Typically, power is distributed from an insulated overhead cable either by stripping a section of the cable and using a conventional connector, or alternatively, by using an insulation piercing connector (IPC). An IPC makes an electrical contact with the cable when a conducting portion of the IPC pierces the insulation of the cable. Power is drawn from the cable via a tap that is attached to the IPC.
A typical IPC provides for a single tap. This can be a disadvantage in a crowded urban environment where multiple taps are needed to supply power to multiple dwelling units.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments described herein and, together with the description, explain the embodiments. In the drawings:
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.
As described herein, an insulation piercing connector (IPC) housing insulates an IPC that may be used with a single duplex or triplex cable. The IPC housing prevents shorts and protects installers. In addition, the IPC housing includes a feature that may be used with a serialized utility lock to secure the housing. The feature and the lock may prevent unauthorized opening of the IPC housing, tapping the IPC within the IPC housing, and stealing power from the IPC.
Body/trunk 162 of IPC 160 may include one or more holes 176, into which cables/lines for tapping power may be inserted. Although not visible in
Upper jaw 166 may include teeth or serration 168 on its surface facing lower jaw 164. Depending on the implementation, teeth/serration 168 may be formed of material different from that of body/trunk 162, upper jaw 166 or lower jaw 164, such that teeth/serration 168 provides for higher conductivity than other portions of IPC 160. Lower jaw 164 may include a hole whose axis is in the direction toward upper jaw 166. The hole may accommodate a screw/bolt 170.
When screw/bolt 170 is inserted into the hole and turned (e.g., clockwise), holding end 174 of screw/bolt 170 moves toward teeth/serration 168 of upper jaw 166. If a cable is placed in the spacing between teeth/serration 168 and holding end 174 of screw/bolt 170, and screw/bolt 170 is tightened (e.g., via bolt head 172), holding end 174 may be made to push the cable against teeth/serration 168 with sufficient force for teeth/serration 168 to pierce/penetrate the insulation of the cable, to therefore make an electrical/conductive contact with the conductor within the cable. Once cables are affixed in holes 176 and the spacing between teeth/serration 168 and holding end 174, IPC 160 may be inserted into lower cover 104 in the direction of arrow 180. Upper cover 102 may be closed about hinge 120 in the direction of arrow 180. When IPC 160 is inside IPC housing 100 that is closed (e.g.,
Referring to
Lower cover 104 may include front wall 132-1, side wall 132-2, rear wall 132-3, side wall 132-4 (collectively walls 132), and a panel 134 that partially enclose/surround a cavity within lower cover 104. As shown in
In one embodiment, when IPC housing 100 is closed, the top edge surfaces of walls 130-1 and 130-3 are brought to contact the top edge surfaces of walls 132-1 and 132-3, respectively, while the short portions of walls 130-2 and 130-4 and 132-2 and 132-4 provide for two side openings to IPC housing 100. If IPC 160 with cables that are attached to holes 160 of IPC 160 is within IPC housing 100, the cables would extend or project from IPC housing 100 via the side openings/gaps formed by the notched portions of walls 130-2 and 132-2 and 130-4 and 132-4 when IPC housing 100 is closed.
In one implementation, wall 130-2 includes fins 106-1. Each of fins 106-1 is partially separated from other fins 106-1 by slits 107, one of which is labeled in
Similar to wall 130-2, each of walls 130-4, 132-2, and 132-4 includes fins 106-2, 106-4, and 106-3, respectively. Each of fins 106-2, 106-4, and 106-3 is attached to its respective wall in the manner described above with respect to fins 106-1.
When IPC housing 100 is closed, fins 106-1 of wall 130-2 and fins 106-4 of wall 132-2 cover the opening formed by the notched portions of walls 130-2 and 130-4. If IPC 160 with cables in holes 176 are placed within IPC housing 100, fins 106-1 and 106-4 bend to allow the cables to extend from IPC 160 to the outside of housing 100. Because fins 106-1 and 106-4 cover the opening formed by walls 130-2 and 130-4, to steal power by tapping IPC 160 using wires, the wires must pass through fins 106-1 and 106-4 to reach and contact IPC 160. Hence, fins 106-1 and 106-2 provide for protection against power theft.
Similarly, when IPC housing 100 is closed, fins 106-2 of wall 130-4 and 106-3 of wall 132-4 cover the opening formed by walls 130-4 and 132-4. If IPC 160 with cables in holes 176 are placed within IPC housing 100, fins 106-2 and 106-3 allow the cables to extend from IPC 160 to the outside of IPC housing 100. Because fins 106-2 and 106-3 cover the opening formed by walls 10-4 and 132-4, to steal power by tapping IPC 160 using wires, the wires must pass through fins 106-2 and 106-3 to reach and contact IPC 160.
Because each of fins 106-1 through 106-4 is partially separated from other fins via slits 107, if a cable juts out from IPC 160 through a pair of upper and lower fins, fins that are next to the pair of fins remain shut, still covering portions of the openings (in IPC housing 100) through which other holes 176 of IPC 160 may be accessed.
Fins 106-1 through 106-4 may be constructed to be thinner than walls 130 and 132, so that fins 106-1 through 106-4 are more flexible than walls 130 and 132. In some constructions, fins 106-1 through 106-4 may be tapered to be thinner as they extend from walls 130 and 132. In some implementations, fins 106-1 through 106-4 may be made of the same material as walls 130 and 132 or other portions of IPC housing 100. In other implementations, IPC housing 100 may be made of a different material.
