In different contexts, it may be beneficial (e.g., for compliance with code standards) to provide electrical grounding for conductors. To provide grounding connections, for example, grounding connectors can secure wires or other conductors (e.g., cables) to a conductive body (e.g., a part of the grounding connector, in turn connected to a grounding rod or other grounded component). Generally, grounding connectors provide a mechanically secured electrical grounding connection (i.e., connection to electrical ground) for conductors.
Examples according to this disclosure can provide connector systems, including a variety of components that may be assembled together, for providing electrical grounding connections. For example, some implementations disclosed herein can provide a connector system configured to secure a portion of a conductor that can be secured to one or more other connector systems that collectively form a conductor system.
In one example, a connector system to provide electrical grounding connections can includes a base and a plug. The base can include a base body, a base bore that can extend into the base body along a base axis that defines an axial direction, a lay-in slot that can open at a sidewall of the base body and can form a base conductor channel that intersects the base bore. The plug can have a first end with a first diameter that can be sized to be received in the base bore, and a second end, axially opposite the first end. The base conductor channel can receive a longitudinal portion of a conductor into the lay-in slot at the sidewall so that the conductor extends through the base conductor channel to intersect the base bore. In an assembled configuration, the first end of the plug can extend into the base bore, with the plug aligned with the conductor along the base axis to deform the conductor in the axial direction.
In some examples, the lay-in slot can have a first portion that can extend into the sidewall of the base body substantially perpendicular to the base axis and a second portion that can extend from the first portion substantially parallel to the base axis and along the base bore, and an inner end of the second portion of the lay-in slot can define a seat portion of the base conductor channel that receives the conductor in the assembled configuration. In some such examples, the first portion of the lay-in slot can have a first width and the second portion of the lay-in slot can have a second width that is the same as the first width. In some such examples, the inner end of the second portion of the lay-in slot can be axially aligned with the base axis. In some such examples, the base bore can define a crimping area that can extend axially past the seat portion of the lay-in slot to receive the axial deformation of the conductor. In some such examples, the crimping area can include an axially extending conical surface extending axially at an inner end of the base bore. In some such examples, an angle of the conical surface of the base bore measured relative to the base axis can be in a range between about 55 degrees and about 70 degrees.
In some examples, the connector system can further include a grounding rod that can have a first end that can be coupled to the base at one end and a second end that can be insertable into a ground surface. In some such examples, the base bore can be a first base bore extending axially into the base body at a first axial end, and the base can further include a second base bore that can extend axially into the base body at a second axial end opposite the first axial end and can receive the first end of the grounding rod. In some such examples, the second base bore can be a tapered bore, and the first base bore may not be a tapered bore.
In some examples, the connector system can further include a cap that can include a cap body, a cap bore that can extend axially into the cap, and a cap conductor channel that can intersect the cap bore. The conductor can be a first conductor, and the second end of the plug can have a second diameter sized to be received within the cap bore. In the assembled configuration, the second end of the plug can be secured in the cap bore, aligned with the cap conductor channel along the base axis that can deform a second conductor extending through the cap conductor channel. In some such examples, the lay-in slot of the base can be a first lay-in slot, and the cap conductor channel can be formed by a second lay-in slot that can open at a sidewall of the cap body and can be configured to receive a longitudinal portion of the second conductor so that the second conductor extends through the cap conductor channel to intersect the base bore. In some such examples, the cap conductor channel can be formed by a first conductor bore and a second conductor bore that can extend into opposing sides of the cap body and intersect the cap bore. In some such examples, an axis defined by the first conductor bore can be substantially parallel to an axis defined by the second conductor bore. In some such examples, the first diameter of the first end of the plug can be larger than the second diameter of the second end of the plug. In some such examples, the plug can further include a central portion with a third diameter that can be larger than the first diameter, and the central portion of the plug can be seated on the base in the assembled configuration.
In another example, a method of electrically grounding one or more conductors can include inserting a longitudinal portion of a conductor into a lay-in slot that opens at a sidewall of a base body of a connector system, and sliding the longitudinal portion of the conductor along a base conductor channel formed by the lay-in slot, so that the conductor intersects a first base bore that extends in an axial direction into the base body from a first end of the base body. The method can further include inserting a first end of a plug of the connector system that has a first diameter into the base bore at the first end of the base body. A second end of the plug, opposite the first end, can be hammered to place the connector system in an assembled configuration in which the first end of the plug is secured within the first base bore and is aligned with the conductor along the base axis to deform the conductor in the axial direction.
In some examples, the method can further include, before hammering the second end of the plug, inserting an end of a grounding rod into a second base bore of the base body that extends into the base body at a second end of the base body, opposite the first end.
