Bonding Washer

• US 20070248434A1
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wiley Electronics, LLC
• Inventors: Wiley, Brian, Chan, Palvin
• Granted Patent: US 8,092,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/160
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/1054 the pull-mandrel or the like being frangible
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/1072 the pull-mandrel or the like comprising a thread and being rotated with respect to the rivet, thereby mechanically expanding and fastening the rivet nuts fastened by riveting F16B37/067
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/24 by means of washers, spring washers, or resilient plates that lock against the object locking to the screw-thread F16B39/14 , F16B39/34, F16B39/36
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/00 Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts circlips F16B21/18; for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/187 with sliding nuts or other additional connecting members for joining profiles provided with grooves or channels channel nuts per se F16B37/045
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/002 Auxiliary arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/26 Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact H01R4/188, H01R4/203, H01R4/5075 take precedence; using shape memory materials H01R4/01
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A bonding washer for making electrical connection between two metal pieces that are to be mechanically fastened together. The washer, to be interposed between the two metal pieces, is constructed so as to fasten to one of the pieces before the two pieces are joined. Teeth on the washer, positioned at right angles to the plane of the washer, are forced into each of the two metal pieces when the fastener is tightened, making electrical connection between the two metal pieces.

Claims

1. A bonding washer for use with a first metal piece, a second metal piece, and a fastener which rigidly holds said first metal piece to said second metal piece comprising:

a metal body member,

said metal body member having a first set of teeth, of number one or more, said first set of teeth extending at substantially right angles to said metal body member, said first set of teeth also extending at substantially right angles to the plane at which said first set of teeth will contact said first metal piece,

said metal body member having a second set of teeth, of number one or more, said second set of teeth extending at substantially right angles to said metal body member, said second set of teeth also extending at substantially right angles to the plane at which said second set of teeth will contact said second metal piece,

whereby when said fastener is tightened, said first set of teeth will forcibly embed into said first metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said first metal piece, and said second set of teeth will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

2. The bonding washer of claim 1 where said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth are circular in shape.

3. The bonding washer of claim 1 where said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth are in line,

whereby when said fastener is tightened, said first set of teeth will exert force directly opposed by said second set of teeth, said first set of teeth will forcibly embed into said first metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said first metal piece, and said second set of teeth will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

4. The bonding washer of claim 1, additionally comprising:

said metal body member having a clearance hole for said fastener,

whereby when said fastener is inserted through said clearance hole of said bonding washer and tightened, said first set of teeth will forcibly embed into said first metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said first metal piece, and said second set of teeth will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

5. The bonding washer of claim 4, additionally comprising:

said metal body member having a plurality of fingers extending at substantially right angles to the plane of said metal body member, said plurality of fingers located near the edge of said clearance hole, whereby when said plurality of fingers are pushed into a hole in said first metal piece, said fingers will exert a spring force on said hole, allowing said bonding washer to retain its position while said hole of said first metal piece is aligned with a hole in said second metal piece with said bonding washer between said first and second metal pieces, and when said fastener is inserted through said first metal piece and said bonding washer and said second metal piece and tightened, said first set of teeth will forcibly embed into said first metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said first metal piece, and said second set of teeth will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

6. The bonding washer of claim 5, where the number of fingers is four.

7. The bonding washer of claim 1, additionally comprising:

d) said metal body member having a portion which is doubled over to form a U-shaped clip,

whereby when said U-shaped clip is pushed onto the edge of said first metal piece, said U-shaped clip will exert a spring force on said edge of said first metal piece, allowing said bonding washer to retain its position while said first metal piece is aligned with said second metal piece, and when said fastener is tightened, said first set of teeth will forcibly embed into said first metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said first metal piece, and said second set of teeth will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

8. The bonding washer of claim 7, where both said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth are between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

9. The bonding washer of claim 7, where said first set of teeth are between said first metal piece and said second metal piece and where said second set of teeth are not between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

10. The bonding washer of claim 7, where both said first set of teeth and said second set of teeth are not between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

11. The bonding washer of claim 1, additionally comprising:

d) said metal body member having at least two fingers extending at substantially right angles to the plane of said metal body member, at least one of said fingers located at each of two opposite edges of said metal body member, said opposite edges located a distance apart that matches the width of said first metal piece,

whereby when said fingers are pushed onto said width of said first metal piece, said fingers will exert a spring force across said width of said first metal piece, allowing said bonding washer to retain its position while said first metal piece is aligned with said second metal piece with said bonding washer between said first and second metal pieces, and when said fastener is tightened, said first plurality of teeth will forcibly embed into said first metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said first metal piece, and said second plurality of teeth will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

12. The bonding washer of claim 1, additionally comprising:

d) said first set of teeth extending in a radial direction from said body member with an outer diameter suitable for press fitting into a hole in said first metal piece,

whereby when said bonding washer is press fit into said first metal piece, and said second metal piece is positioned so that said bonding washer is between said first metal piece and said second metal piece, and said fastener is tightened, said second set of teeth will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

