The invention relates generally to mechanical and/or electrical connectors. More specifically, the inventor relates to a connector, or a combination of connectors, that mechanically connect, and optionally electrically connect, members inserted into the connector(s). The members being connected will reside in and be gripped/squeezed by the wall(s) of an elongated passageway(s) of the connector(s). The connector(s) preferably does/do not include a conventional set-screw or set-bolt connection or a crimp electrical connection, and, instead, utilize axial pulling, and the resulting movement, of a spiral to tighten the coils of the spiral around the members being connected.
In certain versions, the connectors are used to mechanically connect multiple elongated members to each other, or one or more elongated members to another object, such as a wall, tower, or other construction or utility object. In certain of the mechanical connection embodiments, the elongated member(s) and the connector, and the other object, if any, may consist of or comprise electrically-conductive materials/components, so that the mechanical connection also results in electrical connection.
The invention comprises a mechanical and/or electrical connector and/or methods of making or using same. The connector grips onto one or more members inside a hollow passageway of the connector by means of the connector, or a portion of the connector, being pulled axially to elongate the connector/connector-portion, which consequently reduces the diameter of the passageway. Thus, certain embodiments of the connector may be called an “axial-pull” connector. The reduction in the diameter of the passageway causes the connector/connector-portion to tighten/squeeze/grip on or around the member(s) inside the passageway, to retain the member(s) inside the passageway. Thus, the connector mechanically connects the inserted member(s) to each other and/or to another object to which the connector is mechanically connected. For example, members inserted into opposite ends of the passageway of the connector, or multiple members inserted together into one end of the passageway, will be mechanically connected. In certain embodiments, the connectors may be used to mechanically connect one or more members inserted into one, or optionally two ends of the passageway, to a fastener that is connected to or fixed to another object, for example, a construction or other utilitarian element.
The preferred axial-pull connector comprises a spiral structure (or “helical” or “coiled” structure) that elongates when said structure is put under tension along its longitudinal axis. During this elongation, at least portions of the spiral structure, for example one or more coils of the spiral, will become reduced in inner diameter to reduce the diameter of at least a portion, or preferably at least a substantial portion, of the hollow passageway inside the structure.
Depending on the materials of the connector parts and the inserted member(s), electrical connection between the inserted member(s) may be achieved. Depending on the materials of the connector parts, the inserted member(s), the fastener, and said another object, electrical connection between the inserted member(s) and said another object may be achieved. For example, if inserted members are of electrically-conductive material and their lengths overlap, for example, the stripped strands of multi-strand cables, the inserted members (strands) will be squeezed together into tight contact and, hence, into electrical contact with each other. For example, if the material of the spiral coils forming the passageway is also electrically-conductive, the squeezing of inserted member(s) inside the passageway will form an electrical connection between the member(s) and the spiral coils; this way, if electrically-conductive members are inserted into opposite, open ends of the connector passageway, the conductive spiral coils will place the oppositely-inserted members into electrical connection with each other even if said inserted members are not touching each other. For example, if the inserted member(s) is/are electrically conductive, spiral coils forming the passageway, and the fastener are electrically conductive, and said another object is electrically conductive and in electrical connection with said conductive spiral coils, then the inserted member(s) is/are in electrical connection with said another object.
In certain embodiments, a connector may comprise one spiral, or multiple spirals, that each comprises multiple coils. Multiple spirals may be connected to each other mechanically and/or electrically. For example, a “spiral-unit” may comprise multiple spiral portions connected by a non-spiraled region, for example, a spiral-unit with a spiral portion at or near each end of the spiral-unit and with a non-spiraled central portion about midway along the spiral-unit. A spiral-unit, therefore, need not in all embodiments have coils all along its length but instead may have non-spiral regions, as long as the non-spiral regions do not significantly interfere with axial movement and tightening of the diameter of the spiral regions. In many embodiments, multiple spiral portions of a spiral-unit will typically coil around a single longitudinal axis; thus, multiple spiral portions may be longitudinally aligned.
