding surface. The male clamp section jaw includes a retaining lip which extends toward the female clamp section jaw parallel and in spaced relationship to the clamp section bodies. The retaining lip serves to partially enclose the space between the jaws. The jaws have a length measured along their holding surfaces which is greater than the diameter of the rounded female clamp section body.
An electrical clamp connector according to the present invention can accommodate conductors of various sizes and shapes. A reliable electrical connection is formed by tightening the fastening bolt which draws the opposed jaws together around conductors received therein. The convergent V-shape of the concave holding surfaces forms a positive electrical contact with various sizes and shapes of conductors while centering and retaining the conductors between the jaws. The retaining lip further retains the conductors and forces them into a tightly clamped, electrically conductive relationship between the jaws.
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical clamp connector having an efficient and cost effective construction.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical clamp connector having a minimum of movable parts which can be efficiently installed to clamp electrical conductors.
A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical clamp connector suitable for clamping conductors of various sizes and shapes.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and the specification.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3380014 (1968-04-01), Schenker et al.
patent: 3544956 (1970-12-01), Bricker, Jr.
patent: 3892455 (1975-07-01), Sotolongo
patent: 3988052 (1976-10-01), Mooney et al.
patent: 4169652 (1979-10-01), Hockele et al.
patent: 5152701 (1992-10-01), Polidori
patent: 6045414 (2000-04-01), DeFrance
patent: 6174177 (2001-01-01), Auclair

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