13. The bonding washer of claim 12, additionally comprising:

e) said body member having a clearance hole for said fastener,

whereby when said bonding washer is press fit into said first metal piece, and when a hole of said second metal piece is aligned with said clearance hold of said bonding washer with said bonding washer between said first metal piece and said second metal piece, and said fastener is inserted through said clearance hole of said bonding washer and said hole of second metal piece and tightened, said set of teeth will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

14. The bonding washer of claim 13, additionally comprising:

f) said body member having a central threaded portion,

whereby when said bonding washer is press fit into said first metal piece, and when a hole of said second metal piece is aligned with said clearance hole of said bonding washer with said bonding washer between said first metal piece and said second metal piece, and said fastener is inserted through said clearance hole of said bonding washer and said hole of second metal piece and into said central threaded portion and tightened, said set of teeth will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

15. A bonding washer for use with a first metal piece, a second metal piece, and a fastener which rigidly holds said first metal piece to said second metal piece comprising:

a) a body member,

b) a set of pins, of number one or more, which are electrically conductive, embedded in said body member, which protrude above and below the plane of said body member, said set of pins extending at substantially right angles to said body member, the tops of said set of pins extending at substantially right angles to the plane at which said tops of said set of pins will contact said first metal piece, the bottoms of said set of pins also extending at substantially right angles to the plane at which said bottoms of said set of pins will contact said second metal piece,

whereby when said fastener is tightened, said tops of said set of pins will forcibly embed into said first metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said first metal piece, and said bottoms of said set of pins will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

16. The bonding washer of claim 15 where the pins are a conductive non-metallic material such as diamond.

18. The bonding washer of claim 16, additionally comprising:

f) said hollow extension having a central threaded section,

whereby when a hole of said first metal piece is aligned with a hole of said second metal piece, said bonding washer may be inserted through said first metal piece and through said second metal piece and said fastener inserted through said bonding washer and screwed into said central threaded section and tightened, said hollow extension will mushroom out at said openings so that said second plurality of teeth extends back toward said second metal piece, and when said fastener is further tightened, said first plurality of teeth will forcibly embed into said first metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said first metal piece, and said second plurality of teeth will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

19. The bonding washer of claim 16, additionally comprising:

f) said hollow extension having a closed end,

g) a mandrel member having a mandrel head attached to said closed end and a mandrel tail which passes through said hollow extension and extends out past said washer-like shape,

whereby when said bonding washer is inserted through holes in said first metal piece and through said second metal piece and a pulling force is increasingly applied to said mandrel tail of said mandrel member, said first plurality of teeth will forcibly embed into said first metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said first metal piece, said hollow extension will mushroom out at said openings so that said second plurality of teeth extends back toward said second metal piece, while said second plurality of teeth will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece, and said mandrel head of said mandrel member will be forced into said closed end, forcing said closed end to expand and lock said bonding washer in a solid mechanical union with said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

17. A bonding washer for use with a first metal piece, a second metal piece, and a fastener which rigidly holds said first metal piece to said second metal piece comprising:

a) a metal body member having a washer-like shape,

b) said metal body member having a first plurality of teeth, said plurality of teeth extending at substantially right angles to said metal body member, said first plurality of teeth also extending at substantially right angles to the plane at which said first plurality of teeth will contact said first metal piece,

c) said metal body member having a hollow extension at substantially right angles to said metal body member,

d) said hollow extension having a plurality of openings in the end furthest from said washer-like shape

e) said hollow extension having a second plurality of teeth at substantially right angles to said hollow extension, said second plurality of teeth in between said plurality of openings and said washer-like shape,

whereby when a hole of said first metal piece is aligned with a hole of said second metal piece, said bonding washer may be inserted through said first metal piece and through said second metal piece, and when said fastener is inserted through said bonding washer and tightened, said hollow extension will mushroom out at said openings so that said second plurality of teeth extend back toward said second metal piece, and when said fastener is further tightened, said first plurality of teeth will forcibly embed into said first metal piece thereby making electrical contact with said first metal piece, and said second plurality of teeth will forcibly embed into said second metal piece, thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.

20. A bonding washer for use with a first metal piece, a second metal piece constructed of a non-corrosive material, and a fastener which rigidly holds said first metal piece to said second metal piece comprising:

a) a metal body member, said body member constructed of a non-corrosive material,

b) said metal body member having a set of teeth, of number one or more, said set of teeth extending at substantially right angles to said metal body member, said set of teeth also extending at substantially right angles to the plane at which said set of teeth will contact said first metal piece,

whereby when said fastener is tightened, said set of teeth will forcibly embed into said first metal piece thereby making electrical contact with said first metal piece and said metal body member will forcibly contact said second metal piece thereby making electrical contact with said second metal piece, thereby in turn making electrical connection between said first metal piece and said second metal piece.