Submersible electrical connector
First Claim
1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
- a metal connector plate;
a plurality of apertures in the connector plate;
a plurality of fasteners mounted in the connector plate, each fastener adapted to couple a conductor inserted into the associated aperture to the connector plate;
an enclosure assembly adapted to selectively surround the connector plate and portions of the conductors coupled thereto;
a plurality of ducts in the enclosure assembly, each duct being associated with one of the apertures in the connector plate and adapted to form a seal around a conductor inserted through the duct; and
at least one wire way guide plug adapted to be inserted into one of the ducts to seal the associated duct in the absence of a conductor in the associated duct;
wherein the at least one wire way guide plug is adapted to receive a terminal end of a conductor therein to guide the conductor through the associated duct prior to coupling to the connector plate.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A submersible electrical connector intended for use in a power distribution network permits a metal to stripped metal conductor connection to be visually inspected and verified by the installer while eliminating many opportunities for human error present with existing connectors. The connector in one embodiment includes a generally cup or dome-shaped enclosure which is preferably transparent. An open end of the enclosure mates with a seal body and a connector plate has a number of apertures adapted to receive the bare metal ends of conductors or wires inserted through the seal body. Each aperture in the connector has an associated set screw for securing the conductor thereto. A molded seal member is adapted to mate with the seal body and to provide a water-tight connection when mated with the enclosure. The seal member has a number of seal ducts each aligned with one of the apertures in the connector. The seal ducts provide a water-tight seal around the plastic sheath of the conductor when installed in the assembly. Each seal duct initially includes a missel-shaped wire way guide plug inserted therein. Each wire way guide plug is open at the bottom to receive the exposed end of the conductor therein. The wire way guide plugs remain installed in the seal ducts to seal them until a conductor is inserted through the associated seal duct.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
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a metal connector plate; a plurality of apertures in the connector plate; a plurality of fasteners mounted in the connector plate, each fastener adapted to couple a conductor inserted into the associated aperture to the connector plate; an enclosure assembly adapted to selectively surround the connector plate and portions of the conductors coupled thereto; a plurality of ducts in the enclosure assembly, each duct being associated with one of the apertures in the connector plate and adapted to form a seal around a conductor inserted through the duct; and at least one wire way guide plug adapted to be inserted into one of the ducts to seal the associated duct in the absence of a conductor in the associated duct; wherein the at least one wire way guide plug is adapted to receive a terminal end of a conductor therein to guide the conductor through the associated duct prior to coupling to the connector plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
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a metal connector plate; a plurality of apertures in the connector plate; a plurality of set screws mounted in the connector plate, each set screw adapted to couple a conductor inserted into the associated aperture to the connector plate; an enclosure assembly adapted to selectively surround the connector plate and portions of the conductors coupled thereto; wherein at least a portion of the enclosure assembly is substantially transparent to permit visual inspection of the conductors coupled to the connector plate therein; a plurality of ducts in the enclosure assembly, each duct being associated with one of the apertures in the connector plate and adapted to form a seal around a conductor inserted through the duct; a plurality of wire way guide plugs each adapted to be inserted into one of the ducts to seal the associated duct in the absence of a conductor in the associated duct, each wire way guide plug projecting into the aperture in the connector plate associated with the respective duct; wherein the at least one wire way guide plug is adapted to receive a terminal end of a conductor therein to guide the conductor through the associated duct prior to coupling to the connector plate; a detent on the at least one wire way guide plug to inhibit removal of the wire plug from the enclosure in a retrograde direction. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of making a submersible electrical connection among a plurality of conductors, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting a plurality of wire way guide plugs into a plurality of ducts in an enclosure assembly, each wire way guide plug sealing the associated duct; inserting a terminal end of a conductor into one of the wire way guide plugs; pushing the conductor and associated wire way guide plug through the associated duct and through an aperture in a connector plate adapted to be mounted within the enclosure assembly; removing the associated wire way guide plug from the conductor; and securing the conductor to the connector plate and thereby forming an electrical connection between the conductor and the connector plate. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification