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US 12,218,470 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.
Claims21
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 that extends along a channel axis and a plurality of fins extending from the wedge body into the conductor channel,
- wherein each fin of the plurality of fins is unitarily formed with the wedge body;
- 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 an offset direction perpendicular to an insertion direction of the wedge and to the channel axis;
- wherein the plurality of fins is oriented to pierce an insulation layer of a conductor when the wedge is inserted into a clamp body;
- wherein each of the fins includes a leading edge, an upper edge, and a trailing edge, and wherein the leading edge is curved;
- and
- wherein the upper edge extends between the leading edge and the trailing edge along the channel axis of the conductor channel.
5 more elements
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 each of the fins includes a leading edge, an upper edge, and a trailing edge;
- wherein each fin of the plurality of fins includes a side surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and wherein the side surface forms a substantially smooth curve with the conductor channel;
- 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
A method of connecting a first 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, and wherein each fin of the plurality of fins includes a side surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and wherein the side surface forms a substantially smooth curve with the conductor channel;
- driving the wedge into the clamp 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.