US3740685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transformer with connector and method of assembly
Assignee: Kuhlman Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-04
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1991-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A connector assembly for the low voltage, aluminum, output conductors of a transformer which includes a copper stud forming the through connection from the interior of a transformer casing to the external connector. The low voltage leads from the transformer assembly are preferably formed of aluminum and are attached to the copper stud by means of a concentrically grooved brass washer which is forced into the face of dead-soft aluminum strip by means of a compression nut. The electrical path for the connector assembly includes the dead-soft aluminum strip, the concentrically grooved brass washer, the brass compression nuts and the copper stud.
Inventors
- 👤 J Fisher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:02
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01F; H01F27/00; H01F27/40; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/4902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
34 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said at least one of the windings is the secondary winding and said ends are fabricated of aluminum, said grooves being formed with sharp ridges and are continuous.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein the circuit to the Exterior of the transformer tank includes said aluminum ends, said washer, said compression element and the stud.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
In the transformer assembly of claim 2 further including cooling fluid contained within the tank, the improvement further comprising said connector assembly having at least a portion thereof within the tank and below the level of said cooling fluid and further including means for providing a fluid-tight seal with the tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said ends are fabricated of a plurality of aluminum strips, said aluminum strips including an aperture formed adjacent one end thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein said aluminum strips are positioned in face to face abutting relation and a weld is provided at the edges of said strips closely adjacent said aperture to maintain the electrical resistance characteristics of said welded strips.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said connector assembly includes a second washer having a concentrically grooved face, said second washer being positioned adjacent said aluminum strips with said grooved face contiguous with said aluminum strips. 8 The improvement of claim 7 wherein said compression element operates to force soft material at least partially into the said grooves of said second washer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein said weld is discontinuous across the edges of said aluminum strips, at least two of said strips being spaced at said discontinuity to provide a space between said strips.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improvement of claim 9 wherein said connector assembly further includes a third washer positioned in said space between said strips, said third washer having concentrically grooved faces on opposite sides of said washer, said compression element operating to force soft material at least partially into said grooves of said third washer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of forming a transformer assembly comprising the steps of assembling a primary winding and a secondary winding in a tank, assembling a connector assembly including a stud associated with at least one of said windings, the ends of the at least one of the windings being fabricated of a soft, cold-flowable material, and maintaining the electrical resistance of the connector assembly after the assembly has been thermally cycled including assembling a washer with a plurality of concentric grooves on at least one face of said washer, positioning at least two compression elements and the said washer on the stud adjacent the soft material, said washer being between the two compression elements with said groove being positioned contiguous with said soft material, and operating at least one compression element to force said soft material at least partially into said grooves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
In the transformer assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one of the said windings is the secondary winding and said ends are fabricated of aluminum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
In the transformer assembly of claim 12 wherein the circuit to the exterior of the transformer tank includes said aluminum ends, said washer, said compression elements and the stud.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
In the transformer assembly of claim 12 further including cooling fluid contained within the tank, the method further comprising said connector assembly having at least a portion thereof within the tank and below the level of said cooling fluid and further providing a fluid-tight seal with the tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 further including fabricating said ends of a plurality of aluminum strips, and forming an aperture in said aluminum strips adjacent one end thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 15 further including positioning said strips in face to face abutting relation and welding the edges of said strips closely adjacent said aperture to maintain the electrical resistance characteristics of said welded strips.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 16 further including providing a second washer having a concentrically grooved face, and positioning said second washer adjacent said aluminum strips with said grooved face Contiguous with said aluminum strips.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 17 further including operating said compression element to force soft material at least partially into the said grooves of said second washer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 18 further including providing a discontinuity across the edges of said aluminum strips, and spacing at least two of said strips at said discontinuity to provide a space therebetween.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 19 further including providing a third washer in said space between said strips, said third washer having concentrically grooved faces on opposite sides of said washer and operating said compression element to force soft material at least partially into said grooves of said third washer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement of claim 11 wherein at least two of said washer, stud and compression elements are of differing coefficients of thermal expansion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said washer is formed by steps including mounting blank washer stock on a mandrel, mounting a cutting tool adjacent a face of the washer stock, rotating one of said stock and tool relative to the other, and advancing one of said stock and tool relative to the other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |