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US 11,843,211 B2Granted
Insulation piercing wedge connector
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorChristopher Gilpin Chadbourne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical connector includes a clamp body having a substantially C-shaped configuration defining an interior cavity. A wedge is configured to be inserted into the clamp body. The wedge has a wedge body defining a conductor channel and a plurality of fins extending from the wedge body into the conductor channel. The plurality of fins is oriented to pierce an insulation layer of a conductor when the wedge is inserted into a clamp body.
Claims20
An electrical connector comprising:
- a clamp body having a substantially C-shaped configuration defining an interior cavity;
- a wedge configured to be inserted into the clamp body, the wedge having a wedge body defining a conductor channel and a plurality of fins extending from the wedge body into the conductor channel,
- wherein the plurality of fins includes a front fin, a first rear fin, and a second rear fin, wherein the rear fins are offset from the front fins in a direction perpendicular to an insertion direction of the wedge;
- wherein each of the fins includes a leading edge, an upper edge, and a trailing edge, and wherein the leading edge is oriented at an oblique angle to the upper edge;
- and
- wherein the plurality of fins is oriented to pierce an insulation layer of a conductor when the wedge is inserted into a clamp body.
3 more elements
An electrical connector comprising:
- a clamp body defining an interior cavity for receiving a first conductor and a second conductor;
- a wedge configured to be inserted into the clamp body, the wedge having a wedge body defining an upper conductor channel and a lower conductor channel, a first plurality of fins extending from the wedge body into the upper conductor channel, and a second plurality of fins extending from the wedge body into the lower conductor channel,
- wherein each of the fins includes a leading edge, an upper edge, and a trailing edge, the upper edge extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge along a first axis;
- wherein the leading edge is oriented at an oblique angle to the upper edge, and wherein the trailing edge is oriented at a perpendicular angle to the upper edge;
- and
- wherein the first plurality of fins is oriented to pierce an insulation layer of the first conductor when the wedge is inserted along an insertion axis substantially parallel to the first axis into a clamp body and the second plurality of fins is oriented to pierce an insulation layer of the second conductor when the wedge is inserted into a clamp body.
3 more elements
A method of connecting a first conductor and a second conductor comprising:
- positioning a first conductor in a first section of a clamp;
- positioning a second conductor in a second section of the clamp;
- inserting a wedge into the clamp, the wedge having an upper channel for receiving the first conductor, a plurality of first fins extending into the upper channel, a lower channel for receiving the second conductor, and a plurality of second fins extending into the lower channel, wherein each of the fins includes a leading edge, an upper edge, and a trailing edge, the upper edge extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge along a first axis, and wherein the leading edge is oriented at an oblique angle to the upper edge, and wherein the trailing edge is oriented at a perpendicular angle to the upper edge;
- driving the wedge into the clamp along an insertion axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis so that the first fins pierce the first conductor and the second fins pierce the second conductor.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.