In certain embodiments, multiple spirals, or multiple spiral-units each comprising multiple spiral portions, may be coaxially-arranged or generally-coaxially-arranged, and, hence, the connector may be called a “multi-layer” connector for connecting coaxial or other “multi-layer” assemblies, such as multi-layer cable. A multi-layer connector may be used to mechanically (and optionally also electrically) connect elongated outer strand(s)/member(s) of a first assembly to the elongated outer strand(s)/member(s) of a second assembly, and to mechanically (and optionally also electrically) connect central core strand(s)/member(s) of the first assembly to central core strand(s)/member(s) of the second assembly. Such connectors are beneficial for connecting, for example, two aluminum-conductor steel-reinforced (“ACSR”) cables, wherein each has a steel core of multiple steel strands, and outer aluminum strands surrounding the steel core.
Certain embodiments of the multi-layer connector comprise two spiral ends and a central spiral-unit, wherein the two spiral ends are generally larger in diameter than the central spiral-unit. Two “coaxial” or “multi-layer” cables, typically not comprising insulation at least on the cable ends, are received in the opposing ends and are each captured and retained by a respective spiral. The outer strands of each cable are preferably cut or otherwise shortened relative to the core strands of each cable, so that the core strands extends further into the connector to enter into, and be captured and retained in the central spiral-unit. Sleeve(s) or other housing system(s) connect the two spirals ends to each other and/or to the central spiral-unit so that the connector is a single unit capturing and securely retaining the outer strands and also the core strands of the cables. Materials of the spiral ends, the central spiral-unit, and the sleeve(s)/housing(s) may be made of different materials and may be selected to maximum mechanical strength, and/or electrical conductivity, if desired.
Certain embodiments may mechanically connect end-to-end, and optionally also electrically connect in some embodiments, cables, bars, rods, or reinforcing bar (“rebar”) or other elongated members, for use in construction or other utilitarian applications. Certain embodiments of the connector may have a spiral/spiral-unit at each end of the connector, with a turnbuckle or other adjustment system in between the two spirals/spiral-units for adjusting length of the connector and, hence, the tension or position of the connected elongated members. Alternatively or additionally, an alternative adjustment system may be provided between the two spirals/spiral-units for adjusting the angle of the captured elongated member(s) at one end of the connector to the captured member(s) at the other end of the connector.
Certain embodiments may mechanically connect, and optionally also electrically connect in some embodiments, a member or members inserted into the connector to another object via a fastener(s). For example, a cable, bar, or rod, rebar, or other member may be captured in one portion of the connector and then connected via the fastener(s) to a building, bridge, beam, post, footing, foundation, roof, or other construction or utilitarian object. The connector may include length-adjustment, pivot, swing, or sliding adaptations, for example for improved installation or adjustment of the connector, and hence of the cable, bar, rod, rebar, or other member, relative to the construction or other utilitarian object. For example, a turnbuckle or a ball-joint may be provided as a portion of the fastener and/or between the fastener and the spiral/spiral-unit.
These and other features and objects of certain embodiments of the invention will be apparent after reading and viewing this document and its drawings.
Note that only
Referring to the drawings, there are shown several but not the only embodiments of the invented connector. The connector comprises a spiral or one or more spirals, one or more spiral portions, or a helix or one or more helices, but hereafter the term “spiral” is used, or the term “spiral portion” is used in the case of a spiral unit that has multiple spiral regions with one or more non-spiraled regions between or adjacent to the spiral regions. For example, dictionary definitions of “spiral” typically include definitions such as: a) a three-dimensional curve (as a helix) with one or more turns about an axis, or b) the path of a point in a plane moving around a central point while continuously receding from or approaching it. While certain spirals in the preferred connectors may fall under either of these definitions, it is preferred in many embodiments that the spiral has generally or substantially or entirely the same inner diameter along its length, rather than significantly changing its diameter along its length. Therefore, definition “a” above is preferred when describing the spirals or spiral portions for most embodiments.
The coils of each spiral or spiral portion may be formed, for example, by cutting tubular stock, or by wrapping or winding material, to surround and define an internal passageway with at least one open end, and in many embodiments two open ends, for insertion of the inserted members. The individual coils that form a given spiral or spiral portion are typically of the same or nearly the same diameter (especially, in most embodiments, the same or nearly the same internal diameter) but may optionally be of different diameters in certain embodiments as suggested in the paragraph immediately above.
