ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a plurality of separate sockets (1, 2), each socket (1, 2) having a body with a bore (3) to receive the end of an electrical conductor. The conductor is secured within the bore (3) by means of bolts located in threaded bores (6). Complementary surfaces of the sockets (1, 2) are secured together so as to create an electrical connection between them and such that the assembled connector has a smooth overall shape.

Description: Title : Electrical Connector This invention relates to electrical connectors, in particular (but not exclusively) to electrical connectors for use at relatively high voltages. Conventionally, an electrical connector for the end-to-end connection of two electrical conductors typically comprises a cylindrical body having blind bores at each end into which the conductor ends are inserted. Threaded bores are provided in the wall of the cylindrical body for bolts to secure the conductors. Known conductors of the kind described above suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, where large diameter, relatively inflexible conductors are involved, it is sometimes difficult to fit both conductors into opposite ends of the connector. Also, problems may be encountered when connecting conductors of widely differing diameter or conductors of different metals. There has now been devised an improved form of electrical connector which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above- mentioned disadvantages. According to the invention, there is provided an electrical connector comprising a plurality of separate sockets, each socket having a body with a bore to receive the end of an electrical conductor and means for securing the conductor within the bore, and means for securing together complementary surfaces of the sockets so as to create an electrical connection between them. The modular connector according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it is easy-to-use and versatile. It is generally easier to connect the individual sockets to the conductor ends and then connect together the sockets, than it is to connect each conductor to a unitary connector. In addition, the modular construction permits connection of sockets with bores suitable for different diameter conductors, and sockets of different metals. It is particularly preferred that the sockets be shaped such that the assembled connector has a smooth overall shape. This is particularly important for high voltage applications where protrusions or sharp edges or the like can give rise to electrical discharges. By "smooth overall shape" is therefore meant a shape which is free from such protrusions or edges and which consequently eliminates or reduces the risk of such discharges occurring. The edges of the connector are therefore preferably rounded, and the ends may be tapered. Preferably, the assembled connector is generally circular in cross-section. The connector may thus be generally cylindrical in overall shape. Alternatively, one or both ends of the assembled connector may be of progressively reduced diameter, ie the ends may be tapered. The connector may comprise two sockets for end-to-end connection of two conductors. In such a case, the overall shape may be generally cylindrical, similar to a conventional connector, but the connector being formed in two parts. Alternatively, rather than the two sockets being coupled directly together, they may be connected indirectly via one or more intermediate components. Particularly where more than two conductors are to be connected, the connector may comprise, in addition to the sockets, also a suitable intermediate component such as a T-piece. Again, the sockets and the T-piece are preferably shaped such that the overall shape of the assembled connector is smooth. The means for securing the conductor within the bore is most conveniently one or more threaded bolts located in threaded bores in the wall of the socket body. The bolts may be shear head bolts, the heads of which shear at a given applied torque. Likewise, the means for securing together complementary surfaces of the sockets may also comprise one or more bolts, which may also be shear head bolts. The complementary surfaces are preferably formed so that they provide a certain degree of keying engagement, providing the assembled connector with a degree of rigidity. Such an arrangement may also increase the effective area of contact between the complementary surfaces, and thereby improve the electrical contact. To provide keying engagement of the surfaces, they may be formed with complementary curved or V-shaped cross-sections, or may be provided with complementary projections (eg lugs or ribs) and recesses. The invention will now be desribed in greater detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a first connector of the present invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the connector of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the connector of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an underside view of the connector of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a side view of a modified version of the connector of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a T-piece forming part of a third connector for connecting three cables together; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a T-piece for use in connecting three conductors together; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of a coupling member for use in connecting two conductors together. Referring first to Figures 1 to 5, a connector for the end-to-end joining of two electrical conductors comprises a first socket 1 and a second socket 2 which together form a generally cylindrical connector body. Each socket 1,2 is provided at the end constituting an end of the assembled connector with a blind longitudinal bore 3 to receive a conductor. The upper walls of each socket 1,2 are provided with two threaded apertures (5,6 respectively) which receive, in use, shear head bolts (not shown) . The longitudinal bores 3 are offset from the centre of the connector such that the upper wall of the longitudinal bores 3 is somewhat thicker than the lower walls. This enables a greater length of thread to be accommodated within the apertures 5,6. The adjoining ends of the first socket 1 and second socket 2 are formed with overlapping, generally hemi-cylindrical portions 7,8. As can be seen from Figure 5, the hemi-cylindrical portion 7 of the first socket 1 is formed with a V-shaped depression in its upper surface 10, and the corresponding surface 11 of the hemi- cylindrical portion 8 of the second socket is formed to fit closely within this depression. The complementary surfaces 10,11 of the first and second sockets 1,2 are secured together, in use, by a bolt (not shown) passing through a bore 12 in the hemi- cylindrical portion 8 of the second socket 2 and locating in a threaded blind bore 13 in the hemi-cylindrical portion 7 of the first socket 1. The upper portion of the bore 12 is enlarged to accommodate the head of the bolt. In use, with the first and second sockets 1,2 separated, a conductor is inserted into the longitudinal bore 3 in the first socket, and secured by means of shear head bolts introduced into the threaded apertures 5. Likewise, a second conductor is inserted into the longitudinal bore 3 in the second socket 2 and secured by bolts in the threaded apertures 6. The complementary surfaces 10,11 of the first and second sockets 1,2 are then placed in abutment and joined together by means of a bolt passing through the bore 12 and locating in the threaded blind bore 13. The longitudinal bores 3 in the first and second sockets 1,2 may have the same diameter or may have different diameters. The longitudinal bores may also, where appropriate, be non-circular, eg with a sectored shaped to accommodate correspondingly shaped conductors, or the shape described in UK Patent Application No 2256096. The first and second sockets 1,2 may be of the same or different metals. For example, the sockets 1,2 may be of aluminium, copper or brass. In conventional connectors, problems of corrosion are encountered when it is necessary to connect an aluminium conductor to a copper conductor. Using the connector of the present invention, this problem can be overcome by securing the aluminium conductor to an aluminium socket and the copper conductor to a brass socket. The aluminium and brass sockets can then be joined together without problems occurring. Figure 6 shows a modified version 60 of the connector of Figures 1 to 5, in which the ends are tapered to further smooth the overall shape of the connector, and thereby further reduce the risk of electrical discharge. Figure 7 shows a T-piece 70 suitable for connecting one first socket 1 (as shown in Figures 1 to 5) to two second sockets 2. The T-piece is provided with a first generally hemi-cylindrical portion 71 similar in dimensions and form to the hemi-cylindrical portion 8 of a second socket 2, and two second generally hemi- cylindrical portions 72,73 similar to that of a first socket 1. One first socket 1 and two second sockets 2 can therefore be connected to the T-piece by similar means to the way in which the first and second sockets 1,2 are joined together in the connector of Figures 1 to 5. Figure 8 shows an alternative form of T-piece 80, by means of which three identical first sockets 1 may be connected. This comprises essentially three hemi-cylindrical portions 81,82,83 which are substantially identical in form to the hemicylindrical portion 8 of a second socket 2. Three first sockets can therefore be connected to the T-piece 80 by similar means to the way in which the first socket 1 is connected to the second socket 2 in the connector of Figures 1 to 5. Finally, Figure 9 shows a linear coupling member 90 by means of which two first sockets 1 may be connected. The T-piece 80 of Figure 8 and the coupling member 90 of Figure 9 have the advantage that only one form of socket, viz a first socket 1, is required to assemble the completed connector. This may be of practical benefit in that it eliminates the possibility of a user mistakenly fitting incompatible sockets to two or more conductors.

Claims: Claims 1. An electrical connector comprising a plurality of separate sockets (1,2), each socket (1,2) having a body with a bore (3) to receive the end of an electrical conductor and means for securing the conductor within the bore (3), and means for securing together complementary surfaces (10,11) of the sockets (1,2) so as to create an electrical connection between them. 2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, which has a smooth overall shape free from protrusions or edges which may give rise to electrical discharges. 3. A connector as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the edges of the connector are rounded, 4. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ends are tapered. 5. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the assembled connector is generally circular in cross-section. 6. A connector as claimed in Claim 5, wherein one or both ends of the assembled connector are of progressively reduced diameter. 7. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the connector comprises two sockets for end-to-end connection of two conductors. 8. A connector as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the two sockets are connected indirectly via one or more intermediate components (70,80,90). 9. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, which comprises, in addition to the sockets, also an intermediate component, the intermediate component and the sockets being shaped such that the assembled connector has a smooth overall shape. 10. A connector as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the intermediate component is a T-piece (70,80). 11. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for securing the conductor within each bore is one or more threaded bolts located in threaded bores in the wall of the corresponding socket body. 12. A connector as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the bolts are shear head bolts. 13. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the the means for securing together complementary surfaces of the sockets comprises one or more bolts. 14. A connector as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the bolts are shear head bolts. 15. A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the complementary surfaces (10,11) are formed for keying engagement. 16. A connector as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the complementary surfaces (10,11) are formed with complementary curved or V-shaped cross-sections. 17. A connector as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the complementary surfaces are formed with complementary projections and recesses.

Inventors: HOLLICK DAVID JOHN, HOLLICK, DAVID, JOHN
Applicants: B & H NOTTINGHAM LTD, HOLLICK DAVID JOHN, B & H (NOTTINGHAM) LIMITED, HOLLICK, DAVID, JOHN
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01R4
IPC codes: H01R4