In yet another example, a connector system to provide electrical grounding connections can include a base, a plug, and a grounding rod. The base can include a base body, a first base bore that can extend into the base body along a base axis at a first axial end of the base, a second base bore that can extend axially into the base body at a second axial end opposite the first axial end, and a base conductor channel that can be formed by a lay-in slot and intersects the base bore. The plug can have a first end that can be sized to be received in the base bore, and a second end, axially opposite the first end. The grounding rod can have a first end that can be received with the second base bore and a second end that can be insertable into a ground surface. The lay-in slot includes an opening at a sidewall of the base body that can receive a longitudinal portion of a conductor into the base conductor channel, a first portion that can extend from the opening transverse to the base axis, and a second portion that can extend from the first portion along the base bore to a seat portion at an inner end of the lay-in slot. In an assembled configuration, the longitudinal portion of the conductor can be seated on the seat portion and the first end of the plug can extend within the base bore to deform the conductor axially past the seat portion.
In some examples, the connector system can further include a cap that can include a cap body, a cap bore that can extend axially into the cap body, and a cap conductor channel that intersects the cap bore. The conductor can be a first conductor, and the second end of the plug can be sized to be received within the cap bore. In the assembled configuration, the second end of the plug can extend within the cap bore to deform a second conductor that extends through the cap conductor channel.
Other aspects of the disclosed technology, including particular features and advantages thereof, will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the figures and detailed description herein.
Before any examples of the disclosed technology are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosed technology is capable of other implementations and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.
The present disclosure and accompanying figures relate generally to grounding connectors, including grounding connectors that utilize shear bolts and lay-in grounding connectors. Although examples of grounding connectors are disclosed with reference to particular installation contexts, the concepts disclosed herein can be applied for connectors in a wide range of applications.
As generally noted above, grounding connections for conductors can be useful in a variety of contexts. To ensure appropriate grounding connections, it is important to appropriately mechanically secure conductors to grounding connectors. For example, some code requirements may require that grounding connectors provide at least a minimum force to detach grounded conductors from the grounding connector (e.g., a minimum permissible pull-out load).
Using conventional grounding connectors, it may be difficult to connect multiple conductors to a relevant grounding (or other) body. Conventional designs also generally do not allow for easy expansion of grounding systems. For example, using conventional grounding connectors, it may be difficult to add additional conductors to a grounding (or other) connection assembly without removing or replacing existing connectors.
In this regard, some examples disclosed herein can include grounding connectors that can secure wires or conductors to a conductive body relatively securely and that can be ganged together (e.g., hammer-drivable into a stacked configuration) to allow users to easily expand the number of connections for existing grounding connections or easily include multiple conductors in an initial (or subsequent) installation.
In some examples, a grounding connector disclosed herein can secure conductors using mechanical engagement (e.g., frictional or deforming contact) between a plug and a connector body. In some configurations, for example, a cylindrical plug can be sized to be received into a corresponding bore of one of more connector bodies (e.g., two connector bodies at the same time), to thereby secure one or more respective conductors to the relevant connector. In some cases, two connector bodies can be secured together (e.g., with a common plug) to thereby secure various conductor arrays to the respective connector bodies as well as to itself provide a conductive connection between the secured conductors via the connector bodies.
In some examples, connector bodies can be formed as caps, with an anvil surface for hammering the cap into engagement with a corresponding plug or other base assembly. For example, some caps can include a flattened area on an end opposite the opening that receives a plug, to be hammered to secure the cap into an engaged configuration. In some examples, connector bodies can be formed as bases, configured to be secured to a grounding rod or another object (e.g., also by hammering). For example, a first opening on a base (e.g., a tapered bore) can be configured to engage a grounding rod and a second opening on an opposing end of the base (e.g., a non-tapered bore) can be configured to receive a plug to secure a conductor.
As used herein, terms such as “base” and “cap” can provide a useful reference frame relative to particular installed configurations. In this regard, as described herein, base generally refers to a lower connector body that is positioned below another connector body, and cap generally refers to an upper connector body that is positioned above another connector body. For example, a base connector body can be secured to a grounding rod at a first end, and can receive a plug into second end to secure one or more conductors to the grounding rod via the base connector body. Further, in some examples, a cap can be secured to such a base connector body (e.g., via the plug noted above) to thereby connect additional conductors to the grounding rod and base connector assembly (e.g., as a retrofit expansion of an already installed system). However, unless otherwise noted, use of “base” and “cap” to describe a particular component is not intended to be limiting relative to the particular orientation of a particular connector body within a larger system. For example, two caps from the example above can be secured together in some configurations, or a second base connector body can be secured to the base connector assembly in place of the noted cap.
