Solderless connector assembly for cable shielding jackets and method of installing the same

Claim 2

That method of forming a positive electrical and a high strength mechanical connection to a cable metal shield jacket and a surrounding cable sheath which comprises: forming juxtaposed slits in said sheath and shield lengthwise of their respective ends, forming aligned holes through said sheath and shield in an area spaced to one side of said slits and between the opposite ends thereof, inserting the shank of a headed fastener through said holes from the inner ends thereof, placing a clamping shoe and fastener means over the outer end of said fastener shank and tightening said fastener means thereagainst to clamp said sheath and shield rigidly together with the fastener head electrically connected with said thin metal shield and said clamping shoe applying high pressure to the exterior side of said sheath.

Claim 3

That method defined in claim 1 characterized in the steps of forming two sets of juxtaposed slits in said sheath and shield generally parallel to one another lengthwise of the cable and spaced to either side of said aligned holes for said fastener shank, said sets of slits forming coextensive elongated tongues from said cable sheath and shield respectively extending lengthwise of said cable.

Claim 4

That method defined in claim 1 characterized in the steps of utilizing a fastener shank having an elongated attached head arched crosswise of its longer dimension in general conforming with the curvature of the cable shield so as to have wide area bearing contact therewith when clamped against the interior side of the shield.

Claim 5

That method defined in claim 3 characterized in the steps of forming said elongated fastener head with a short tang projecting in the same direction and parallel to said shank, and forming a set of aligned holes through said sheath and shield positioned to seat said tang when said shank is inserted into said first mentioned aligned holes.

Claim 6

That method defined in claim 3 characterized in the steps of forming said elongated fastener head with a short tang normal to the inner side thereof and positioned to project outwardly across the end edges of said sheath and shield when said shank is assembled into said aligned holes, and said tang cooperating with the end edges of said sheath to prevent rotary movement of said fastener head during tightening of said clamping nut.

Claim 7

That method defined in claim 4 characterized in the steps of forming said elongated fastener head with a second short tang diametrically opposite said first mentioned tang and positioned to extend outwardly and closely parallel to the adjacent end edges of said sheath and shield.

Claim 8

That method defined in claim 1 characterized in the steps of forming said clamping shoe with a short threaded tang projecting outwardly away from the cable sheath, and providing said tang with a nut for use in clamping an electrical conductor thereto.

Claim 9

That method defined in claim 7 characterized in the step of utilizing a metal strip for said electrical conductor and formed with a multiplicity of holes spaced for simultaneous assembly over said shank and said threaded tang.

Claim 10

That method defined in claim 1 characterized in the step of providing said shank with annular groove means, having interlocking engagement with cooperating means on said fastener means and effective to hold said sheath and shield compressed under pressure between said shoe and said fastener head.

Claim 11

That method defined in claim 1 characterized in the step of providing said shank with a thread and utilizing fastener means having a thread mating with the thread on said shank.

Claim 12

That method defined in claim 1 characterized in the step of utilizing fastener means of said shank which can be loosened and retightened at the user''s option.

Claim 13

That method defined in claim 1 characterized in the step of utilizing a plurality of sharp metallic burrs between the surface of said headed fastener and said shield and effective to penetrate into said shield as said fastener means is tightened to assure electrical contact between said shield and shank and to strengthen the mechanical connection of said shield to said headed fastener.

Claim 14

That method of making a solderless electrical connection to a cable shield jacket sandwiched between the cable conductors and an insulative sheath therefor, which method comprises: slitting the sheath and the shield jacket lengthwise of the cable to permit expanding a length of each away from the conductors, forming an opening through the sheath and the shield inwardly from the end of the slit portion thereof, inserting metal fastener means having a large area head through said openings from the inner ends thereof with said head lying against the inner face of said shield jacket, clamping the slit portion of said shield and sheath snugly closed against said conductors, and applying a wide area clamping member over said metal fastener means exteriorly of said sheath and securing the same to said fastener means in a manner to provide a strong mechanical anchor between said fastener means and the cable sheath with the head of the fastener means firmly pressed in electrical contact with the cable shield jacket.

