Patent Publication Number: US-2020287368-A1

Title: Cable Connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 10,547,163, formerly patent application Ser. No. 15/961,649, filed on Apr. 24, 2018, and issued on Jan. 28, 2020, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/550,414, filed Aug. 25, 2017, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates generally to connectors for high-powered electrical cable. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the present invention, a cable has an armor shield defining a corrugated exterior surface, and a split bushing defines an interior surface which conforms to the corrugated exterior surface. The bushing is split radially in one place to form a gap which may be opened to allow the bushing to open, and the bushing is fitted about the corrugated exterior surface. The bushing defines first and second external chamfer surfaces. A connector includes a body having external threads and a chamfer which urges against the first bushing chamfer. A nut has internal threads which engage the external threads of the body, and a chamfer which urges against the second bushing chamfer. As the nut is tightened onto the body, wedge action on the first and second bushing chamfers compresses the bushing around the corrugated exterior surface to secure the connector to the cable. 
     In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the bushing is split radially at two or more places to form two or more parts, and is fitted about the corrugated exterior surface. 
     In further embodiments of the invention, the corrugated exterior surface may be concentric or helical. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cable connector embodying features of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the cable connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the cable connector of  FIG. 1  taken along the ling  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is perspective view of the split bushing of the cable connector of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the split bushing of  FIG. 4  viewed per line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the split bushing of  FIGS. 4-5  taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  depicts how the split bushing may be opened; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the cable connector using a two-part split bushing; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a two-part split bushing; 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of the split bushing of  FIG. 9  a viewed per line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the split bushing of  FIGS. 9-10  taken along the line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the invention having a helical armor; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of a split bushing configured for fitting around the helical armor of  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIG. 14  is an alternate embodiment of the split bushing of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the discussion of the FIGURES, the same reference numerals will be used throughout to refer to the same or similar components. In the interest of conciseness, various other components known to the art, such as cable configuration, and the like necessary for transmitting electrical current, have not been shown or discussed. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. Additionally, as used herein, the term “substantially” is to be construed as a term of approximation. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the reference numeral  100  generally designates a cable connector embodying features of the present invention. The cable connector  100  for a cable  104  includes an armor shield  110  (which may be concentric or helical) defining a corrugated exterior surface. In one embodiment, a split bushing  130  is split into two or more bushing portions  130   d  and  130   e , wherein the bushing  130  defines first and second external circumferential chamfers  130   a  and  130   b , and an internal surface  130   c  configured to conform to the shape of the corrugated exterior surface  110 . 
     A body  116  has at one end, first external threads  116   a , and at an opposing end, second external threads  116   b , and an internal chamfer  116   c  configured to urge against the first chamfer  130   a  f the split bushing  130 . 
     A nut  112  has internal threads  112   a  for engaging the second external threads  116   b  of the body  116 , wherein the nut  112  defines an internal chamfer  112   b  configured to urge against the second chamfer  130   b  of the bushing  130  when the bushing is positioned on the corrugated exterior surface  110 . When the internal threads  112   a  of the nut  112  engage the second external threads  116   b  of the body  116  and the nut  112  is tightened onto the body  116 , the bushing  130  is compressed against the corrugated exterior surface  110  of the cable  104  and the connector  100  is secured to the cable  104 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, a cable  104  having a corrugated exterior surface  110  defines a corrugated exterior surface (which may be concentric or helical). A split bushing  114  is split in one place to define a gap  114   e  in the bushing, wherein the gap is expandable to allow the bushing to open and fit around the armor  110 . The bushing defines first and second external circumferential chamfers  114   a  and  114   b , and an internal surface  114   c  configured to conform to the shape of the corrugated exterior surface  110 . 
     A body has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end has first external threads, and the second end has second external threads, and an internal chamfer configured to urge against the first chamfer of the split bushing when the bushing is positioned on the corrugated exterior surface. 
     A nut has internal threads for engaging the second external threads of the body. The nut defines an internal chamfer configured to urge against the second chamfer of the bushing when the bushing is positioned on the corrugated exterior surface, wherein when the internal threads of the nut engage the external threads of the body and the nut is tightened onto the body, the bushing is compressed against the corrugated exterior surface of the cable and the connector is secured to the cable. 
     It is understood that the present invention may take many forms and embodiments. Accordingly, several variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. For example, the cable could be grounded through the metal armor. 
     Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.