CONNECTOR FOR USE WITH OXIDE COATED CONDUCTORS

• US 3,719,919 A
• Filed: 06/04/1971
• Issued: 03/06/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Liberty Lighting Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Julius F. Tibolla
• Inventors: Tibolla, Julius F.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGlynn, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US05/149,921
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 339/95,97,263
• US Class Current: 439/433
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/2479 penetrating the area under the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/34 Conductive members located under head of screw

Abstract

A method and apparatus are herein provided for making electrical connections using oxide coated conductors. A binding plate may be provided having an array of ridges formed thereon which ridges define at least one pocket. A binding device, e.g., a screw or the like, cooperates with the binding plate to urge a conductor against the binding plate until the ridges on the binding plate fracture the oxide coating on the conductor and penetrate the virgin metal thereof. The array of ridges is sized so that the ridges defining and completely surrounding at least one pocket will penetrate the virgin metal so as to form a gas-tight space between the binding plate and the conductor. The ridges may be formed as sharp cutting projections for fracturing the oxide and for facilitating the penetration of the virgin metal. Alternatively, the ridges may merely comprise the edges defining each pocket, which edges need not extend above the surface of the binding plate. In one form of the invention, the array of ridges may define concentric circles disposed about a binding post and intersected by radially extending ridges. In another form of the invention, the array may comprise one or a plurality of indentations machined into the surface of the binding plate by a punch or the like. In still another form of the invention, a washer may be provided having at least one pocket formed in a radial face thereof. The washer is disposed between the binding plate and a binding device which is then operable to urge the washer against the conductor to perform the functions of fracturing the oxide coating and of establishing an electrical connection with the virgin metal of the conductor. In any form, however, each pocket is defined by a ridge which completely surrounds that pocket, and which is sized to define an opening which is completely covered by a conductor when urged thereagainst.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a. A binding plate;

b. Means for urging an elongated conductor against said binding plate;

c. An array of edges formed on said binding plate to define at least one pocket, the edges defining said pocket lying wholly in a single plane and extending in a continuous, unbroken line through the full periphery of the pocket;

d. Said pocket presenting an opening sized to be completely covered by the surface of the conductor when the conductor is forcibly urged against said binding plate; and

e. Whereby said binding plate and said conductor define a gas-tight pocket upon the forcible engagement of the conductor with said binding plate.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said array of edges includes intersecting circumferentially and radially extending ridges.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a conductor engaging portion of each of said edges includes at least one metallic oxide-cutting ridge;

each of said ridges extending upwardly from the surface of said binding plate and completely surrounding an associated pocket.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said array of edges defines a plurality of depressions formed in said binding plate with each depression being surrounded by at least one oxide cutting portion.

5. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said binding plate comprises a washer.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said binding plate is held stationary while said means for urging the conductor thereagainst is movable.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein said means for urging the conductor against said binding plate comprises threaded fastening means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said array of edges is formed about a threaded aperture formed in said binding plate;

and said array generally follows a path described by the conductor when the conductor is properly held against said binding plate to form a termination.

9. An electrical connector comprising:

a. A binding plate;

b. Means for urging a conductor against said binding plate;

c. At least a portion of the surface of said binding plate being formed with pockets;

d. Said pockets being defined by ridges extending upwardly from said surface of said binding plate;

e. Said ridges being formed with a cutting portion for piercing an oxide coating formed on the conductor and for penetrating into virgin metal of the conductor;

f. Said ridges being disposed to extend continuously and without interruption therein about the full periphery of each pocket in a common plane; and

g. Said pockets being sized to form gas-tight spaces between said binding plate and the conductor when said ridgeS are forcibly urged into the virgin metal of said conductor.