# US 2018/0195539 A1 · 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 2018/0195539 A1 - Document ID: US20180195539A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/402,959 - Filed: 2017-01-10 - Published: 2018-07-12 - 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/US20180195539A1 ## 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 base 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 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 base 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. ### 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 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 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 at least one brace member 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 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: 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 7 (depends on 6) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 6, 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 8 (depends on 1) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 1, 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 9 (depends on 8) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 8, 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A clamp assembly as recited in claim 1, in which: at least one guide plate is secured relative to the anchor member; 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 to limit movement of the at least one anchor member relative to the base housing. ### Claim 11 A method of clamping a base housing to a cable of an electrical distribution system comprising: forming the base housing to define at least one set of base teeth and a base axis; providing an anchor member defining a threaded bore; supporting the anchor member for movement relative to along the base axis; providing at least one brace member defining at least one set of brace teeth; supporting the at least one brace member relative to the anchor member for movement along a direction lateral to the base axis; providing an engaging member; and engaging a clamp bolt with the threaded bore; arranging the at least one brace member is in an extended position in which 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 base member is braced against the base housing, axially rotating the clamp bolt such that the clamp bolt applies a clamp force on the engaging member to clamp the cable between the engaging member and the base housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of arranging at least one biasing member to bias the at least one brace member towards the extended position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A method as recited in claim 11, in which: the base housing defines first and second sets of base teeth; first and second brace members define first and second sets of 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 at least one brace member against the base housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising the step of arranging first and second biasing members to bias the first and second brace members into the first and second extended positions, respectively. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the step of supporting a prong member by the base housing to engage the cable when the engaging member clamps the cable between the engaging member and the base housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the steps of: securing at least one guide plate relative to the anchor member; forming the at least one guide plate to define at least one guide slot; forming the at least one brace member to define a guide projection; and engaging the guide slot with the guide projection to limit movement of the at least one brace member relative to the anchor member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of shaping the at least one guide slot 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 18 (depends on 11) A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the steps of: securing at least one guide plate relative to the anchor member; forming the at least one guide plate to define first and second guide slots; forming the first and second brace members to define a first and second guide projections, respectively; and engaging the first and second guide slots with the first and second guide projections to limit movement of the first and second brace members relative to the anchor member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 8) A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the step of shaping the guide slot 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 20 (depends on 11) A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising the steps of: securing at least one guide plate relative to the anchor member; forming the at least one guide plate to define at least one channel slot; forming the base housing to define at least one plate projection; and engaging the at least one channel slot with the at least one plate projection to limit movement of the at least one anchor member relative to the base housing.