ELECTRICAL JUNCTION FOR HIGH-CURRENT CONDUCTORS AND CONNECTOR AND METHOD SUITABLE FOR MAKING SAME

• US 3,673,313 A
• Filed: 04/23/1970
• Issued: 06/27/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bynum E. Smith, Wiley J. Pickett
• Original Assignee: Bynum E. Smith, Wiley J. Pickett
• Inventors: Pickett, Wiley J., Smith, Bynum E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Clay, Darrell L.
• Application Number:
  US05/031,226
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 174/84C,88R,90,94R,71,72 339/100,276T,276R,223R 29/628
• US Class Current: 174/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/20 using a crimping sleeve H01R4/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/058 Crimping mandrels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49195 with end-to-end orienting

Abstract

In a junction of the type in which two high-current conductors are bridged by an external sleeve crimped to the exterior of both conductors, additional axially-overlapping connecting elements are employed to provide connection between interior portions of said conductors, the axially-overlapping portions of said connecting elements being held in stable intimate contact with each other by crimping applied to the exterior of said sleeve member. A preferred connector for use in making such a junction comprises a conductive sleeve for receiving the high-current conductors at its opposite ends and a pair of conductive prongs supported axially therein by a conductive support secured conductively to the interior of said sleeve, said prongs being oppositely directed to fit within corresponding recesses in said high-current conductors, whereby the prongs provide stable electrical connection to said high-current conductors after the exterior sleeve has been crimped.

Claims

1. A low-resistance, low temperature-rise electrical junction between a first high-current capacity stranded power-line conductor and a second high-current capacity stranded power-line conductor, comprising:

a metallic connector comprising an outer generally cylindrical sleeve portion of crimpable metal, one end of which fits closely over and around one end of said first conductor and the other end of which fits closely over and around one end of said second conductor;

a first solid, generally-cylindrical, rigid, rod-like metal core portion extending substantially along the axis of said sleeve portion, said first core portion fitting closely within a corresponding bore in said one end of said first conductor;

a conductive support portion of metal extending generally across the interior of said sleeve portion and physically and electrically connected to said sleeve portion and to said first core portion supporting said core portion and providing low-resistance electrical connection between said first core portion and said sleeve portion; and

a second solid, generally cylindrical, rigid, rod-like metal core portion connected to and supported on said support portion and extending therefrom substantially along the axis of said sleeve portion in the opposite direction from said first core portion and fitting closely within a corresponding bore in said one end of said second conductor;

the exterior of said sleeve portion being crimped on to said first and second conductors providing stable intimate physical and electrical connection between said connector and said first and second conductors.

2. The junction of claim 1, in which said metallic connector is formed of a single continuous substantially homogeneous body of metal selected from the group of copper or aluminum or alloy thereof.