Patent Publication Number: US-7914308-B2

Title: Electrical disconnect

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an electrical disconnect, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an electrical disconnect for detachably connecting segments of an electrical service line. 
     2. Brief Description of Related Art 
     Electrical service lines, also known as a triplex (residential) or quadplex (industrial) lines, are utilized to transmit an electrical current from, for example, a utility line to a structure. Triplex lines generally include two 110 volt conductor lines and one neutral line. The neutral line is connected and/or anchored to the structure and supports the two conductor lines. The conductor lines and the neutral line are connected to a meter assembly connected to the structure. Typical meter assemblies include a weatherhead which receives the ends of the conductor lines and the neutral line. The weatherhead is angled to prevent water from entering the weatherhead and causing a short-circuit or other damage. The weatherhead is connected to a meter via a mast and the meter measures the electrical usage of the structure. 
     To further prevent water entering the weatherhead, each of the conductor lines and the neutral line include a drip loop segment which is a concave loop formed at the end of the lines closest to the weatherhead of the meter assembly. The drip loop directs water collecting along the length of the lines towards the lower portion of the drip loop and drips down onto the ground below. 
     Added forces from, for example, a tree limb falling on the electrical service line, or ice accumulation along the electrical service line can impart tensile forces on the neutral line which may separate the neutral line from the structure. Once the neutral line is separated from the structure, the electrical conductor lines are no longer supported and may separate from the weatherhead or cause other damage to the meter assembly, for example, ripping the weatherhead or the mast from the meter assembly. Additionally, the neutral line may separate from the weatherhead as well. If the conductor lines separate from the meter assembly, they generally fall to the ground where they may pose a significant danger. If an individual or animal comes into contact with one of the live electrical conductor lines, serious electrical shock and potential death may occur. 
     Additionally, any damage to the meter assembly is the sole responsibility of the structure owner and can have unwanted financial implications. 
     Attempts have been made to produce electrical disconnects which are connected proximate to the utility pole, but these electrical disconnects must be able to support forces including the weight of the conductor lines. Furthermore, these types of electrical disconnects must be re-connected by a licensed employee of the electrical service company at significant cost to the structure owner. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a electrical disconnect that allows sections of the drip loops of an electrical service line to separate to prevent damage to the electrical service line and/or the meter assembly if a sufficient force is applied to the electrical service line. Additionally, a need exists for an electrical disconnect which electrically insulates individuals and/or animals from the live wire portion of the electrical service line when it is disconnected from the meter assembly. It is to such an electrical disconnect that the present invention is directed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the above recited features and advantages of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
         FIG. 1  is side elevational view of a triplex service line having two electrical conductor lines and a neutral line, each of the electrical conductor lines having an electrical disconnect in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of an electrical disconnect having a first portion and a second portion shown in a disconnected condition. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the electrical disconnect shown in a connected condition and having the first portion in association with a structure side segment of a drip loop and the second portion in association with a service line segment of a drip loop. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded, perspective view of the electrical disconnect. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly to  FIG. 1 , shown therein is an electrical service line  10  having electrical disconnects  14  for joining segments of a drip loop  18  of the electrical service line  10 . In general, the electrical service line  10 , also known as a triplex in residential applications, includes two 110 volt electrical conductor lines  22  and  26 , as well as a neutral line  30 . It will be understood that although a triplex has been disclosed, any type of electrical service line, for example, a quadplex, that would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before them are likewise contemplated for use in accordance with the present invention. The electrical service line  10  typically extends from a utility pole  34  and spans across an area above the ground and connects to various parts of a structure  38  to provide electrical current to the structure  38 . The electrical conductor lines  22  and  26  are wound around the neutral line  30  which is typically anchored to the structure  38  at a connector  42  positioned above a meter assembly  46 . One of the functions of the neutral line  30  is that it supports the weight of the electrical conductor lines  22  and  26 . The electrical conductor lines  22 ,  26  and the neutral line  30  are connected proximate the structure  38  and to the meter assembly  46  via a weatherhead  50 . 
     The electrical conductor lines  22 ,  26  and neutral line  30  each include a drip loop  18 . The drip loop  18  is an arcuate or “looped” segment having a lower portion positioned below the entrance to the weatherhead  50  for directing water collecting/traveling along the electrical conductor lines  22 ,  26  and the neutral line  30  downwardly and off of the electrical conductor lines  22 ,  26  and the neutral line  30  towards the ground below. The drip loops  18  substantially prevent water collecting/traveling along the electrical conductor lines  22 ,  26  and the neutral line  30  from entering the weatherhead  50  of the meter assembly  46 . Water entering the weatherhead  50  may cause a short circuit and/or other damage to the meter assembly  46  and/or the structure  38 . 
