Locate wire connector and locate wire grounding method
AssigneeElectric Motion Company, Inc.
InventorsWilliam J. Balfour, Randolph L. Auclair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locate wire connector provides a grounding wire connection for the locate wire of a fiber optic cable. The locate wire is partially separated from the fiber optic cable. A conductive stripper in the connector establishes electrical communication with the locate wire conductor upon placing the locate wire and fiber optic cable in the connector and closing same. A stud extending from the cover of the connector provides a terminal for connecting a ground wire. The connector may also contain a gel to ensure a waterproof grounding connection.
Claims20
A locate wire connector comprising:
- a base defining a groove for a cable and a spaced groove for a locate wire;
- a cover hinged to said base and having a first interior side and a second exterior side;
- a conductive member mounted to said first side and comprising a stripper slot alignable with said locate wire slot;
- and
- a stud assembly configured to connect a ground wire extending from said second side and in electrical communication with said conductive member;
- wherein when a cable is received in said cable groove and a locate wire is received in said locate wire groove and said cover is closed over said base, said stud assembly electrically communicates with said locate wire.
A method for grounding a locate wire comprising:
- providing a hinged connector with a base and a hinged cover;
- partially separating the locate wire from an optic cable;
- placing said locate wire and optic cable in said base;
- closing said cover to thereby establish electrical communication with said locate wire;
- and
- connecting a ground wire to said cover to provide electrical communication between said ground wire and said locate wire.
A locate wire grounding installation comprising:
- a fiber optic cable with a locate wire partially separated from said cable;
- a connector capturing said cable and said locate wire in spaced separated relationship;
- a conductor member disposed interiorly of said connector and electrically communicating with said locate wire and with an exteriorly accessible stud;
- and
- a grounding wire secured to said stud.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.