Abstract:
Apparatus for preventing theft of a buss bar connected to electrical conductor and grounding cables is provided in the form of a box-like enclosure of thick metal construction which confines the buss bar and has an elongated access opening permitting passage of cables into the enclosure. An aperture within the bottom of the enclosure permits downward emergence of a grounding cable attached to the buss bar.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to anti-theft apparatus, and more particularly concerns apparatus for preventing the theft of an electrical buss bar fabricated of copper. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Transmission towers that are employed in the telecommunications industry for broadcasting-video and radio media are generally equipped with various cables that conduct electrical current. Such cables require grounding so as to maintain effectiveness and safety. The generally employed technique for grounding a multitude of electrical cables is to cause them to attach to a single buss bar having extremely low electrical resistivity and high thermal conductivity, and the buss bar is connected to a ground line which extends downwardly into the terrain below the buss bar. 
         [0005]    The buss bar is generally an elongated flat structure fabricated of copper, and can weigh; 30-100 pounds. In order to accommodate the flow of current from a lightning strike, the buss bar is not located within a shelter or building, but is instead positioned at an unobstructed outdoor location. Because of the currently high economic value of copper metal, the buss bar is often the target of thieves who employ heavy duty tools capable of quickly separating the buss bar from all attachments. 
         [0006]    It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for preventing the theft of an electrical buss bar. 
         [0007]    It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus as in the foregoing object which does not interfere with the attachment of a number of electrical cables to said buss bar. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an anti-theft apparatus of the aforesaid nature which is durable with respect to outdoor weathering effects. 
         [0009]    These objects and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The above and other beneficial objects and advantages are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by apparatus for preventing theft of a buss bar connected to electrical conductor and grounding cables, said apparatus comprising:
       a) a box-like enclosure of thick metal construction comprised of a bottom panel, top panel, rear panel and opposed identical side panels, said panels being all of substantially rectangular shape and interconnected in a manner that defies separation by non-destructive means, and an installable front panel which, once installed defies removal, said front panel being bounded by interior and exterior faces,   b) an access opening in said enclosure elongated in the direction between said side panels, said access opening permitting passage of electrical cables into said enclosure,   c) attachment means associated with the interior face of said front panel for the securement of a buss bar,   d) a circular aperture substantially centered within said bottom panel, and   e) a collar attached to said bottom panel within said enclosure in centered alignment with said circular aperture, and having radially penetrating locking means.       
 
         [0016]    In a preferred embodiment, an elongated hollow post adapted to vertically penetrate terrain below said enclosure and having an upper extremity interactive with said collar and locking means, and a lower extremity provided with a lateral exit hole which permits radial passage of an electrical grounding conductor emergent from said enclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0017]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention with portions broken away shown in association with electrical cables and underlying terrain. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the enclosure component of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  shown with its front panel removed. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with portions broken away. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a vertical sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows upon line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a horizontal sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows upon line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a top view. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    Referring now. to  FIGS. 1-6 , an embodiment of the anti-theft apparatus of the present invention is shown comprised of enclosure  10  attached atop hollow post  11 . Electrical conductor cables  12  enter said enclosure and attach to buss bar  13  secured within said enclosure. At least one ground wire cable  14  attached to said buss bar exits said enclosure by passage downwardly through said hollow post which is embedded in the terrain  15  underlying enclosure  10 . The ground wire cable then emerges from post  11  and attaches to a ground ring  16  buried in the terrain adjacent post  11 . 
         [0025]    Enclosure  10  is of box-like construction, fabricated of thick metal construction and comprised of bottom panel  17 , top panel  18 , rear panel  19  and identical side panels  20 . Said panels are all of substantially rectangular shape, and are interconnected in a manner such as welding and/or tongue and groove interaction that defies separation by non-destructive means. Said panels may be integral portions of a monolithic structure having been made by a molding or extrusion process. Enclosure  10  further comprises an installable front panel  21  which, once installed, defies removal. All said panels are bounded by flat exterior surfaces, and interior surfaces which face the center of the enclosure. 
         [0026]    All the panel components of enclosure  10  are preferably fabricated of steel of ¼′ to ⅝′ thickness, having been hot-dipped galvanized. The length of the enclosure, measured between end panels, may range from about 18 to 35 inches. The height of the enclosure, measured between the interior surfaces of the top and bottom panels may range from about 5 to 9 inches. The depth of the enclosure, measured between the interior surfaces of the front and rear panels may range between about 5 and 9 inches. 
         [0027]    In the illustrated embodiment, all exterior corners are rounded, and match a rounded contour of the forward upper portions of side panels  20 . Opposed elongated abutment plates  23  are welded to the interior surfaces of side panels  20  at a setback distance equal to the thickness of said front panel. Said abutment plates enable front panel  21  to make a flush installation fit with the forward edge surfaces  24  and  25  of said bottom and side panels, respectively. The rearwardly directed upper edge surface  26  of installed front panel  21  is shown to be spaced away from the forward-edge surface of top panel  18 , thereby forming a longitudinally extending access opening in the form of slot  28  which permits ingress of cables  12  into enclosure  10 , Said slot may, however, be located elsewhere, such as in rear panel  19 . Attachment means in the form of threaded bolts  29  secure buss bar  13  to the interior surface of front panel  21 . 
         [0028]    A circular aperture  30  is centered within bottom panel  17 . A metal collar  31  having a circular cylindrical sidewall  32  is welded to the interior surface of bottom panel  17  in surrounding alignment with aperture  30 . Drainage holes  34  are present in panel  17  to facilitate outward flow of water that might accumulate within enclosure  10 . 
         [0029]    Hollow post  11 , adapted to insert vertically into the terrain  15  below enclosure  10  has an upper extremity  35  adapted to engage collar  31 . Locking means in the form of bolt  36  adapted to penetrate diametrically aligned holes in collar  31  and upper extremity  35  prevents separation of enclosure  10  from post  11 . The lower extremity of post  11  has a lateral exit hole  38  which permits radial passage of grounding cable  14  into the surrounding terrain toward joinder with ground ring  16 . 
         [0030]    In the procedure for installing the apparatus of this invention, a hole is first bored into the terrain to accommodate ground ring  16  and post  11 . At least one grounding cable  14  is attached to ground ring  16 , then passed through lateral hole  38  and brought upwardly through post  11  to enclosure  10 . The annular space  39  between post  11  and the hole bored in the terrain is then filled with concrete. Upper extremity  35  of post  11  is caused to engage collar  31 , and locking bolt  36  is insertively emplaced to prevent rotative movement of enclosure  10 . The upper extremity of grounding cable  14  emergent from aperture  30  is then attached to a lower portion of buss bar  13 . The various electrical conductor cables  12  are then attached to sites on the upper portion of said buss bar, and the buss bar is bolted to the interior face of front panel  21 . Said front panel, with cables attached thereto, is then joined to bottom and side panels,  17  and  20 , respectively, forming slot  28  which accommodates passage of conductor cables  12 . The joinder of front panel  21  to the other panels may be by way of use of threaded bolts  40  which engage abutment plates  23 , said bolts having head configurations which defy removal by unauthorized persons. Once the front panel is secured in place, the buss bar is inaccessible without the use of expensive heavy duty demolition equipment that would not likely be used by thieves. 
         [0031]    While particular examples of the present invention have been shown and described, it is apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broadest aspects. The aim of the appended claims, therefore, is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.