Abstract:
An electrical connector may be utilized to connect bus bars having a wide variety of configurations to a wide variety of electrical equipment, without modification to the bus bars, electrical equipment, or connector, with the exception of cutting the electrical connector to a desired length.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to electrical connectors. More specifically, the invention provides a connector configured to provide an electrical connection between a bus system and electrical equipment drawing power from the bus system. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Single phase and three phase electrical bus systems are commonly used to carry current between the source and its load, with various components of electrical equipment located along the current path for controlling the flow of current. Connecting the bus bars to various electrical equipment presently requires offsetting and bending of the bus bars, which must be done in a different manner for each piece of equipment. 
     One example of a presently available apparatus for securing bus bars to switches is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,205, issued to D. A. Parks et al. The apparatus includes a mounting block defining a plurality of bus bar receiving apertures. Each aperture includes a cylindrical section and a cross shaped section, dimensioned and configured to support a rectangular bus bar oriented with its width either substantially horizontal or substantially vertical. The end of each bus bar includes a cylindrical locking device, having a snap ring within a circumferential groove. The center of the locking device includes a longitudinal threaded bore, for receiving a tapered actuating member. A pair of actuating pins extend radially outward within the locking device, between the actuator and the snap ring. Once the bus bar is inserted within the mounting block, turning the actuator causes the tapered portion of the actuator to cam the actuator pins outward, expanding the snap ring against the surface of the cylindrical portion of the hole within the mounting block, thereby securing the bus bar in place. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,455, issued to W. E. Wilkie, II et al. on Jan. 25, 2000, describes a heat sink for electrical conductors. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,976, issued to R. W. Bruner et al. on Mar. 21, 2000, describes a switchgear conductor and a mounting arrangement for the conductor. The conductor includes a pair of U-shaped channels, with the open side of the U-shaped channels facing each other, thereby concentrating conductive material at the periphery of the conductor, and permitting circulation of air for cooling. A pair of flat stab conductors is secured to each pair of U-shaped conductors, extending to a point where they join together so that they may engage a quick disconnect. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an electrical connection between a bus system and its associated electronic equipment, capable of being used to electrically connect a wide variety of bus systems to a wide variety of electrical equipment. Further, it is desirable to reduce the number of connectors that must be purchased and stored in order to connect a wide variety of buses to a wide variety of electrical equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a connector for connecting a wide variety of bus bars to a wide variety of electrical equipment. 
     The connector is an elongated member, made from an electrically conductive material such as copper. The connector includes means for connecting to electrical equipment, means for connecting to bus bars of different thicknesses, and may also include means for providing cooling. One preferred method of manufacture is extrusion. 
     A preferred means for connecting to the terminals of various electrical equipment is a pair of flanges, defining a channel therebetween for receiving a mating terminal of the electrical equipment. These first flanges may also define a plurality of holes, thereby permitting a bolt to pass through these holes, and corresponding holes within the mating terminal of the electrical equipment, for securing the terminal to its mating contact. 
     A preferred means for connecting to bus bars of various thicknesses includes a plurality of lengthwise flanges, for example, three flanges, defining bus bar receiving channels therebetween. In some preferred embodiments, these flanges may be substantially perpendicular to the first flanges. The second flanges preferably define channels having a greater width near their open edge, and a reduced width near their closed edge. A wide bus bar may thereby be inserted into the wider portion of the channel, and a narrow bus bar may be inserted farther into the channel, so that it enters the narrow portion, with the spacer used within the channel&#39;s wider portion. The second flanges may also define a plurality of bolt-receiving holes for securing the connector to the bus bars. 
     A preferred means for cooling the connector include a plurality of lengthwise flanges, dimensioned and configured to increase the surface area of the connector, thereby permitting more rapid heat transfer between the connector and the surrounding air. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a connector according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an end view of a connector according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of a pair of connectors according to the present invention, used in conjunction with bus bars having a first thickness, and electrical equipment. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of a pair of connectors, a set of bus bars having a second thickness, and associated electrical equipment. 
