Electrical connector having cold shrink component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9444176-B2
Application number	US-201414280114-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2014
Priority date	Jun 28, 2013
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly configured to couple a power cable and at least one other electrical component, includes a housing body that includes a outer jacket, an insert portion, and an insulative inner housing positioned between at least a portion of the outer jacket and the insert portion. The housing body forms at least one bore for receiving the power cable. The outer jacket comprises a cable receiving jacket portion and a main body jacket portion. At least a portion of the cable receiving jacket portion is configured to engage the power cable received into the housing body. The cable receiving jacket portion comprises a cold shrink material configured to securely engage the power cable upon and the main body jack portion comprises a non-cold shrink material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical elbow connector assembly configured to couple a power cable and an equipment bushing, comprising:
a housing body that includes an outer jacket, an insert portion, and an insulative inner housing positioned between at least a portion of the outer jacket and the insert portion,
wherein the housing body forms a first bore for receiving the power cable and a second bore for receiving the equipment bushing, wherein the second bore is perpendicular to and in communication with the first bore,
wherein the outer jacket comprises:
a cable receiving jacket portion proximate the first bore, and
a main body jacket portion proximate to at least the second bore,

wherein the main body jacket is formed separately from and comprising a different material than the cable receiving jacket portion,
wherein at least a portion of the cable receiving jacket portion is configured to engage the power cable received into the housing body,
wherein the cable receiving jacket portion comprises a cold shrink material configured to securely engage the power cable,
wherein the main body jacket portion comprises a non-cold shrink material to ensure a sufficient hoop force between the main body jacket portion and the equipment bushing, and
wherein the cable receiving jacket portion of the outer jacket comprises a mounting region configured to engage the main body jacket portion at an interface between the cable receiving jacket portion and the main body jacket portion.

2. The electrical elbow connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable receiving jacket portion of the outer jacket comprises an engagement region having an inside diameter less than the outside diameter of the power cable.

3. The electrical elbow connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the cable receiving jacket portion of the outer jacket comprises an entrance region having an inside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the engagement region.

4. The electrical elbow connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the cable receiving jacket portion of the outer jacket is configured to receive a removable expansion core therein,
wherein the removable expansion core comprises a tubular member having an outside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the engagement region, wherein the removable expansion core is configured to receive the power cable therethrough.

5. The electrical elbow connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the tubular member of the removable expansion core is perforated or scored in a helical pattern for unwinding to remove from the cable receiving jacket portion.

6. The electrical elbow connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the removable expansion core comprises a pull tab connected to a leading end of the core to facilitate unwinding of the removable expansion core.

7. The electrical elbow connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insulative inner housing and the insert portion each comprise a cold sink capable material.

8. The electrical elbow connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cable receiving jacket portion comprises a cold shrink capable ethylene-propylene-dienemonomer (EPDM) material and the main body jacket portion comprises a non cold shrink EPDM material.

9. The electrical elbow connector assembly of claim 1 , comprising a 200-amp or a 600-amp connector.

10. The electrical elbow connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing body comprises:
a cable receiving end that includes the first bore for receiving the power cable; and
a connector end that projects perpendicularly from the cable receiving end and that includes the second bore that communicates with a forward end of the first bore.

11. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
a housing body having a cable receiving end and a connector end,
wherein the cable receiving end includes a first longitudinal bore extending therethrough for receiving a power cable therein,
wherein the connector end projects perpendicularly from the cable receiving end and includes a second bore that communicates with a forward end of the first longitudinal bore,
wherein the housing body comprises an outer jacket having a cable receiving jacket portion and a main body jacket portion,
wherein the main body jacket portion is formed separately from and comprises a different material than the cable receiving jacket portion,
wherein the cable receiving jacket portion comprises a cold shrink material,
wherein the main body jacket portion comprises a non-cold shrink material to ensure a sufficient hoop force between the main body jacket portion and the equipment bushing, and
wherein the cable receiving jacket portion comprises a mounting region configured to engage the main body jacket portion.

12. The electrical connector assembly of claim 11 , wherein the cable receiving jacket portion comprises an engagement region configured to engage the power cable,
wherein the engagement region includes an inside diameter smaller than an outside diameter of the power cable.

13. The electrical connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the cable receiving end is configured to receive a removable tubular expansion core in the longitudinal bore in a region proximate to the cable receiving jacket portion of the outer jacket,
wherein tubular expansion core includes an inside diameter sufficient to accommodate insertion of the power cable therethrough.

14. The electrical connector assembly of claim 13 , wherein removal of the tubular expansion core causes the cable receiving jacket portion to collapse inwardly to engage the power cable.

15. The electrical connector assembly of claim 13 , wherein the housing body comprises an insert portion and an insulated inner housing formed between the insert portion and the outer jacket,
wherein each of the insert portion and the insulated inner housing comprise cold shrink capable materials, and
wherein at least a portion of the insert portion and the insulated inner housing are configured to engage the tubular expansion core during insertion of the tubular expansion core into the longitudinal bore.

Assignees

• Thomas & Betts Int Llc

Inventors

• Siebens Larry N
• Gardner Daniel L
• Hernandez Carlos H
• Higgins Kieran P

Classifications

• Y10T29/4922

  with molding of insulation · CPC title

• H02G15/1833

  formed of helically wound strip with adjacent windings, which are removable by applying a pulling force to a strip end · CPC title

• H01R13/53

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

• H02G15/182

  held in expanded condition in radial direction prior to installation · CPC title

• H01R13/504 Primary

  different pieces being moulded, cemented, welded, e.g. ultrasonic welding, or swaged together · CPC title