Molded conductor housing with a molded capacitance tap and method of making same

Claim 2

A capacitance divider for detecting electrical energization of an elongated electrical conductor embedded in a layer of insulating material comprising; a layer of insulating material mounted concentrically around said elongated electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor comprising a layer of conductive elastomeric material mounted on and bonded to an outer surface of said insulating material, means defining a cavity in said insulating material, said cavity having a bottom surface the entire area of which is positioned on one side of said elongated conductor, a coating of conductive elastomeric material mounted on and covering substantially all of the surface of said cavity and extending a predetermined distance beyond the upper edge of the cavity along the surface of said insulating material thereby to form an electrical contact on said insulating surface that is electrically coupled to the conductive coating in said cavity, said conductive material mounted on the surface of said cavity being closer to the embedded conductor than is the electrical conductor mounted on the outer surface of the insulating material whereby a potential difference is detectable between said conductive material and said conductor mounted on the insulating material when said embedded conductor is energized.

Claim 3

A capacitance divider as in claim 1 including a metal conductive plate embedded in said layer of insulation and spaced predetermined distances from the embedded conductor and the conductor mounted on said outer surface, said conductive plate being positioned in electrical contact with the conductive material mounted on said cavity.

Claim 4

A capacitance divider for detecting electrical energization of an elongated electrical conductor embedded in a layer of insulating material comprising; a layer of insulating material mounted concentrically around said elongated electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor mounted on an outer surface of said insulating material, means defining a cavity in said insulating material, said cavity having a bottom surface the entire area of which is positioned on one side of said elongated conductor, a coating of conductive material mounted on at least a portion of the surface of said cavity, said conductive material mounted on the surface of said cavity being closer to the embedded conductor than is the electrical conductor mounted on the outer surface of the insulating material whereby a potential difference is detectable between said conductive material and said conductor mounted on the insulating material when said embedded conductor is energized, electrical contact means comprising a removable molded contact body formed of conductive, elastomeric material having detent means engaging the walls of said cavity to retaiN the contact body in position in the cavity, the walls of said cavity being shaped to cooperate with said detent means to afford said position retaining function.

Claim 5

A capacitance divider for detecting electrical energization of an elongated electrical conductor embedded in a layer of insulating material comprising; a layer of insulating material mounted concentrically around said elongated electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor mounted on an outer surface of said insulating material, means defining a cavity in said insulating material, said cavity having a bottom surface the entire area of which is positioned on one side of said elongated conductor, a coating of conductive material mounted on at least a portion of the surface of said cavity, said conductive material mounted on the surface of said cavity being closer to the embedded conductor than is the electrical conductor mounted on the outer surface of the insulating material whereby a potential difference is detectable between said conductive material and said conductor mounted on the insulating material when said embedded conductor is energized, electrical contact means comprising a removable molded contact body formed of conductive, elastomeric material having detent means engaging the walls of said cavity to retaiN the contact body in position in the cavity, the walls of said cavity being shaped to cooperate with said detent means to afford said position retaining function.

Claim 6

A capacitance divider for detecting electrical energization of an elongated electrical conductor embedded in a layer of insulating material comprising; a layer of insulating material mounted concentrically around said elongated electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor mounted on an outer surface of said insulating material, means defining a cavity in said insulating material, said cavity having a bottom surface the entire area of which is positioned on one side of said elongated conductor, a coating of conductive material mounted on at least a portion of the surface of said cavity, said conductive material mounted on the surface of said cavity being closer to the embedded conductor than is the electrical conductor mounted on the outer surface of the insulating material whereby a potential difference is detectable between said conductive material and said conductor mounted on the insulating material when said embedded conductor is energized, electrical contact means mounted adjacent the upper edge of said cavity, said contact means being separated from said conductor mounted on the outer surface of the insulating material a distance sufficient to prevent electrical tracking therebetween, and electrical circuit means coupled to electrically connect said contact means to said coating of conductive material, said electrical circuit means comprising an integral extension of said coating of conductive material that is held in pressurized contact with a part of said contact means.

Claim 7

A capacitance divider for detecting electrical energization of an elongated electrical conductor embedded in a layer of insulating material comprising; a layer of insulating material mounted concentrically around said elongated electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor mounted on an outer surface of said insulating material, means defining a cavity in said insulating material, said cavity having a bottom surface the entire area of which is positioned on one side of said elongated conductor, a coating of conductive material mounted on at least a portion of the surface of said cavity, said conductive material mounted on the surface of said cavity being closer to the embedded conductor than is the electrical conductor mounted on the outer surface of the insulating material whereby a potential difference is detectable between said conductive material and said conductor mounted on the insulating material when said embedded conductor is energized, electrical contact means mounted adjacent the upper edge of said cavity, said contact means being separated from said conductor mounted on the outer surface of the insulating material a distance sufficient to prevent electrical tracking therebetween, and electrical circuit means coupled to electrically connect said contact means to said coating of conductive material, said electrical circuit means comprising an integral extension of said coating of conductive material that is held in pressurized contact with a part of said contact means.

Claim 8

A capacitance divider as in claim 4, wherein said contact means comprises a metal member having a generally smooth contact surface and having detent means engaging the walls of said cavity to retain the contact in position in the cavity, the walls of said cavity being shaped to cooperate with said detent means.

Claim 9

A capacitance divider as in claim 5 wherein the preformed walls of said cavity adapted to cooperate with said detent means are shaped to form an annular flexible ridge adjacent the upper edge of the cavity, and said detent means comprises an annular groove formed in the contact means on a protruding portion thereof that is in engagement with said annular ridge thereby to retain the contact in position in the cavity.