Low resistivity tap clamp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12368252-B2
Application number	US-202418404382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2024
Priority date	Aug 19, 2020
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

Clamps and methods disclosed herein can help to provide efficient electrical communication between a first conductor and a second conductor. An example clamp includes a main housing portion that includes a first surface, a second surface, a body, and an insert, the insert providing electrical communication between the first surface and the second surface; a clamp member; and a fastener.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp for providing electrical communication between a first conductor and a second conductor, the clamp comprising:
a body having a first opening and a second opening;
an insert having a first surface for engaging a first conductor and a second surface for engaging a second conductor, the insert being press-fit into the first opening and providing electrical communication between the first surface and the second surface;
a clamp member including a first clamp surface adjacent the second surface in a facing relationship; and
a fastener movably coupled to the body via the second opening.

2. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the body has a resistivity that is different than the resistivity of the insert.

3. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the body has a resistivity that is greater than the resistivity of the insert.

4. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the insert has a resistivity of less than 5×10-6 ohm-cm.

5. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises copper, aluminum, or a combination thereof.

6. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises copper, aluminum, or a combination thereof at greater than 97% by weight of the insert.

7. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises aluminum at less than 97% by weight of the body.

8. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the body is at least partially tin plated.

9. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is configured to receive the first conductor and bring the first conductor into contact with the first surface.

10. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the second surface and the first clamp surface cooperatively form at least a portion of a channel therebetween, the channel configured to receive the second conductor.

11. The clamp of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis of the body, the shaft coupling the body and the clamp member.

12. The clamp of claim 11 , wherein the first clamp surface is positioned on a first portion of the clamp member, the clamp member including a second portion having an internal hole receiving the shaft.

13. The clamp of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a first portion extending in a first direction and a second portion extending in a second direction.

14. A clamp for providing electrical communication between a first conductor and a second conductor, the clamp comprising:
a main housing portion including a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having a first surface and a second surface, and the second portion having a lower resistivity relative to the first portion;
a clamp member including a first clamp surface adjacent the second surface in a facing relationship to engage a second conductor; and
a fastener movably coupled to the main housing, the fastener adjacent to the first surface to engage a first conductor.

15. The clamp of claim 14 , wherein the fastener is configured to receive the first conductor and bring the first conductor into contact with the first surface.

16. The clamp of claim 14 , wherein the second surface and the first clamp surface cooperatively form at least a portion of a channel therebetween, the channel configured to receive the second conductor.

17. The clamp of claim 14 , further comprising a shaft extending through the main housing and the clamp member, the shaft rotatably relative to the main housing to adjust the position of the clamp member.

18. The clamp of claim 17 , wherein the shaft extends through a cavity formed in the main housing.

19. The clamp of claim 14 , wherein the first portion of the main housing includes a body member and the second portion of the main housing includes an insert press-fit into the body member.

20. The clamp of claim 14 , wherein the main housing includes a first opening receiving the clamp member and a second opening receiving the fastener.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Candelaria Adrian Beau
• Hansen James Marc

Classifications

• H01R11/05

  the connecting locations having different types of direct connections · CPC title

• H01B1/026

  Alloys based on copper · CPC title

• H01B1/023

  Alloys based on aluminium · CPC title

• H01R13/03

  characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials · CPC title

• H02G1/02

  for overhead lines or cables · CPC title