Spacer assembly for conductor bundle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10574042-B2
Application number	US-201615232380-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2016
Priority date	Jun 6, 2011
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

A spacer assembly includes first and second clamping bodies. The first clamping body has a first slot therein and the second clamping body has an opening. A fastener is received by the first clamping body slot and the second clamping body opening to secure the first clamping body to the second clamping body such that rotation of the fastener moves the fastener in the first clamping body slot to move the first clamping body relative to the second clamping body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spacer assembly, comprising:
a first clamping body having a first conductor receiving portion, an upper surface, a protrusion extending from the upper surface, and a first slot formed in the protrusion having an elongated opening that extends in a first direction;
a second clamping body having a second conductor receiving portion aligned with the first conductor receiving portion, and a threaded opening; and
a fastener extending through the first slot in an axial direction different than the first direction and threadably engaging the threaded opening, wherein rotation of the fastener when it is threadably engaged with the threaded opening moves the first clamping body relative to the second clamping body, adjusting the position of the fastener in the elongated opening,
wherein the protrusion is an isosceles trapezoid in cross section.

2. The spacer assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
a tab extends outwardly from the first clamping body; and
a second slot extends longitudinally in the second clamping body, the second slot receiving the tab to further secure the first clamping body to the second clamping body.

3. The spacer assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
a first tab extends outwardly from the first clamping body;
a first shoulder extends longitudinally on the second clamping body, the first shoulder receiving the first tab to further secure the first clamping body to the second clamping body.

4. The spacer assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
a second tab extends outwardly from the second clamping body;
a second shoulder extends longitudinally on the first clamping body, the second shoulder receiving the second tab to further secure the first clamping body to the second clamping body.

5. The spacer assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the protrusion tapers from the upper surface to a top portion.

6. The spacer assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
a head portion of the fastener has an outer portion and an inner portion, said outer portion being separable from said inner portion when a predetermined torque is obtained during installation.

7. The spacer assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a washer disposed on the fastener prevents removal of the fastener from said first slot in the first clamping body.

8. The spacer assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first conductor receiving portion and the second conductor receiving portion form a first cavity to receive a first conductor when the first clamping body and the second clamping body are connected and a grommet is positioned in the first cavity.

9. A spacer assembly, comprising: a first clamping body having a tapered protrusion extending upwardly from the first clamping body, a first slot is an elongated slot formed in the tapered protrusion, and a pin extending from the first clamping body; a second clamping body having a threaded opening and a second slot for receiving the pin; and a threaded fastener received by the first slot and the threaded opening to secure the first clamping body to the second clamping body such that rotation of the threaded fastener when it is threadably engaged with the threaded opening moves the first clamping body relative to the second clamping body, altering a position of the threaded fastener in the first slot and a position of the pin in the second slot wherein the second slot includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion including a circumferential hole having a diameter larger than the first portion.

10. The spacer assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the tapered protrusion is an isosceles trapezoid in cross section.

11. The spacer assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the pin includes a shank having a first diameter and a head having a second diameter larger than the first diameter.

12. The spacer assembly according to claim 9 , wherein a washer disposed on the threaded fastener prevents removal of the threaded fastener from said first slot in the first clamping body.

13. The spacer assembly according to claim 9 , wherein a first conductor receiving portion extends downwardly from a first end of the first clamping body; a second conductor receiving portion extends upwardly from a second end of the first clamping body; a third conductor receiving portion extends downwardly from a first end of the second clamping body; a fourth conductor receiving portion extends upwardly from a second end of the second clamping body; the first conductor receiving portion and the third conductor receiving portion forming a first cavity to receive a first conductor and the first conductor receiving portion and the third conductor receiving portion forming a second cavity to receive a second conductor when the first clamping body and the second clamping body are connected.

14. A spacer assembly, comprising:
a first clamping body having a first conductor receiving portion, a first protrusion extending from an upper surface and at least partially defining a cavity, and a slot formed in the protrusion;
a second clamping body having a second conductor receiving portion aligned with the first conductor receiving portion, a second protrusion extending from the second clamping body into the cavity, and a threaded opening formed in the second protrusion; and
a fastener extending through the slot and threadably engaging the threaded opening, wherein rotation of the fastener when it is threadably engaged with the threaded opening moves the first clamping body relative to the second clamping body.

15. The spacer assembly according to claim 14 , wherein
the first protrusion and the second protrusion taper in a first direction.

16. The spacer assembly according to claim 14 , wherein
the first protrusion includes a first sidewall extending from the upper surface at an oblique angle and the slot is formed in the first sidewall.

17. The spacer assembly according to claim 16 , wherein
the second protrusion includes a second sidewall extending from the second clamping body at an oblique angle and the threaded opening is formed in the second sidewall.

18. The spacer assembly according to claim 14 , wherein
rotating the fastener in a first direction moves the first clamping body toward the second clamping body and rotating the fastener in a second direction moves the first clamping body away from the second clamping body.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• De France Robert Victor
• Dobrinski Daniel David

Classifications

• H02G7/12 Primary

  Devices for maintaining distance between parallel conductors, e.g. spacer · CPC title

• H01B7/40

  with arrangements for facilitating mounting or securing · CPC title

• Y10T29/49194

  Assembling elongated conductors, e.g., splicing, etc. · CPC title

• H02G1/14

  for joining or terminating cables · CPC title

• H01B7/17

  Protection against damage caused by external factors, e.g. sheaths or armouring · CPC title