# US 2013/0153293 A1 · Method and apparatus for sealing motor terminals > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153293 A1 - Document ID: US20130153293A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/709,274 - Filed: 2012-12-10 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: Johnson Controls Technology Company - Inventors: William Joseph FOX - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153293A1 ## CPC - H02G 15/043: {with end caps, e.g. sleeve closed at one end} - F25B 31/02: of motor-compressor units - H01B 1/02: mainly consisting of metals or alloys - H02G 1/14: for joining or terminating cables - F25B 2400/07: Details of compressors or related parts - Y10T 29/49194: Assembling elongated conductors, e.g., splicing, etc. - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K}) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A wire insulator apparatus includes an insulator/separator member, a cap portion, a tube and potting material. The insulator/separator member has apertures formed therein for receiving a plurality of wires. By threading the wires through the insulator/separator member, the wires are spaced apart so that a potting material can be molded to provide a complete seal from the environment, particularly conductive liquids such as ammonia, which may cause short-circuiting between the wires. Individual wires are terminated in the cap portion, and the cap portion, the insulator/separator member and the wire ends are positioned within a tube or a mold portion depending on the application, and a potting epoxy is fluidly inserted within the tube. The epoxy surrounds or encases the wire ends within the tube or mold to insulate the wire ends in an airtight seal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wire insulator for sealing motor terminals, comprising: an insulator/separator member, a cap portion, a tube and potting epoxy; the insulator/separator member comprising a plurality of apertures, the apertures configured for receiving and threading a plurality of wire strands through the insulator/separator member, wherein the plurality of wire strands are separated to create a space for the potting epoxy to seal each of the wire strands from an environmental atmosphere; the cap portion configured to terminate the wire strands; and the tube surrounding the cap portion, the insulator/separator member, the potting epoxy, and at least a portion of the plurality of wire strands. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wire insulator of claim 1, wherein the tube is a shrink tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wire insulator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wire strands extends from inside of a motor or compressor housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wire insulator of claim 1, wherein lead wire strands pass through the insulator/separator and are connected to a lead wire or multi-conductor cable at a connection point. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wire insulator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wire strands is soldered or crimped to the lead wires. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wire insulator of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a hollow insulating tube, and the plurality of wire strands are threaded through the tube prior to the tube being positioned over the cap portion, the insulator/separator member, the potting epoxy, and the wire ends. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wire insulator of claim 1, wherein the potting material is selected from epoxy, urethane, silicone or other suitable potting material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wire insulator of claim 1, wherein the insulator/separator member is a cylindrical, solid block insulator; and wherein the wire strands are threaded through the passages traversing through the insulator/separator member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wire insulator of claim 1, wherein each wire of the plurality of wire strands further comprising insulation and at least one end, and each wire of the plurality of wire strands is stripped of insulation at the end to expose a conductor for termination inside the cap portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The wire insulator of claim 9, further comprising a recessed stub portion, the cap portion insertable into the recessed stub portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The wire insulator of claim 10, further comprising a stud member, wherein the recessed stub portion is attached to an end of a stud member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The wire insulator of claim 11, wherein the stud member further comprises a hexagonal nut portion configured to receive a wrench, the nut threadably attached to the stud member for securing the recessed stub portion on the stud member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The wire insulator of claim 12, further comprising an insulator board attached to the stud member, the insulator configured for mounting the stud member to a housing. ### Claim 14 A wire insulator comprising: an insulator/separator member, a cap portion, a hollow mold portion and potting epoxy; the mold portion enclosing, the insulator insulator/separator member, and the cap portion, and a plurality of lead wire strands; the mold portion comprising a first end and a second end, the mold portion open at the first end and attached to an insulator board at the second end; and the potting epoxy infused into the mold portion to provide an airtight seal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The wire insulator of claim 14, wherein the lead wire strands comprise Teflon-coated copper wire strands. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The wire insulator of claim 14, wherein the lead wire strands comprise aluminum wire stands. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The wire insulator of claim 14, wherein the lead wire strands comprise insulated coatings. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The wire insulator of claim 14, wherein the insulator/separator separates the wire strands to provide space for the potting material in liquid form to flow around the wire strands prior to curing, to insulate the insulator/separator member, at least one end of the wire strands, and the cap portion. ### Claim 19 A method for sealing wire terminations in a conductive atmosphere comprising: threading a plurality of lead wire strands through a plurality of apertures in an insulator/separator member, attaching the lead wire strands to cable conductors at a connection point; placing a casing over the assembled connector parts; and filling the casing with an airtight electrically insulated potting material to encase the connector assembly in the potting material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the casing is one of a tube or a molding.