Grounding connector

Claim 2

A solderless grounding clamp assembly comprising: split ring clamping band means provided with adjustable means for contracting said band means, threaded stud means having a head fixed to one end shaped to have a loose sliding fit circumferentially of said clamping band means and including sharp edges facing inwardly from the inner face of said band means for high pressure metal-to-metal electrical contact with rigid conductive means when said clamping means is tightly clamped thereabout, and solderless terminal means assembled over said threaded stud having sharp edged means thereon effective to bite into a grounding conductor as a clamping nut assembly to said stud is tightened thereby to complete a high strength mechanical and electrical connection between said stud and a grounding conductor.

Claim 3

A grounding clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said clamping band means includes a plurality of said threaded stud means slidably assembled and available for use to anchor electrical conductors thereto.

Claim 4

A grounding clamp assembly as defined in claim 2 characterized in the provision of a short length of conductor means having its opposite ends rigidly clamped to a respective one of a pair of said plurality of threaded stud means to provide supplemental grounding capability.

Claim 5

A grounding clamp assembly as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said short conductor means includes a solderless terminal at the free end of each end thereof effective to bite into and positively grip the conductor as nut means assembled over the ends of said pair of threaded stud means are tightened.

Claim 6

A grounding clamp assembly as defined in cLaim 1 characterized in the provision of a plurality of said clamping band means each equipped with said threaded stud means adjustably supported thereon, and an interconnecting length of conductor means rigidly and electrically interconnecting said clamping band means in the assembled condition of said grounding assembly.

Claim 7

A grounding clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the head of said threaded stud means has inturned flanges spaced and shaped to loosely embrace the opposite lateral edges of the clamping band means to hold said head slidingly captive thereon.

Claim 8

A grounding clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the flanges of said stud head are provided with passages to receive said clamping band means which when tightened is effective to compress the edges of said flanges immovably into contact with a grounding conductor.

Claim 9

A grounding clamp assembly as defined in claim 7 characterized in that said passages have continuous rim edges whereby said clamping band means can be assembled thereto only by threading one end of said band means axially through said passages in succession.

Claim 10

A grounding clamp assembly as defined in claim 7 characterized in that the edges of said flanges are serrated to provide a plurality of sharp edges for penetrating into the surface of a grounding conductor as said band means is tightened and contracted thereagainst.

Claim 11

A grounding clamp assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said solderless terminal means comprises a U-shaped tempered metal member formed from strip stock having an opening in its bight portion to freely receive a heavy gauge conductor as said conductor is telescoped through said opening, said U-shaped member having its legs shaped to partially embrace the latter from its opposite sides, and the ends of said legs having openings to fit over said threaded stud for clamping toward one another as said clamping nut is tightened.

Claim 12

A grounding clamp assembly as defined in claim 10 characterized in that said legs have tempered sharp edged protuberances projecting inwardly from the adjacent faces thereof effective to bite into the surface of a conductor as said legs are clamped thereagainst.

Claim 13

A solderless terminal assembly for grounding electrical conductors, said assembly comprising a tempered resilient U-shaped metallic strip having an opening through the bight thereof adapted to receive a conductor to be grounded, the legs of said strip diverging from one another prior to assembly to a conductor and stamped to provide shallow channels therealong facing toward one another with one pair of ends in communication with said opening and cooperating to clamp the opposite sides of a conductor therebetween as said legs are pressed toward a conductor inserted through said openings, aligned openings through the free ends of said legs, a clamping bolt extending through said openings and having nut means thereon for compressing said legs toward one another as said nut means is tightened, and said bolt having a head fixed thereto thereon provided with a wide shallow passage adapted to loosely accommodate a pipe clamping band.

Claim 14

A solderless terminal assembly for grounding electrical conductors, said assembly comprising a tempered resilient U-shaped metallic strip having an opening through the bight thereof adapted to receive a conductor to be grounded, the legs of said strip diverging from one another prior to assembly to a conductor and stamped to provide shallow channels therealong facing toward one another with one pair of ends in communication with said opening and cooperating to clamp the opposite sides of a conductor therebetween as said legs are pressed toward a conductor inserted through said openings, aligned openings through the free ends of said legs, a clamping bolt extending through said openings and having nut means thereon for compressing said legs toward one another as said nut means is tightened, and said bolt having a head fixed thereto thereon provided with a wide shallow passage adapted to loosely accommodate a pipe clamping band.

Claim 15

A terminal assembly as defined in claim 12 characterized in that the exterior end surface of said bolt head is formed with sharp hardened projections effective to bite into a grounded conductor when said head is compressed thereagainst by clamping band means.

Claim 16

A terminal assembly as defined in claim 12 characterized in that said bolt head is formed from flat stock and of generally C-shape as viewed from one end of said wide shallow passage, and said bolt head being permanently affixed to one end of said bolt.

Claim 17

A terminal assembly as defined in claim 14 characterized in that the opposed transverse ends of said C-shaped head are turned inwardly toward one another with the exterior surfaces thereof in alignment one with the other so as to bear against a grounded conductor with equal effectiveness as said head is compresseD thereagainst.

Claim 18

A terminal assembly as defined in claim 15 characterized in that the exterior surfaces of the inturned ends of said C-shaped head includes sharp edged ribs adapted to bite into a grounded conductor as said head is compressed thereagainst.

Claim 19

A terminal assembly as defined in claim 14 characterized in that one end of the shank of said bolt extends through and is swaged permanently to the mid portion of said C-shaped head with the shank extending outwardly from and normal to the exterior surface thereof.

Claim 20

A terminal assembly as defined in claim 12 characterized in that the tempered legs of said U-shaped strip have sharp edged projections extending toward one another from the bottom of at least one of said channels and effective to penetrate into the surface of a conductor as said legs are compressed against a conductor end positioned in said channels.

Claim 21

A terminal assembly as defined in claim 12 characterized in the provision of adjustable clamping band means assembled loosely through the passage extending transversely of said bolt head with the bolt shank projecting radially outwardly from the exterior side of said band means.