US3783434A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shielded cable coupler
Assignee: MARK III Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-10
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1992-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A cable coupler device, of the type used in mining applications, suitable for interconnecting portions of shielded, three phase electrical cable which greatly reduces the hazard of phase-tophase faults. The coupler device includes electrically shielded male and female coupling members which are adapted to be connected with the shielded portions and conductor portions of the phase conductors such that a continuous shield at ground potential is maintained around each phase conductor as it passes through the coupler device. The coupler device also includes annular insulators positioned between the electrical contacts and the shielded coupling members.
Inventors
- 👤 H Ransford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:11
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/53
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
653 words
A shielded coupling member for interconnecting a shielded phase conductor of a first high voltage electrical cable with a shielded phase conductor of a second high voltage electrical cable, which comprises: A. a concentrically shaped first contact housing having electrical conductive properties and having a central cylindrical bore extending therethrouGh, said housing also including a front edge portion and a rear portion, said rear portion adapted to allow attachment from the conductive shielding of the shielded phase conductor of the first electrical cable thereto; B. a first annularly shaped electrical insulator, positioned in the central bore of the first contact housing, said first insulator having a central cylindrical bore extending therethrough, said first insulator also including a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion of the first insulator having a conically shaped surface, outwardly extending from the front edge portion of the first contact housing, the rear portion of said first insulator having a conically shaped surface, outwardly extending from the rear edge portion of the first contact housing; C. a first electrical contact positioned within the central bore of the first electrical insulator, said first contact including a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion of the first contact adapted to allow attachment from the conductor portion of the shielded phase conductor of the first cable thereto; D. a second concentrically shaped contact housing having electrically conductive properties and having a central cylindrical bore extending therethrough, said second contact housing also including a front edge portion and a rear portion, the front edge portion of said second contact housing adapted to engagingly contact the front edge portion of the first contact housing when the two contact housings are matingly engaged, so as to establish electrical continuity between the two contact housings, the rear portion of said second contact housing adapted to allow attachment from the conductive shielding of the shielded phase conductor of the second cable thereto, so as to continue the concentric shield from the shielded phase conductor of the first cable, through the coupling member, and to the shielded phase conductor of the second cable; E. a second annularly shaped electrical insulator positioned in the bore of the second contact housing, said second insulator having a central cylindrical bore extending therethrough, said second insulator also including a flexible front portion and a rear portion, said front portion adapted to closely engage the outwardly extending, conically shaped front portion of the first electrical insulator, the rear portion of said second insulator having a conically shaped surface, outwardly extending from the rear edge portion of the second contact housing, the flexible front portion of the second insulator has a cylindrically shaped inner sidewall portion adjacent to a second contact and substantially parallel with the bore of the second contact housing, said front portion also having an outer sidewall portion which slopes inwardly from the contact housing to meet the aforementioned inner sidewall portion at a point substantially near the front edge portion of the second contact housing in spaced relationship therefrom so that when the first and second contact housings are interconnected, the flexible front portion of the second insulator will slidably wipe and tightly conform to the conical shape of the front surface portion of the first insulator; and F. the second electrical contact being positioned within the central bore of the second insulator, said second contact including a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion of the second contact adapted to slidably engage the front portion of the first electrical contact of the first contact housing, the rear portion of said second contact adapted to allow attachment from the conductor portion of the shielded phase conductor of the second electrical cable thereto, so as to establish electrical continuity from the phase conductor of the first cable through the coupling member to the phase conductor of the second cable when the contact housings are interconnected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
653 words
A shielded coupling member for interconnecting a shielded phase conductor of a first high voltage electrical cable with a shielded phase conductor of a second high voltage electrical cable, which comprises: A. a concentrically shaped first contact housing having electrical conductive properties and having a central cylindrical bore extending therethrouGh, said housing also including a front edge portion and a rear portion, said rear portion adapted to allow attachment from the conductive shielding of the shielded phase conductor of the first electrical cable thereto; B. a first annularly shaped electrical insulator, positioned in the central bore of the first contact housing, said first insulator having a central cylindrical bore extending therethrough, said first insulator also including a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion of the first insulator having a conically shaped surface, outwardly extending from the front edge portion of the first contact housing, the rear portion of said first insulator having a conically shaped surface, outwardly extending from the rear edge portion of the first contact housing; C. a first electrical contact positioned within the central bore of the first electrical insulator, said first contact including a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion of the first contact adapted to allow attachment from the conductor portion of the shielded phase conductor of the first cable thereto; D. a second concentrically shaped contact housing having electrically conductive properties and having a central cylindrical bore extending therethrough, said second contact housing also including a front edge portion and a rear portion, the front edge portion of said second contact housing adapted to engagingly contact the front edge portion of the first contact housing when the two contact housings are matingly engaged, so as to establish electrical continuity between the two contact housings, the rear portion of said second contact housing adapted to allow attachment from the conductive shielding of the shielded phase conductor of the second cable thereto, so as to continue the concentric shield from the shielded phase conductor of the first cable, through the coupling member, and to the shielded phase conductor of the second cable; E. a second annularly shaped electrical insulator positioned in the bore of the second contact housing, said second insulator having a central cylindrical bore extending therethrough, said second insulator also including a flexible front portion and a rear portion, said front portion adapted to closely engage the outwardly extending, conically shaped front portion of the first electrical insulator, the rear portion of said second insulator having a conically shaped surface, outwardly extending from the rear edge portion of the second contact housing, the flexible front portion of the second insulator has a cylindrically shaped inner sidewall portion adjacent to a second contact and substantially parallel with the bore of the second contact