Automatic splice having an arm indicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9780491-B2
Application number	US-201615346246-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A cable connector includes a body member having a first opening to receive a cable and a second opening. An indicator is movable between first and second positions. A stop member substantially prevents unintended movement of the indicator from the first position to the second position. The indicator moves past the stop member and through the second opening in the body member when moving from the first position to the second position and is exposed externally of the body member to indicate full insertion of the cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of connecting a cable comprising:
inserting a cable into a splice having a body member with a cable opening and an indicator opening, an indicator movable between a first and a second position, and a stop member releasably engaging and substantially preventing unintended movement of the indicator from the first position to the second position; and
moving the cable through the body member so that the indicator is moved past the stop member and through the indicator opening in the body member to the second position and exposing the indicator externally of the body member to indicate full insertion of the cable.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cable engages a first portion of the indicator and a second portion of the indicator is visible externally of the body member when the indicator is in the second position.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator pivots between the first position and the second position.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the splice includes a pilot cup disposed in a jaw assembly and moving the cable through the body moves the pilot cup through the jaw assembly.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the jaw assembly is engaged with the cable when the indicator is in the second position.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the jaw assembly is biased toward the cable opening.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the cable includes passing the cable through a funnel guide having a substantially frusto-conical portion disposed externally of the body member.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the substantially frusto-conical portion of the funnel guide abuts an end of the body member when the indicator is in the first position, and the substantially frusto-conical portion of the funnel guide is spaced from the end of the body member when the indicator is in the second position.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes an arm and a pad.

10. A method of splicing cables comprising:
inserting a cable into a splice having a body member with a cable opening, an indicator opening, a centerstop having a pivot member, an indicator connected to the pivot member and moveable between a first position and a second position, and a stop member preventing unintended movement of the indicator from the first position to the second position;
moving the cable through the body member so that the indicator is moved past the stop member and through the indicator opening in the body member to the second position and exposing the indicator externally of the body member.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the indicator includes a pad, a socket, and an arm.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the cable engages the pad, causing the arm and the pad to pivot about the socket.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the splice includes a pilot cup disposed in a jaw assembly and moving the cable through the body moves the pilot cup through the jaw assembly.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the jaw assembly is engaged with the cable when the indicator is in the second position.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the jaw assembly is biased toward the cable opening.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein inserting the cable includes passing the cable through a funnel guide having a substantially frusto-conical portion disposed externally of the body member.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the substantially frusto-conical portion of the funnel guide abuts an end of the body member when the indicator is in the first position, and the substantially frusto-conical portion of the funnel guide is spaced from the end of the body member when the indicator is in the second position.

18. A method of connecting a cable comprising:
positioning a splice having a body member with a first and second cable opening, a first and second indicator opening, a first and second indicator movable between a first and a second position, a first stop member associated with the first indicator, and a second stop member associated with the second indicator, the first and second stop members releasably engaging and substantially preventing unintended movement of the respective indicators from the first position to the second position;
feeding a first cable through the first cable opening and moving the first cable through the body member to engage the first indicator so that the first indicator is moved past the first stop member and through the first indicator opening in the body member; and
feeding a second cable through the second cable opening and moving the second cable through the body member to engage the second indicator so that the second indicator is moved past the second stop member and through the second indicator opening in the body member.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first indicator opening is offset from the second indicator opening.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising engaging a first jaw assembly with the first cable and engaging a second jaw assembly with the second cable.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Diop Seydou
• Zelazny Paul

Classifications

• H01R4/5083

  using a wedge · CPC title

• H02G1/14

  for joining or terminating cables · CPC title

• H01R4/52

  which is spring loaded · CPC title

• H01R13/641 Primary

  by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement · CPC title