Patent US20040102091A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US20040102091A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrical connector including thermoplastic elastomer material and associated methods
Assignee: ABB Installation Products International LLC
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Filing: 2003-05-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2023-05-15
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector may include a connector body having a passageway therethrough. The connector body may include a first layer adjacent the passageway, a second layer surrounding the first layer and comprising an insulative thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, and a third layer surrounding the second layer. The third layer preferably has a relatively low resistivity, and may also include a semiconductive TPE material. In some embodiments, the first layer may also include a semiconductive TPE material. The TPE material layers may be overmolded to thereby increase production speed and efficiency thereby lowering production costs. The TPE material may also provide excellent electrical performance and other advantages.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy Jazowski
- 👤 Matthew Cawood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/5205; H01R13/53; H01R13/502; H01R13/504
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
1 . An electrical connector comprising: a connector body having a passageway therethrough and comprising a first layer adjacent the passageway, a second layer surrounding said first layer and comprising an insulative thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material having a relatively high resistivity, and a third layer surrounding said second layer and comprising a material having a relatively low resistivity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
1 . An electrical connector comprising: a connector body having a passageway therethrough and comprising a first layer adjacent the passageway, a second layer surrounding said first layer and comprising an insulative thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material having a relatively high resistivity, and a third layer surrounding said second layer and comprising a material having a relatively low resistivity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
2 . An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said third layer comprises a semiconductive TPE material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
3 . An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said first layer comprises a semiconductive TPE material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
4 . An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein the passageway has first and second ends and a medial portion extending therebetween; and wherein said first layer is positioned along the medial portion of the passageway and is spaced inwardly from respective ends thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
5 . An electrical connector according to claim 4 wherein the medial portion of the passageway has a bend therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
6 . An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein the first end of the passageway has an enlarged diameter to receive an electrical bushing insert therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
7 . An electrical connector according to claim 4 wherein said connector body has a tubular shape defining the passageway.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
8 . An electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein said second layer has an enlarged diameter adjacent the medial portion of the passageway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
9 . An electrical connector according to claim 4 wherein said connector body adjacent at least one of the first and second ends of the passageway has a progressively increasing outer diameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
10 . An electrical connector according to claim 4 wherein said connector body adjacent at least one of the first and second ends of the passageway has a progressively decreasing outer diameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
11 . An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said first layer has at least one predetermined property to reduce electrical stress thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
12 . An electrical connector according to claim 11 wherein the at least one predetermined property comprises a predetermined impedance profile.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
13 . An electrical connector according to claim 11 wherein the at least one predetermined property comprises a predetermined geometric configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
14 . An electrical connector according to claim 13 wherein said first layer has a bend therein; and wherein the predetermined geometric configuration comprises at least one outwardly extending rib adjacent the bend.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
15 . An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said first layer defines an innermost layer; and wherein said third layer defines an outermost layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
16 . An electrical connector according to claim 1 further comprising at least one pulling eye carried by said connector body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
17 . An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said connector body is configured for at least 15 KV and 200 Amp operation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
18 . An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein each of said first and third layers has a resistivity less than about 10 8 Ωcm; and wherein said second layer has a resistivity greater than about 10 8 Ωcm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
87 words
19 . An electrical connector comprising: a connector body having a passageway therethrough, the passageway having first and second ends and a medial portion with at least one bend therein between the first and second ends, said connector body comprising a first layer adjacent the bend and spaced inwardly from the first and second ends of the passageway, a second layer surrounding said first layer and comprising an insulative thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, and a third layer surrounding said second layer and comprising a semiconductive TPE material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
87 words
19 . An electrical connector comprising: a connector body having a passageway therethrough, the passageway having first and second ends and a medial portion with at least one bend therein between the first and second ends, said connector body comprising a first layer adjacent the bend and spaced inwardly from the first and second ends of the passageway, a second layer surrounding said first layer and comprising an insulative thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, and a third layer surrounding said second layer and comprising a semiconductive TPE material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
20 . An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein said first layer comprises a semiconductive TPE material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
21 . An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein the first end of the passageway has an enlarged diameter to receive an electrical bushing therein.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
22 . An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein said first layer has at least one predetermined property to reduce electrical stress thereon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
23 . An electrical connector according to claim 22 wherein the predetermined property is that said first layer comprises at least one outwardly extending rib adjacent the bend of the passageway.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
24 . An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein said first layer defines an innermost layer; and wherein said third layer defines an outermost layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
