US449721A - Electrjc connector - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

G. K. WHEELER. ELECTRIC CONNECTOR.

No. 449,721. Patented Apr. 7, 1891.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

ATTYS.

NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE K. IVI-IEELER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOMSON- IIOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC CONN ECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,721, dated April 7, 1891. Application filed November 26, 1890. Serial No. 372,700. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: age, and owing to the tapering ot the jaws Be it known that I, GEORGE K. \VHEELER, the thickness of metal gradually decreases a citizen of the United States, residing attoward their free ends, so as to increase their Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of spring action. 5 Illinois, have invented certain new and use- In devising this connectorI had particuful Improvements in Electric Connectors, of larly in mind its application to electric-railwhich the following is a specification. way service, in which it is desired to connect a My invention relates to electric connectors supplementary wire to the rails at intervals, of the form shown in a patent to Edward L. in order to increase the conductivity of the [a Orcutt, numbered 434,943, and granted Auelectric circuit. I find that it is admirably gust 26, 1890, in which a wire is attached to adapted to this purpose and does not work a comparatively large and rigid conductor by loose under the constant jar and pounding to a split tube surrounding the wire and driven which the rails are exposed. It may, however, 'into an opening in the large conductor. I be used for other purposes with an equal de- 5 r 5 have devised certain improvementsin a congree of advantage.

nector of this character, which do away with What I claim as new, and desire to secure breakage when driving the connectors into by Letters Patent, is place, and by which the wire is clamped firmly '1. The combination of a relatively large in place, but not cut. These improvements conductor, such as a railway-rail, and a wire 20 are shown in the accompanying drawings, to be attached thereto with a connector conwherein sisting of a tapered thimble or spool having Figure 1 is a transverse section of a rail, a solid driving-head and split for a portion showing a wire attached thereto by my conof its length to form spring-jaws, which are nector. Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal secadapted to clamp the wire when the spool is 25 tions of the connector, taken on planes at driven into an opening in the conductor, as

right angles to one another; and Figs. 4: and described. 5 show the opposite ends of the same. 2. The combination of a relatively large In the views, A represents a conductor of and rigid conductor, such as a railway-rail, considerable size and rigidity, such as a railand a wire to be attached thereto with a cono way-rail, and B is a wire which it is desired nector consisting of a spool or thimble havto attach firmly to the rail and at the same ing a solid driving-head, but tapered and time to eifect a good electrical connection. split at opposite-points for a portion of its This is accomplished by a spool or thimble length, so as to form spring-jaws of less thick-' of metal C, which has a bore of substantially ness of metal than the head for clamping the 35 uniform diameter throughout, a solid uncut wire when the spool is driven into an openportion D at one end constituting a drivinging in the conductor, as described. head, and two spring-jaws EE, tapered away 3. A connector adapted to unite a wire from the head and formed by splitting the with a relatively large and rigidconductor, spool at opposite points, as at F, for a porsuch as a railway-rail, consisting of a metal 40 tion of its length. To attach the wire to the spool having a bore of substantially uniform rail, it is first passed through an opening size, a solid uncut driving-head, and tapered bored therein. Then the spool is passed over clamping-jaws formed by splitting the spool its free end and driven into the opening with at opposite points for a portion of its length, considerable force. This causes the springas described. 45 jaws E E to clamp the wire firmly, thus both In testimony whereof I have hereunto set holding the wire in place, so that it cannot my hand this 10th day of November, 1890.

readily work loose and at the same time esv i 1 tablishin g a good electrical connection, which GEORGE K W HEELER' does not become deteriorated by oxidation. Witnesses:

50 As the head of the spool is uncut, it can be T. J. WILLsON,

driven into the rail with littledanger of break- H. J. SINCLAIR.

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