Electrical connector with a cap with a sacrificial conductor
AssigneeThomas & Betts International, Inc.
InventorLarry N. Siebens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical connector assembly may include a connector body for receiving a power cable and having at least one T-end having a bore therein. An adapter is configured to be received within the bore in the at least one T-end, wherein the adapter comprises a conductive core coupled to the power cable. A sacrificial cap is configured to engage a portion of the adapter extending from the at least one T-end. The sacrificial cap comprises a sacrificial conductor that is coupled to the conductive core of the adapter and configured to be cut through to confirm that the electrical connector assembly has been de-energized.
Claims20
An electrical connector assembly, comprising:
- a housing body that includes:
- a cable receiving end having a first bore extending therethrough for receiving a power cable having a conductor;
- a first T-end projecting perpendicular to the cable receiving end and including a second bore extending therethrough that communicates with the first bore in the cable receiving end, and
- a second T-end projecting perpendicular to the cable receiving end and including a third bore extending therethrough that communicates with the first bore in the cable receiving end and the second bore in the first T-end;
- an adapter component configured for insertion into the third bore in the second T-end,
- wherein the adapter component includes an insulated outer body and a conductive core configured to conductively communicate with the conductor of the power cable;
- and
- a sacrificial cap configured for placement on the adapter component,
- wherein the sacrificial cap includes an insulated outer body and a sacrificial conductor configured to conductively communicate with the conductive core of the adapter component, and
- wherein the sacrificial cap is configured to be cut to confirm that the electrical connector is de-energized.
A method, comprising:
- providing an electrical elbow connector having a sacrificial component conductively connected to a T-end of the electrical elbow connector,
- wherein the sacrificial component comprises:
- an adapter component inserted into the T-end and conductively coupled to a power cable installed within the electrical elbow connector and;
- a sacrificial cap secured to an exposed end of the adapter component and including a sacrificial conductor embedded therein conductively coupled to the power cable via the adapter component;
- cutting through the sacrificial cap and sacrificial conductor to confirm that the electrical elbow connector is de-energized;
- performing service on equipment conductively coupled to the electrical elbow connector;
- removing the sacrificial cap from the adapter component;
- and
- installing a replacement sacrificial cap onto the adapter component.
A medium or high voltage electrical connector assembly, comprising:
- a connector body for receiving a power cable and having at least one T-end having a bore therein;
- an adapter configured to be received within the bore in the at least one T-end,
- wherein the adapter comprises a conductive core coupled to the power cable;
- and
- a sacrificial cap configured to engage a portion of the adapter extending from the at least one T-end,
- wherein the sacrificial cap comprises a sacrificial conductor coupled to the conductive core of the adapter and configured to be cut through to confirm that the electrical connector assembly has been de-energized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.