The coils of the spirals and spiral portions are each preferably at least somewhat flexible and/or bendable, so that pulling axially on an end or both ends of the spiral will lengthen the spiral without breaking or cracking the spiral. Said lengthening may be achieved mainly or entirely, for example, by means of the coils flexing/bending while separating and tightening in diameter. In certain embodiments, the coils are resilient, which results in the tension placed on the spiral or spiral portion (“spiral/portion”) being resisted by the spiral/portion's resiliency, that is, by the material's natural bias to return to its original length and shape. In certain embodiments, said resiliency will be a factor in latching or locking the spiral/portion in the tightened position. For example, a tightener that screws in one direction onto the end of the spiral/portion, and abuts against a housing, may be held tightly against the housing upon tightening of the spiral/portion due to said natural resiliency of the spiral/portion, and, hence, the tightener will be less likely to rotate in the opposite direction and become unintentionally loosened by vibration or impact. In certain embodiments, therefore, the spiral may be, or may be similar to, a spring, for example, being resilient and naturally biased to remain in its shortened, larger-diameter (the relaxed position) but moveable into the axially-pulled, longer and tightened-diameter upon application of sufficient axial tension.
One of skill in the mechanical arts will understand, after reading this document and viewing the drawings, that pulling axially outward on both ends of a spiral of these connectors, herein, or on one end while the other end or a central or other region of the spiral is fixed/secured, will move the individual coils of the spiral so that the spiral will lengthen while the coils (typically each coil) tighten to be smaller in diameter than when the spiral is in a shortened (relaxed, non-axially-pulled) configuration. The material and shape of the spiral, therefore, allows the spiral to elongate when both ends (or one end relative to a fixed end or region) are pulled axially outward, preferably with this elongation occurring by means of movement and tightening of all or nearly all the coils, rather than by any significant stretching/thinning of the material of one or more of the coils. Also, it will be understood that a spiral-unit with multiple spiral portions and at least one non-spiral portion will act similarly or the same as described above in this paragraph, wherein pulling axially outward on both ends of the spiral-unit at the same time can tighten all spiral portions, or pulling axially outward on one end while the other end or a central or other region of the spiral is fixed/secured can tighten the spiral portion(s) between said one end and the other, fixed/secured end, or can tighten the spiral portion(s) between said one end and said central or other fixed/secured region.
Certain embodiments of the connector comprise a threaded, slanted, ramped, and/or cammed actuation system that directly or indirectly applies a force on an end/region of the spiral to pull the end/region axially away from “a fixed/secured region” of the spiral, to accomplish the axial pull and consequent lengthening and tightening. In certain embodiments, a rotatable member threadably engages the end/region of the spiral, and turning the rotatable member against a non-compressible, non-moving abutment surface (such as an abutment surface of a housing) will cause the relative motion of the rotatable member and the end/region, to pull axially on the said threaded end/region. In other words, the rotation of the rotatable member is converted into linear motion of the end/region. One may understand, from this disclosure, how the threads serve as one embodiment of a slanted or ramped system for accomplishing the axial pull.
In certain embodiments, the rotatable member may be a threaded nut-style tightener, which threadably engages a threaded first region of the spiral or spiral-unit. The tightener slidably abuts against a rigid and incompressible (or, less preferably, substantially rigid and substantially incompressible) abutment surface of a housing sleeve encircling the spiral, wherein the housing sleeve is fixed to a second region of the spiral or spiral-unit. When the tightener is rotated/twisted further onto the threaded first spiral region (further toward the center of the spiral or spiral unit), the tightener's movement relative to the abutment member is limited to rotation, and that rotation by means of threaded-engagement forces the threaded first spiral region axially away (outward) from the abutment member and, therefore, axially away from the second spiral region. This axial force/pulling serves to length the spiral, whereby its coils naturally move to a smaller-diameter configuration as, in effect, the first spiral region is pulled away from the second spiral region. The resulting reduced-diameter of the spiral, preferably all the way from at or near the first spiral region to at or near the second spiral region, will squeeze and grip the member(s) received inside the tightened/smaller spiral passageway. Said first spiral region and said second spiral region may be opposite ends of a spiral, for example, wherein pulling on both ends tightened the single spiral structure between the two ends.