As shown in
Front wall 130-1 of upper cover 102 may include an upper locking piece 116, which juts away from the exterior side of wall 130-1. Upper locking piece 116 is supported from front wall 130-1 by support members 114-1, 114-2, and 114-3. Support members 114-1, 114-2, and 114-3 may be equally spaced apart from one another and attached to the exterior surface of front wall 130-1. Furthermore, support members 114-1 through 114-3 may extend from the points of attachment, away from the surface of wall 130-1 in the direction perpendicular to panel 110, toward upper locking piece 116.
Similarly, front wall 132-1 of lower cover 104 may include a lower-locking piece 144 and protrusions 142-1 and 142-2. Lower locking piece 144 and protrusions 142-1 and 142-2 extend away from the exterior surface of front wall 132-1. Lower locking piece 144 is positioned under and between protrusions 142-1 and 142-2, between the plane of panel 132 and the flats of the edges of walls 132.
When IPC housing 100 is closed, upper locking piece 116 is placed over front wall 132-1, and comes into contact with lower locking piece 144. Protrusion 142-1 of front wall 132-1 fits into the spacing between support members 114-2 and 114-3, and protrusion 142-2 of front wall 132-1 fits into the spacing between support members 114-1 and 114-3.
Protrusion 142-1 may be shaped like a flat piece of a right triangle, with one edge of the triangle attached to front wall 132-1 (
When IPC housing 100 is closed, hole 117 in upper locking piece 116 aligns with hole 146 in lower locking piece 144, and provides for the bolt of a lock to pass there-through. When the lock is secured, the lock may prevent upper locking piece 116 and lower locking piece 144 of IPC housing 100 from separating and opening IPC housing 100.
As shown in
Panels 110 and 132 include holes 112 and 136, respectively. Holes 112 and 136 allow moisture or water that sometimes collects inside of IPC housing 100 to leak/dry out and prevent the moisture from causing problems (e.g., rusting, corrosion, etc.). In addition, panels 110 and 132 may include ridges 108 and 150 in the lengthwise directions on exterior surfaces thereof. Ridges 108 and 150 provide for additional strength and rigidity to upper cover 102 and lower cover 104.
Panel 110 includes area 111 that is clear of ridges 108. Depending on the implementation, area 111 may display letters, logos, symbols, pictures, etc.
Walls 132-2 and 132-4 include semi-oval holes 136-1 and 136-2, respectively. Semi-oval hole 136-1 extends from about the center of wall 132-2 to the top edge of wall 132-2. Semi-oval hole 136-2 extends over a corresponding area in wall 132-4. Holes 136-1 and 136-2 permit a cable that is held by teeth/serration 168 of upper jaw 166 and holding end 174 of screw/bolt 170 of IPC 160 to pass through IPC housing 100 while preventing or limiting unauthorized access to IPC 160.
Walls 132-2 and 132-4 include rounded portions 140-1 and 140-2 that cover semi-oval holes 136-1 and 136-2, respectively. As shown in
When a cable is held by upper teeth/serration 168 of upper jaw 166 and holding end 174 of screw 170, and IPC 160 is inserted into lower cover 104 (in the direction of arrow 180), the cable may be substantially perpendicular to the planes of walls 132. As IPC 160 is inserted into lower cover 104, the cable pushes against the middle of fins 106-4 and 106-3. As IPC 160 is pushed further into lower cover 104, fins 106-4 (and fins 106-3) are separated, giving way to central slit 158 of rounded portion 140-1. As IPC 160 is pushed further into lower cover 104, individual flaps 154 of rounded portion 140-1 (and 140-2) are also separated, to accommodate the cable. At this point, each of the individual flaps 154 outwardly extend from the plane of wall 132-2 along the surface of the cable, gripping the cable. Rounded portion 140-2 and corresponding flaps 154 may be constructed similarly as rounded portion 140-1 and its flaps 154 and may operate similarly.
When IPC 160 is inside IPC housing 100 and IPC housing 100 is closed, because flaps 154 protrude outward and away from walls 132-2 and 132-4 and they apply force to the cable held by teeth/serration 168 and holding end 174 associated with IPC 160, accessing IPC 160 through flaps 154 and tapping IPC 160 to steal power may be difficult. In some implementations, to provide flexibility to flaps 154, each of flaps 154 may be constructed such that each flap's thickness is tapered from its base near wall 132-2 (or 132-4) toward its tip. In addition, depending on the implementation, flaps 154 may be made of a material different form that of walls 132.
As described above, IPC housing 100 insulates and/or protects IPC 160 that may be used with a duplex or triplex cable. IPC housing 100 prevents shorts and protects installers. In addition, IPC housing 100 includes upper locking piece 116 and lower locking piece 144 that may be used with a serialized utility lock (or another type of lock) to secure IPC housing 100. Upper locking piece 116, lower locking piece 144 and the lock may prevent unauthorized opening of IPC housing 100, tapping IPC 160 within IPC housing 100, and stealing power from IPC 160.
The foregoing description of implementations provides illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the teachings.
For example, walls 130-2 and 132-2 and walls 130-4 and 132-4 are described above as forming openings for wires that tap IPC 160 within IPC housing 100. In other implementations, walls 132-2 and 132-4 may include holes, similar to holes 136-1 and 136-2, for accommodating wires that tap IPC 160. In such implementations, in place of fins 106-1 through 106-4, walls 132-2 and 132-4 may include a number of portions that are similarly constructed as rounded portions 140-1 and 140-2 (e.g., having a central slit and flaps), to protect IPC 160 against unauthorized access.
Although different implementations have been described above, it is expressly understood that it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that the implementations may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various changes of form, design, or arrangement may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the above mentioned description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.
No element, act, or instruction used in the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the implementations described herein unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/587,760 filed Jan. 18, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61587760 | Jan 2012 | US |