Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a grounding connector. The grounding connector includes a female member, a male member, and a threaded member. The female member includes a first clamp section, a conductor connection section, and a center section between the first clamp section and the conductor connection section. The center section includes a first opening. The male member includes a barrel section, a second clamp section, and a web section between the barrel section and the second clamp section. The barrel section includes a threaded opening. The threaded member extends through the first opening. The threaded member is engaged with the threaded opening.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/833,642 filed Jul. 26, 2006, and U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/904,080 filed Feb. 28, 2007, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a conductor connection and, more particularly, to grounding connector. 
         [0004]    2. Brief Description of Prior Developments 
         [0005]    Often, a power supply unit has to be grounded out in order for the power utility lineperson to perform required work. All power supply units have some sort of doors that prevent anyone from coming in contact with the electrical supply. In order for a lineman to ground out a power supply, he has to open the door and install a grounding connector. U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,742, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a conductor clamping assembly. The existing design, when applied, does not allow the door to be closed. The connector actually protrudes beyond the opening of the door when it is installed. Therefore, when the existing connector is applied, and the doors are open, a lineperson has to be present at all times to prevent anyone from coming in contract with the energized unit. This can add up to be a very costly operation for the utility company. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need to provide a grounding connector comprising an improved and robust configuration which facilitates installation within a power supply unit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a grounding connector is disclosed. The grounding connector includes a female member, a male member, and a threaded member. The female member includes a first clamp section, a conductor connection section, and a center section between the first clamp section and the conductor connection section. The center section includes a first opening. The male member includes a barrel section, a second clamp section, and a web section between the barrel section and the second clamp section. The barrel section includes a threaded opening. The threaded member extends through the first opening. The threaded member is engaged with the threaded opening. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a grounding connector is disclosed. The grounding connector includes a female member, a male member, and a fastening member. The female member includes a generally “J” shaped clamp section, a conductor connection section, and a center section between the generally “J” shaped clamp section and the conductor connection section. The male member includes a second clamp section and a barrel section. The barrel section is aligned with the center section. The second clamp section is aligned with a portion of the generally “J” shaped clamp section. The fastening member includes a fastening end and a projecting end. The fastening end is fastened to the male member. The projecting end is adjacent the generally “J” shaped clamp section. 
         [0009]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing a grounding connector is disclosed. A female member comprising a first clamp section, a conductor connection section, and a center section between the first clamp section and the conductor connection section is provided. The center section includes a first opening. A male member comprising a barrel section, a second clamp section, and a web section between the barrel section and the second clamp section is provided. The barrel section includes a threaded opening. A threaded member is engaged with the threaded opening. The threaded member extends through the first opening. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The foregoing aspects and other features of the invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a left side view of an electrical connector incorporating features of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  a right side view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is rear view of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a male member of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the male member of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of the male member of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a female member of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the female member of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the female member of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the female member of the electrical connector shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a side view of an electrical connector  300  incorporating features of the invention. Although the invention will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used. 
         [0024]    Referring also to  FIGS. 2-5 , the connector  300  is a connector for grounding out an energized power supply unit. The connector  300  is designed so that, after it is installed, it does not interfere with the closing of the doors of the power supply. This was accomplished by moving the centerline of the grounding rod connection on the connector. The connector  300  generally comprises a male part  301 , a female part  308  and an eyebolt  303 . 
         [0025]    Referring also to  FIGS. 6-8 , the male part (or male member)  301  comprises a barrel type configuration  314 , a web  321 , a conductor contact section (or clamp section)  311 , and a top section  304 . The male part  301  is preferably a one-piece member comprised of metal. The barrel type configuration (or barrel section)  314  comprises a threaded hole  302 . The back  316  of the male part, along the barrel type configuration  314  has a protruding tab  317 . The web (or web section)  321  extends from the front of the barrel type configuration  314 . 
         [0026]    The conductor contact section  311  has a conductor contact surface with a concave radius that is designed to accept a round type of conductor. The concave radius section  311  is about 90 degrees to the centerline  315  of the threaded hole  302 . The barrel type configuration  314  and the threaded hole  302  are both on the same centerline  315 . The threaded hole  302  is for accepting the eyebolt  303 . However, it should be noted that an alternate embodiment, the threaded hole  302  may receive, any suitable type threaded member or fastening member. 
         [0027]    The top section  304  of the male part  301  has a ball type cavity  305 . This cavity  305  is for accepting a ball stud (not shown) that is used in pad mount transformers. The cavity  305  has a general ‘U’ shape opening  310  at the top of the top section  304 . This ‘U’ shape opening  310  is for the threaded stud portion of the ball stud to enter. The description of a ball stud is basically a threaded stud with a ball on the end of it. The top section  304  has two openings  306  that are  380  degrees apart at opposite sides of the cavity  305 . These two openings  306  are for two protruding ears  307  on the female part  308 . 
