CA2532289C - Insulated water-tight connector assembly including a set screw driver and plug - Google Patents

Insulated water-tight connector assembly including a set screw driver and plug Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2532289C
CA2532289C CA002532289A CA2532289A CA2532289C CA 2532289 C CA2532289 C CA 2532289C CA 002532289 A CA002532289 A CA 002532289A CA 2532289 A CA2532289 A CA 2532289A CA 2532289 C CA2532289 C CA 2532289C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
set screw
connector
plug
drive plug
electrical connector
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002532289A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2532289A1 (en
Inventor
Larry N. Siebens
Alan Borgstrom
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ABB Installation Products International LLC
Original Assignee
Thomas and Betts International LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thomas and Betts International LLC filed Critical Thomas and Betts International LLC
Priority to CA002532289A priority Critical patent/CA2532289C/en
Publication of CA2532289A1 publication Critical patent/CA2532289A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2532289C publication Critical patent/CA2532289C/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00Electrically-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
    • H01R4/28Clamped connections, spring connections
    • H01R4/30Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a screw or nut clamping member
    • H01R4/36Conductive members located under tip of screw
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R43/00Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
    • H01R43/005Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for making dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof connection, coupling, or casing
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R9/00Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, e.g. terminal strips or terminal blocks; Terminals or binding posts mounted upon a base or in a case; Bases therefor
    • H01R9/22Bases, e.g. strip, block, panel
    • H01R9/24Terminal blocks

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Abstract

A set screw electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector and a set screw drive plug. The connector includes at least one set screw portal sized to accommodate a set screw therein. The set screw drive plug is formed of electrically insulative material and is configured to engage and drive the set screw into the connector. The connector assembly may include an insulative housing formed about the connector for providing a water tight seal with a cable terminated to the connector.

Description

INSULATED WATER-TIGHT CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
INCLUDING A SET SCREW DRIVER AND PLUG
[00011 FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
[0002] The present invention is directed to a submersible set screw electrical connector.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a connector employing an insulated and water-tight set-screw driver.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
[0003] Set screw electrical connectors are commonly used to connect or splice distribution cabling to a bus bar. Such connectors generally include a rectangular aluminum or conductive alloy body having a series of openings therein sized to accommodate a transformer stud, prepared cabling and the associated set screws securing the stripped conductors or the cables to the connector. These connectors are often found in locations that are exposed to moisture or are underground. Thus, the connector should provide for water tight connection.
[0004] U.S. 5,533,912 discloses a typical design for a set screw electrical connector that prevents water from entering therein. This design encapsulates the connector body with somewhat flexible water-impervious material. The encapsulation includes a series of hollow sleeves which project from the connector body. Certain of the sleeves are designed to accept the cabling therein while others are sized to accommodate the metal set screw.
Once the set screw is tightened against the stripped wire conductor, a removable plug or cap is then inserted into this sleeve to seal the opening. A drawback of this typical design is the likelihood that one or more plugs will be lost or not inserted and thus the entire connector will be compromised. Another drawback is that when the user tightens the set screw, there is the risk of electrical shock hazard because the tool employed by the user is usually metal and such a tool will readily conduct electricity directly to the user or to any object coming into contact with the tool during installation if the cable is energized.

[00051 U.S. 6,764,354 discloses a variation of the above in that it incorporates a wholly plastic set screw having a threaded lower body portion, a round intermediate body portion and a hex head. The lower body portion is threaded into the connector to secure the cabling in place while the round intermediate body portion forms a seal with the encapsulating material.

Obviously, one drawback to this design is the great difference in strength between the metal threads of the connector and the plastic threads of the set screw. Stripping of the plastic threads is likely and thus inadequate compression of the bare conductor will result.
This can cause arcing within the connector that will lead to failure. Also, by eliminating the metal set screw, there is less electrical contact between the bare conductor and the electrical connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

[0006J It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide a set screw electrical connector which incorporates a metal set screw while simultaneously electrically insulating the user (and anything else in contact with the user's tool) from this set screw during insertion and rotation.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector with a metal set screw so that greater electrical contact between the connector and the bare conductor is possible.

[0008] A further aspect of the present invention is to eliminate the need for separate plugs or caps to seal the set screw openings thereby eliminating the chance that they will be lost or damaged which would render the connector unsuitable for wet locations.

[0009] A further aspect of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector wherein once the set screw is properly tensioned, no further operation is needed to also make the connector watertight.

[0010] The present invention provides a set screw electrical connector assembly including an electrical connector housing having at least one set screw portal which is sized to accept the set screw therein. A set screw drive plug is formed of electrically insulated material and is configured to engage and drive the set screw into the connector.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the set screw is formed of metal and the electrical connector includes a waterproof sleeve which encircles the set screw portal and extends outwardly away from the connector. The set screw drive plug forms a seal with the waterproof sleeve.

