Grounding link for electrical connector mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016141801-A1
Application number	US-201514939168-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 12, 2015
Priority date	Nov 17, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A grounding link for use with an elbow-type power cable electrical connector. The grounding link includes a bushing interface portion, a cap receiving portion, and a tap portion, wherein the grounding link further includes a grounding element extending between the bushing interface portion and a cap receiving portion, and wherein the bushing interface portion of the grounding link is configured for insertion into a bore in elbow-type power cable electrical connector. The grounding element includes an exposed portion projecting above a surface of the grounding link, wherein the exposed portion of the grounding element is configured for attachment by a grounded hot line clamp to ground the electrical connector assembly. The tap portion is configured for receipt of a second elbow connector to conductively couple the second elbow connector to the elbow-type power cable electrical connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
a connector body comprising:
a conductor receiving end;
a first connector end formed substantially perpendicularly to an axial direction of the conductor receiving end,
wherein the first connector end includes a first axial bore configured to receive a bushing element therein; and
a second connector end formed substantially perpendicularly to the axial direction of the conductor receiving end and opposing the first connector end,
wherein the second connector end includes a second axial bore formed therein; and
a grounding link having a bushing interface portion, a cap receiving portion, and a tap portion, wherein the grounding link further includes a grounding element extending between the bushing interface portion and a cap receiving portion, wherein the bushing interface portion of the grounding link is configured for insertion into the second axial bore of the second connector end, wherein the grounding element includes an exposed portion projecting above a surface of the grounding link, wherein the exposed portion of the grounding element is configured for attachment by a grounded hot line clamp to ground the electrical connector assembly; and wherein the tap portion is configured for receipt of an elbow connector.

2 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second axial bore in the second connector end includes a tapered configuration, and
wherein the bushing interface portion of the grounding link includes a correspondingly tapered configuration for engaging the tapered configuration of the second axial bore.

3 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the exposed portion of the grounding element projects from a surface of cap receiving portion of the grounding link,
wherein the cap receiving portion includes a tapered configuration.

4 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 3 , wherein the exposed portion of the grounding element comprises a generally cylindrical configuration for engaging clamping members of the hot line clamp.

5 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the exposed portion comprises a multi-function bore formed axially therein,
wherein the multi-function bore includes a grounding link attachment portion, and wherein, following insertion of the bushing interface portion of the grounding link into the second bore of the second connector end, the grounding link is secured within the second bore by application of a tool within the grounding link attachment portion of the multi-function bore.

6 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
an insulated cap configured to cover the exposed portion of the grounding element when the electrical connector is in a non-grounded configuration.

7 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the insulated cap comprises an insulated body and a securing element,
wherein the insulated body of the insulated cap comprises a tapered cavity therein for receiving the second end of the insulated body of the grounding link, wherein the securing element of the insulated cap projects within the tapered cavity, wherein the multi-function bore includes a second cap-securing portion, and wherein, upon placement of the tapered cavity of the insulated cap on the tapered second end of the grounding link, the securing element is configured to engage the cap-securing portion of the multi-function bore.

8 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 7 , wherein the securing element comprises a threaded stud and wherein the cap-securing portion of the multi-function bore comprises a correspondingly threaded portion of the multi-function bore.

9 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the exposed portion of the grounding element comprises a ball configuration for engaging a ball socket in the hot line clamp.

10 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 9 , wherein the exposed portion of the grounding element comprises a tool engaging portion and a cap securing portion,
wherein, following insertion of the grounding link into the second bore of the second connector end, the grounding element is secured within the second bore by application of a tool to the tool engaging portion.

11 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the grounding element comprises a second end for securing the grounding element and the grounding link to a bushing.

12 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connector body comprises a 600 amp connector and wherein the tap interface portion comprises a reducing tap interface portion for provided a 200 amp interface to the 600 amp connector.

13 . A medium or high voltage power cable elbow connector assembly, comprising:
a connector body having a conductor receiving end, a bushing receiving end projecting substantially perpendicularly from the connector body, and a connection end projecting substantially perpendicularly from the connector body and oriented substantially opposite to the bushing receiving end, wherein the connector body includes a first axial bore that communicates with each of a second axial bore and a third axial bore in the bushing receiving and connection ends, respectively, and wherein the bushing receiving end is configured to receive a switchgear bushing therein; a grounding link configured for insertion into the third axial bore of the connection end, wherein the grounding link is configured to conductively connect to the switchgear bushing, wherein the grounding link includes each of a cap receiving portion and a reducing tap portion, wherein the cap receiving portion is aligned with a bushing interface portion configured for insertion into the third axial bore; a grounding element configured for insertion within a bore in the grounding link to conductively couple with the switchgear bushing in the third axial bore, wherein the grounding element comprises an exposed portion for engaging a grounded hot line clamp, during grounding of the electrical connector assembly, wherein the reducing tap portion of the grounding link is configured to receive an elbow connector having a reduced amperage; and an insulated cap configured to cover the exposed conductive portion of the grounding device during normal operation of the electrical connector.

14 . The medium or high voltage power cable elbow connector assembly of claim 13 , wherein the exposed conductive portion of the grounding device comprises one of a cylindrical or ball configuration.

15 . The medium or high voltage power cable elbow connector assembly of claim 13 , wherein the exposed portion of the grounding element comprises a generally cylindrical configuration for engaging clamping members of the hot line clamp.

16 . The medium or high voltage power cable elbow connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the exposed portion comprises a multi-function bore formed axially therein,
wherein the multi-function bore includes a grounding link attachment portion, and wherein, following insertion of the bushing interface portion of the grounding link into the third axial bore, the grounding link is secured within the third axial bore by application of a tool within the grounding link attachment portion of the multi-function bore.

17 . The electrical connector assembly of claim 13 , wherein the connector body comprises a 600 amp connector and wherein the reducing tap portion comprises a 200 amp tap interface to the 600 amp connector.

18 . A method,

Assignees

• Thomas & Betts Int Llc

Inventors

• Siebens Larry N
• Borgstrom Alan D

Classifications

• H01R43/16

  for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending · CPC title

• H01R11/15

  Hook in the form of a screw clamp · CPC title

• H01R13/447

  Shutter or cover plate · CPC title

• H01R31/02

  Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter (with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92) · CPC title

• H01R13/53 Primary

  Bases or cases for heavy duty; Bases or cases {for high voltage} with means for preventing corona or arcing · CPC title