     Each drip loop  18  of each of the electrical conductor lines  22 ,  26  and the neutral line  30  is provided with an electrical disconnect  14 . Each of the electrical disconnects  14  are disposed along the drip loops  18  to detachably connect two segments of the drip loops  18 , namely a structure side segment  54  and a service line segment  58 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-4  collectively, shown is one of the electrical disconnects  14 . The electrical disconnect  14  includes a first portion  62  and a second portion  66 . The first portion  62  includes an insulated housing  70  which substantially covers a supporting enclosure  74 , a conductor body  78 , and one or more male electrical conductors  82 . The insulated housing  70  may be constructed from, or covered by, a dielectric material, for example, a rubber, glass, polytetrafluroethylene, or the like. The insulated housing  70  includes an opening  86  formed so as to receive at least a portion of the structure side segment  54  of the drip loop  18  therethrough (see  FIG. 3 ). Additionally, the insulated housing  70  may include an extended portion  90  that cooperates with an insulated housing of the second portion  66  (as will be discussed below) in such a way that the first portion  62  and the second portion  66  may cooperate to form a continuous insulated covering when the first portion  62  and the second portion  66  are joined together. 
     The supporting enclosure  74  is disposed within the insulated housing  70  and may be constructed from a dielectric material similarly to the insulated housing  70 . The supporting enclosure  74  operates to cover at least a portion of the one or more male electrical conductors  82  and at least a portion of the conductor body  78 . In one embodiment, the support enclosure  74  includes a substantially cylindrical body  94  (see  FIG. 4 ). The substantially cylindrical body  94  is constructed having a cylindrical protrusion  98  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) adapted to mate with at least a portion of the second portion  66  as will be discussed in greater detail below. 
     The conductor body  78  is disposed within the insulated housing  70  and is constructed of an electrically conductive material, for example, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, graphite and the like. The conductor body  78  provides for the communication of an electrical current from the male electrical conductor  82  to the structure side segment  54  of the drip loop  18 . In one embodiment, the conductor body  78  includes a first portion  102  having an opening  106  positioned in axial alignment with the opening  86  of the insulated housing  70  to receive and retain at least a portion of the structure side segment  54  of the drip loop  18  therein. 
     The male electrical conductor  82  is constructed of an electrically conductive material, for example, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, graphite and the like. In one embodiment, the male electrical conductor  82  comprises a connector portion  110  and a blade portion  114 . The connector portion  110  is connectable to the conductor body  78  via a fastener  118 , for example, a threaded fastener, although any number of fasteners which would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before them are likewise contemplated for use in accordance with the present invention. Additionally, it will be understood that the male electrical conductor  82  and the conductor body  78  may be fabricated as a unitary member. 
     The blade portion  114  of the male electrical conductor  82  is shown as extending from inside the cylindrical protrusion  98  of the supporting enclosure  74  of the first portion  62  and extending at least partially beyond the extended portion  90  of the insulated housing  70 . The blade portion  114  is configured to mate with a female electrical conductor as will be discussed in greater detail below. Although the male electrical conductor  82  has been disclosed as having the blade portion  114 , any number of electrical conductors of differing shape, for example, round, triangular or the like that would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before them are likewise contemplated for use in accordance with the present invention. 
     The second portion  66  of the electrical disconnect  14  is constructed similarly to the first portion  62  and includes an insulated housing  122  which substantially covers a supporting enclosure  126 , a conductor body  130  and one or more female electrical conductors  134 . The insulated housing  122  may be constructed from, or covered by, a dielectric material, for example, a rubber, glass, polytetrafluroethylene, or the like. The insulated housing  122  includes an opening  138  formed to receive at least a portion of the service line segment  58  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the drip loop  18  therethrough. 
