Joint assembly for transformer parts

A joint assembly between a tank and a base of a transformer and characterized by a clamping joint including a mounting bracket, a clip, and a bolt-nut assembly. The tank and base having adjacent inturned surfaces to be assembled by a clamping joint having a mounting bracket, a clip, and a nut-bolt assembly. The bracket is a channel member mounted on the tank inturned surface and having a web spaced therefrom. The clip having one end portion in clamping engagement with the base inturned surface and having another end portion pivotally mounted on the bracket. The bolt extending through aligned holes in the web and other end portion where the bolt is retained by the nut so as to clamp the inturned surfaces together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to an attachment clamp for securing a transformer 
base to a transformer tank. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Although a common method of joining transformer tanks and transformer bases 
together heretofore has been welding, other methods have included the use 
of bolts, hold-down clips, and cleats clamping over a flange of the base. 
Several disadvantages incurred by these methods have included handling 
problems during subsequent manufacturing procedures, additional costs, and 
appearance. 
Moreover, clamping assemblies for mounting structures together other than 
electrical devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,606,509; 1,761,004; 
2,130,546; 2,175,453; 2,932,036; 2,996,730; and 3,851,849. The disclosures 
of these patents are adapted more particularly for the specific structures 
disclosed, such as floor construction, display cases, sink mounting 
devices, and the like, in which relatively thick frame members, such as 
wood, are involved, or a mounting bolt extends through a surface which is 
not compatible with transformer tanks. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with this invention, it has been found that a joint assembly 
is provided between a transformer base and a transformer tank, the base 
having an outer surface and an inturned flange, the tank having a front 
panel aligned with the outer surface and having an inturned bottom wall, a 
clamping joint including a mounting bracket, a clip, and a bolt; the 
mounting bracket being a channel member and having a web spaced from a 
bottom wall of the tank and having a first bolt-receiving hole, the clip 
comprising two portions extending at an obtuse angle with the angle facing 
the bracket and having a second bolt-receiving hole between opposite end 
portions, one end portion of the clip being disposed on the flange and the 
other end portion being pivotally disposed on the bracket, the bolt 
extending through the aligned first and second holes, and having a nut for 
tightening and holding the bolt in place, and a gasket disposed between 
the flange and the bottom wall. 
The advantage of the clamping joint of this invention is that it is 
conductive to a fast, secure method of attaching the base and the tank, 
and enables adjustment for minor disalignment of the mating surfaces of 
the tank front panel and the base outer surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In FIG. 1 a portion of a transformer tank generally is indicated at 3 and a 
portion of a transformer base is generally indicated at 5. The transformer 
tank includes a front panel 7 and an inturned surface or bottom wall 9. 
The transformer base 5 includes an outer surface 11 and an inturned flange 
13. A joint assembly 15 is disposed between the bottom wall 9 and the 
inturned flange 13 and a gasket 17 of suitable material, such as foam 
rubber, is disposed in the joint assembly. The transformer tank 3 contains 
a conventional transformer unit 19. The unit is submerged within a 
dielectric or cooling liquid having a liquid level 21. 
In accordance with this invention, a joint assembly, generally indicated at 
23, comprises a mounting bracket 25, a clip 27, and a bolt 29 having a nut 
31. A washer 33 is preferably disposed between the nut 31 and the clip 27. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting bracket 25 is a channel shaped member 
having spaced legs or flanges 35 and a web 37. The edges of the flanges 35 
are secured at 36 to the under surface of the bottom wall 9 of the tank in 
a suitable manner, such as by welds, and at a location spaced inwardly 
from the inturned flange 13 of the base 5. A keyhole or slot 39 is 
provided in the web for insertion of the bolt 29 which is preferably a 
carriage bolt. The bolt 29 includes a rectangular shank portion 41 which 
fits into the narrow portion of the slot 39 to prevent rotation thereof 
when the nut 31 is applied. The clip 27 is comprised of two portions 43, 
46 which are disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to each other. In 
addition, the clip portion 43 may be provided with an outturned end 
segment 49 and the clip portion 46 may have an outturned end segment 51. 
It should be understood that although a single mounting bracket 25 and clip 
27 has been described in detail, that in fact, depending on the 
transformer size, four or more clamping devices will be used to secure a 
transformer base to a transformer tank, and such bracket and clip 
combinations will be substantially equidistantly spaced about the 
underside. 
As shown in FIG. 1 the bolt 29 extends through the slot 39 and an aligned 
hole (not shown) in the clip 27 with the nut 31 tightened in place against 
the clip 27. The clip 27 serves as a clamping lever which is pivoted on 
the bracket 25 at 53 so that with increased tightening of the nut, the end 
segment 49 of the clip clamps the inturned flange 13 tightly against the 
bottom wall 9 to form the clamped joint assembly 15. In this manner, the 
front panel 7 and the outer surface 11 of the transformer tank 3 and the 
transformer base 5 are retained in alignment with each other. 
In conclusion, the joint assembly of this invention, provides an improved 
method of attaching a transformer tank to a transformer base with improved 
corrosion resistance because the base and tank may be painted separately 
before assembly. In addition, the joint assembly provides for a method for 
compensating for minor misalignments with mating surfaces and is an 
expedient method for making such an assembly. Furthermore, bases of 
different heights can be utilized in connection with a standard 
transformer tank to provide different, or changeable tank heights with 
respect to the conventional concrete mounting pad.