25 . An electrical connector according to claim 19 further comprising at least one pulling eye carried by said connector body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
26 . An electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein said connector body is configured for at least 15 KV and 200 Amp operation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
113 words
27 . An electrical connector comprising: a connector body having a passageway therethrough, the passageway having first and second ends and a medial portion with at least one bend therein between the first and second ends, said connector body comprising a first layer adjacent the bend and spaced inwardly from the first and second ends of the passageway, said first layer comprising a semiconductive TPE material and comprising at least one outwardly extending rib adjacent the bend of the passageway to reduce electrical stress; a second layer surrounding said first layer and comprising an insulative thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, and a third layer surrounding said second layer and comprising a semiconductive TPE material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
113 words
27 . An electrical connector comprising: a connector body having a passageway therethrough, the passageway having first and second ends and a medial portion with at least one bend therein between the first and second ends, said connector body comprising a first layer adjacent the bend and spaced inwardly from the first and second ends of the passageway, said first layer comprising a semiconductive TPE material and comprising at least one outwardly extending rib adjacent the bend of the passageway to reduce electrical stress; a second layer surrounding said first layer and comprising an insulative thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, and a third layer surrounding said second layer and comprising a semiconductive TPE material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
28 . An electrical connector according to claim 27 wherein the first end of the passageway has an enlarged diameter to receive an electrical bushing insert therein.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
29 . An electrical connector according to claim 27 wherein said first layer has predetermined impedance profile to reduce electrical stress thereon.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
30 . An electrical connector according to claim 27 wherein said first layer defines an innermost layer; and wherein said third layer defines an outermost layer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
31 . An electrical connector according to claim 27 further comprising at least one pulling eye connected to said connector body.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
32 . An electrical connector according to claim 27 wherein said connector body is configured for at least 15 KV and 200 Amp operation.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
79 words
33 . An electrical connector comprising: a connector body having a tubular shape defining a longitudinal passageway with first and second ends and a medial portion therebetween, said connector body comprising a first layer adjacent the medial portion of the passageway and spaced inwardly from the first and second ends, a second layer surrounding said first layer and comprising an insulative thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, and a third layer surrounding said second layer and comprising a semiconductive TPE material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
79 words
33 . An electrical connector comprising: a connector body having a tubular shape defining a longitudinal passageway with first and second ends and a medial portion therebetween, said connector body comprising a first layer adjacent the medial portion of the passageway and spaced inwardly from the first and second ends, a second layer surrounding said first layer and comprising an insulative thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, and a third layer surrounding said second layer and comprising a semiconductive TPE material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
34 . An electrical connector according to claim 33 wherein said first layer comprises a semiconductive TPE material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
35 . An electrical connector according to claim 33 wherein said first layer has at least one predetermined property to reduce electrical stress thereon.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
36 . An electrical connector according to claim 33 wherein said first layer defines an innermost layer; and wherein said third layer defines an outermost layer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
37 . An electrical connector according to claim 33 wherein said connector body is configured for at least 15 KV and 200 Amp operation.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
76 words
38 . A method for making an electrical connector body having a passageway therethrough, the method comprising: providing a first layer to define at least a medial portion of the passageway; overmolding a second layer surrounding the first layer and comprising an insulative thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material having a relatively high resistivity; and overmolding a third layer surrounding the second layer and comprising a material having a relatively low resistivity to make the electrical connector body.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
76 words
38 . A method for making an electrical connector body having a passageway therethrough, the method comprising: providing a first layer to define at least a medial portion of the passageway; overmolding a second layer surrounding the first layer and comprising an insulative thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material having a relatively high resistivity; and overmolding a third layer surrounding the second layer and comprising a material having a relatively low resistivity to make the electrical connector body.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
39 . A method according to claim 38 wherein each of the first and third layers comprises a semiconductive TPE material.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
23 words
40 . A method according to claim 38 wherein providing the first layer comprises molding the first layer from a semiconductive TPE material.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
44 words
41 . A method according to claim 38 wherein overmolding the second and third layers comprises overmolding the second and third layers so that the first layer is positioned along the medial portion of the passageway and is spaced inwardly from respective ends thereof.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
42 . A method according to claim 41 wherein the medial portion of the passageway has a bend therein.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
32 words
43 . A method according to claim 41 wherein providing the first layer and overmolding the first and second layers defines the connector body to have a tubular shape defining the passageway.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
30 words
44 . A method according to claim 38 wherein providing the first layer comprises providing the first layer to have at least one predetermined property to reduce electrical stress thereon.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
45 . A method according to claim 38 wherein first layer defines an innermost layer; and wherein third layer defines an outermost layer.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
46 . A method according to claim 38 wherein connector body is configured for at least 15 KV and 200 Amp operation.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
36 words
47 . A method according to claim 38 wherein of the first and third layers has a resistivity than about 10 8 Ωcm; and wherein the second layer a resistivity greater than about 10 8 Ωcm.
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