Spring loaded paralell pad clamp connectors connectable using lineman hot sticks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016294074-A1
Application number	US-201615085981-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2016
Priority date	Mar 30, 2015
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector is provided. The clamp includes a top jaw; a bottom jaw having an eye depending therefrom; one or more springs biasing the top and bottom jaws to a closed position; and a surface positioned a predetermined distance from the eye so that the surface acts as a fulcrum and force translation surface for a lineman hot stick.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector, comprising:
a top jaw; a bottom jaw having an eye depending therefrom; one or more springs biasing the top and bottom jaws to a closed position; and a surface positioned a predetermined distance from a centerline of the eye so that the surface acts as a fulcrum and force translation surface for a lineman hot stick.

2 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined distance is 0.950 inches.

3 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 1 , wherein the center line of the eye is closer to an open side of the top and bottom jaws than to a closed side of the top and bottom jaws.

4 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom jaws are secured to one another by one or more bolts, the surface comprising a portion of the bolts.

5 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined distance is defined between the center line of the eye and a centerline of the bolts.

6 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined distance is sufficient to allow the lineman hot stick to abut or contact the bolts.

7 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined distance is equal to a radius of the lineman hot stick.

8 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 4 , wherein the center line of the eye is closer to an open side of the top and bottom jaws than to a closed side of the top and bottom jaws.

9 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 8 , wherein the bolts are proximate the closed side of the top and bottom jaws.

10 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 8 , wherein the bolts are offset from the closed side of the top and bottom jaws in a direction remote from the open side.

11 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 8 , further comprising a distance between the center line of the eye and the open side that is at least equal to a distance between the center line of the eye and the closed side.

12 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 8 , further comprising a distance between the center line of the eye and the open side that is smaller than a distance between the center line of the eye and the closed side.

13 . A spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector, comprising:
a top jaw; a bottom jaw having an eye depending therefrom; a bolt slideably securing the top and bottom jaws to one another so as to define an open side of the top and bottom jaws and a closed side of the top and bottom jaws, the bolt being proximate the closed side such that a centerline of the bolt is a predetermined distance from a centerline of the eye, the predetermined distance being sufficient such that a surface of the bolt acts as a fulcrum and force translation surface for a lineman hot stick; and a spring biasing the top and bottom jaws to a closed position.

14 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined distance is 0.950 inches.

15 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 13 , wherein the center line of the eye is closer to the open side than to the closed side.

16 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined distance is equal to a radius of the lineman hot stick.

17 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 14 , further comprising a distance between the center line of the eye and the open side that is at least equal to a distance between the center line of the eye and the closed side.

18 . The spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector of claim 14 , further comprising a distance between the center line of the eye and the open side that is smaller than a distance between the center line of the eye and the closed side.

19 . A method of connecting a spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector to a conductor, comprising:
moving a hook of a hot stick to an open position; placing an eye of the spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector onto the hook while the hot stick is in the open position; moving the hot stick to a closed position such that the hook draws at least a portion of the eye into the hot stick and the spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector abuts the hot stick so that the hook moves the spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector to an open position; moving the spring loaded parallel pad clamp connector, while in the open position, onto the conductor using the hot stick; and returning the hot stick to the open position to allow withdrawal of the hook from the eye.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• De France Robert Victor
• Dobrinski Daniel David
• Hall Jefferson Robert

Classifications

• H01R4/44

  Clamping areas on both sides of screw · CPC title

• H02G1/00

  Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines · CPC title

• H02G1/02

  for overhead lines or cables · CPC title

• H01R11/15

  Hook in the form of a screw clamp · CPC title

• H01R4/42 Primary

  Clamping area to one side of screw only · CPC title