Generally, both bases and caps can have conductor channels that extend through the connector body to intersect the openings that receive the plugs (e.g., formed as transverse bores through a connector body). Accordingly, for example, a plug received into a connector body can mechanically engage a conductor (e.g., solid or stranded cable) that is receive through the corresponding conductor holes and thereby secure the conductor to the connector body. In some cases, a recessed crimping area along an opening that receives a plug can be generally aligned with (e.g., intersected by or adjacent to) a conductor channel, so that full insertion of the plug into the opening can cause the conductor to be deformed into the crimping area.
In different examples, different modular connection assembly can be assembled, including with connector bodies that are formed with lay-in slots, are configured to receive grounding rods, or are gangable with each other or relative to preinstalled connection assemblies. Generally, in this regard, a wire or other conductor can be inserted into a conductor channel (e.g., lay-in slot) that intersects a bore of a conductor body (e.g., of a base or a cap), and a plug can be fitted into the bore. The connector body and the plug can then be secured together to secure the conductor in place, including by hammering an end of the plug or of the connector body to drive the plug into the bore. Generally, the corresponding conductor can thus be pressed firmly into the plug and the connector body so that a reliable and mechanically secure electrical connection is formed. In some configurations, particularly arranged plugs can secure first conductors to first connector bodies and simultaneously also secure second conductors to second connector bodies (e.g., and thereby also secure the connector bodies together). In some examples, a plug can be positioned between two connector bodies so that the plug can be driven co-axially into a bore of each connector body with a single-direction hammer blow. The connector bodies can then be readily hammered together or, as applicable, the plug can first be hammered into a first connector body and then a second connector body can be hammered onto the first and the plug (or vice versa).
In the illustrated example of
Generally, the connector system 100 can be configured to secure at least one conductor (e.g., stranded or solid wire) and can include various combinations of at least one plug and at least one base or at least one cap. It should also be appreciated that the base 116 and the cap 120 can be configured differently than illustrated in
As shown in
In some examples, such a movement of a plug can be caused by hammer blows onto anvil surfaces on either axial end of a connector system (e.g., at anvil surfaces 232 on opposing ends of axially opposed connector bodies). As described in more detail below, in some examples, one or more of the base ends 252, 254 of the base 116, the cap ends 236, 238 of the cap 120, or the ends 172, 176 of the plug 108 may be configured as anvil surfaces 232.
In some examples, a plug according to the disclosed technology can be configured to be received into bores of opposing connector bodies (e.g., a base and a cap, as shown in
In some examples, plugs of a connector system having varied diameters can provide for improved installation and more secure retention of connections thereafter. For example, in the illustrated implementation, a first sidewall 196 of the plug 108 extends between the first end 172 and the central portion 180, and has a first diameter D1 at a widest portion of the first sidewall 196. A second sidewall 204 is defined between the crimping face 188 and the central portion 180, and has a second diameter D2 at a widest portion of the second sidewall 204. The central portion 180 extends axially between the first and second ends 172, 176 and has a third diameter D3 at a widest portion of the central portion 180. In some cases, a difference between the third diameter D3 and either of the first or second diameters D1, D2 can provide a positive stop against over-insertion of the plug 108 into a bore of a connector body (e.g., the base bore 156 of the base 116 or the cap bore 158 of the cap 120 of
In one example, at least one of the first sidewall 196, the second sidewall 204, and the central portion 180 of the plug 108 is tapered (e.g., linearly sloped with respect to the plug axis 168). In another example, at least one of the first sidewall 196, the second sidewall 204, and the central portion 180 of the plug 108 is not tapered (e.g., extends parallel to the plug axis 168). Correspondingly, bores of associated connector bodies can be tapered or not tapered in different examples, as can provide more or less aggressive holding force, respectively, for a plug inserted within a bore to a particular depth. In one example, one or more shoulders 216 may be located at the transition between the central portion 180 and either the first sidewall 196 or the second sidewall 204, between the first sidewall 196 and the first end 172, or between the second sidewall 204 and the tapered projection 184. Generally, the one or more shoulders 216 provide a dimensional transition between the various portions of the plug 108 and can extend a shorter distance along the plug axis 168 than the first sidewall 196, the second sidewall 204 or the central portion 180. As similarly noted above, relative the differences in the diameters D1, D2, D3, the contours provided by the one or more shoulders 216 can thus, in some cases, provide a positive stop against over-insertion of the plug 108 within one or both of the base bore 156 or the cap bore 158 (e.g., as shown in
In the illustrated example, the first sidewall 196, the second sidewall 204, and the central portion 180 are generally cylindrical in shape and each are centered around the plug axis 168. Likewise, the third diameter D3 is greater than each of the first diameter D1 and the second diameter D2. In other examples, the first diameter D1 may be greater than or the same as the second diameter D2.
