US 5,547,404 AGranted

Fixed spacer hot line tap

AssigneeFargo Mfg. Company, Inc.

InventorsRobert A. Nellis, Jr., Robert V. DeFrance, Richard R. Matlock

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Abstract

A fixed spacer hot line tap has a body with a base and a run-conductor groove. An eyebolt passes through the base and has a tip disposed between the base and the run-conductor groove. The eyebolt has a tip, on which is attached an extender having at least one spline on an outer surface thereof and a tip. The extender is directed through a hole in a spacer, and is press-fit therein because of the at least one spline. The spacer has an open volume defined by the foot, a first leg and a second leg, and a main transfer component, across which electric current passes from a run conductor to a tap conductor. A pad is disposed within the open volume by attachment to the tip of the extender, which reaches there through the hole in the foot. In use, a tap conductor is disposed between the pad and the main transfer component, and is secured there by a tightening of the eyebolt. The tap conductor remains clamped there when the eyebolt is withdrawn because of the press-fit of the extender in the hole in the foot. The fixed spacer hot line tap with tap conductor may then be attached to a run conductor without any danger that the tap conductor will slip out during the attachment operation.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A fixed spacer hot line tap comprising:

a body, said body including a base and a run-conductor groove substantially opposite to said base, said base further having a threaded hole therethrough;
an eyebolt, said eyebolt being screwed through said threaded hole in said base, said eyebolt having a tip at one end, said end with said tip being disposed between said run-conductor groove and said base of said body;
an extender on said tip of said eyebolt, said extender being attached to said tip of said eyebolt and having at least one spline on an outer surface thereof;
a spacer, said spacer comprising a foot, a first leg and a second leg, and a main transfer component together defining an open volume, said foot including a hole through which said extender is passed and secured in a press fit by said at least one spline, said tip of said extender being within said open volume in said spacer;
and
a pad, said pad being within said open volume in said spacer and being attached,to said tip of said extender,
whereby, when said eyebolt is tightened, a tap conductor may be secured between said pad and said main transfer component within said open volume in said spacer, and may remain secured when said eyebolt is loosened by virtue of said press fit between said extender and said hole in said foot of said spacer, and a run conductor may be secured between said main transfer component and said run-conductor groove of said body.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.