In spiral units comprising multiple spiral portions and at least one non-spiraled portion, said first spiral region may be an end of the spiral-unit, and said second region may be a central portion of the spiral-unit that is fixed to the housing, for example. In such cases, the pulling of the first spiral region relative to the central portion serves to tighten one of the multiple spiral portions of the spiral-unit. To tighten the other spiral portion(s) of the spiral-unit, a similar procedure is followed, wherein the opposite end/region of the spiral-unit may also be threaded and a second threaded nut-style or other tightener is screwed into said opposite end/region to tighten the spiral portion at or near said opposite end/region. Said second tightener may slidably abut against a surface of a rigid and incompressible abutment member, for example, the opposite end of said housing sleeve. When the second tightener is rotated/twisted further onto the threaded opposite end/region of the spiral-unit, the second tightener's movement relative to the abutment member is limited to rotation, and that rotation by means of threaded-engagement forces said opposite end/region of the spiral-unit axially away (outward) from the abutment member and, therefore, axially away from the central portion of the spiral-unit. This axial force/pulling serves to lengthen the spiral near said opposite end/region whereby its coils naturally move to a smaller-diameter configuration as said opposite end/region of the spiral is pulled away from the central portion. The resulting reduced-diameter of the spiral portion, preferably all the way from at or near said opposite end/region to at or near the central portion, will squeeze and grip the member(s) received inside the tightened/smaller spiral passageway. This configuration may be envisioned, for example, to connect two cables or other members that are inserted into openings in the two opposing ends of the connector. If the cable/members inserted into the two ends comprise strands/wires, the strands/wires of each cable will be squeezed together in tight contact and captured inside the spiral passageway. If the cable strands/wires and also the spiral unit are electrical conductive, the two tightly-squeezed cables will become electrically connected with each other even when they don't touch each other.
A spiral or spiral-unit may be supplemented by other fasteners or adjustors. For example, terminal ends, fasteners, turnbuckles, mounts, pivots, lockable or latchable pivots, plates, ball joints, lockable or latchable ball joints, or other mechanical or electrical fasteners or adjustment members may be provided in combination, either connected or integral, with a spiral-based connector. Certain embodiments will require certain elements to be electrical conductive, for example, the entire or substantially the entire spiral-unit and whatever fasteners or adjustment members that are attached or that extend from the spiral or spiral-unit. Certain embodiments for mechanical connection only will not require said spiral/spiral-unit or the attached/extending fasteners/adjustors to be electrically-conductive. Certain embodiments of the disclosed connector technology may be used to mechanically connect two or more members that are squeezed/gripped inside the connector, for example, any elongated members such as rods, bars, poles, re-bar, cable, wire, strands, and/or straps, for example. Said mechanical connection may comprise connecting elongated members so they are coaxial or generally coaxial, for example, end-to-end or nearly end-to-end. Or, said mechanical connection may comprise connecting elongated members so that they are side-by-side or overlapped, for example, bundles of elongated members such as wires or strands of a single cable, or of multiple cables, inserted together into one end of the connector. For mechanical connection, the inserted members are typically non-compressible and non-elastic, so that the inserted members do not significantly deform or stretch when squeezed by the connector, thus, providing a permanent or semi-permanent connection.
Certain embodiments of the disclosed connector technology may be used to mechanically connect two or more members that are squeezed/gripped inside the connector, for example, any elongated members such as rods, bars, poles, re-bar, cable, wire, strands, and/or straps, and to connect said two or more members to another object. For example, certain embodiments may connect the one or more members to a construction element or other utilitarian object, such as a building, bridge including a bridge upright or buttress, beam, buttress, post, footing, foundation, roof, or other construction or utilitarian object. Certain of these embodiments may include, in addition to one or more spiral-units, a fastener or adjustor, such as a eyelet, terminal, hook, ball-joint, turnbuckle, etc.
