Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

Fully insulated clamp connectors for electrically joining insulated wires include molded top and bottom insulating halves bolted together, longitudinal mating grooves in each half for the insulated wires, bridging plates with insulation piercing teeth inserted in slots in each half with the teeth protruding at the grooves, the bridging plates having ramps to lock into the slot sides to prevent removal for safety reasons, and the slots having aligning ridges for the bridging plates. The bridging plates are spaced a distance to maximize the number of strands of insulated wire contacted by the teeth in the connector. Side male-female loosely interfitting parts are on opposite connector halves and dimensioned to allow a degree of rocking of one half with respect to the other to accommodate various sizes of conductors while maintaining full side insulation and long side leakage paths. Cylinder members in one half interfit with the other half to insulate the bolts from the energized connector parts, the cylinder interfit also being dimensioned to allow a degree of rocking of the two halves. An inboard frangible insulating tab is in one or both halves spaced from an end of the half, and an inboard tab slot is in the other or both halves similarly spaced from an end of the half, the tab of one half fitting within a tab slot of the other half to block mating grooves when the two halves are bolted together.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim