Dual size stud electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector for clamping securely onto a threaded shaft includes a transformer bar, a connector body, a clamping component, and at least two columns for receiving streetlight taps. The transformer bar has a plurality of conductor bores, a distal end, and a bar top. The connector body is at the distal end and has first and second bosses at the bar top and first and second clamping sides. The clamping component is pivotally mounted by an attachment link to be selectively located adjacent one of the first and second clamping sides. Two columns are located adjacent the distal end of the transformer bar, protruding away from the transformer bar, one on each side, for supporting a streetlight tap and a redundant ground close to the connector body and a streetlight tap opposite the distal end.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a rear, perspective view of the electrical connector, showing the flange nut tightened and the connector in a closed position as if having already received a stud of a larger size according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear, perspective view of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 without the clamping component, bolt, and attachment link;

FIG. 3 is a side, perspective view of a clamping component of the electrical connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side, perspective view of the clamping component of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 showing the opposite side from that illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear, perspective view of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 with clamping component rotated over the top of the connector body after having rotated around the connector body in the process of moving between the two clamping positions;

FIG. 6 is a rear, perspective view of the electrical connector illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the connector partially open to receive a stud of a smaller size;

FIG. 7 is a front, perspective view of the electrical connector illustrated in FIG. 1 with the bolt and flange nut fully engaged on the clamping component;

FIG. 8 is a side, perspective view of the electrical connector illustrated in FIG. 1 with the branch circuit wires positioned in the conductor bores and a large stud terminal of electrical equipment connected;

FIG. 9 is a front, perspective view of the link of FIG. 1 that attaches the clamping component to the connector;

FIG. 10 is a front, perspective view of the roll pin of FIG. 1 that attaches the link of FIG. 9 to the clamping component and connector of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 11 is a rear, perspective view of an electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising: a transformer bar having a plurality of conductor bores therein, a distal end, a bar top;a connector body at said distal end having at least one boss at said bar top and having first and second connector sides;a clamping component pivotally mounted by an attachment link to said boss to be selectively located adjacent each of said first and second connector sides; andfirst and second columns adjacent said distal end, protruding away from said transformer bar.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said connector body includes first and second bosses.

3. An electrical connector according to claim 2 wherein said attachment link is pivotally mounted to said bosses, said bosses located towards said distal end.

4. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein a clamping member is securable to said clamping component and said connector body to force said clamping component and said connector body toward one another.

5. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said connector body comprises first and second concavely curved body clamping surfaces on said first and second connector sides, respectively, said first body clamping surface having a greater radius of curvature than said second body clamping surface; andsaid clamping component comprises first and second concavely curved component clamping surfaces on first and second component sides thereof, said first component clamping surface having a greater radius of curvature than said second component clamping surface.

6. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein each of said columns includes a streetlight setscrew bore perpendicular to said conductor bores; andan opening disposed in each of said columns perpendicular to said setscrew bores.

7. An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein said first and second columns are located on opposite sides of said transformer bar, one of said columns corresponding to first body clamping surface and the other of said columns corresponding to second body clamping surface.

8. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of conductor bores of said transformer bar are arranged in at least two offset rows.

9. An electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein said transformer bar comprises a plurality of setscrew bores arranged in a row above the conductor bores and substantially oriented perpendicularly to the conductor bores.

10. An electrical connector according to claim 9 wherein said transformer bar comprises at least one bore at the end of one of said rows that is an auxiliary conductor bore.

11. An electrical connector according to claim 10 wherein at least one bore is perpendicular to said auxiliary conductor bore.

12. An electrical connector according to claim 2 wherein said clamping component is a toggle clamp with first and second toggle bosses on a top thereof.

13. An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein at least one of said clamping surfaces is threaded.

14. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein one of said connector body and said clamping component has a bolt pivotally coupled thereto; andthe other of said connector body and said clamping component has a U-shaped recess for receiving said bolt.

15. An electrical connector according to claim 14 wherein said bolt pivots about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof from a first side of one of said connector body and said clamping component to a second side of the same of said connector body and said clamping component; anda flange nut is threadedly received on said bolt for securing said bolt to the second side.

16. An electrical connector according to claim 14 wherein said bolt is pivotally coupled to said connector body; andsaid U-shaped recess is on said clamping component.

17. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and second columns receives a streetlight setscrew bore and one of said first and second columns includes an opening located perpendicular to said streetlight setscrew bore for supporting a streetlight tap; andthe other of said first and second columns includes an opening located perpendicular to said setscrew bore for supporting a redundant ground.

18. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said connector body comprises first and second concavely curved body clamping surfaces on said first and second connector sides, respectively, said first body clamping surface having a greater radius of curvature than said second body clamping surface.

19. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said clamping component comprises first and second concavely curved component clamping surfaces on first and second component sides thereof, said first component clamping surface having a greater radius of curvature than said second component clamping surface.

20. An electrical connector, comprising: a transformer bar having a plurality of conductor bores therein arranged in at least two offset rows to receive a plurality of branch circuit wires, a distal end for supporting a connector body, a bar top having a plurality of bores receiving a plurality of screws to retain the branch circuit wires, and first and second columns protruding from said distal end, located at opposite sides of said transformer bar;a connector body at said distal end having first and second bosses at said bar top and having first and second connector sides, said connector body having first and second concavely curved body clamping surfaces on said first and second connector sides, respectively, said first body clamping surface having a greater radius of curvature than said second body clamping surface;a clamping component pivotally mounted by an attachment link to said first and second bosses to be selectively located adjacent one of said first and second connector sides, said clamping component having first and second concavely curved component clamping surfaces on first and second sides thereof respectively, said first component clamping surface having a greater radius of curvature than said second component clamping surface, said first clamping surfaces have substantially equal radii of curvature and said second clamping surfaces have another substantially equal radii of curvature smaller than the radii of curvature of said first clamping surfaces;a bolt pivotally coupled to one of said connector body and said clamping component to force said clamping component and said connector body toward one another, the other of said connector body and said clamping component having a U-shaped recess for receiving said bolt; anda flange nut threaded on said bolt for securing said connector body and said clamping component together.

21. An electrical connector according to claim 20 wherein said first and second columns are located on opposite sides of said transformer bar, one of said columns corresponding to first body clamping surface and the other of said setscrew columns corresponding to second body clamping surface.

22. An electrical connector according to claim 20 wherein said transformer bar comprises a plurality of setscrew bores arranged in an row above the conductor bores and substantially oriented perpendicularly to the conductor bores;at least one bore at the end of one of said rows is an auxiliary conductor bore; andat least one bore is perpendicular to said auxiliary conductor bore.

23. An electrical connector according to claim 20 wherein each of said columns receives a streetlight setscrew bore and one of said columns includes an opening located perpendicular to said streetlight setscrew bore for supporting a streetlight tap; andthe other of said columns includes an opening located perpendicular to said setscrew bore for supporting a redundant ground.