It will be understood that many of the mechanical connections described herein also may be electrical connections, for example, if electrically-conductive members are being mechanically connected with either said conductive members touching each other, or with electrically-conductive structure (“intermediate” structure) contacting and extending between the members to “close” the circuit. Therefore, certain embodiments of the disclosed connectors may be used to electrically connect two or more electrically-conductive members that are squeezed/gripped inside the connector, for example, any electrically-conductive elongated members such as rods, bars, poles, re-bar, cable, wire, strands, and/or straps, for example. Said electrical connection may comprise electrically connecting said elongated members so they are coaxial or generally coaxial, for example, end-to-end and touching, or distanced from each other but connected with intermediate electrically-conductive structure. Said electrical connection may comprise electrically connecting said elongated members so that they are touching each other by being side-by-side or overlapped, for example. For electrical connection, the inserted members typically will be stripped of insulation prior to insertion, as the electrical connection relies on contact between electrically-conductive spiral and other connector element(s) and electrically-conductive inserted member(s).
The inventor has filed applications and issued patents that disclose the broad concept of a tightenable spiral(s) for a connector, wherein the spiral(s) is/are moved from a relaxed configuration having a relaxed diameter, to a tightened configuration having a tightened diameter smaller than the relaxed diameter, in order to tighten on, and capture, elongated members inserted into in the passageway of the spiral(s). The broad concept also includes latching or locking the spiral in that position for permanent or semi-permanent use in the tightened configuration. Inventor's issued patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,794,255; 7,901,233; 8,066,525; 8,246,370; and 8,771,000.
The present connectors fall under that broad concept definition, as they also comprise a tightenable spiral(s) in a connector, wherein the spiral(s) is/are moved from a relaxed configuration having a relaxed diameter, to a tightened configuration having a tightened diameter smaller than the relaxed diameter, in order to tighten on, and capture, elongated members inserted into in the passageway of the spiral(s). The present connectors also may includes latching or locking the spiral in that position for permanent or semi-permanent use in the tightened configuration.
However, the inventor's earlier connectors rely on twisting ends of spirals/spiral-units to tighten the spiral coils, that is, applying a rotational force on an end of the spiral, so that the end rotates on the longitudinal axis of the spiral, relative to another end/portion of the spiral. The rotational force on the spiral end is typically applied by a user twisting a housing end-cap or other housing-portion that is fixed to the end of the spiral to be rotated. Latching/locking the end-cap/housing-portion and the spiral end in the rotated location, in order to latch/lock the spiral in the tightened configuration, is done by latching/locking the end-cap or other housing-portion to yet another housing portion after the tightening has been accomplished. Some small amount of lengthening of such spirals may occur as a result of the rotational tightening, but the main force, action, and movement is rotational rather than axial. Also, the end-cap or other housing portion that serves as the “handle” for rotating the spiral end is not described as relying on axial-direction-abutment against a housing portion to limit movement of said end-cap/housing-portion in an axial direction.
In the present preferred embodiments, the force applied to the spiral is done by a tightener (tensioner) moving relative to the spiral. That relative movement, preferably by threaded engagement of a threaded tightener with a threaded spiral end/region, pulls the spiral axially, that is, linearly. The current preferred connectors utilize substantially or entirely axial force and axial movement of the spiral to tighten the spiral. In order to pull the spiral end/region axially, the tightener rotates and slides relative to the threaded end of the spiral, enabled by the tightener also rotating and sliding relative to (against) a radial abutment surface provided by a non-compressible surface such as a housing surface. Thus, the tightener is stopped from axial movement in the direction toward the housing, and the forces of further screwing the tightener onto the spiral end/region pull the spiral end/region away from the housing (axially outward).
In other words, while the inventor's earlier twist-tightened connectors and the presently-preferred embodiments are subsets of spiral-based connectors that are tightened by diameter-reduction after members-to-be-connected are inserted into the connector, the earlier and the present connectors differ in certain details. The earlier connectors use rotation of a handle to rotate the spiral end on the longitudinal axis of the connector and the spiral, while the present connectors use rotation of a handle to convert that handle rotation, via a threaded sliding engagement of the handle to the threaded spiral, into linear motion of the spiral.
Referring to the attached Figures, there are shown several, but not the only, embodiments of the disclosed connectors.
Therefore, in particularly-preferred, embodiments, the tightening mechanism is substantially or entirely axial movement of the ends 18, 18′ of the spiral-unit 13. Connector 10 comprises a body 25 (or housing in certain embodiments) into which the spiral-unit 13 is inserted, with the central potion 24 fixed to the body 25 by a rivet 27 or other fastener, such as pin, adhesive, bolt, weld, or clip. Threaded nuts 31, 31′ or other threaded tightener members, are threadably installed on the ends 18, 18′, and rotating/turning them towards the central portion 24 of the spiral-unit and the center of the body 25, while holding/restraining the body 25, will eventually move the nuts 31, 31′ to abut against the radial end surfaces 26, 26′ of the body ends 28, 28′. Further rotating/turning of the nuts 31, 31′ cannot move the nuts 31, 31′ closer to each other or closer to the central portion 24 of the spiral-unit or the center of the body 25, due to the substantially, or preferably entirely, non-compressible body 25, and specifically the end surfaces 26, 26′ being in the way. However, said further rotating/turning of the nuts 31, 31′ against the body 25 results in tension on the spiral-unit 13 (see arrows T), so that the spiral portions 14, 16, and hence the entire spiral-unit 13, elongate under said tension. Thus, said further rotating/turning of the nuts 31, 31′, pulls the ends 18, 18′ and the spirals axially outward relative to the body 25, thus, separating the coils/wraps and tightening them in diameter.
Note that the spirals in the exemplary spiral-unit 13 of
Nut 31′, end 18′, and spiral portion 16, are also right-hand threaded, so that, when viewing the connector 10 from the top edge of
Alternative threading may be used for connector 10 and/or for the other connectors shown herein. For example, ends of the spiral and respective nuts may have left-handed threading, in which case, like the right-handed example, a person may comfortably rotate the two nuts at the same time with two hands moving in opposite directions, or with two hand-held wrenches moving in opposite directions. Or, one end of the spiral and its nut may be right-handed in threading while the other send of the spiral and its nut may be left handed, which may be operable but may result in less intuitive operation for a user as the user will typically have to tighten each nut at different times while holding onto the center of the body. Note, too, that connector 10 and/or the other connectors shown herein may have alternative spiral winding direction(s). For example, in certain embodiments, spiral winding may be 1) all right-handed, 2) all left-handed, or 3) portion(s) that are right-handed and portion(s) that are left-handed. In certain embodiments, the threading on the spiral(s) ends/regions and corresponding, cooperative threading on a tightener (tensioner), for tightening the spiral(s), may be for each of said options 1, 2, and 3, any of: a) all right-handed, b) all left-handed, or c) “mixed” meaning that one end/region is right-handed and another end/region is left-handed.
Not shown in
Note that the rivet 27 fixes the central portion 24 of the spiral-unit 13 to the center of the body 25, so that the inner end of each spiral portion 14, 16 is anchored to the body, allowing the user to hold/restrain the body (and hence the central portion 24) and to turn each nut 31, 31′ independent and at separate times to tighten each spiral. If the spiral-unit 13 were not fixed to the body, holding/restraining the body while turning a single one of the nuts could pull the entire spiral-unit 13 axially inside the body without stretching and tightening the spiral-unit, especially if the opposite nut were not tightened against the opposite end of the body.
Fixing the spiral-unit to a body/housing could be done in different ways, for example, fixing a given end of the spiral-unit to the body by a pin or rivet or by another fastener. Fixing the spiral/spiral-unit to the body/housing at one end, instead of providing a rotatable nut, may be effective in providing a single-entrance connector, wherein elongated members (such as wires, rods, cables or other elongated members) would be inserted in the single-entrance of the passageway, and would be connected mechanically and optionally also electrically by being squeezed together, side-by-side, inside the spiral(s). Therefore, one end of such a spiral-unit could be fixed to a housing/body, and both spiral-unit and body at that end could be closed and/or could comprise a terminal/fastener for connection to another structure. Thus, the open end (with open passageway) would comprise the tightening/pulling nut that would be pulled to tighten the spiral-unit around whatever structure(s) is/are inserted into the passageway of the spiral(s) from the one end.
When connected, the two center shells 11 and 15 are threadably or otherwise connected, to form a housing over connector 10 and to connect the left and right end assemblies 150, 160. Spiral-units 21, 21′ are threadably connected at their inner ends to the outer ends of the center shells 11, 15, respectively, and tensioners 17, 17′ (also “tighteners”) are threaded onto the outer ends of the spiral-units 21, 21′. The spiral-units 21, 21′ are threadably inserted into the shells 11, 15 to a point where they are limited from further rotation motion or axial motion toward the center of the connector 100. The tensioners 17, 17′ may then be rotated by a user, in a similar manner as nuts 31, 31′, wherein said rotation quickly takes the tensioners 17, 17′ to a point where their surfaces 17S, 17S′ abut against the surfaces 11S, 15S of the shells 11, 15. Further rotation of tensioners 17, 17′ will then tension the spiral-units 21, 21′, to force the ends of the spiral-units 21, 21′ axially outward, lengthening and tightening spirals 21, 21′ in a manner similar to that discussed above and elsewhere in this document. Optional, but preferred, locking nuts 19, 19′ may be provided to serve as locking means to keep the tensioners in the tightened configuration wherein spirals 21, 21′ are each in their tightened configuration, that is, the reduced diameter, elongated configuration. Thus, it may be seen to best advantage in
In
Thus, the core (one or more inner strands/wires) are connected mechanically and optionally electrically, by the inner connector 10. Thus, the outer strands are connected mechanically, and optionally electrically, via their respective spirals 21, 21′ being connected to the shells 11, 15 that are connected to each other. Electrical connection, or lack thereof, between the various strands/wires may be established by selecting electrically-conductive materials, or insulating materials, respectively. Also, weight/load bearing may be accomplished by selection of materials that are strong and durable enough to bear said weight. One, but the only, application for a connector 100 may be aluminum-conductor steel-reinforced (ACSR) cable, which is known in the electrical arts and especially in the high-tension overhead electrical cable arts. In a high-tension (high-weight, for example) scenario, the inner steel strands 29 of two cables may need the strong and separate connection afforded by connector 10. The aluminum conductors 33 of the two cables are then connected by the combined left and right assemblies 150, 160 and shell 11, 15 system. Connector 100 may be utilized in scenarios other than ACSR, and the materials may be varied according to the needs of those other scenarios.
It will be understood from viewing the drawings, that the cable strand/wire ends, typically striped or otherwise uninsulated, will be slid through the various portions of the connector before the connector 10, 100 parts are connected and tightened. For example, the left and right assemblies 150, 160 and shells 11, 15 will be slid onto their respective cables C1, C2, and the inner strands 29 will be inserted through the nuts 31, 31′ and into the opposing-end passageways of the spiral 13 and body 25 combination. After tightening of connector 10 with nuts 31, 31′ and locking of the lock nuts 23, 23′, the shells 11, 15 and assemblies 150, 160 may be connected, tightened and locked over and around the outer strands/wires 33. One may note that the outer strands/wires 33 will typically be cut to be shorter than the inner strand/wire 29, as outer strands/wires 33 need reach only through the spiral-units 21, 21′, that is, they need not reach (and will typically not fit) into the connector 10. On may see from the drawings, that the diameter (inside and outer diameter) of the end spirals 21, 21′ are larger than the diameter of the spiral unit 13 inside the core connector 10.
It will be understood that, in certain embodiments, insulation or sealing materials may be present inside, or added onto/around, the connector, and/or the cables or other connected members may be insulated up to the connector.
It may be noted that various housing and spiral-unit structure and arrangements and various inserted members, other than those detailed herein, may be used within the broad scope of the invention. For example, one may see in
Specifically,
Connectors 300, 400, shown in
More specifically,
In
The threaded tensioner 331, 431 is installed on the single spiral's threaded end 318, 418 that is not threadably engaged with the housing 325, 425. It may be noted that the other spiral threaded end 319, 419 threadably engages an internally-threaded region 321, 421 in the hollow space of the housing 325, 425, whereby the spiral is held in the housing and fixed to the housing at least as long as the spiral is not rotated in a direction that will unscrew the end 319, 419 from the housing. One may understand that, if the threads on both ends of the spiral and on the tensioner 331, 431 are the same handedness, for example, all right-handed, then screwing-on the tensioner 331, 431 will axially-pull end 318, 418 outward as desired and will unlikely unscrew the spiral from its threaded connection to the region 321, 421.