     The supporting enclosure  126  is disposed at least partially within the housing  122  and is provided to substantially cover at least a portion of the conductor body  130  and the one or more female electrical conductors  134 . In one embodiment, the supporting enclosure  126  is provided with a substantially cylindrical body  142  (see  FIG. 4 ) having a cover plate  146 . The substantially cylindrical body  142  and the cover plate  146  cooperate to substantially cover and electrically insulate the one or more female electrical conductors  134 . Additionally, the cover plate  146  is provided with a slot  150  that is constructed to allow for the insertion of at least a portion of the blade portion  114  of the male electrical conductor  82  into the substantially cylindrical body  142  of the second portion  66  such that the blade portion  114  may interface with the one or more female electrical conductors  134 . It will be understood that the number of slots  150  may be dictated by the number of male electrical conductors  82  of the first portion  62 . 
     It will be understood that because the female electrical conductor  134  is entirely contained within the cylindrical body  142  of the support enclosure  126  which is, in turn, covered by the insulating housing  126 , any danger of electrical shock to those who would come into contact with the second portion  66  is substantially minimized. 
     In one embodiment, the supporting enclosure  126  is constructed having a cylindrical collar  154 . The cylindrical collar  154  is adapted to receive at least a portion of the cylindrical protrusion  98  of the supporting enclosure  74  of the first portion  62  to secure the supporting enclosure  74  of the first portion  62  to the supporting enclosure  126  of the second portion  66  in an overlapping relationship when the first portion  62  and the second portion  66  are joined together. 
     The conductor body  130  is disposed within the insulated housing  122  and is constructed of an electrically conductive material, for example, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, graphite and the like. The conductor body  130  includes a first portion  158  having an opening  162  disposed in axially alignment with the opening  138  of the insulated housing  122  to receive and retain at least a portion of the service line segment  58  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the drip loop  18  therein. The conductor body  130  provides for the communication of an electrical current from the service line segment  58  of the drip loop  18  to the one or more female electrical conductor  134 . 
     The one or more female electrical conductors  134  comprise a connector portion  166  and a pair or conductor plates  170 . The one or more female electrical conductors  134  are constructed of an electrically conductive material, for example, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, graphite and the like. The connector portion  166  is connectable to the conductor body  130  via a fastener  174 , for example, a threaded fastener, although any number of fasteners which would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before them are likewise contemplated for use in accordance with the present invention. Additionally, it will be understood that the one or more female electrical conductors  134  and the conductor body  130  may be fabricated as a unitary member. 
     The pair of conductor plates  170  of the one or more female electrical conductors  134  are provided in a spaced apart configuration and are adapted to releaseably secure at least a portion of the blade portion  114  of the male electrical conductor  82  therebetween when the first portion  62  and the second portion  66  are joined together. In one embodiment, the connection between the male electrical conductor  82  and the one or more female electrical conductors  134  is an interference fit. When a force of sufficient magnitude (e.g., a force strong enough to separate the interference fit between the blade portion  114  of the male electrical conductor  82  and the pair of conductor plates  170  of the one or more female electrical conductors  134 ) is applied to one of the electrical conductor lines  22 ,  26  or the neutral line  30  having one of the electrical disconnects  14 , the blade portion  114  of the male electrical conductor  82  separates from the pair of conductor plates  170  of the one or more female electrical conductors  134  causing a cessation of electrical current through the electrical disconnect  14 . In one embodiment, the predetermined amount of force may be less than the ultimate tensile strength of the connector  42  joining the neutral line  30  to the structure  38 . 
     It will be understood that although the connection between the blade portion  114  of the male electrical conductor  82  and the pair of conductor plates  170  of the one or more female electrical conductors  134  has been disclosed as an interference fit, any other type of detachable connection between the male electrical conductor  82  and the female electrical conductor  134  that will allow the male electrical conductor  82  to separate from the female electrical conductor  134  when a predetermined amount of force has been applied to one of the electrical conductor lines  22 ,  26  and the neutral line  30  having an electrical disconnect  14  are likewise contemplated for use in accordance with the present invention. 
     By way of non-limiting operational example, during wintery weather ice may accumulate along the length of the electrical service line  10 . The ice accumulating along the electrical service line  10  adds additional weight and stresses to not only the electrical conductor lines  22  and  26 , but also the neutral line  30  which supports the weight of the electrical conductor lines  22  and  26 . If enough ice accumulates on the electrical service line  10 , the neutral line  30  may detach from the structure  38 . If the neutral line  30  detaches from the structure  38 , the electrical conductor lines  22  and  26  may be torn from the weatherhead  50  of the meter assembly  46  potentially causing damage to not only the weatherhead  50 , but the various parts of the meter assembly  46 . In addition to any damage caused to the meter assembly  46 , the disconnected electrical conductor lines  22  and  26  may fall to the ground while still attached to the utility pole  34  leaving “live” wires that pose a significant risk of electrical shock and/or death for any living being which might come into contact with them. 
