US2949597A - Electric terminal connector - Google Patents

Description

w. NERLICH Fig.2.

INVENTOR Willi Nerlich BY QM' I ATTORNEY ELECTRIC TERMINAL CONNECTOR Filed May 18, 1956 Aug. 16, 1960 WITNESSES or? fag WW United States Patent ELECTRIC TERMINAL CONNECTOR Willi Nerlich, Regensburg, Germany, assignor to Siemens- Schuckertwerke Aktiengesellschaft, Erlangen, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed May 18, 1956, Ser. No. 535,891 Claims priority, application Germany May 25, 1955 3 Claims. (Cl. 339-272) This invention relates to electric terminal connectors and has particular relation to adjustable connectors for receiving terminals of rigid electrical conductors.

According to the present invention an improved connector is provided which is arranged for adjustment relative to a connector support member to facilitate the reception of a conductor terminal. The connector is conveniently mounted for rotation about the axis of the support member to facilitate reception of a conductor terminal which extends transverse to the support member.

The connector is of multipart construction including a first part in the form of a body member having a passage for receiving a conductor terminal. A second part comprising a suitable pressure producing device is carried by the body member for adjustment relative to the body member for securing a received conductor terminal within the passage. Rotation of the body member about the axis of the support member results in rotation of the passage about such axis whereby the passage may be located to facilitate reception of a rigid conductor terminal without the necessity of eifecting difiicult and time consuming manipulation of the rigid conductor.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the connector includes a substantially U-shaped body member with the legs of the body member having openings aligned to receive a rigid self-supporting support member which may be in the form of an electrical conductor such as a bus bar member. The openings are configured to permit rotation of the body member about the axis of the bus bar relative thereto. The legs of the body member are connected by a base portion which is spaced from the line of alignment of the openings to provide a pas sage transverse to such line for receiving a conductor terminal extending transverse to the bus bar in overlapping relation therewith.

A suitable screw is threadably carried by the base portion for adjustment along a line transverse to the passage for securing a received conductor terminal within the passage in overlapping engagement with the bus bar. A pressure applying device including a pressure plate is preferably positioned with the pressure plate between the screw and the received conductor terminal to prevent direct engagement of the screw with the received terminal.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved electric terminal connector for receiving a conductor terminal.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved electric terminal connector for connecting a pair of transversely extending conductors in overlapping engagement.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved electric terminal connector assembly including a connector mounted by a support member for ad justment relative to the support member to facilitate reception of a rigid conductor terminal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an electric terminal connector assembly including a connector mounted by an electrical conductor for rotation relative to the conductor about the conductor axis to facilitate the connection to the conductor of a rigid conductor terminal extending transversely of the conductor.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating a terminal connector embodying the teachings of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in section illustrating the connector of Fig. 1 mounted by a bus bar member in a position prior to reception of a conductor terminal;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the connector of Fig. 1 adjusted from the position of Fig. 2 to an operative position relative to a received conductor terminal;

Fig. 4 is a View in section diiferent from the section of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a view in section showing the connector of Fig. I mounted by a bus bar member of difierent configuration.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated in Fig. 1 an electric terminal connector of multipart construction represented generally by the numeral 1 embodying the teachings of the invention. As there shown the connector 1 includes a first part in the form of a body member 3 which is arranged for mounting by a suitable support member to receive a conductor terminal as will presently appear.

The body member 3 is preferably of substantially U- shaped configuration including a pair of spaced leg portions 5 and 7 connected by a base portion 9. The leg portions 5 and 7 are preferably positioned to lie in a pair of parallel planes which are transverse to the plane of the base portion 9. Any suitable material may be employed in the construction of the member 3. The member 3 may be formed in any suitable manner. For example, the member 3 may be constructed by stamping from a sheet of the desired material a plate which may be machined and deformed to provide a member 3 having the configuration shown in Fig. 1.

In order to permit mounting of the member 3 to a support member described hereinafter the leg portions 5 and 7 are provided respectively with openings 11 and 13. The openings 11 and 13 are preferably positioned in alignment along a straight line extending transverse to the planes of the leg portions.

For the purpose of permitting the connection of a conductor terminal the body member 3 includes a passage or channel 15 for receiving a conductor terminal. The passage 15 includes a first dimension defined by the space between the leg portions 5 and 7. A second dimension of the passage transverse to the first dimension is defined by the space between the base portion 9 and the line of alignment of the openings 11 and 13. It is noticed that the passage 15 extends transverse to the line of alignment of the openings 11 and 13 to communicate with such openings. The dimensions of the passage 15 are selected so as to permit transverse overlapping engagement of a received conductor terminal with a support member received by the openings ll. and 13.

