Bonding washer

• US 10,180,158 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Wiley, Brian Thomas, Chan, Palvin Chee Leong
• Primary Examiner(s): Delisle, Roberta S
• Application Number:
  US15/357,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20170067500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 411160
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/1054 the pull-mandrel or the like being frangible
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/1072 the pull-mandrel or the like comprising a thread and being rotated with respect to the rivet, thereby mechanically expanding and fastening the rivet nuts fastened by riveting F16B37/067
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/24 by means of washers, spring washers, or resilient plates that lock against the object locking to the screw-thread F16B39/14 , F16B39/34, F16B39/36
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/00 Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts circlips F16B21/18; for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/187 with sliding nuts or other additional connecting members for joining profiles provided with grooves or channels channel nuts per se F16B37/045
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/002 Auxiliary arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/26 Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact H01R4/188, H01R4/203, H01R4/5075 take precedence; using shape memory materials H01R4/01
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A bonding washer for making electrical connection between two metal pieces that are to be mechanically fastened together. The washer, to be interposed between the two metal pieces, may be constructed so as to fasten to one of the pieces before the two pieces are joined. Teeth on the washer, positioned at right angles to the plane of the washer, are forced into each of the two metal pieces when the fastener is tightened, making electrical connection between the two metal pieces.

Claims

1. A bonding element to electrically connect a first and a second electrically conductive member, the bonding element comprising:

an electrically conductive, substantially planar body located substantially in a first plane;

an electrically conductive first wall integrally formed with a first end of said body and extending substantially perpendicular to said body in said first direction, said first wall having at least one tooth spaced from said body and extending in said first direction; and

an electrically conductive second wall integrally formed with a second end of said body and extending substantially perpendicular to said body, said second wall having at least tooth spaced from said body in a second direction opposite said first direction, and said at least one tooth extending from said second wall in said first direction, said planar body, first wall and second wall forming a conductive path between said the at least one tooth of said first wall and first electrically conductive member and the at least one tooth of said second wall and second electrically conductive member.

2. A bonding element according to claim 1, wherein

said at least one tooth of said first wall and said at least one tooth of said second wall comprise a plurality of teeth extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of said body.

3. A bonding element according to claim 1, wherein

said second wall extends from said body in said first direction and is substantially parallel to said first wall.

4. A bonding element according to claim 1, wherein

said second wall extends from said body in said second direction opposite said first direction, where said at least one tooth of said second wall is spaced from said body in said second direction.

5. A bonding element to electrically connect first and second electrically conductive members, the bonding element comprising:

a one-piece electrically conductive clip having a first, substantially planar section connected to a first end of a first connecting section and located substantially in a first plane, and at least one tooth extending outwardly from said first section;

a second, substantially planar section connected to a second end of said first connecting section and located in a second plane spaced in a first direction from and substantially parallel to said first plane, and at least one second tooth extending outward from said second section;

wherein said at least one first tooth in said first section extends outwardly from said first section in a second direction substantially opposite from said first direction and oriented for contacting the first electrically conductive member, and said at least one second tooth in said second section extends outwardly from said second section in said second direction and oriented for contacting the second electrically conductive member positioned between said first substantially planar section and said second substantially planar section, and where said at least one tooth of said first section and said at least one tooth of said second section are substantially tubular with a center axis extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first substantially planar section and said second substantially planar section.

6. A bonding element according to claim 5, wherein

said second tooth is substantially tubular with a center axis extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of said second substantially planar section.

7. A bonding element according to claim 5, wherein

said at least one first tooth of said first section comprises a plurality of teeth where each tooth is substantially frustoconical with a center axis substantially perpendicular to a plane of said first section and tapers upwardly and inwardly,

said at least one second tooth comprises a plurality of teeth where each tooth is substantially frustoconical with a center axis extending substantially perpendicular to a plane of said second substantially planar section and tapers upwardly and inwardly.

8. A bonding element according to claim 5, wherein

said bonding element is made of flexible metal.

9. A bonding element according to claim 5, wherein

said at least one second tooth is aligned with said at least one second tooth.

10. A bonding element for use with a first electrically conductive member and a second electrically conductive member, and a fastener for coupling said bonding element to the first electrically conductive member and the second electrically conductive member, said bonding element comprising:

an electrically conductive planar body having a first side and a second side, and at least one tooth extending from said planar body in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of said planar body;

a tubular member extending from said second side of said planar body, said tubular body having an axial passage extending through said planar body for receiving the fastener, and an outer radial surface with a plurality of outwardly extending teeth, wherein said fastener is configured to axially compress said tubular body where said at least one tooth of said planar body engages said first electrically conductive member to make electrical contact and said plurality of teeth of said tubular body engage said second electrically conductive member to make electrical contact between said first and second electrically conductive members.

11. The bonding element of claim 10, wherein

said at least one tooth of said planar body comprises a plurality of teeth extending from said second side for engaging said first electrically conductive member.

12. The bonding element of claim 11, wherein

said tubular body has a plurality of spaced apart axially extending slits forming a plurality of deformable members between said slits, and where said teeth of said tubular body are disposed on said deformable members.

13. The bonding element of claim 12, wherein said deformable members deflect radially outward from said tubular body by the axial compression of said tubular body by said fastener.

14. The bonding element of claim 13, wherein said teeth of said deformable members when said tubular body is axially compressed project toward said planar body for engaging said second electrically conductive member.

15. The bonding element of claim 14, wherein said fastener comprises a threaded bolt.

16. The bonding element of claim 15, wherein said tubular body has internal threads for mating with external threads on said fastener.

17. The bonding element of claim 14, wherein said threaded bolt includes a nut for engaging an axial end of said tubular body for axially compressing said tubular body.

18. The bonding element of claim 17, wherein said teeth on said deformable members after axial compression of said tubular body engage said nut.

19. The bonding element of claim 14, wherein said fastener is a mandrel having a head engaging an end of said tubular body and configured for axially compressing said tubular body by pulling on said mandrel.