         [0028]    Referring also to  FIGS. 9-12 , the female part (or female member)  308  generally comprises a central section (or center section)  325  with a cavity  309 , a conductor contact section (or clamp section)  312 , and a spade  323 . The conductor contact section  312  has a ground conductor contact surface with a concave radius to accept the ground conductor having a round type configuration. The conductor contact section  312  may comprise a generally “J” shaped configuration. The cavity  309  is sized and shaped to receive the barrel type configuration  314  of the male part  301 . When the male part  301  is aligned and inserted into the cavity  309  of the female part  308 , the concave radius  311  and concave radius  312  will also be aligned and form a circular cavity  313  (see  FIG. 10 ). This circular cavity  313  will then accept a ground conductor having a general round type configuration. The concave radius  312  on the female part  308  is about 90 degrees to the centerline of the threaded shank of the eyebolt  303 . 
         [0029]    The generally “J” shaped clamp section  312  generally comprises an extending portion  329  and an end portion  330  forming the general “J” shape. The extending portion  329  extends between the end of the center section  325  comprising the opening  328  and the end portion  330 . The extending portion  329  is substantially parallel to the center axis of the opening  328 . The generally “J” shaped clamp section  312  extends from the end of the center section  325  in a general cantilever fashion. 
         [0030]    The female part  308  comprises of a concave radius groove that also accepts the ground rod. When the C” shaped groove of the female part and the “C” shaped groove of the male part are attached to the ground rod, it forms a clamp onto the rod. The clamp makes the current connection. The female part has a recessed pocket “C BORE” hole that receives the male portion when assembled. A threaded end or section  326  of the eyebolt  303  is then assembled thru the female part and into the male part to make the completed assembly (best shown in  FIG. 2 ). The fastening end or threaded end  326  of the eyebolt  303  engages the threaded opening  302  of the male member  301 . An operable end or projecting end  327  of the eye bolt  303  extends from the end of the center section  325  of the female member  308 . Between the threaded end  326  and the operable end  327 , the eyebolt extends through an opening  328  opening at the end of the center section  325 . The opening  328  may have a common centerline (or center axis) with the cavity  309  of the female member  308 . The opening  328  may be a straight thru-hole providing a slidable connection between the female member  308  and the eyebolt  303 . However, alternate embodiments may comprise any suitable type opening. The three-hole spade (or conductor connection section)  323  on the female part is where the three conductors are installed. The opposite end of the connector  300  is then connected to the energized unit; thus grounding it out. 
         [0031]    As the male part  301  travels into the cavity  309  of the female part  308  the ears  307  protrude into the openings  306  and apply more pressure onto the ball stud. The protruding tab  317  rides inside of a slot  318  inside of cavity  309 . After the male part  301  is fully inserted into cavity  309 , and the tab  317  into slot  318 , a pin  319  (see  FIG. 2 ) is inserted at the end  320  of the slot  318  to prevent the male part  301  from separating from the female part  308 . The web  321  of the male part  301  helps guide it when it enters the female part  308 . Cavity  309  in the female part  308  has an open slot  322  that acts as a guide for the web  321 . The female part  308  has a spade  323  that contains three holes  324 . These holes  324  are for mounting the grounding accessory cables to. The three holes  324  are arranged in a generally triangular orientation. The spade  323  is at a 90 degree angle to the centerline of the concave radius  312  in the female part  308 . 
         [0032]    The connector  300  can also comprise miscellaneous items comprising of a split lock washer and two roll pins. 
         [0033]    The connector  300  can provide a ‘J’ clamping connection. In one type of embodiment, the confinement, as far as one side of the clamp, does not protrude beyond about one inch from the grounding bar. The generally close proximity of the eyebolt  303  and the “J” shaped clamping section  312  provides significant advantages over conventional grounding connectors. Conventional configurations generally have the eyebolt (or threaded member) in a reverse orientation wherein the eyebolt threads into the female part. With the disclosed configuration, the threaded member  303  engages the threaded opening  302  in the male member  301 . This provides for an operable end of the threaded member  303  to be adjacent to the “J” shaped clamp section  312 . Having the eyebolt  303  close to the clamp section  312  allows for a compact connector configuration which does not interfere with a power supply door. Therefore the disclosed configuration allows the power supply doors to be closed after the grounding connector  300  is installed. The grounding connection for the three leads provided by the holes  324  is in a triangular configuration. The connector is universal in that it can be fasten to a bar or a ball stud. The connector has a cavity that allows it to fit into the end of a hot stick. This cavity is at the end of the center section  325  of the female member  308  between the “J” shaped clamp section  312  and the conductor connection section  323 . This allows for a hot stick to be fitted over the operable end of the eyebolt and between the “J” shaped clamp section  312  and the conductor connection section  323 . In other words, the open area (or cavity) between the “J” shaped clamp section  312  and the conductor connection section  323  is configured to accommodate a lineman&#39;s hot stick. Guiding of the two components when they are assembled together is provided as a novel aspect of the invention. The clamping technique of the ball stud and how it is held in place is also a novel aspect of the invention. 
         [0034]    It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.