In order to permit securement of a received conductor terminal within the passage 15 the connector 1 includes a suitable pressure producing device mounted by the body member 3 for adjustment relative to the member 3 towards and away from the passage 15. The pressure producing device is illustrated in the form of a screw 17 which is threadably mounted by the base portion 9 for adjustment along a line extending transverse to both the passage '15 and the line of alignment of the openings 11 and 13. The screw 1'7 includes a pressure sur-' face 19 which is positioned within the passage 15.

If desired, a suitable pressure applying device may be located intermediate the surface 19 and a conductor terminal received in the passage :15 to prevent direct engagement of the screw surface 19 with the received conductor terminal. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a substan tially U-shaped device 21 may be provided for this purpose. As there shown the device 211 includes a central base portion or pressure plate 23 connecting a pair of spaced legs or extensions 25 and 27 which project transversely of the plate 23. The device 21 is positioned in linking relation with the member 13 such that the plate 23 is located within the passage 15 to extend transversely of the base portion 9 beneath the surface 19 of the screw as viewed in Fig. 3. It is observed that the extensions 25 and 27 are located externally of the passage 15 to extend in a direction opposite to the leg portions and 7 beyond the base portion 9 so that the portion 9 is located in the channel 28 defined by the extensions 25 and 27.

Referring to Fig. 2 there is shown the body member 3 supported by a suitable support member 29 of rigid self-supporting construction. The member 29 is positioned to extend through the openings 11 and 13 as best shown in Fig. 4. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the member 29 is in the form of an electrical conductor such as a bus bar member having a bare portion to which a conductor terminal is to be connected by the connector '1. The bus bar 29 may have any desired cross-sectional configuration. In Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the bus bar 29 is illustrated as having a rectangular crosssectional configuration, although it may be formed with a circular cross-sectional configuration as will presently appear.

The connector 1 is particularly suitable for connecting to the bus bar 29 a rigidly constructed conductor which extends transverse to the bus bar. In Fig. 2 there is illustrated an insulated electrical conductor 31 having a bare terminal 33 which is to be connected to the bus bar 29. The conductor 31 is shown in Fig. 4 as having a cross-sectional area of circular configuration sufl'icient to provide a rigid construction of the conductor 31. It is to be understood, however, that the connector 1 is capable of receiving terminals of conductors having cross-sectional areas of various dimensions and configurations.

Connectors heretofore employed have been so constructed as to require manipulation and adjustment of a conductor to insert the conductor terminal in the connector. In many installations such manipulation of a conductor may be undesirable or quite difficult. This is especially true in installations wherein rigid conductors are located in closely confined quarters.

In accordance with the present invention the connector 1 is mounted by the bus bar 29 for rotation relative to the bus bar about the axis of the bus bar to facilitate reception of the terminal 33. To this end the openings 11 and 13 of the body member 3 are selected to have a non-rectangular configuration permitting such rotation. As illustrated in the drawings the openings 11 and 13 have circular configurations although they may be formed with oval configurations if desired. It is observed that the screw 17 and the device 21 are mounted with respectto the member 13 such that relative rotation is prevented between the parts 13, 17 and 21 about the axis of the bus bar.

In operation the connector 1 is adjusted about the axis of the bus bar Q9 to a location permitting ready positioning of the terminal 33 in engagement with the bus bar between the leg portions 5 and 7 of the member 3. In order to minimize the contact resistance between the terminal 33 and the bus bar, the terminal 33 is positioned to engage one of the opposed long sides 35 of the bus bar, as viewed in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2 the connector may be rotated to a location wherein the passage 4i '15 extends substantially transverse to the terminal 33 to facilitate positioning of the terminal 33 relative to the bus bar and connector in the manner above described.

The screw 17 and the device 21 are conveniently adjusted in a direction permitting rotation of the connector It in a clockwise direction about the axis of the bus bar from the position shown in Fig. 2. to the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the terminal 33 is received in the passage 15. Subsequent to such rotation of the connector 1, the terminal 33 may readily be clamped into engagement with the bus bar by effecting adjustment of the screw 17 such that the surface 19 forces the plate 23 into engagement with the terminal 33. It is observed that the terminal 33 is operatively secured by the connector 1 without effecting undesirable manipulation of the conductor 31.

Referring to Fig. 5 there is illustrated a connector 1a which is similar in construction to the connector 1. The connector 1a is mounted by a rigid self-supporting support member 29a having a cross-sectional area of circular configuration. Parts of Fig. 5 which are similar to parts of the remaining figures are represented by the same reference numerals having the suffix a;

The member 29a may conveniently be in the form of a bus bar member to which a rigid conductor 31a having a bare terminal 33a is to be connected. The connector 1:; is arranged according to the invention to connect the bus bar 29a and terminal 33a in transverse overlapping relation. Inasmuch as the bus bar is of circular crosssectional area, the contact resistance between the bus bar and the terminal 33a is substantially the same for any point of contact therebetween about the axis of the bus bar. Consequently, the terminal 3311 may be located to extend transversely of the bus bar from a number of different positions about the axis of the bus bar.

