Cable wire brushing connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016248209-A1
Application number	US-201615000574-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 19, 2016
Priority date	Feb 24, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electrical connector includes a body having a bore and an interior surface. The bore is sized to receive a cable conductor of an electrical power cable. The body includes a groove disposed along a length of the interior surface. A wire brush insert is located within the groove and includes a plurality of bristles that extend into at least a portion of the bore. Rotating the cable wire brushing connector relative to the cable conductor cleans the cable conductor prior to securing the cable conductor within the cable wire brushing connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electrical connector, comprising:
a body having a bore and an interior surface, wherein the bore is sized to receive a cable conductor of an electrical power cable, and wherein the body includes a groove disposed along a length of the interior surface; and a wire brush insert located within the groove, wherein the wire brush insert includes a plurality of bristles that extend into at least a portion of the bore.

2 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bristles engage the cable conductor when the cable conductor is inserted into the bore, and wherein the body is rotated relative to the cable conductor to brush an outer surface of the cable conductor.

3 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the groove includes a base recessed from the interior surface and an opening adjacent to the interior surface, and wherein a cross-sectional width of the base is larger than a cross-sectional width of the opening.

4 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector further comprises one or more set screw holes extending through a portion of the body and orthogonal to an axis of the bore, and wherein each of the one or more set screw holes is configured to receive a set screw.

5 . The electrical connector of claim 4 , wherein, when inserted through one of the set screw holes, the set screw presses the cable conductor against a contact area on the interior surface.

6 . The electrical connector of claim 5 , wherein the groove is located on a portion of the interior surface that is outside the contact area.

7 . The electrical connector of claim 6 , wherein the body comprises a first wire brush insert disposed within the groove and a second wire brush insert disposed within a second groove, wherein the first wire brush insert is positioned along a first portion of the interior surface between the contact area and the set screw holes, wherein the second wire brush insert is positioned along a second portion of the interior surface between the contact area and the set screw holes, wherein the first portion is opposite the second portion.

8 . The electrical connector of claim 7 , wherein the first wire brush insert and the second wire brush insert are positioned at opposite points along a circumference of the interior surface.

9 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the wire brush insert is retained within the groove via a press fit.

10 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the bore extends through an entire length of the body from a first opening to a second opening.

11 . The electrical connector of claim 10 , wherein the wire brush insert includes an overhang on at least one end to engage the body at the first opening and prevent movement in an axial direction.

12 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein body comprises one or more of copper and aluminum.

13 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the wire brush insert includes a bristle holder that secures the wire brush insert in the groove and orients the bristles into the bore.

14 . The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the bore extends through a portion of the length of the body from a first opening at a first end, and wherein the body comprises a spade portion at a second end.

15 . An electrical connector, comprising:
a cylindrical body having a bore and an interior surface,
wherein the bore extends through an axial length of the body from a first opening to a second opening,
wherein the bore is sized to receive a cable conductor of an electrical power cable,
wherein the body includes a first groove disposed along a first portion of a length of the interior surface, and
wherein the body includes a second groove disposed along a second portion of the length of the interior surface;
a first wire brush insert disposed within the first groove; and a second wire brush insert disposed within the second groove, wherein the first wire brush insert and the second wire brush insert each include a plurality of bristles that extend into at least a portion of the bore.

16 . The electrical connector of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of bristles engage the cable conductor when the cable conductor is inserted into the bore, and wherein the body is rotated relative to the cable conductor to brush an outer surface of the cable conductor.

17 . The electrical connector of claim 16 , wherein the body further comprises a plurality of set screw holes oriented orthogonally to the bore, and wherein the electrical connector further comprises:
a plurality of set screws to enter the set screw holes and contact the cable conductor, when the cable conductor is inserted into the bore.

18 . The electrical connector of claim 15 , wherein the first groove and the second groove each include a base recessed from the interior surface and an opening adjacent to the interior surface, and wherein a cross-sectional width of the base is larger than a cross-sectional width of the opening.

19 . A method for securing a cable conductor within an electrical connector, the method, comprising:
selecting a cable wire brushing connector of a size to accommodate a desired cable conductor of an electrical power cable, wherein the cable wire brushing connector includes:
a body having a bore and an interior surface, wherein the bore is sized to receive the cable conductor, and wherein the body includes a groove disposed along a length of the interior surface, and
a wire brush insert disposed within the groove, wherein the wire brush insert includes a plurality of bristles that extend into at least a portion of the bore;
inserting the cable conductor into an end of the cable wire brushing connector; rotating the cable wire brushing connector relative to the cable conductor; and securing the cable conductor within the cable wire brushing connector.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the securing includes inserting a set screw through a hole in a wall of the body to press the cable conductor against the interior surface.

Assignees

• Thomas & Betts Int Llc

Inventors

• Fong Robert

Classifications

• H01R4/01

  Connections using shape memory materials, e.g. shape memory metal · CPC title

• H01R43/12

  Manufacture of brushes · CPC title

• H01R11/05

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

• H02G3/0406

  Details thereof (installation or suspension of conduit channels and other supports H02G3/263) · CPC title

• H01R4/00 Primary

  Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation · CPC title