# US 10,570,937 B2 · Clamp sensor systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,570,937 B2 - Document ID: US10570937B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/402,959 - Filed: 2017-01-10 - Published: 2018-07-12 - Granted: 2020-02-25 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-10 - Assignees: Sensorlink Corporation - Applicants: Sensorlink Corporation - Inventors: Kelly R. Hefelfinger; Robert Pendergrass; Nathanial Roth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10570937B2 ## CPC - F16B 2/065: {using screw-thread elements (F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence)} - F16B 2/12: using sliding jaws - F16B 21/065: {with an additional locking element} - G01R 1/22: Tong testers acting as secondary windings of current transformers - H01R 4/2483: penetrating the area under the screw tip - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A clamp assembly comprises a base housing, an anchor member, at least one bracing member, an engaging member, and a clamp bolt. The anchor member supports the at least one brace member. The clamp bolt engages a threaded bore in the anchor member. When the at least one brace member is in an extended position, at least one set of brace teeth engages at least one set of base teeth to brace the at least one brace member against the base housing. When the at least one brace member is braced against the base housing, axial rotation of the clamp bolt applies a clamp force on the engaging member to clamp the cable between the engaging member and the base housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A clamp assembly for use with a cable of an electrical distribution system comprising: a base housing defining at least one set of base teeth and a base axis; an anchor member defining a threaded bore, where the anchor member is supported for movement relative to the base housing along the base axis; at least one brace member defining at least one set of brace teeth, where the anchor member supports the at least one brace member for movement along a direction lateral to the base axis between a retracted position and an extended position; an engaging member; and a clamp bolt that engages the threaded bore; wherein when the at least one brace member is in the retracted position relative to the anchor member, the at least one set of brace teeth is spaced from and does not engage the at least one set of base teeth; when the at least one brace member is in the extended position relative to the anchor member, the at least one set of brace teeth engages the at least one set of base teeth to brace the at least one brace member against the base housing; and when the at least one brace member is braced against the base housing, axial rotation of the clamp bolt applies a clamp force on the engaging member to clamp the cable between the engaging member and the base housing; at least one guide plate is secured relative to the anchor member; the at least one guide plate defines at least one guide slot; the at least one brace member defines a guide projection; and the guide slot engages the guide projection such that movement of the at least one brace member relative to the anchor member is limited to between first and second end positions, the at least one brace member is in the retracted position when the at least one brace member is at the first end position, and the at least one brace member is in the extended position when the at least one brace member is at the second end position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one biasing member arranged to bias the at least one brace member out of the retracted position and towards the extended position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 1, in which: the base housing defines first and second sets of base teeth; first and second brace members define first and second sets of brace teeth, respectively; when the first and second brace members are in first and second retracted positions, respectively, the first and second sets of brace teeth are disengaged from the first and second sets of base teeth, respectively; and when the first and second brace members are in first and second extended positions, respectively, the first and second sets of brace teeth engage the first and second sets of base teeth, respectively, to brace the first and second brace members against the base housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 3, further comprising first and second biasing members arranged to bias the first and second brace members out of the first and second retracted positions and into the first and second extended positions, respectively. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a prong member supported by the base housing to engage the cable when the engaging member clamps the cable between the engaging member and the base housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 1, in which the at least one guide slot is shaped to hold the at least one brace member in the retracted position as the anchor member is moved relative to the base housing and to allow the at least one brace member to move into the retracted position when the clamp bolt is rotated to apply the clamp force on the engaging member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 1, in which: the at least one guide plate defines first and second guide slots; the first and second brace members define a-first and second guide projections, respectively; and the first and second guide slots engage the first and second guide projections such that movement of the first and second brace members relative to the anchor member is limited to between first and second end positions, the at least one brace member is in the retracted position when the at least one brace member is at the first end position, and the at least one brace member is in the extended position when the at least one brace member is at the second end position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 7, in which the first and second guide slots are shaped to hold the first and second brace members in the retracted position as the anchor member is moved relative to the base housing and to hold the first and second brace members in the extended position as the clamp bolt is rotated to apply the clamp force on the engaging member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 1, in which: the at least one guide plate defines at least one channel slot; the base housing defines at least one plate projection; and the at least one channel slot engages the at least one plate projection such that movement of the at least one anchor member relative to the base housing is limited to between first and second end positions, the at least one brace member is in the retracted position when the at least one brace member is at the first end position, and the at least one brace member is in the extended position when the at least one brace member is at the second end position. ### Claim 10 A clamp assembly for use with a cable of an electrical distribution system comprising: a base housing defining first and second sets of base teeth and a base axis; an anchor member defining a threaded bore, where the anchor member is supported for movement relative to along the base axis; first and second brace members