The connector in is supported by the bus bar 29a according to the invention for rotation relative to the bus bar about the bus bar axis to receive a terminal extending transversely of the bus bar from any position about the axis of the bus bar. For this purpose the openings of the leg portions of the member 3a may conveniently be of circular configuration permitting such rotation. Only the leg portion 5a is shown in Fig. 5 having an opening 11a of circular configuration.

In Fig. 5 the connector in is illustrated in a first location represented by the full line drawing for receiving a terminal 393a extending transversely of the bus bar from a first position about the axis of the bus bar. However, the connector in may receive a conductor terminal which extends from a second position spaced from the first po sition. To this end the connector 1a may be rotated about the axis of the bus bar from the first location to a second location represented in Fig. 5 by the dotted'line drawing for receiving a terminal 33a extending from a second position spaced about the axis of the bus bar from the first position. The arrangement of Fig. 5 permits the ready connection to the bus bar 29a of a rigid conductor terminal which extends transverse to the bus bar from any position about the axis of the bus bar without the necessity of effecting difficult and time consuming manipulation of the conductor.

Al hough the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, numerous modifications are possible, and it is desired to cover all modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 claim as my invention:

l. in an electrical assembly, an elongated rigid support member having an axis along its length, a connector including a pair of substantially U-shaped elements, each of said elements having a base portion connecting a pair of spaced leg portions to define a channel extending between the leg portions, each leg portion of one of said elements having an opening of substantially circular configuration with the openings aligned along a straight line,

said support member extending through said openings, said support member and openings being proportioned such that relative movement is substantially prevented between the support member and openings in directions radially of the straight line, said one of said elements being rotatable about the axis of the support member relative to said support member to thereby effect rotation of the channel of said one of said elements about said axis, said elements being positioned in linking relation to have each of said base portions positioned within the other of said channels to extend transverse to each other, and to have the leg portions of said elements projecting externally of said channels in opposite directions beyond said base portions so that relative movement between said elements is substantially prevented in directions tangential to a circle generated about said axis, an electrical conductor of rigid construction having a bare terminal, said terminal extending into the passage of said one of said elements between the base portion of said other of said elements and said support member in transverse overlapping relation with said support member, and a pressure producing device for effecting clamped engagement of said terminal with said support member, said pressure producing device comprising a screw threadably carried by the base portion of said one of said elements adjustable for forcing the base portion of said other of said elements into engagement with said terminal.

2. An electric terminal connector assembly comprising a connector including a body member having a base portion connecting a pair of spaced substantially parallel leg portions, each leg portion having an opening with the openings substantially aligned along a straight line extending transverse to the leg portions, a bare first conductor having a longitudinal axis and being of substantially rectangular cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said first conductor extending through said openings, said first conductor and said openings being proportioned such that relative movement is substantially prevented between the first conductor and openings in directions radially of the straight line, said base portion being spaced from said first conductor to provide a passage between said leg portions, said body member being rotatable about the axis of the first conductor relative to said first conductor to permit rotation of said passage about said axis, a bare second conductor extending through said passage in transverse overlapping relation with said first conductor, a substantially U-shaped pressure applying device including a first portion located within said passage connecting a pair of spaced second portions, said first and second portions defining a channel within which said base portion is positioned whereby relative rotational movement is substantially prevented between said body member and said U-shaped device, and a pressure producing device for effecting tight engagement between said first portion and said second conductor terminal, said pressure producing device being supported by said base portion for adjustment relative to the body member towards and away from said first portion.

3. An electric terminal connector including a body member having a fiat planar base portion connecting a pair of spaced leg portions, said leg portions lying in a pair of parallel planes substantially transverse to the base portion, each leg portion having an opening with the openings substantially aligned along a straight line transverse to the leg portions for receiving a bare rigid first conductor, said openings having a circular configuration permitting rotation of said body member about said straight line relative to the first conductor received in said openings, said base portion being spaced from said straight line to provide a passage between said leg portions for receiving a bare terminal of a rigid second conductor transversely of the received first conductor, a pressure applying device including a hat planar pressure plate portion connecting a pair of spaced extensions projecting transversely of said pressure plate portion, said pressure applying device being positioned with the pressure plate portion within said passage to have said extensions projecting in a direction opposite to said leg portions beyond said base portion whereby relative movement is substantially prevented between said body member and said pressure plate portion in directions tangential to a circle generated about said straight line, and a pressure producing device comprising a screw threadably carried by said base portion for adjustment to engage said pressure plate portion to force the plate portion against a received second conductor terminal for effecting clamped engagement of the received second conductor terminal with the received first conductor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,157,846 Berndt May 9, 1939 2,159,757 Blakeslee May 23, 1939 2,205,322 Thomas et al. June 18, 1940 2,484,144 Badeau Oct. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,093 France Dec. 31, 1919 488,217 France June 6, 1918

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