In one example, to assemble the base 116, the cap 120, and the plug 108 in the assembled configuration (as shown in
In another example, hammer blows (or other striking forces) on the first end 172 of the plug 108 can secure the cap 120 or the base 116 to the plug 108 to form an assembled configuration similar to the assembled configurations shown in
As also shown in
Also as shown in
In some cases, a recessed region can be provided within a bore in a connector body, as can receive a conductor during installation and potentially guide (or limit) deformation thereof by a plug. For example, in the configuration shown in
In the example illustrated in
As noted above, a shoulder or other stop on a plug can help prevent over-insertion of the plug into a connector body, including as shown relative to the base 116 in
As shown in
As generally noted above, some configurations of a connector system may include (or not include) components other than the components shown in the example connector system 100 of
The connector system 400 of
As shown in
In the illustrated example, the plug 408 has a first end 476, a second end 472 opposite the first end 476, and a central portion 480 disposed between the first and second ends 476, 472. The first end 476 of the plug 408 has a first diameter D1 sized to be received within the first base bore 456. Further, in the illustrated example, the second end 472 of the plug 408 has a second diameter D2 that is different than the first diameter D1 of the first end 476 of the plug 408. For example, in some cases, the second diameter D2 of the second end 472 of the plug 408 can be sized to be received within a cap bore (not shown) of the cap 420 (see
In some cases, a shoulder or other feature of the plug 408 can be configured to provide a positive stop to prevent insertion of plug 408 into the first base bore 456 of base 416 past a predefined axial distance. In some cases, a shoulder or other feature of the plug 408 can provide a visual indicator of appropriate insertion depth (e.g., at the transition between diameters D2 and D3). In some cases, a difference in diameters can provide for improved staging (e.g., centering) of the plug 408 in a bore before hammering (e.g., at the transition between the diameters D1 and D3).
Referring still to
The base 416 further includes a lay-in slot 524 that opens at a sidewall 432 of the base body 424, and a base conductor channel 436 that is formed by the lay-in slot 524 and intersects the first base bore 456. In the illustrated example, the base conductor channel 436 is configured to receive a longitudinal portion of a conductor (e.g., a longitudinal portion of one of the wires 192 in
As best shown in
In an assembled configuration (e.g., as shown in
As mentioned above, in some examples, components of a connector system can be arranged in various orientations to provide for various orientations of two or more conductors. For example,
In this regard, for example, the first (e.g., lower or middle) plug 108A is engaged with the base 116 to form a first (e.g., lower) sub-assembled configuration, and the second (e.g., upper) plug 108B is engaged with the cap 120 to form a second (e.g., upper) sub-assembled configuration. Further, the first and second sub-assembled configurations are arranged so that the first plug 108A can be received into opposing bores of both the base 116 and the cap 120 (i.e., the first base bore 156 and the first cap bore 158) and thereby secure the first and second sub-assemblies together to place the connector system 500 into one or more assembled configurations (as shown in
In the example of
In the first assembled configuration of
In the second assembled configuration of
In different implementations, differently oriented conductor channels can allow secure engagement of different arrangements or numbers of conductors. In this regard,
Thus, some examples of the disclosed technology can provide improved systems for grounding and other electrical connections. For example, a plug and associated connector bodies can be easily and reliably mechanically secured together, in a variety of arrangements, to form a robust electrical connection between the multiple conductors. Thus, for example, through interchangeable use of various plugs and connector bodies (e.g., caps and bases), some implementations of the disclosed technology can readily provide customizable stacked and other ganged configurations for conductors. Further, some implementations can be flexibly used to interconnect various connection subassemblies, to connect multiple conductors together, and to add more conductors to expand a connector system after an initial installation (or previous expansion). In some cases, utilizing a limited number of types of substantially identical plugs, substantially identical bases, and substantially identical caps (e.g., each manufactured as a respective integrally-formed component) can provide a high degree of flexibility for installation, while also reducing the amount of inventory necessary to produce a wide variety of electrical connections.
Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
The term “about,” as used herein, refers to variation in the numerical quantity that may occur, for example, through typical measuring and manufacturing procedures used for articles of footwear or other articles of manufacture that may include examples of the disclosure herein; through inadvertent error in these procedures; through differences in the manufacture, source, or purity of the ingredients used to make the compositions or mixtures or carry out the methods; and the like. Throughout the disclosure, the terms “about” and “approximately” refer to a range of values±5% of the numeric value that the term precedes.