[0012] In a method aspect of the present invention, a method of sealing a set screw within a set screw connector is provided. The method includes partially threading a set screw within a set screw portal of the set screw connector and thereafter fully driving the set screw into the set screw connector via a set screw drive plug which is electrically insulated.

[0012.1] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of sealing a metal set screw within a set screw electrical connector comprising the steps of: providing an electrical connector having a waterproof sleeve encircling a set screw portal extending outwardly from the connector; partially threading an electrically conductive set screw within the set screw portal; positioning an electrically insulative set screw drive plug in the portal; driving the set screw drive plug into the set screw to drive the set screw into the connector; and forming a seal between the set screw drive plug and the sleeve as the set screw drive plug drives the set screw into the electrical connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0013] Figure 1 is an exploded plan view, partially in section, of the connector assembly of the present invention in its unassembled state.

[0014] Figure 2 is a plan view, partially in section, of the connector assembly of Figure 1.

[0015] Figures 3-5, are respectively, top, side, and bottom views of the set screw driver used in the connector assembly of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

[0016] An electrical connector assembly 1 of the present invention is shown.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, electrical connector 10 is shown encased within waterproof housing 12. Both connector 10 and housing 12 are of typical material and construction.
Connector 10 may be an electrically conductive single bar or may be formed of multiple parallel (and electrically inter-connected) conductive bars for even more connection options. Housing 12 is an electrically 4a insulative plastic member which may be applied about connector 10 is via molding. However, other methods of application are also suitable. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the housing 12 covers the connector 10 and additionally forms extending sleeves 18 and 40 which will be described in further detail hereinbelow.

[0017] During assembly of connector 10, a cable 14 is prepared by stripping or baring an end portion of the insulation 15 to expose conductor 16. This prepared cable 14 is then inserted into a cable sleeve 18 formed by housing 12 and through cable aperture 19 until bare conductor 16 is fully within connector area 20. In this embodiment, to prevent water from likewise entering, sleeve 18 is shown as being configured with one or more internal ribs 22 that engage and seal around the outside of cable insulation 15. Such ribs 22 are optional as other means of preventing water entry are also feasible. Depending upon the degree to which these ribs 22 extend inwardly within sleeve 18, different sizes of cable 14 can be accommodated within a single connector 10.

[0018] Set screw porta124 of connector 10 also opens into connector area 20 with this portal 24 being threaded so as to accommodate like-threaded set screw 26. Set screw 26 is preferably metal so that it can establish electrical contact with bare conductor 16. Set screw 26 also presses bare conductor 16 against opposite wall 28 of connector 10 for enhanced electrical connection.

[0019] Set screw 26 is of typical construction having a female hex drive slot 30 so that a typical hex tool can be used to tighten set screw 26 against bare conductor 16 within connector 10. Of course, other configurations of set screw 26/drive slot 30 may also be employed. The hex configuration is shown herein as currently the industry typically employs hex drive slots.
[0020] While the drawings only show one cable aperture 19 and one set screw portal 24 in connector 10, in practice there would be multiple such openings spaced along all or a portion of the length of connector 10. Similarly, insulative housing 12 may be formed to provide extending sleeves for each connector aperture and portal so that a multitude of cable connections can be made using a single connector assembly 1.

[0021] The present invention employs an insulated drive plug 32 to drive set screw 26.
Drive plug 32 is typically made of plastic material, but any other electrically insulating material such as rubber, for example, so long as it is stiff or hard enough to rotate set screw 26 under pressure without significant deformation. Plug 32 may also be made of multiple materials if so desired with one material being used for hex drive 34 while another, for example, is employed in head region 36. The use of an insulative plug 32 is advantageous in that there is no electrically conductive path between bare conductor 16 and the tool employed by the user.
Thus, even in the situation where a metal set screw 26 is employed within connector 10, electrical isolation to the user is provided.

[0022] Drive plug 32 can be a separate component from set screw 26 or the two may be permanently attached or secured together such as by an adhesive.
Alternatively, it is also possible to form or mold drive plug 32 to or with set screw 26.

[0023] Drive plug 32 would also typically incorporate female hex opening 38 therein but other configurations are also likely. For example, drive plug 32 and more particularly head region 36 could be configured with a male driver such as a hex nut. The user would simply use a tool to engage drive plug 32 so as to rotate it and thus push or bias set screw 26 against bare conductor 16 within connector 10.

[0024] To make connector 10 watertight, housing 12 would further be configured with set screw sleeve 40. This set screw sleeve 40 would typically extend from connector 10 and surround set screw porta124. As with cable sleeve 18, the interior of set screw sleeve 40 could also be configured with one or more optional ribs 42 that project slightly inwardly. Optional ribs 42 would be located so as to engage head region 36 of drive plug 32. In this fashion, by threading drive plug 32 into connector 10, associated head region 36 would engage ribs 42 to thereby form a seal and prevent any moisture from also entering area 20 via this route. It should further be noted that a seal could also be formed directly between the smooth side walls of both head region 36 and the interior of set screw sleeve 40.