    
    
     Like reference numbers denote like elements throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention provides an electrical connector for connecting a wide variety of bus assemblies to a wide variety of electrical equipment. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrical connector  10  is an elongated member having means for connecting to an electrical terminal of an item of electrical equipment, for example, a circuit breaker, and means for connecting to a bus system. 
     Preferred means for connecting to an electrical contact of electrical equipment include a pair of lengthwise flanges  12 ,  14 , defining a channel  16  therebetween. The channel  16  is dimensioned and configured to receive a mating terminal on a piece of electrical equipment. The flanges  12 ,  14  each preferably define a plurality of apertures  18 , dimensioned and configured to receive a bolt. 
     A preferred means for connecting to a bus system include a plurality of flanges, for example, three flanges,  20 ,  22 ,  24 . The flanges  20 ,  22 ,  24  define channels  26 ,  28  therebetween, dimensioned and configured to receive bus bars of varying thicknesses. The channels  26 ,  28  preferably each define a wide portion  30  adjacent to their open edge  32 , and a narrow portion  34  adjacent to their closed edge  36 . The flanges  20 ,  22 ,  24  preferably also define apertures  38 , dimensioned and configured to receive a bolt. In many preferred embodiments, the flanges  20 ,  22 ,  24  will be substantially perpendicular to the flanges  12 ,  14 . 
     The connector  10  may also include means for dissipating heat, for example, a plurality of flanges  40 ,  42 , dimensioned and configured to increase the surface area of the connector  10 . Although two flanges  40 ,  42  are illustrated, any number may be used. By increasing the surface area of the electrical connector  10 , the flanges  40 ,  42  cause an increased rate of heat dissipation. 
     The connector  10  may be made from any electrically conductive material that is also easily cut to a desired size, with one example being copper. A preferred method of making a connector  10  is by extrusion. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, a connector  10  is illustrated forming an electrical connection between bus bars  44  and a terminal for an electrical component, which in the illustrated example is a stab extension  46  of a circuit breaker  48 . It is well known in the art of circuit breakers to provide for disconnection of a circuit breaker prior to opening its cabinet and servicing the breaker by moving the circuit breaker from its rearward, operating position within the cabinet to a forward, disconnected position. At least one pair of quick disconnects on the rear of the circuit breaker will be electrically coupled with a pair of corresponding stabs within the breaker cabinet when the circuit breaker is in its rearward position, thereby providing for current flow through the circuit breaker. Moving the circuit breaker forward within the cabinet disconnects the quick disconnects from the stabs, thereby preventing current flow through the circuit breaker. In a typical three-phase system, three pairs of quick disconnects and three pairs of corresponding stabs will be provided. It is therefore necessary to provide for electrical connection between one stab within each pair and the bus bars leading to the power supply, and also to provide electrical connection between the other of each pair of stabs and the bus bars leading to the load protected by the circuit breaker. 
     Each stab extension  46  fits within a channel  16  defined within a connector  10 . The stab extension  46  and connector  10  are secured together by a bolt  50  passing through the apertures  18  defined within the flanges  12  and  14 , and through corresponding apertures within the stab extension  46 . Likewise, line bus bars  44  and load bus bars  45  are secured within the channels  26 ,  28  of the connector  10 , with a bolt  52  passing through the apertures  38  defined within the flanges  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and corresponding apertures within the line and load bus bars  44 ,  45 . The line bus bars  44  and load bus bars  45  illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 are relatively wide, and therefore fit only within the wide portion  30  of the channels  26 ,  28 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the connectors  10  are used to connect another set of line bus bars  54  and load bus bars  56  to the stab extensions  46  of a circuit breaker  48 . The illustrated bus bars  54 ,  56  are narrower than the bus bars  44 ,  45 , and therefore extend into the narrow portions  34  of the channels  26 ,  28 . Spacers  58  may be inserted into the wide portions  30  of the channels  28 , so that the bus bars  54 ,  56  and spacers  58  take up the entire channels  26 ,  28 , maximizing the cross-sectional area available or current flow. 
     While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.