Back to results
US 2026/0074444 A1Published application
Tool driven wedge connectors
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorsConnor Owen Douglas Buckley, Bradley Steven Elliott, Brian Royal Ellis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hammer driven connector assemblies where a pressure member is attached to a connector body by an interference fit. The connector assemblies are used to splice or join electrical conductors within the connector body. The pressure member applies a compressive force to two or more electrical conductors when the pressure member is secured or attached to the connector body by an interference fit.
Claims20
A connector assembly comprising:
- a connector body having a central portion between a first end portion and a second end portion, the central portion including at least one fastener bore, the first end portion includes an inner wall configured to receive a first conductor and a free end, and the second end portion includes an inner wall configured to receive a second conductor and a free end, wherein the free end of the first end portion and the free end of the second end portion are spaced apart forming an opening in the connector body having a first width;
- a pressure member having a body with at least one fastener bore extending therethrough, the pressure member having a first pressure boss and a second pressure boss, the first pressure boss being configured to contact and hold the first conductor within the first end portion when the pressure member is installed in the connector body, the second pressure boss being configured to contact and hold the second conductor within the second end portion when the pressure member is installed in the connector body, the pressure member body having a width along the body that is larger than the first width of the connector body opening;
- at least one fastener configured to fit within the at least one fastener bore of the central portion by an interference fit and the at least one fastener bore in the pressure member by an interference fit.
A connector assembly comprising:
- a connector body having a central portion between a first end portion and a second end portion, the central portion including a fastener bore, the first end portion includes an inner C-shaped wall configured to receive a first conductor and a free end, and the second end portion includes an inner C-shaped wall configured to receive a second conductor and a free end, wherein the free end of the first end portion and the free end of the second end portion are spaced apart forming an opening in the connector body having a first width;
- a pressure member that includes:
- a body having a width along an upper portion of the body that is larger than the first width of the connector body opening and a fastener bore extending therethrough that is aligned to interact with the fastener bore in the central portion;
- a first pressure boss configured to contact and hold the first conductor within the first end portion when the pressure member is installed in the connector body;
- and
- a second pressure boss configured to contact and hold the second conductor within the second end portion when the pressure member is installed in the connector body;
- and
- a fastener configured to fit within the fastener bore of the central portion and the fastener bore in the pressure member by an interference fit.
5 more elements
A connector assembly comprising:
- a connector body having first and second conductor apertures and at least one pressure member opening, the first and second conductor apertures extend through the connector body and the at least one pressure member opening extends from an exterior of the connector body into the connector body such that the at least one pressure member opening at least partially intersects the first and second conductor apertures;
- and
- at least one pressure member configured to fit within the at least one pressure member opening by an interference fit, the at least one pressure member includes:
- a first contact surface configured to contact and hold a first conductor positioned within the first conductor aperture when the at least one pressure member is installed in the at least one pressure member opening, and
- the second contact surface configured to contact and hold a second conductor positioned within the second conductor aperture when the at least one pressure member is installed in the at least one pressure member opening.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.