Apparatus and method for electrically and mechanically connecting and disconnecting a power line

• US 6,971,898 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated
• Inventors: Ostendorp, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueora, Felix O.
• Application Number:
  US10/742,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20050130465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 439/101, 439/108, 439/258, 439/301, 439/924.1, 439/358, 439/289, 439/369, 439/345, 439/923, 439/373, 439/347, 439/357, 174/43, 174/44, 174/65.R, 174/45.R, 174/40.CC
• US Class Current: 439/301
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/633 for disengagement only in combination with safety switch H01R13/7132
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 7/04 Arrangements or devices for relieving mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 7/18 Devices affording mechanical protection in the event of breakage of a line or cable, e.g. net for catching broken lines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/923 Separation or disconnection aid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49185 of terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49195 with end-to-end orienting

Abstract

An apparatus for connecting two pairs of conductors and one pair of ground wires and for allowing separation of the same upon the application of a tensional force upon at least one of the conductors or ground wires. The apparatus includes two plates that each defines three holes configured to receive two conductors and a ground wire, wherein the plates are positioned adjacent to each other such that the respective holes in each plate are aligned such that the conductors and ground wires coming from each plate would be in physical contact. Three connectors hold the plates together. The first two connectors are configured to release the plates upon the application of a tensional force on the conductors or ground wires before the third connector releases the plates, thereby separating the conductors before separating the ground wires.

Claims

1. An apparatus for connecting two pairs of conductors and one pair of ground wires and for allowing separation of the same upon the application of a tensional force upon at least one of the conductors or ground wires, comprising:

a first plate defining a first hole configured to receive a first conductor, a second hole configured to receive a second conductor and a third hole configured to receive a ground wire;

a second plate defining a first hole configured to receive a third conductor, a second hole configured to receive a fourth conductor, and a third hole configured to receive a second ground wire, wherein said second plate is positioned adjacent to said first plate such that said first, said second and said third holes in said first plate are aligned, respectively, with said first, said second and said third holes in said second plate such that the first and third conductors would be in physical contact, the second and fourth conductors would be in physical contact, and the first and second ground wires would be in physical contact;

a first connector holding said first and said second plates together and positioned proximate to said first holes in said first and said second plates;

a second connector holding said first and said second plates together and positioned proximate to said second holes in said first and said second plates;

a third connector holding said first and said second plates together and positioned more proximate to said third holes in said first and said second plates than to said first and said second holes of said first and said second plates; and

wherein said first and said second connectors are configured to release said first plate from said second plate upon the application of a tensional force on the first, second, third or fourth conductor or on the first or second ground wire before the third connector releases said first plate from said second plate, thereby separating the first conductor from the third conductor and the second conductor from the fourth conductor before separating the first ground wire from the second ground wire.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and said second holes in said first plate are located proximate to a periphery of said first plate and wherein said first and said second holes in said second plate are located proximate to a periphery of said second plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said third hole of said first plate and said third hole of said second plate are located equidistance from said first and said second holes of said first and said second plates, respectively.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and said second connectors each comprise a base and two tabs extending from said base, wherein said first plate defines two openings at a perimeter of said first plate that each hold one of said two tabs of said first and said second connectors, respectively.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a first one of said two tabs of each of said first and second connectors forms approximately a 90°

angle with said base, and a second one of said two tabs forms an angle other than 90°

with said base, wherein said two openings at said perimeters of said first plate each hold said first one of said two tabs of said first and said second connectors, respectively, and wherein each of said second one of said two tabs extends away from said perimeters of said second plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said third connector comprises a base and two tabs extending from said base, wherein each of said two tabs extends from said base at approximately a 90°

angle, wherein said first plate defines a third opening at said perimeter of said first plate that holds one of said two tabs of said third connector, and wherein said second tab of said third connector is adjacent to an outside surface of said second plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and said second connectors each comprise a base and two tabs extending from said base, wherein said first plate defines one opening at a perimeter of said first plate that holds one of said two tabs of said first connector, and wherein said second plate defines one opening at a perimeter of said second plate that holds one of said two tabs of said second connector.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a first one of said two tabs of each of said first and second connectors forms approximately a 90°

angle with said base, and a second one of said two tabs forms an angle other than 90°

with said base, wherein said openings at said perimeters of said first and said second plates each hold said first one of said two tabs of said first and said second connectors, respectively, and wherein each of said second one of said two tabs of said first and said second connectors extends away from said perimeters of said first and said second plates, respectively.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said third connector comprises a base and two tabs extending from said base, wherein each of said two tabs extends from said base at approximately a 90°

angle, wherein said first plate defines a third opening at said perimeter of said first plate that holds one of said two tabs of said third connector, and wherein said second tab of said third connector is adjacent to an outside surface of said second plate.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said third connector comprises a base and two tabs extending from said base, wherein each of said two tabs extends from said base at approximately a 90°

angle, wherein said second plate defines a third opening at said perimeter of said second plate that holds one of said two tabs of said third connector, and wherein said second tab of said third connector is adjacent to an outside surface of said first plate.