In certain embodiments, therefore, the invention may be described as: a connector comprising:
The spiral described in the immediately-preceding paragraph may be a “spiral-unit” comprising two spiral portions at or near opposite ends of the spiral unit (typically, shaped generally like a tube cut/provided with spiral coils) and said securement region of the spiral is in between the two spiral portions, for example, a central region/portion of the spiral unit. Therefore, the elongated members may be inserted into opposite open ends of the spiral. Or, the elongated members may be inserted into a single end of the two-ended spiral unit. A second spiral connector may be provided (in addition to said spiral connector of the immediately preceding paragraph, or a “second spiral connector”) and a turnbuckle between the two spiral connectors.
There may be a fastener connected to the housing sleeve for connecting the housing sleeve (and hence connecting the spiral connector of the two immediately-preceding paragraphs) to a construction or utilitarian object, and a pivot system to pivot the spiral connector to various positions relative to the fastener, for adjusting the angle of the spiral connector longitudinal axis relative to said construction or utilitarian object. This may be important for example, to place the spiral connector at a downwardly-extending angle relative to a vertical wall or post, for example.
The spiral of the connector as described in the three immediately-preceding paragraphs may be electrically-conductive and may be used with elongated members that are electrically-conductive so the elongated members are electrically-connected to the spiral and to each other. Any of the spirals in the three immediately-preceding paragraphs may be formed by two spiral cuts circling a tube 180 degrees apart from each other, for example. Also, the connectors of any of the three immediately-preceding paragraphs may further be described as: wherein the elongated members are core members of a first multi-layered cable and a second multi-layered cable, and the spiral is a core-connection spiral wherein the core members of said first and second cables extend into opposite ends of, and are captured in the spiral when the spiral is tightened, and wherein the connector further comprises a first end spiral and a second end spiral near first and second ends of said core-connection spiral, wherein said first and second end spirals are each adapted to capture outer strands of the first and second cables respectively, and wherein the connector further comprises an outer sleeve system that extends around and along the housing sleeve associated with the core-connection spiral to connect the first and second end spirals.
Alternative ways of describing the preferred embodiments may be as follows. The connector may be a mechanical and/or electrical connector includes elements for axially-pulling an end of a hollow connector to tighten at least a portion of the connector, by lengthening the connector and reducing diameter(s) in at least a portion of the connector. Threaded, ramped, slanted, or cammed structures may be used, for example, to directly or indirectly provide the force needed to axially-pull the connector. In the tightened configuration, the connector grips/squeezes, and therefore retains/captures/locks one or more members inside its hollow passageway. Thus, member(s) are connected to each other, and/or connected to member(s) installed in an opposite end of the connector, and/or connected to a terminal or other object attached to the connector (for example, a terminal at the opposite end of the connector). This axial-pull system may be used to connect ends of strands, wires, cables, bars, rods, straps, or other members, for example, re-bar, ACSR cables, or other elongated members. The preferred method comprises installing the members to be connected in the open end(s) of a spiral(s) of the connector and rotating/twisting threaded actuation member(s) onto threaded end(s) of the spiral(s), wherein, when the threaded actuation member(s) reach(es) a housing stop/limit, the continued rotational movement of the threaded actuation member relative to the threaded spiral pulls the spiral outward in the axial direction. Preferably, no set screws/bolts and no crimping mechanisms are used to hold the member in the passageway, but the connector may comprise or be connected to a fastener, pivot-joint, ball-joint, turnbuckle or other device for connection and/or adjustment and/or tensioning relative to a wall, tower, or other member to which the connector is attached or connected in construction or utility applications.
Although this invention has been described in this document and in the drawings with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the broad scope of the following claims.
This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/916,285, filed Dec. 15, 2013, and Ser. No. 62/080,732, filed Nov. 17, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61257827 | Nov 2009 | US | |
61030470 | Feb 2008 | US | |
61054770 | May 2008 | US | |
61100768 | Sep 2008 | US | |
61106473 | Oct 2008 | US | |
61916285 | Dec 2013 | US | |
62080732 | Nov 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13591216 | Aug 2012 | US |
Child | 14571284 | US | |
Parent | 12939148 | Nov 2010 | US |
Child | 13306653 | US | |
Parent | 12391247 | Feb 2009 | US |
Child | 12871819 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13306653 | Nov 2011 | US |
Child | 13591216 | US | |
Parent | 12871819 | Aug 2010 | US |
Child | 12939148 | US | |
Parent | 14326422 | Jul 2014 | US |
Child | 12391247 | US |