Also as used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, “or” indicates a non-exclusive list of components or operations that can be present in any variety of combinations, rather than an exclusive list of components that can be present only as alternatives to each other. For example, a list of “A, B, or C” indicates options of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; and A, B, and C. Correspondingly, the term “or” as used herein is intended to indicate exclusive alternatives only when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of” For example, a list of “one of A, B, or C” indicates options of: A, but not B and C; B, but not A and C; and C, but not A and B. A list preceded by “one or more” (and variations thereon) and including “or” to separate listed elements indicates options of one or more of any or all of the listed elements. For example, the phrases “one or more of A, B, or C” and “at least one of A, B, or C” indicate options of: one or more A; one or more B; one or more C; one or more A and one or more B; one or more B and one or more C; one or more A and one or more C; and one or more of A, one or more of B, and one or more of C. Similarly, a list preceded by “a plurality of” (and variations thereon) and including “or” to separate listed elements indicates options of multiple instances of any or all of the listed elements. For example, the phrases “a plurality of A, B, or C” and “two or more of A, B, or C” indicate options of: A and B; B and C; A and C; and A, B, and C.
Also as used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, “integral” and derivatives thereof (e.g., “integrally”) describe elements that are manufacture as a single piece without fasteners, adhesive, or the like to secure separate components together. For example, an element stamped as a single-piece component from a single piece of sheet metal, without rivets, screws, or adhesive to hold separately formed pieces together is an integral (and integrally formed) element. In contrast, an element formed from multiple pieces that are separately formed initially then later connected together, is not an integral (or integrally formed) element.
Also as used herein, unless otherwise defined or limited, the term “lateral” refers to a direction at least a component of which does not extend in parallel with a reference direction. In some cases, a lateral direction can be a radial (i.e., perpendicularly outward) direction relative to an axis that extends in a reference direction.
Also as used herein, unless otherwise defined or limited, reference to alignment “along” an axis or other reference line, and the like, indicates that each of the relevant components is on the relevant axis or reference line, i.e., is intersected by the axis or line. Thus, for example, a plug and a conductor that are aligned along a common axis may be both located on the common axis and movable along the common axis to contact each other.
Also as used herein, unless otherwise limited or specified, “substantially identical” refers to two or more components or systems that are manufactured or used according to the same process and specification, with variation between the components or systems that are within the limitations of acceptable tolerances for the relevant process and specification. For example, two components can be considered to be substantially identical if the components are manufactured according to the same standardized manufacturing steps, with the same materials, and within the same acceptable dimensional tolerances (e.g., as specified for a particular process or product).
Also as used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, “substantially parallel” indicates a direction that is within ±12 degrees of a reference direction (e.g., within ±6 degrees), inclusive. For a path that is not linear, the path can be considered to be substantially parallel to a reference direction if a straight line between end-points of the path is substantially parallel to the reference direction or a mean derivative of the path within a common reference frame as the reference direction is substantially parallel to the reference direction. Similarly, as used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, “substantially perpendicular” indicates a direction that is within ±12 degrees of perpendicular a reference direction (e.g., within ±6 degrees), inclusive. For a path that is not linear, the path can be considered to be substantially perpendicular to a reference direction if a straight line between end-points of the path is substantially perpendicular to the reference direction or a mean derivative of the path within a common reference frame as the reference direction is substantially perpendicular to the reference direction.
In some implementations, devices or systems disclosed herein can be utilized, manufactured, installed, etc. using methods embodying aspects of the disclosed technology. Correspondingly, any description herein of particular features, capabilities, or intended purposes of a device or system is generally intended to include disclosure of a method of using such devices for the intended purposes, of a method of otherwise implementing such capabilities, of a method of manufacturing relevant components of such a device or system (or the device or system as a whole), and of a method of installing disclosed (or otherwise known) components to support such purposes or capabilities. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated or limited, discussion herein of any method of manufacturing or using for a particular device or system, including installing the device or system, is intended to inherently include disclosure, as examples of the disclosed technology, of the utilized features and implemented capabilities of such device or system.
As noted previously, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while the disclosed technology has been described above in connection with particular implementations and examples, the disclosure is not necessarily so limited, and that numerous other implementations, examples, uses, modifications and departures from the implementations, examples and uses are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto. The entire disclosure of each patent and publication cited herein is incorporated by reference, as if each such patent or publication were individually incorporated by reference herein. Various features and advantages of the disclosed technology are set forth in the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/383,741, entitled “GROUNDING CONNECTOR SYSTEM” and filed Nov. 15, 2022, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63383741 | Nov 2022 | US |