The present invention relates generally to a connector for attachment to a ground bus bar. More particularly, the present invention relates to a connector for providing quick and secure connection between a plurality of electrical conductors and a ground bus bar.
It is well known to use compression connectors to effect connection between a bus bar and a plurality of electrical conductors. One example of such a bus bar connector is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,368 issued Dec. 9, 1999 entitled “CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING A CONDUCTOR TO A STRUCTURAL MEMBER,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
One embodiment shown in the '368 patent includes a generally U-shaped connector where the bus bar is received in the space between the legs of the U-shaped body. At the upper end of the U-shaped legs, channels are formed for accommodating a ground conductor. The conductors are connected in the channels and the connector is attached to the bus bar. The connector is crimped in a subtle crimped tool to effect connection between the conductor and the bus bar.
While the conductor of the '368 patent serves adequately to connect the ground conductors to the bus bar, the ground connectors and the bus bar must be crimped to the connector simultaneously. Any attempt to crimp the conductors to the connector prior to crimping the connector to the bus bar will result in the shortage of space between the legs, which is to receive the bus bar, closing and preventing insertion thereinto.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a connector which allows subsequent crimping of the connector to the bus bar after the crimping of the conductors to the connector.
The present invention discloses a ground connector, for providing a quick, secure and permanent connection between a plurality of conductors and a ground bus bar. The ground conductors are crimped first in the tool before the connector is slipped over the bus bar, thereby establishing electrical and mechanical connection there between.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ground connector having a deformable generally U-Shaped conductive body including a pair of legs projecting from the body. The legs define an open ended slot for receiving a bus bar therein for crimp connection. A plurality of teeth on at least one of the legs project into the slot to establish an electrical connection between the bus bar and the body. Additionally, the body has at least one aperture to receive at least one conductor therein so that when the body is deformed to crimp the bus bar in the slot, the conductor is crimped within the aperture to the body.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ground connector having a generally U-Shaped body of deformably conductive material including a pair of open ended slots. Each of the slots are defined by opposed, spaced sidewalls and a closed end, and are configured to receive a respective bus bar therein through the open end. A plurality of teeth extend on each of the side walls of the slots to establish an electrical crimp connection between the respective bus bars and the body. Additionally, the body includes a plurality of apertures extending through the body, where at least one of the apertures is located on opposite sides of at least one of the slots to respectively receive at least one conductor therein, so that when the body is deformed to crimp the bus bars in the slots, the conductors are crimped within the apertures to the body
In accordance with further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ground connector having a conductive deformable body including a pair of legs at opposite ends of the body defining a generally U-shaped configuration. The body has an open ended slot defined by a lower end and opposed side walls extending upwardly from a center portion of the body on each leg, the slot being adapted to receive a bus bar for electrical crimp connection. A plurality of inwardly teeth extend from each of the side walls into the slot to establish an electrical crimp connection between the bus bar and the body. The body at the lower end of the open ended slot has a pair of spaced apart outwardly angled cut outs to allow the body to deform into a secure crimp connection to the bus bar. Additionally, a pair of spaced apertures, each of the aperture being adapted to receive at least one conductor therein, so that when the opposite ends of the body are deformed to crimp the bus bar, the conductors are crimped to the body.
In accordance with even further embodiment of the present invention, a method for crimping a connector to at least one bus bar and at least one conductor is provided. The method includes providing a connector including a deformable body having a pair of legs defining a central opening, where each leg has teeth extending into the opening, the body has at least one channel extending through, and the channel is adapted to receive a conductor therein; placing at least one conductor in the channel; deforming the body to initiate a partial crimp between the body and the conductor placed in the channel; inserting a bus bar into the central opening of the body after the conductor is partially crimped and continuing to deform the connector until the conductors are tightly crimped within the channels in the body and the bus bar is crimped between the legs.
Referring now to
Bus bar connector 10 includes a generally flat planar body 12, formed of malleable electrical conducting metal, preferably copper. The body may be considered to be U-shaped, having a pair of legs 14 and 16 and a central upwardly extending, open ended slot 18. Slot 18 accommodates a rectangular bus bar (not shown) for electrical crimp connection thereto. In order to enhance the mechanical and electrical engagement between the bus bar and the body 10, the body includes a plurality of inwardly directed teeth 22, defining the perimeter of the slot 18. The teeth 22 help engage the bus bar by aggressively biting into the bus bar, penetrating any coating thereon to establish engagement therewith, increasing the electrical and mechanical performance. The slot 18 opens up in a scissors like fashion to allow for easy slippage over the bus bar, not shown, where the connector, 10 is fully crimped over the bus bar.
The lower end 18a of slot 18 further includes a pair of outwardly angled cut outs 24 and 26. The cut outs 24 and 26 are provided by way of relief to help deform the legs 14 and 16 of the body during crimping to provide secure crimp connection to the bus bar. Also, the cut outs 24 and 26 in the slot 18 reduce the force required to crimp the body 12 to its proper configuration while making the installation easier for the user.
Body 10 includes a pair of conductor receiving apertures or channels 30 and 32 spaced at apart locations opposite legs 12 and 14. Channels 30 and 32 are generally cylindrical so as to accommodate a cylindrical ground wire (not shown), freeing the installer's hand to operate the tool. Each channel 30 and 32 include an access openings 30a and 32a respectively in communication therewith, extending through the lower surface of the body. The access openings provide an area of relief which accommodates the crimp connection of the body around the conductors. Further, body 12 includes a pair of outwardly directed shoulders 36 and 38, which provide a wider dimension in body 12 at the lower end thereof.
A preferred embodiment of the bus bar connector of the present invention is shown in
Bus bar connector 10′, shown in
Also, the conductor receiving apertures or channels 30′ and 32′ may include modifications to the access openings 30a′ and 32a′. In this regard, the access openings may include inwardly facing recesses 30b′ and 32b′ which may additionally accommodate a smaller gauge ground conductor for crimp connection with connector 10′.
A further embodiment is shown in
The alternate embodiments of the connector shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
While the invention has been described by the foregoing detailed description in relation to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/654,638, filed Sep. 4, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,989,491; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application No. 10/047,673, filed Jan. 14, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,840; and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/263,314 filed on Jan. 22, 2001; which are incorporated herein by reference.
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3236938 | Toedtman | Feb 1966 | A |
3340352 | Teagno et al. | Sep 1967 | A |
3354517 | Levinsky | Nov 1967 | A |
3546366 | Taedtman et al. | Dec 1970 | A |
3781459 | Peek | Dec 1973 | A |
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5103068 | Schrader | Apr 1992 | A |
5200576 | Schrader et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
5936200 | Park | Aug 1999 | A |
5997368 | Mello et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
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6649840 | Triantopoulos et al. | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6989491 | Triantopoulos et al. | Jan 2006 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country |
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1465138 | Jan 1969 | DE |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20060021783 A1 | Feb 2006 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60263314 | Jan 2001 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10654638 | Sep 2003 | US |
Child | 11236442 | US | |
Parent | 10047673 | Jan 2002 | US |
Child | 10654638 | US |