Cable clamp with universal positioning

• US 6,043,433 A
• Filed: 02/20/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E.O. Schweitzer Manufacturing Compay, LLC (Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schweitzer, Edmund O. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLDS, MARK E
• Application Number:
  US09/027,071
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 174/70 R, 174/71 R, 174/70 C, 174/138 R, 174/137 R, 174/61, 174/46, 174/40 CC, 174/40 TD, 174/44, 174/45 TD, 174/41, 174/42, 174/43
• US Class Current: 174/70.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/22 Tong testers acting as secondary windings of current transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 7/00 Overhead installations of electric lines or cables installations of bus-bars H02G5/00

Abstract

A clamping mechanism for mounting a circuit conditioning monitoring device to electrical cables of various diameters includes a fixed sleeve and a movable sleeve positioned within the fixed sleeve. Both sleeves include gaps whereby an electrical cable may be pasted therethrough. The inner movable sleeve further includes a clamping means, preferably a tightening screw, whereby after a cable is passed through the gaps, the inner sleeve rotates within the outer sleeve to close the gap and further clamps onto the cable for secure mounting of the device.

Claims

1. A clamping mechanism for mounting a circuit condition monitoring device on an electrical cable having a predetermined range of diameters, comprising:

a housing for said monitoring device having a clamp mounting surface;

a cylindrical outer sleeve fixedly attached on said surface, said outer sleeve including a first longitudinal gap for passing said cable therethrough;

a cylindrical inner sleeve positioned within and concentric with said outer sleeve, said inner sleeve being movable relative to said outer sleeve and including a second longitudinal gap for passing said cable therethrough, said inner sleeve further including a first position and a second position, said first position aligning with said first and second gap to form one installation gap for passing the cable therethrough;

means for moving said inner sleeve from said first position to said second position, said second position closing said installation gap; and

means for clamping said cable against an inside surface of said inside sleeve when said inside sleeve is in said second position.

2. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 1 further including a pair of rings fixed relative to said device and positioned within said outer sleeve and further positioned on opposite sides of said inner sleeve for stabilizing the movement of said inner sleeve, said rings including a pair of third gaps, said third gaps being aligned with said first gap for passing a cable therethrough.

3. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said inner sleeve includes an aperture for receiving a rigid member, said rigid member includes an aperture receiving end and a device positioning end.

4. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said device positioning end being further adapted to receive a hook of a hot line stick for positioning and clamping said device to said cable.

5. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said aperture includes grooves.

6. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein said aperture receiving end of said rigid member includes threads adapted to receive said grooves.

7. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said outer sleeve includes at least one notch so as to enable said rigid member to transverse a length thereof as said rigid member moves said inner sleeve.

8. A clamping mechanism for mounting a circuit conditioning monitoring device on electrical cables having a predetermined range of diameters, comprising:

a housing for said monitoring device having a clamp mounting surface;

a first sleeve fixedly attached to said surface, said first sleeve includes an inner surface, said first sleeve further including a first longitudinal gap for passing said cable therethrough;

a second sleeve concentric to said first sleeve, said second sleeve includes an outside surface and an inside surface, said outside surface of said second sleeve bearing against said inside surface of said first sleeve, said second sleeve further including a second longitudinal gap for passing said cable therethrough;

said second sleeve further including a first position and a second position, said first position aligning said first gap with said second gap to form a longitudinal installation gap for passing said cable therethrough;

means for rotating said second sleeve between said first position to said second position, said second position closing said installation gap; and

means for clamping said cable against said inside surface of said second sleeve.

9. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 8 further including a pair of concentric fixedly attached rings positioned within said first sleeve and further positioned on opposite sides of said second sleeve for stabilizing the movement of said second sleeve, said rings including a pair of third gaps, said third gaps being aligned with said first gap for passing said cable therethrough.

10. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein said second sleeve includes an aperture for receiving a rigid member, said rigid member includes an aperture receiving end and a device positioning end.

11. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 10 wherein said device positioning end being further adapted to receive a hook of a hot line stick for positioning and clamping said device to said cable.

12. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 10 wherein said aperture includes grooves.

13. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 12 wherein said aperture receiving end of said rigid member includes threads adapted to receive said grooves.

14. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 10 wherein said first sleeve includes at least one notch so as to enable said rigid member to transverse a length thereof as said rigid member moves said second sleeve.

15. A clamping mechanism for mounting a circuit condition monitoring device on electrical cables having a predetermined range of diameters, comprising:

a housing for said monitoring device having a clamp mounting surface;

a cylindrical outer sleeve fixedly attached on said surface, said outer sleeve including a first longitudinal gap for passing said cable therethrough;

a cylindrical inner sleeve positioned within said outer sleeve, said inner sleeve being movable relative to said outer sleeve and including a second longitudinal gap for passing said cable therethrough, said inner sleeve further including a first position and a second position, said first position aligning said first gap and said second gap to form a longitudinal installation gap for passing said cable therethrough;

a means for moving said inner sleeve from said first position to said second position, said second position closing said installation gap; and

means for expanding said inner sleeve so that an outer surface of said inner sleeve frictionally engages an inner surface of said outer sleeve to lock said inner sleeve in said second position.

16. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 15 wherein said means for expanding further locks said device on said cable.

17. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 15 further including a pair of rings fixed relative to said device and positioned within said outer sleeve and further positioned on opposite sides of said inner sleeve for stabilizing the movement of said inner sleeve, said rings including a pair of third gaps, said third gaps being aligned with said first gap for passing said cable therethrough.

18. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 15 wherein said inner sleeve includes an aperture for receiving a rigid member, said rigid member includes an aperture receiving end and a device positioning end.

19. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 18 wherein said device positioning end being further adapted to receive a hook of a hot line stick for positioning and clamping said device to said cable.

20. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 18 wherein said aperture includes grooves.

21. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 20 wherein said aperture receiving end of said rigid member includes threads adapted to receive said grooves.

22. A clamping mechanism as defined in claim 18 wherein said outer sleeve includes at least one notch so as to enable said rigid member to transverse a length thereof as said rigid member moves said inner sleeve.