Claim 15

That method of making a solderless electrical connection to a cable shield jacket sandwiched between the cable conductors and an insulative sheath therefor, which method comprises: slitting the sheath and the shield jacket lengthwise of the cable to permit expanding a length of each away from the conductors, forming an opening through the sheath and the shield inwardly from the end of the slit portion thereof, inserting metal fastener means having a large area head through said openings from the inner ends thereof with said head lying against the inner face of said shield jacket, clamping the slit portion of said shield and sheath snugly closed against said conductors, and applying a wide area clamping member over said metal fastener means exteriorly of said sheath and securing the same to said fastener means in a manner to provide a strong mechanical anchor between said fastener means and the cable sheath with the head of the fastener means firmly pressed in electrical contact with the cable shield jacket.

Claim 16

That method defined in claim 13 characterized in the step of forming a pair of slits lengthwise of said shield jacket and cable sheath to form a tongue, and locating said opening for said fastener means between said pair of slits and intermediate the opposite ends of said tongue.

Claim 17

That method defined in claim 13 characterized in the steps of forming a single slit lengthwise of said sheath and of said shield jacket, and locating said opening for said fastener means in an area spaced inwardly from the adjacent end of the sheath and laterally from said slit.

Claim 18

That method of mechanically and electrically interconnecting the shield jackets of cabling on the opposite sides of intervening splice connections to the cable conductors which comprIses: removing a length of the cable sheath and the underlying shield jacket to expose the cable conductors for making splice connections, forming at least one set of slits lengthwise of the sheath and shield at either end of the exposed length of conductors, inserting the shank of a large headed fastener outwardly through aligned holes through the sheath and shield and spaced laterally from and intermediate the opposite ends of each of said sets of slits, clamping a pressure shoe over the outer end of each of said shanks to compress the associated sheath and shield between the head and pressure shoe of one of said fasteners, and clamping the opposite ends of a conductive tension strip between the outer ends of said two shanks to form an electrical connection between the respective cable shields and a load-transmitting mechanical connection between the cable sheaths to either end of the exposed cable conductors.

Claim 19

That method of mechanically and electrically interconnecting the shield jackets of cabling on the opposite sides of intervening splice connections to the cable conductors which comprIses: removing a length of the cable sheath and the underlying shield jacket to expose the cable conductors for making splice connections, forming at least one set of slits lengthwise of the sheath and shield at either end of the exposed length of conductors, inserting the shank of a large headed fastener outwardly through aligned holes through the sheath and shield and spaced laterally from and intermediate the opposite ends of each of said sets of slits, clamping a pressure shoe over the outer end of each of said shanks to compress the associated sheath and shield between the head and pressure shoe of one of said fasteners, and clamping the opposite ends of a conductive tension strip between the outer ends of said two shanks to form an electrical connection between the respective cable shields and a load-transmitting mechanical connection between the cable sheaths to either end of the exposed cable conductors.

Claim 20

That method defined in claim 16 characterized in the steps of enclosing the portion of said tension strip between said shanks with insulation, and providing the outer ends of said shanks and the adjacent end of said tension strip with a resilient boot having an open lower side normally seating against and closed by the underlying surface of the cable sheath.

Claim 21

That method defined in claim 16 characterized in the steps of providing said pressure shoe with an extension shaped to bear against the cable in an area spaced lengthwise of the cable from said shank, and clamping said extension to the underlying portion of the cable to strengthen the mechanical connection of said shank to said sheath and to reduce the strain of the connection to said shield jacket.

Claim 22

In combination with a cable having a metal shield jacket enclosed with a non-conductive high strength sheath, a solderless connector assembly providing a high strength mechanical and electrical connection to said sheath and to said shield jacket, said connector assembly having a shank secured to a large area head bearing against the inner side of said shield with said shank projecting outwardly through aligned openings spaced inwardly from the end of said shield and sheath, and outer clamping shoe means assembled over the outer end of said shank and effective to hold said sheath and shield jacket tightly clamped together with the outer end of the shank available for connection to a load transmitting member and to electrically conductive means.

Claim 23

In combination with a cable having a metal shield jacket enclosed with a non-conductive high strength sheath, a solderless connector assembly providing a high strength mechanical and electrical connection to said sheath and to said shield jacket, said connector assembly having a shank secured to a large area head bearing against the inner side of said shield with said shank projecting outwardly through aligned openings spaced inwardly from the end of said shield and sheath, and outer clamping shoe means assembled over the outer end of said shank and effective to hold said sheath and shield jacket tightly clamped together with the outer end of the shank available for connection to a load transmitting member and to electrically conductive means.

Claim 24

The combination defined in claim 19 characterized in that said sheath and said shield have at least one set of juxtaposed slits extending lengthwise of said cable to one side of said shank to facilitate temporary separation of the sheath and shield from the conductors while assembling said shank in said aligned openings.