defining first and second sets of teeth, respectively, where the anchor member supports the first and second brace members for movement along a direction lateral to the base axis; first and second biasing members arranged to bias the first and second brace members into first and second extended positions, respectively; an engaging member; and a clamp bolt that engages the threaded bore; wherein when the first and second brace members are in first and second extended positions, respectively, the first and second sets of brace teeth engage the first and second sets of base teeth, respectively, to brace the first and second brace members against the base housing; and when the first and second brace members are braced against the base housing, axial rotation of the clamp bolt applies a clamp force on the engaging member to clamp the cable between the engaging member and the base housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising a prong member supported by the base housing to engage the cable when the engaging member clamps the cable between the engaging member and the base housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 10, in which: at least one guide plate is secured relative to the anchor member; the at least one guide plate defines at least one guide slot; the first and second brace members define a guide projection; and the guide slot engages the guide projection to limit movement of the first and second brace members relative to the anchor member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 12, in which the at least one guide slot is shaped to hold the first and second brace members in the retracted position as the anchor member is moved relative to the base housing and to allow the at least one brace member to move into the retracted position as the clamp bolt is rotated to apply the clamp force on the engaging member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 10, in which: at least one guide plate is secured relative to the anchor member; the at least one guide plate defines first and second guide slots; the first and second brace members define a first and second guide projections, respectively; and the first and second guide slots engage the first and second guide projections to limit movement of the first and second brace members relative to the anchor member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 14, in which the first and second guide slots are shaped to hold the at least one brace member in the retracted position as the anchor member is moved relative to the base housing and to allow the at least one brace member to move into the retracted position as the clamp bolt is rotated to apply the clamp force on the engaging member. ### Claim 16 A clamp assembly for use with a cable of an electrical distribution system comprising: a base housing defining at least one set of base teeth and a base axis; an anchor member defining a threaded bore, where the anchor member is supported for movement relative to along the base axis; at least one brace member defining at least one set of brace teeth, where the anchor member supports the at least one brace member for movement along a direction lateral to the base axis; an engaging member; and a clamp bolt that engages the threaded bore; wherein when the at least one brace member is in an extended position, the at least one set of brace teeth engages the at least one set of base teeth to brace the at least one brace member against the base housing; and when the at least one brace member is braced against the base housing, axial rotation of the clamp bolt applies a clamp force on the engaging member to clamp the cable between the engaging member and the base housing; at least one guide plate is secured relative to the anchor member; the at least one guide plate defines at least one guide slot; the at least one brace member defines a guide projection; and the guide slot engages the guide projection to limit movement of the at least one brace member relative to the anchor member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 16, further comprising at least one biasing member arranged to bias the at least one brace member towards the extended position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 16, in which the at least one guide slot is shaped to hold the at least one brace member in the retracted position as the anchor member is moved relative to the base housing and to allow the at least one brace member to move into the retracted position as the clamp bolt is rotated to apply the clamp force on the engaging member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 16, in which: the at least one guide plate defines first and second guide slots; the first and second brace members define a first and second guide projections, respectively; and the first and second guide slots engage the first and second guide projections to limit movement of the first and second brace members relative to the anchor member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 19, in which the first and second guide slots are shaped to hold the at least one brace member in the retracted position as the anchor member is moved relative to the base housing and to allow the at least one brace member to move into the retracted position as the clamp bolt is rotated to apply the clamp force on the engaging member. ### Claim 21 A clamp assembly for use with a cable of an electrical distribution system comprising: a base housing defining at least one set of base teeth and a base axis; an anchor member defining a threaded bore, where the anchor member is supported for movement relative to along the base axis; at least one brace member defining at least one set of brace teeth, where the anchor member supports the at least one brace member for movement along a direction lateral to the base axis; an engaging member; and a clamp bolt that engages the threaded bore; wherein when the at least one brace member is in an extended position, the at least one set of brace teeth engages the at least one set of base teeth to brace the at least one brace member against the base housing; when the at least one brace member is braced against the base housing, axial rotation of the clamp bolt applies a clamp force on the engaging member to clamp the cable between the engaging member and the base housing; at least one guide plate is secured relative to the anchor member; the at least one guide plate defines first and second guide slots; the first and second brace members define a first and second guide projections, respectively; and the first and second guide slots engage the first and second guide projections to limit movement of the first and second brace members relative to the anchor member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 21, further comprising at least one biasing member arranged to bias the at least one brace member towards the extended position. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 21, in which the guide slot is shaped to hold the at least one brace member in the retracted position as the anchor member is moved relative to the base housing and to allow the at least one brace member to move into the retracted position as the clamp bolt is rotated to apply the clamp force on the engaging member.