     Each of the conductor plates  170  is shown to include a planar portion  176  and a contact portion  178 . The contact portion  178  extends from one end of the planar portion  176  and loops inwardly toward the opposing conductor plate  170 . The supporting enclosure  126  of the second portion is provided with a pair of inwardly extending protrusions  180  terminating at a position adjacent an intermediate point of the planar portion  176  of the conductor plates  170  thereby limiting the expansion of the conducting plates  170  upon insertion of the blade portion  114  between the conductor plates  170 . 
     Therefore, the inclusion of the electrical disconnects  14  to the drip loops  18  of the electrical conductor lines  22  and  26  are provided to minimize such risks. If the neutral line  30  detaches from the structure  38 , the first portions  62  and the second portions  66  of the electrical disconnects  14  will separate from one another such that the first portions  62  are left hanging from the weatherhead  50 . Because the one or more male electrical conductors  82  of the first portion  62  do not carry a current when they are disconnected from the one or more female electrical conductors  134  of the second portion  66  they do not pose a risk for electrical shock. Furthermore, as stated previously, as the one of more female electrical conductors  134  are entirely contained within the cylindrical body  142  of the support enclosure  126  of the second portion, any danger of electrical shock to those who would come into contact with the second portion  66  is substantially minimized. 
     Additionally, in some situations it may be desirable for an individual, and not necessarily a licensed electrician or an emergency worker, to sever the connection between the utility pole  34  and the structure  38 . The electrical disconnects  14  provide a safe and efficacious means for severing the connection between the utility pole  34  and the structure  38 . The individual need only separate the first  62  and second  66  portions of the electrical disconnects  14  on each of the electrical conductor lines  22  and  26  and/or the neutral line  30  to sever the connection between the utility pole  34  and the structure  38 . 
     To install the electrical disconnect  14  along the drip loop  18  of the electrical conductor line  22 , the drip loop  18  is divided into the structure side segment  54  and the service line segment  58 . Next, the insulated covering of the structure side segment  54  is stripped to reveal the wiring inside the conductor line  22 . The insulated housing  70  of the first portion  62  is separated from the supporting enclosure  74  and the conductor body  78 . The stripped end of the structure line segment  54  is joined to the first portion  102  of the conductor body  78  by inserting the stripped end through the opening  86  of the insulated housing  70  and the opening  106  of the conductor body  78  and into the first portion  102  of the conductor body  78 . The first portion  102  is crimped around the stripped end of the structure side segment  54  to secure the wire therein. The insulating housing  70  is then slidably engaged to cover the supporting enclosure  74  and the conductor body  78 . The service line segment  58  is joined to the second portion  66  in similar fashion. The same steps are repeated for installing an electrical disconnect  14  along the drip loops  18  of the second electrical conductor line  26  and the neutral line  30 . 
     In another embodiment, the electrical disconnect  14  is installed along the drip loop  18  of the electrical conductor line  22  by dividing the drip loop  18  into the structure side segment  54  and the service line segment  58 . Next, the structure side segment  54  is secured to the first portion  62  by first removing the threaded fastener  118  from the conductor body  78  through opening  86  of the insulated housing  70  and opening  106  of the conductor body  78 . After removing the threaded fastener  118 , a portion of the end of the structure side segment  54  is wound around the threaded fastener  118 . Next, the threaded fastener  118  with the structure side segment  54  wound thereto is inserted through opening  86  of the insulated housing  70  and opening  106  of the conductor body  78  and is threaded onto the conductor body  78  securing the structure side segment  68  therein. 
     The service line segment  58  is secured to the second portion  66  by first removing the threaded fastener  174  from the conductor body  130  through opening  138  of the insulated housing  122  and opening  162  of the conductor body  130 . After removing the threaded fastener  174 , a portion of the end of the service line segment  58  is wound around the threaded fastener  174 . Next, the threaded fastener  174  with the service line segment  58  wound thereto is inserted through opening  138  of the insulated housing  122  and opening  162  of the conductor body  130  and is threaded onto the conductor body  130  securing the service line segment  58  therein. The above steps are repeated for installing an electrical disconnect  14  along the drip loop  18  of the neutral line  30 . 
     From the above description it is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed and as defined in the appended claims.