[0025] In operation, a user would insert cable 14 into opening 19 of connector 10 through sleeve 18 in the normal fashion. The bare conductor 16 would thereby reside in connector area 20. Drive plug 32, which in most cases would already be partially inserted within set screw sleeve 40 (i.e. coming from the manufacturer that way), would then be rotated by the user who would most likely employ a standard hex wrench. Under this arrangement, hex drive 34 of drive plug 32 would already be in full or partial engagement with hex drive slot 30 of set screw 26.
Continued rotation by the user of the tool will further cause drive plug 32 to engage bare conductor 16 and compress it against opposite wa1128 inside connector area 20 of connector 10.
This places the conductor 16 in secure mechanical and electrical engagement with connector 10.
Due to the construction of drive plug 32, there is no electrically conductive path between the user and bare conductor 16 even if using a metal set screw 26 and a metal tool.
Furthermore, upon rotating drive plug 32 within set screw sleeve 40, head region 36 would engage ribs 42 so as to immediately form a seal between the two thereby preventing moisture from entering connector 10. Also, there is no need to remove drive plug 32 from connector 10 to further tighten or remove set screw 26 as would be the case if connector 10 were sealed by removable caps or plugs or the like.

[00261 While select preferred embodiments of this invention have been illustrated, many modifications may occur to those skilled in the art and therefore it is to be understood that these modifications are incorporated within these embodiments as fully as if they were fully illustrated and described herein.

Claims (3)

1. A method of sealing a metal set screw within a set screw electrical connector comprising the steps of:

providing an electrical connector having a waterproof sleeve encircling a set screw portal extending outwardly from said connector;

partially threading an electrically conductive set screw within said set screw portal;
positioning an electrically insulative set screw drive plug in said portal;
driving said set screw drive plug into said set screw to drive said set screw into said connector; and forming a seal between said set screw drive plug and said sleeve as said set screw drive plug drives said set screw into said electrical connector.
2. The method of sealing a set screw within a set screw electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

forming said waterproof sleeve with at least one internal raised rib configured for engagement with said set screw drive plug.
3. The method of sealing a set screw within a set screw electrical connector as set forth in claim 2 further comprising the step of:

configuring said set screw drive plug with a set screw drive portion and an enlarged head portion, said enlarged head portion and said internal raised rib forming a moisture seal therebetween.
CA002532289A 2006-01-06 2006-01-06 Insulated water-tight connector assembly including a set screw driver and plug Expired - Fee Related CA2532289C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002532289A CA2532289C (en) 2006-01-06 2006-01-06 Insulated water-tight connector assembly including a set screw driver and plug

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002532289A CA2532289C (en) 2006-01-06 2006-01-06 Insulated water-tight connector assembly including a set screw driver and plug

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2532289A1 CA2532289A1 (en) 2007-07-06
CA2532289C true CA2532289C (en) 2009-10-27

Family

ID=38229447

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002532289A Expired - Fee Related CA2532289C (en) 2006-01-06 2006-01-06 Insulated water-tight connector assembly including a set screw driver and plug

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2532289C (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3079206B1 (en) * 2013-12-04 2020-04-01 Niled S.A.E. Clamping element

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2532289A1 (en) 2007-07-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7311563B2 (en) Insulated water-tight connector assembly including a set screw driver and plug
CA2406989C (en) Thermoplastic molded set screw connector assembly
US9048551B2 (en) Casing for an electrical connector
US10211565B2 (en) Plastic sealing internal sheath for a conductor connection, connection part, cover nut and sealed connection between two conductors
KR200401178Y1 (en) Sleeve for water-proof and insulating
MXPA05014000A (en) Cord connector having a water-resistant seal.
CA2668526A1 (en) Submersible electrical set-screw connector
KR100863715B1 (en) Branch sleeve for connection of low tension electric wire
EP1710867A2 (en) Watertight connector for cables
US20160118724A1 (en) Compact electrical connection system
CA2761988C (en) Submersible electrical set-screw connector
US20120325548A1 (en) Watertight seal assembly
CA2532289C (en) Insulated water-tight connector assembly including a set screw driver and plug
KR100611574B1 (en) A concent and plug which has separate prevention and waterproot construction
US5336850A (en) Electrical power cord entry device
KR200209229Y1 (en) Low Voltage Line Type Branch Connection Device
JP2001515697A (en) External ground insulation connector for cable connection closure
EP1887660B1 (en) Seal for electrical connector block
EP2320523B1 (en) Watertight junction box
KR200342004Y1 (en) Coulpling for cable
KR102176418B1 (en) Through-wire connector main wire protection cover
US20230061690A1 (en) Connector with tethered caps
CN215267603U (en) Water vapor blocking wiring device
KR960007969Y1 (en) Electrical terminal piece
GB2276781A (en) Improvements relating to electrical plugs

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
MKLA Lapsed

Effective date: 20210831

MKLA Lapsed

Effective date: 20200106