11. An apparatus for connecting two pairs of conductors and one pair of ground wires and for allowing separation of the same upon the application of a tensional force upon at least one of the conductors or ground wires, comprising:

a first plate having a center, a first extension region extending radially from said center of said first plate and defining a first extension region hole in said first plate, a second extension region extending radially from said center of said first plate and defining a second extension region hole in said first plate, and a third extension region extending radially from said center of said first plate, wherein said first, said second and said third extension regions are equally spaced about a perimeter of said first plate;

a second plate positioned adjacent to said first plate and having a center, a first extension region extending radially from said center of said second plate and defining a first extension region hole in said second plate, a second extension region and a third extension region, each extending radially from said center of said second plate extending radially from said center of said second plate and defining a second extension region hole in said second plate, and a third extension region extending radially from said center of said second plate, wherein said first, said second and said third extension regions are equally spaced about a perimeter of said second plate;

a first connector attached to said first extension region of said first plate and to said first extension region of said second plate;

a second connector attached to said second extension region of said first plate and to said second extension region of said second plate;

a third connector attached to said third extension region of said first plate and to said third extension region of said second plate wherein said third connector is configured to require a higher tensional force to separate said first plate from said second plate at said third extension region than that required by said first and said second connectors at said first or second extension regions; and

wherein said first and said second extension region holes in said first plate are aligned with said first and said second extension region holes in said second plate, respectively.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of said first and said second plates each define a third hole approximately in said center of said first and said second plates, respectively.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first, said second and said third extension regions of said first plate are integral to said first plate and said first, said second and said third extension regions of said second plate are integral to said second plate.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said perimeter of said first plate has a concave shape between each of said first, said second and said third extension regions and wherein said perimeter of said second plate has a concave shape between each of said first, said second and said third extension regions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first plate further comprises three reinforcing bars, each disposed within said first plate and extending approximately from one of said extension regions to another one of said extension regions along a line approximately parallel to said concave shape between said extension regions of said first plate, and wherein said second plate further comprises three reinforcing bars, each disposed within said second plate and extending approximately from one of said extension regions to another one of said extension regions along a line approximately parallel to said concave shape between said extension regions of said second plate.

16. A system for connecting two pairs of conductors and one pair of ground wires and for allowing separation of the same upon the application of a tensional force upon at least one of the conductors or ground wires, comprising:

a first plate defining a first hole configured to receive a first conductor, a second hole configured to receive a second conductor, and a third hole configured to receive a ground wire;

a second plate defining a first hole configured to receive a third conductor, a second hole configured to receive a fourth conductor, and a third hole configured to receive a second ground wire, wherein said second plate corresponds positionally to said first plate such that said first, said second and said third holes in said first plate are aligned, respectively, with said first, said second and said third holes in said second plate such that the first and third conductors are electrically connected, the second and fourth conductors are electrically connected, and the first and second ground wires are electrically connected;

a first connector configured to hold said first and said second plates together at a first position proximate to said first hole in said first plate and said first hole in said second plate;

a second connector configured to hold said first and said second plates together at a second position proximate to said second hole in said first plate and said second hole in said second plate;

a third connector configured to hold said first and said second plates together at a third position proximate to said third hole in said first plate and said third hole in said second plate; and

wherein said first and said second connectors are configured to release said first plate from said second plate upon the application of a tensional force on the first, second, third or fourth conductor or on the first or second ground wire before said third connector releases said first plate from said second plate, thereby separating said first conductor from said third conductor and said second conductor from said fourth conductor before separating said first ground wire from said second ground wire.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one male crimp-on connector for receiving a first or second conductor;

at least one female crimp-on connector for receiving a third or fourth conductor;

at least one rubber, UV-treated grommet configured to be positioned between said male or female crimp-on connectors to electrically isolate said male or female crimp-on connectors from either said first or said second plates.

18. An apparatus for connecting two pairs of conductors and one pair of ground wires and for allowing separation of the same upon the application of a tensional force upon at least one of the conductors or ground wires, comprising:

a first member defining a first hole configured to receive a first conductor, a second hole configured to receive a second conductor and a third hole configured to receive a ground wire;

a second member defining a first hole configured to receive a third conductor, a second hole configured to receive a fourth conductor, and a third hole configured to receive a second ground wire, wherein said second member is positioned adjacent to said first member such that said first, said second and said third holes in said first member are aligned, respectively, with said first, said second and said third holes in said second member such that the first and third conductors would be in physical contact, the second and fourth conductors would be in physical contact, and the first and second ground wires would be in physical contact;

a first connector holding said first and said second members together and positioned proximate to said first holes in said first and said second members;

a second connector holding said first and said second members together and positioned proximate to said second holes in said first and said second members;

a third connector holding said first and said second members together and positioned more proximate to said third holes in said first and said second members than to said first and said second holes of said first and said second members; and

wherein said first and said second connectors are configured to release said first member from said second member upon the application of a tensional force on the first, second, third or fourth conductor or on the first or second ground wire before the third connector releases said first member from said second member, thereby separating the first conductor from the third conductor and the second conductor from the fourth conductor before separating the first ground wire from the second ground wire.