Multi-use connector for tracer wire

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11264739-B2
Application number	US-202016816069-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2020
Priority date	Mar 12, 2019
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

Trace wire connectors that include a cover that can be attached to a base and used to electrically interconnect two or more tracer wires without having to remove insulation from the tracer wires. The cover has multiple portals that permit one or more tracer wires to pass into an inner cavity of the cover. The base has multiple cradles on which tracer wires passing into the cavity can rest. The cover can be oriented relative to the base for use with a through tracer wire and a dead-end tracer wire, or for use with multiple dead-end tracer wires.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for electrically interconnecting multiple tracer wires, the connector comprising:
a connector base having a plurality of cradles including a first cradle and a second cradle, the second cradle having a plug at one end; and
a cover attachable to the base, the cover having an internal cavity that receives the plurality of cradles when the cover is attached to the base, a plurality of portals on a first side of the cover providing access to the cavity and at least one portal on a second side of the cover providing access to the cavity, the second side being opposite the first side;
wherein when the cover is attached to the base in a first position a first of the plurality of portals on the first side of the cover aligns with the first cradle and the at least one portal on the second side of the cover, and a second of the plurality of portals on the first side of the cover aligns with the second cradle and is spaced from the plug;
wherein when the cover is attached to the base in a second position the first of the plurality of portals on the first side of the cover aligns with the plug such that the plug and a portion of the second cradle are received in the first portal, the second of the plurality of portals on the first side of the cover aligns with the first cradle, and the at least one portal on a second side of the cover aligns with the second cradle; and
at least two insulation piercing members positioned within the internal cavity of the cover, the at least two insulation piercing members being electrically conductive and electrically coupled, wherein a first of the at least two insulation piercing members being aligned with the first cradle when the cover is attached to the base, and wherein a second of the at least two insulation piercing members being aligned with the second cradle when the cover is attached to the base.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two insulation piercing members comprise a pointed tooth.

3. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two insulation piercing members comprises at least two pairs of insulation piercing members.

4. The connector according to claim 1 , further comprising a dead-end type adapter configured to at least partially rest on the first cradle or the second cradle when the cover is in the second position, or to at least partially rest on the second cradle when the cover is in the first position.

5. The connector according to claim 1 , further comprising a through type adapter configured to at least partially rest on the first cradle when the cover is in the first position.

6. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the base includes an alignment aperture and the cover includes an alignment post extending from an interior of the cover such that when the cover is attached to the base the alignment post passes through the alignment aperture.

7. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two insulation piercing members are embedded within an insulating material.

8. The connector according to claim 7 , wherein the insulating material is a displaceable material.

9. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two insulation piercing members are electrically coupled by an electrically conductive plate.

10. The connector according to claim 9 , wherein the electrically conductive plate is at least partially embedded within an insulating material.

11. The connector according to claim 1 , further comprising an insulating pod within the cavity and adjacent the at least two insulation piercing members.

12. The connector according to claim 11 , wherein the insulating pod comprises a pouch filled with an insulating material.

13. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a plurality of test ports therethrough, and wherein one of the plurality of test ports is aligned with one of a plurality of test plates located within the internal cavity of the cover.

14. The connector according to claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of test plates includes at least two insulation piercing members extending from the test plate.

15. A connector for electrically interconnecting multiple tracer wires, the connector comprising:
a connector base having a plurality of cradles including a first cradle and a second cradle, the second cradle having a plug at one end; and
a cover attachable to the base, the cover having an internal cavity that receives the plurality of cradles when the cover is attached to the base, first and second portals on a first side of the cover providing access to the cavity and a third portal on a second side of the cover providing access to the cavity, the second side of the cover being opposite the first side of the cover;
wherein when the cover is attached to the base in a first position the first portal aligns with the first cradle and the third portal, and the second portal aligns with the second cradle and is spaced from the plug;
wherein when the cover is attached to the base in a second position the first portal aligns with the plug such that the plug and a portion of the second cradle are received in the first portal, the second portal aligns with the first cradle, and the third portal aligns with the second cradle; and
at least two insulation piercing members positioned within the cavity, the at least two insulation piercing members being electrically conductive and electrically coupled, wherein a first of the at least two insulation piercing members being aligned with the first cradle when the cover is attached to the base, and wherein a second of the at least two insulation piercing members being aligned with the second cradle when the cover is attached to the base.

16. The connector according to claim 15 , wherein the at least two insulation piercing members are embedded within an insulating material.

17. The connector according to claim 15 , wherein each of the at least two insulation piercing members comprise a pointed tooth.

18. The connector according to claim 15 , wherein the at least two insulation piercing members comprises at least two pairs of insulation piercing members.

19. The connector according to claim 15 , further comprising a dead-end type adapter configured to at least partially rest on the first cradle or the second cradle when the cover is in the second position, or to at least partially rest on the second cradle when the cover is in the first position.

20. The connector according to claim 15 , further comprising a through type adapter configured to at least partially rest on the first cradle when the cover is in the first position.

21. The connector according to claim 15 , wherein the base includes an alignment aperture and the cover includes an alignment post extending from an interior of the cover such that when the cover is attached to the base the alignment post passes through the alignment aperture.

22. The connector according to claim 15 , wherein the at least two insulation piercing members are electrically coupled by an electrically conductive plate.

23. The connector according to claim 22 , wherein the electrically conductive plate is at least partially embedded within an insulating material.

24. The connector according to claim 15 , further comprising an insulating pod within the cavity and adjacent the at least two insulation piercing members.

25. The connector according to claim 24 , wherein the in

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Carrozzo Jr John Kenneth
• Von Kannewurff Michael Constatin
• Skolozdra Stephen Andrew

Classifications

• H01R4/70

  Insulation of connections (end caps H01R4/22) · CPC title

• H01R11/09

  the connecting locations being identical · CPC title

• H01R9/2483

  specially adapted for ground connection · CPC title

• H01R9/2416

  Means for guiding or retaining wires or cables connected to terminal blocks · CPC title

• H01R43/20

  for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve · CPC title