Conductor assembly for power distribution equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9660402-B2
Application number	US-201615188411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2016
Priority date	Apr 10, 2014
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

A conductor assembly for establishing a connection to a power distribution unit is disclosed. The conductor assembly includes one or more conductors have a conductive rod. Each end of the conductive rod has an end forming a ball member. The conductor assembly also includes a connector having a clamp mechanism to receive the ball member of the conductive rod. A fastener threadably couples with a conductor on power distribution unit to rigidly secure the conductor assembly to the electrical equipment units.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conductor assembly for establishing an electrical connection to a power distribution unit comprising:
a conductor including a conductive rod surrounded by an insulator sleeve, the conductive rod having an end extending from the insulator sleeve and a ball member formed on the end; and
a connector including an insulator body having an interface configured to attach to the power distribution equipment and a clamp mechanism disposed in the insulator body and configured to electrically couple with the power distribution unit, wherein the end of the conductor is received in a passage formed in the insulator body such that the ball member engages and electrically couples with the clamp mechanism.

2. The conductor assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second conductor including a second conductive rod surrounded by an second insulator sleeve, the second conductive rod having a second end extending from the second insulator sleeve and a second ball member formed on the second end, wherein the clamp mechanism comprises a dual clamping mechanism having a first clamp on the ball member and a second clamp on the second ball member.

3. The conductor assembly of claims 1 , wherein the clamp mechanism comprises a first clamp element, a second clamp element and a fastener received in a recess passage formed in the insulator body, the fastener extending through the first and second clamp elements to secure the clamp mechanism to the ball member of the conductive rod.

4. The conductor assembly of claim 3 wherein the fastener comprises a threaded head portion, a nut received on the threaded head portion, a shank extending from the threaded head portion and passing through the first and second clamp elements, and a threaded body portion configured to engage with the power distribution unit.

5. The conductor assembly of claim 4 further comprising a plug assembly comprising an insulator portion disposed within the recess passage and a threaded insert engaging the threaded head portion of the fastener, wherein the plug assembly is configured to sealably engage the connector.

6. The conductor assembly of claim 5 wherein the fastener further comprises a biasing element interposed between the nut and the first clamp element.

7. The conductor assembly of claims 1 wherein the connector further comprises a semi-conductive boot surrounding the clamp mechanism and the end of the conductor.

8. The conductor assembly of claims 1 Wherein the conductor rod further comprise a body portion, a neck portion extending from the body portion and a spherical end portion, the neck portion and the spherical end portion joining to form a contact surface and defining the ball member.

9. The conductor assembly of claims 1 further comprising a conductive covering including a conductor portion formed on the conductor, and a connector portion formed on the connector, wherein the conductor portion and the connector portion are conductively coupled when the connection assembly is assembled.

10. A power distribution system comprising:
a power distribution unit having a contact;
a conductor including a conductive rod surrounded by an insulator sleeve, the conductive rod having an end extending from the insulator sleeve and a ball member formed on the end; and
a connector including an insulator body having interface configured to attach to the power distribution equipment and a clamp mechanism disposed in the insulator body and configured to electrically couple with the power distribution unit, wherein the end of the conductor is received in a passage formed in the insulator body such that the ball member engages and electrically couples with the clamp mechanism.

11. The power distribution system of claim 10 further comprising a second conductor including a second conductive rod surrounded by an second insulator sleeve, the second conductive rod having a second end extending from the second insulator sleeve and a second ball member formed on the second end, wherein the clamp mechanism comprises a dual clamping mechanism having a first clamp on the ball member and a second clamp on the second ball member.

12. The power distribution system of claim 10 wherein the clamp mechanism comprises a first clamp element, a second clamp element and a fastener received in a recess passage formed in the insulator body, the fastener extending through the first and second clamp elements to secure the clamp mechanism to the ball member of the conductive rod.

13. The power distribution system of claim 12 wherein the fastener comprises a threaded head portion, a nut engaging the threaded head portion, a shank extending from the threaded head portion and passing through the first and second clamp elements, and a threaded body portion configured to engage with the contact on the power distribution unit.

14. The power distribution system of claim 13 wherein further comprising a plug assembly comprising an insulator portion disposed within the recess passage and a threaded insert engaging the threaded head portion of the fastener, wherein the plug assembly is configured to sealably engage the connector.

15. The power distribution system of claim 14 wherein the fastener further comprises a biasing element interposed between the nut and the first clamp element.

16. The power distribution system of claims 10 wherein the connector comprises a semi-conductive boot surrounding the clamp mechanism and the end of the conductor.

17. The power distribution system of claims 10 wherein the conductor rod comprises a body portion, a neck portion extending from the body portion and a spherical end portion, the neck portion and the spherical end portion joining to form a contact surface and define the ball member.

18. The power distribution system of claims 10 further comprising a conductive covering including a conductor portion on the conductor, and a conductor portion on the connector, wherein the conductor portion and the connector portions are conductively coupled.

Assignees

• S & C Electric Co

Inventors

• Maroney Michael R

Classifications

• H01R4/5058

  using a ball · CPC title

• H01R25/162 Primary

  Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars (rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64) · CPC title

• H01R4/50

  utilising a cam, wedge, cone or ball {also combined with a screw} · CPC title

• H02B13/005 Primary

  Electrical connection between switchgear cells · CPC title

• H01R13/6315

  allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection (for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence) · CPC title