Methods and apparatus for connecting conductors using a wedge connector
AssigneeTyco Electronics Corporation
InventorsBarry Johnson, Dmitry Ladin, Randy Cole
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for connecting first and second elongate conductors using a wedge connector includes: providing a wedge connector including a sleeve member, a wedge member, and a lubricant coating disposed on at least one of the sleeve member and the wedge member, the sleeve member defining a sleeve cavity; mounting the sleeve member on the first and second conductors; and driving the wedge member into the sleeve cavity using a hydraulic power drive tool assembly to secure the wedge connector to each of the first and second conductors.
Claims18
A method for connecting first and second elongate conductors using a wedge connector, the method comprising:
- providing a wedge connector including a sleeve member, a wedge member, and a lubricant coating disposed on at least one of the sleeve member and the wedge member, the sleeve member defining a sleeve cavity;
- mounting the sleeve member on the first and second conductors;
- and
- driving the wedge member into the sleeve cavity using a hydraulic power drive tool assembly to secure the wedge connector to each of the first and second conductors;
- wherein the lubricant reduces friction between at least one of the first and second conductors and the at least one of the sleeve member and the wedge member.
The method of claim l wherein the hydraulic power drive tool assembly includes a tool head and a ram, the method including mounting the sleeve member in the tool head and thereafter forcibly extending the ram to drive the wedge member into the sleeve cavity.
A method for connecting first and second elongate conductors using a wedge connector, the method comprising:
- providing a wedge connector including a sleeve member, a wedge member, and a lubricant coating disposed on at least one of the sleeve member and the wedge member, the sleeve member defining a sleeve cavity;
- mounting the sleeve member on the first and second conductors;
- and
- driving the wedge member into the sleeve cavity using a power drive tool assembly to secure the wedge connector to each of the first and second conductors;
- wherein driving the wedge member into the sleeve cavity includes driving the wedge member into the cavity using the power drive tool assembly at a rate of no more than about 12 inches per second;
- wherein the lubricant reduces friction between at least one of the first and second conductors and the at least one of the sleeve member and the wedge member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.