Range taking shear bolts and drive tools

A range taking shear bolt system comprising:

• a range taking shear bolt;
• and
• a drive tool for installing the range taking shear bolt in a range taking connector,
• wherein the range taking shear bolt comprises:
• a hollow body defined by a wall having an outer surface and an inner surface,
• the inner surface having a non-round shape configured to engage with the drive tool and including a plurality of V-shaped internal grooves substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the range taking shear bolt, the plurality of V-shaped internal grooves being dispersed along a length of the hollow body and a tip of each of the plurality of V-shaped internal grooves defining a potential shear point where the wall is configured to shear when an applied torque reaches or exceeds a predetermined torque value,
• the outer surface having a continuous screw thread configured to engage with a threaded opening on the range taking connector;
• a distal end configured to abut a cable conductor inside the range taking connector;
• and
• a proximal end configured to accept the drive tool;
• and
• the drive tool comprising:
• an inner portion having a head portion, a distal end portion, and a drive portion, the drive portion having a non-round shape configured to be accepted by the proximal end of the range taking shear bolt and engage with the inner surface of the hollow body, the distal end portion being located below the drive portion, the distal end portion having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the drive portion and configured to be a pilot for entry into the hollow body of the range taking shear bolt;
• and
• an outer portion having a tubular body, the tubular body configured to fit over the hollow body of the range taking shear bolt and abut the range taking connector to control a depth of insertion of the drive tool,
• wherein, in response to the applied torque from the drive tool reaching or exceeding the predetermined torque value, the hollow body of the range taking shear bolt shears at one of the plurality of V-shaped internal grooves, the one of the plurality of V-shaped internal grooves at which the shearing takes place is independent of a depth of insertion of the inner portion of the drive tool within the hollow body of the range taking shear bolt.

A range taking shear bolt system comprising:

• a range taking shear bolt;
• and
• a drive tool for installing the range taking shear bolt in a range taking connector,
• the range taking shear bolt comprising:
• a distal end configured to abut a cable conductor inside a range taking connector,
• a proximal end configured to accept the drive tool;
• and
• a hollow body defined by a wall having an outer surface and an inner surface,
• the inner surface having a non-round shape configured to engage with the drive tool and including a plurality of V-shaped internal grooves substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the range taking shear bolt, the plurality of V-shaped internal grooves being dispersed along a length of the hollow body and a tip of each of the plurality of V-shaped internal grooves defining a potential shear point where the wall is configured to shear when an applied torque from the drive tool reaches or exceeds a predetermined torque value,
• the outer surface having a continuous screw thread configured to engage with a threaded opening on the range taking connector, the outer surface extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the continuous screw thread being uninterrupted between the distal end and the proximal end;
• and
• the drive tool comprising:
• an inner portion having a head portion, a distal end portion, and a drive portion, the drive portion having a non-round shape configured to be accepted by the proximal end of the range taking shear bolt and engage with the inner surface of the hollow body, the distal end portion being located below the drive portion, the distal end portion having a diameter that is less than a diameter of the drive portion and configured to be a pilot for entry into the hollow body of the range taking shear bolt;
• and
• an outer portion comprising a tubular body, the tubular body configured to fit over the hollow body of the range taking shear bolt and abut the range taking connector to control a depth of insertion of the drive tool,
• wherein, in response to the applied torque from the drive tool reaching or exceeding the predetermined torque value, the hollow body of the range taking shear bolt shears at one of the plurality of V-shaped internal grooves, the one of the plurality of internal grooves at which the shearing takes place is independent of a depth of insertion of the inner portion of the drive tool within the hollow body of the range taking shear bolt.