Claim 25

The combination defined in claim 20 characterized in the provision of high strength servings about said cabling to either side of said shank to hold the sheath snugly contracted against the cable conductors and the edges of said slits closed together.

Claim 26

The combination defined in claim 19 characterized in the provision of a short tang on the head of said shank projecting radially outwardly through aligned openings in said shield and sheath and cooperating with said shank in holding the shank and its head against rotation.

Claim 27

The combination defined in claim 19 characterized in the provision of short tang means on the head of said shank projecting radially outwardly and in close abutment with the end of said sheath and cooperating therewith to prevent rotation of said shank about its axis.

Claim 28

The combination defined in claim 19 characterized in that said shank is threaded and provided on its outer end with threaded nut means wrenchable to compress a large area of said sheath and shield jacket compressed between the large area head of said threaded shank and said outer clamping shoe means.

Claim 29

The combination defined in claim 19 characterized in the provision of a plurality of small sharp metallic burrs between saId shield jacket and the large area head of said shank and effective to penetrate the surface and make a strong mechanical and electrical connection to said shield jacket as said clamping shoe means is tightened.

Claim 30

The combination defined in claim 19 characterized in the provision of arched metallic shim means generally coextensive in size with said fastener head and having a multiplicity of sharp burrs protruding therefrom and positioned to scratch the surface of said shield jacket as said arched shim means is flattened as said clamping shoe means is being clamped into its fully assembled position.

Claim 31

The combination defined in claim 19 characterized in that said clamping shoe means is elongated and formed with threaded tang means positioned to engage an edge of a cable clamping band encircling the cable and embracing said clamping shoe means in an area thereof located between said shank and said tang means, said tang means and said clamping band reinforcing the anchorage of said connector assembly to said cable and preventing the latter from rotating about the axis of said aligned openings.

Claim 32

The combination defined in claim 27 characterized in that said clamping shoe means is elongated with one end thereof projecting beyond the end of the cable sheath and lying closely against the underlying exposed cable conductors, and clamping band means encircling said exposed conductors and embracing the adjacent end of said clamping shoe means.

Claim 33

The combination defined in claim 28 characterized in that said clamping band and said clamping shoe means include means engageable with one another to hold said clamping band against movement lengthwise of said clamping shoe means when properly assembled to one another.

Claim 34

The combination defined in claim 19 characterized in that said outer clamping shoe means has tang means projecting outwardly therefrom and spaced from said shank, and strip-like conductor means having separate holes spaced for registry over said shank and over said tang means respectively, and nut means mounted on said threaded tang means for holding said conductor means against disassembly therefrom.

Claim 35

That improvement in a cable splice assembly having a short length of its metallic shield jacket and of its outer protective non-conductive sheath removed to expose a length of the cable conductors, said improvement comprising a high strength mechanical and electrical connection bridging the exposed conductors and connected with the severed ends of the shield and sheath to relieve the exposed conductors and splice connections of strain while providing an electric path between the two shields, said improved connection including a strong conductive tension strip bridging the exposed conductors and spaced closely beside the latter, similar metallic clamping means secured to either end of said strip, said clamping means including a threaded shank extending through aligned openings spaced inwardly from the end of said sheath and shield at either end of said exposed conductors and cooperating with clamping inner and outer shoe means to clamp said sheath and shield therebetween, and means clamping the opposite ends of said tension strip to the adjacent one of said threaded shanks and effective to interconnect the same electrically and mechanically and effective to transmit tension forces between the cable ends being spliced together independently of the individual spliced conductors.

Claim 36

That improvement in a cable splice assembly having a short length of its metallic shield jacket and of its outer protective non-conductive sheath removed to expose a length of the cable conductors, said improvement comprising a high strength mechanical and electrical connection bridging the exposed conductors and connected with the severed ends of the shield and sheath to relieve the exposed conductors and splice connections of strain while providing an electric path between the two shields, said improved connection including a strong conductive tension strip bridging the exposed conductors and spaced closely beside the latter, similar metallic clamping means secured to either end of said strip, said clamping means including a threaded shank extending through aligned openings spaced inwardly from the end of said sheath and shield at either end of said exposed conductors and cooperating with clamping inner and outer shoe means to clamp said sheath and shield therebetween, and means clamping the opposite ends of said tension strip to the adjacent one of said threaded shanks and effective to interconnect the same electrically and mechanically and effective to transmit tension forces between the cable ends being spliced together independently of the individual spliced conductors.