Encapsulated IPC lug connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11005195-B2
Application number	US-202016867618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2020
Priority date	Feb 7, 2018
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

An electrical connector, including a body formed from an electrically conductive material, the body defining an open channel configured to receive a first electrical conductor, at least one first threaded hole transverse to and in communication with the open channel, a plurality of bores extending toward the open channel, each bore configured to receive a second electrical conductor, and a second threaded hole associated with each bore transverse to and in communication with the associated bore. At least one first set screw is configured to mate with the at least one first threaded hole in communication with the open channel and configured to secure the first electrical conductor within the open channel. A plurality of second set screws are configured to mate with the second threaded holes in communication with an associated bore and configured to secure the second electrical conductor within the bore.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector, comprising:
a body formed as a single piece of electrically conductive material, the body defining:
an open channel configured to receive a first electrical conductor;
at least one first threaded hole transverse to and in communication with the open channel;
a plurality of bores extending toward the open channel, each bore configured to receive a second electrical conductor, wherein each of the plurality of bores extends substantially parallel to said at least one first threaded hole; and
a second threaded hole associated with each bore transverse to and in communication with the associated bore;

at least one first set screw configured to mate with the at least one first threaded hole in communication with the open channel, a distal end of the at least one first set screw engaging against the first electrical conductor to secure the first electrical conductor within the open channel;
a plurality of second set screws, each second set screw configured to mate with one of the second threaded holes in communication with an associated bore and configured to secure the second electrical conductor within the bore.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein said open channel has a first diameter and each of said plurality of bores has a second diameter, the first diameter being at least two times greater than the second diameter.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2 , wherein said at least one first threaded hole has a third diameter and each of said second threaded holes has a fourth diameter, the third diameter being greater than the fourth diameter.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1 , further comprising at least one insulation piercing feature configured to pierce insulation of the first electrical conductor, wherein the at least one insulation piercing feature is positioned at the distal end of the first set screw.

5. The electrical connector of claim 4 , wherein the at least one insulation piercing feature further includes an electrically conductive blade member positioned within the open channel along a longitudinal axis thereof.

6. The electrical connector of claim 4 , further comprising an insulation piercing feature configured to pierce the insulation of the second electrical conductor, wherein the insulation piercing feature is positioned at an end of the second set screw.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a channel lip extending over the channel configured to accept the first electrical conductor.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the channel includes an arcuate internal surface.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the channel is configured to accept an electrical conductor of 1000 kcmil to 4/0 awg.

10. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the bores are configured to accept an electrical conductor of #4 awg to #14 awg.

11. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the channel is C-shaped in cross section.

12. The electrical connector of claim 1 , further comprising a silicon encapsulation over at least a portion of an exterior of the electrical connector.

13. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bores is substantially perpendicular to said open channel.

14. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein said at least one first threaded hole includes two or more first threaded holes, and wherein said at least one first set screw includes two or more first set screws.

15. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of bores includes at least four bores, and wherein said plurality of second set screws includes at least four second set screws.

16. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein each bore has an open proximal end to receive the second electrical conductor and a closed distal end inside the bore.

17. An electrical connector, comprising:
a body formed as a single piece of electrically conductive material, the body defining:
an open channel, including an arcuate internal surface, configured to receive a first electrical conductor;
a plurality of first threaded holes transverse to and in communication with the open channel;
a plurality of bores extending toward the open channel and substantially parallel to said plurality of first threaded holes, each bore configured to receive a second electrical conductor; and
a second threaded hole associated with each bore transverse to and in communication with the associated bore;

a plurality of first set screws, each first set screw configured to mate with one of the plurality of first threaded holes in communication with the open channel and configured to secure the first electrical conductor within the open channel;
a plurality of second set screws, each second set screw configured to mate with one of the second threaded holes in communication with an associated bore and configured to secure the second electrical conductor within the bore; and
an insulation piercing feature positioned at a distal end of each of said plurality of first set screws configured to pierce insulation of the first electrical conductor.

18. The electrical connector of claim 17 , wherein each bore has an open proximal end to receive the second electrical conductor and a closed distal end inside the bore.

19. The electrical connector of claim 17 , wherein said open channel has a first diameter, and each of said plurality of bores has a second diameter, the first diameter being at least two times greater than the second diameter.

20. The electrical connector of claim 19 , wherein each of said plurality of first threaded holes has a third diameter, and each of said second threaded holes has a fourth diameter, the third diameter being greater than the fourth diameter.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Parsons Sarah Jane
• Boutin Kris Robin

Classifications

• H01R4/46

  Clamping area between two screws placed side by side · CPC title

• H01R4/36

  Conductive members located under tip of screw · CPC title

• H02S40/34

  comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes · CPC title

• H01R4/2408 Primary

  actuated by clamping screws · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title