Cable neutral wires connectors and methods and connections including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022013933-A1
Application number	US-202016924944-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2020
Priority date	Jul 9, 2020
Publication date	Jan 13, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cable neutral wires connector for connecting neutral wires of a cable, the cable having a cable longitudinal axis, includes a connector body, a plurality of neutral wire ports, and at least one securing mechanism. The neutral wire ports are defined in the connector body. The neutral wire ports are each configured to receive at least one of the neutral wires therethrough. The at least one securing mechanism is configured to secure the neutral wires in the connector body. The connector body is configured to be mounted on the cable such that the neutral wire ports are circumferentially distributed about the cable longitudinal axis.

First claim

1 . A cable neutral wires connector for connecting neutral wires of a cable, the cable having a cable longitudinal axis, the cable neutral wires connector comprising:
a connector body; a plurality of neutral wire ports defined in the connector body, wherein the neutral wire ports are each configured to receive at least one of the neutral wires therethrough; and at least one securing mechanism configured to secure the neutral wires in the connector body; wherein the connector body is configured to be mounted on the cable such that the neutral wire ports are circumferentially distributed about the cable longitudinal axis.

2 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 1 wherein:
the connector body includes a plurality of neutral wire bores defined therein; and
each neutral wire bore communicates with a respective one of the neutral wire ports and is configured to receive the at least one neutral wire inserted through the respective neutral wire port.

3 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 2 wherein:
the at least one securing mechanism includes a plurality of shear bolts; and
each of the shear bolts is configured to secure the neutral wires in a respective one of the neutral wire bores.

4 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 3 wherein:
the connector body includes an outer surface configured to face away from the cable when the cable neutral wires connector is mounted on the cable;
the connector body includes a plurality of bolt bores each extending through the outer surface and intersecting a respective one of the neutral wire bores; and
the shear bolts are configured to break off at or below the outer surface.

5 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 1 wherein:
the connector body includes an outer surface configured to face away from the cable when the cable neutral wires connector is mounted on the cable; and
the outer surface is convex and is substantially partial cylindrical in shape.

6 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 1 wherein:
the connector body includes an inner surface configured to face toward the cable when the cable neutral wires connector is mounted on the cable; and
the inner surface is concave and is substantially partial cylindrical in shape.

7 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 6 wherein:
the connector body includes an outer surface configured to face away from the cable when the cable neutral wires connector is mounted on the cable; and
the outer surface is convex and is substantially partial cylindrical in shape; and
the connector body has a substantially arcuate shape in lateral cross-section.

8 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 1 including a retainer configured to secure the connector body to the cable.

9 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 8 wherein the retainer includes a band configured to encircle the cable.

10 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 9 wherein the retainer includes an adjustment mechanism operable to tighten the cable neutral wires connector onto the cable.

11 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 9 wherein the connector body includes at least one retention feature that cooperates with the retainer to position the connector body on the cable.

12 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 1 wherein the neutral wire ports define an arcuate profile about the cable longitudinal axis.

13 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 1 wherein the plurality of neutral wire ports includes at least three neutral wire ports.

14 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 1 wherein the at least one securing mechanism includes at least one shear bolt configured to secure the neutral wires in the connector body.

15 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 1 wherein the connector body is formed of metal.

16 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 15 wherein the connector body is monolithic.

17 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 1 wherein:
the connector body has a first axial end and an opposing second axial end;
the neutral wire ports are a first set of neutral wire ports defined in the first axial end;
the connector body further includes a second set of neutral wire ports defined in the second axial end, wherein the neutral wire ports of the second set are each configured to receive at least one of neutral wire of a second cable therethrough; and
the at least one securing mechanism is configured to secure the neutral wires of the second cable in the connector body.

18 . The cable neutral wires connector of claim 17 wherein:
the connector body includes a plurality of neutral wire bores defined therein; and
each neutral wire bore communicates with a respective one of the neutral wire ports of the first set and a respective one of the neutral wire ports of the second set, and is configured to receive the neutral wires inserted through the respective neutral wire ports.

19 . A method for forming a connection with a cable, the cable having neutral wires and a cable longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
providing a cable neutral wires connector including:
a connector body;
a plurality of neutral wire ports defined in the connector body; and
at least one securing mechanism;
inserting the neutral wires through a plurality of the neutral wire ports; securing the inserted neutral wires in the connector body using the at least one securing mechanism; and mounting the connector body on the cable, wherein the neutral wire ports are circumferentially distributed about the cable longitudinal axis when the connector body is mounted on the cable.

20 .- 23 . (canceled)

24 . A cable connection assembly comprising:
a cable having neutral wires and a cable longitudinal axis; a cable neutral wires connector including:
a connector body mounted on the cable;
a plurality of neutral wire ports defined in the connector body; and
at least one securing mechanism;
wherein:
the neutral wires are inserted through a plurality of the neutral wire ports;
the inserted neutral wires are secured in the connector body using the at least one securing mechanism; and
the neutral wire ports are circumferentially distributed about the cable longitudinal axis.

25 .- 28 . (canceled)

29 . The method of claim 19 wherein:
the connector body has a first axial end and an opposing second axial end;
the neutral wire ports are a first set of neutral wire ports defined in the first axial end;
the connector body further includes a second set of neutral wire ports defined in the second axial end;
the method includes inserting the neutral wires of a second cable through a plurality of the neutral wire ports of the second set; and
the method includes securing the neutral wires of the second cable in the connector body using the at least one securing mechanism;
whereby the neutral wires of the first cable are electrically connected to the neutral wires of the second cable.

30 . The method of claim 19 wherein:
the connector body includes an inner surface configured to face toward the cable when the cable neutral wires connector is mounted on the cable;
the inner surface is concave and is substantially partial cylindrical in shape; and
mounting the connector body on the cable includes mounting the connector body on the cable such that the inner surface of the connector body engages a semiconductive layer of the cable.

Assignees

• TE Connectivity Services Gmbh

Inventors

• Seraj Mahmoud K
• Yaworski Harry George
• Ayres Brian

Classifications

• H01R4/646

  for cables or flexible cylindrical bodies · CPC title

• H01R4/70

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

• H01R12/91

  allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating or self aligning (for coupling devices not specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R13/6315 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R9/0524

  Connection to outer conductor by action of a clamping member, e.g. screw fastening means (H01R9/0515 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R4/36

  Conductive members located under tip of screw · CPC title