Spring loaded parallel pad clamp connectors connectable using lineman hot sticks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10615518-B2
Application number	US-201916593723-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2019
Priority date	Mar 30, 2015
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

A spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector is provided. The clamp includes a top jaw; a bottom jaw having an eye depending therefrom; one or more springs biasing the top and bottom jaws to a closed position; and a surface positioned a predetermined distance from the eye so that the surface acts as a fulcrum and force translation surface for a lineman hot stick.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector, comprising:
a top jaw;
a bottom jaw having an eye depending therefrom, the eye being engagable with a hook of a lineman hot stick;
a spring biasing the top and bottom jaws to a closed position; and
a surface associated with the top jaw, the surface being positioned a predetermined distance from a centerline of the eye so that, when the hook is engaged with the eye, the surface acts as a fulcrum and force translation surface for a portion of the lineman hot stick so as to move the top jaw to an open position.

2. The spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance is equal to a radius of the lineman hot stick.

3. The spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance is 0.950 inches.

4. The spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 1 , wherein the center line of the eye is closer to an open side of the top and bottom jaws than to a closed side of the top and bottom jaws.

5. The spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom jaws are secured to one another by one or more bolts.

6. The spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 5 , wherein the center line of the eye is closer to an open side of the top and bottom jaws than to a closed side of the top and bottom jaws.

7. The spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 6 , wherein the bolts are proximate the closed side of the top and bottom jaws.

8. The spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 6 , wherein the bolts are offset from the closed side of the top and bottom jaws in a direction remote from the open side.

9. A spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector, comprising:
a top jaw;
a bottom jaw having an eye depending therefrom, the eye being engagable with a hook of a lineman hot stick;
a bolt slideably securing the top and bottom jaws to one another;
a spring biasing the top and bottom jaws to a closed position; and
a surface associated with the top jaw, wherein the eye is positioned with respect to the surface so that, when the hook is engaged with the eye, a portion of the lineman hot stick acts on the surface to slide the top jaw to an open position.

10. The spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 9 , further comprising an open side of the top and bottom jaws and a closed side of the top and bottom jaws.

11. The spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 10 , wherein the eye is closer to the open side than to the closed side.

12. The spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 10 , further comprising a distance between the eye and the open side that is at least equal to a distance between the eye and the closed side.

13. The spring-loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 10 , further comprising a distance between the eye and the open side that is smaller than a distance between the eye and the closed side.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• De France Robert Victor
• Dobrinski Daniel David
• Hall Jefferson Robert

Classifications

• H02G1/02

  for overhead lines or cables · CPC title

• H01R11/15

  Hook in the form of a screw clamp · CPC title

• H02G1/00

  Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines · CPC title

• H01R4/42 Primary

  Clamping area to one side of screw only · CPC title

• H01R4/44

  Clamping areas on both sides of screw · CPC title