housing, said front portion also having an outer sidewall portion which slopes inwardly from the contact housing to meet the aforementioned inner sidewall portion at a point substantially near the front edge portion of the second contact housing in spaced relationship therefrom so that when the first and second contact housings are interconnected, the flexible front portion of the second insulator will slidably wipe and tightly conform to the conical shape of the front surface portion of the first insulator; and F. the second electrical contact being positioned within the central bore of the second insulator, said second contact including a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion of the second contact adapted to slidably engage the front portion of the first electrical contact of the first contact housing, the rear portion of said second contact adapted to allow attachment from the conductor portion of the shielded phase conductor of the second electrical cable thereto, so as to establish electrical continuity from the phase conductor of the first cable through the coupling member to the phase conductor of the second cable when the contact housings are interconnected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The shielded coupling member of claim 1 wherein the flexible dielectric material of the second annularLy shaped electrical insulator is silicone and the dielectric material of the first annularly shaped electrical insulator is epoxy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
a male contact, positioned within each of the three male contact housings, suitable for connection with each of the three phase conductors of the second high voltage cable, said male contacts also adapted to matingly contact the three female contacts of the first coupler housing;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
a male contact, positioned within each of the three male contact housings, suitable for connection with each of the three phase conductors of the second high voltage cable, said male contacts also adapted to matingly contact the three female contacts of the first coupler housing;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
a female contact, positioned within each of the female contact housings, suitable for connection with each of the three phase conductors of the first high voltage cable;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
a female contact, positioned within each of the female contact housings, suitable for connection with each of the three phase conductors of the first high voltage cable;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A cable coupler device adapted to interconnect the shielded, three phase conductors of a first high voltage cable with the shielded, three phase conductors of a second high voltage cable, which comprises: A. three female coupling members, for attachment to the three phase conductors of the first cable, each of said female coupling members including:
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A cable coupler device adapted to interconnect the shielded, three phase conductors of a first high voltage cable with the shielded, three phase conductors of a second high voltage cable, which comprises: A. three female coupling members, for attachment to the three phase conductors of the first cable, each of said female coupling members including:
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
each of said female contact housings also containing an annular insulator, positioned between said female housing and said female contact, said insulator also having a conically shaped front surface portion and a conically shaped rear surface portion outwardly extending from the front and rear edges of the female contact housing respectively; B. a first coupler housing having a hollow interior, said first coupler housing also having a front portion and a rear portion, said rear portion adapted to sealably receive the end of the first high voltage cable, said hollow interior of said first coupler housing formed to receive the three female coupling members therewithin; C. means for mounting said three female coupling members within the interior of the first coupler housing in spaced relationship therewithin; D. three male coupling members, for attachment to the three phase conductors of the second cable, each of said male coupling members including:
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
149 words
each of said female contact housings also containing an annular insulator, positioned between said female housing and said female contact, said insulator also having a conically shaped front surface portion and a conically shaped rear surface portion outwardly extending from the front and rear edges of the female contact housing respectively; B. a first coupler housing having a hollow interior, said first coupler housing also having a front portion and a rear portion, said rear portion adapted to sealably receive the end of the first high voltage cable, said hollow interior of said first coupler housing formed to receive the three female coupling members therewithin; C. means for mounting said three female coupling members within the interior of the first coupler housing in spaced relationship therewithin; D. three male coupling members, for attachment to the three phase conductors of the second cable, each of said male coupling members including:
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
323 words
an annular insulator, positioned within each contact housing between said male housing and said male contact, said insulator having a flexible front surface portion, said flexible front surface having a cylindrically shaped inner sidewall portion adjacent to the male contact and substantially parallel with the bore of the male contact housing, said front portion also having an outer sidewall portion sloping inwardly from the male contact housing to meet the inner sidewall portion at a point substantially near the front edge portion of the male contact housing, whereby when the male and female contact housings are interconnected, the flexible front portion of the male insulator slidably wipes and tightly conforms to the conical shape of the front surface portion of the female insulator and a conically shaped rear surface portion outwardly extending from the rear portion of the male contact housing; E. a second coupler housing have a hollow interior and a front portion, said front portion formed to engage the front portion of the first coupler housing, said second coupler housing also having a rear portion adapted to sealably receive the end of the second high voltage cable; the hollow interior of said second coupler housing adapted to receive the three male coupling members therewithin; and F. means for mounting said three male coupling members within the interior of the second coupler housing in spaced relationship with the front edge thereof so that the contacts of said male and female coupling members align and matingly engage one another when the first and second coupler housings are interconnected and, likewise, so that the aligned pairs of shielded male and female contact housings of each coupling member contact one another at their front edge portions so as to allow a continuous electrical shield to exist around each of the three phase conductors of the first cable through the male and female coupling members to and around the three phase conductors of the second cable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
323 words
an annular insulator, positioned within each contact housing between said male housing and said male contact, said insulator having a flexible front surface portion, said flexible front surface having a cylindrically shaped inner sidewall portion adjacent to the male contact and substantially parallel with the bore of the male contact housing, said front portion also having an outer sidewall portion sloping inwardly from the male contact housing to meet the inner sidewall portion at a point substantially near the front edge portion of the male contact housing, whereby when the male and female contact housings are interconnected, the flexible front portion of the male insulator slidably wipes and tightly conforms to the conical shape of the front surface portion of the female insulator and a conically shaped rear surface portion outwardly extending from the rear portion of the male contact housing; E. a second coupler housing have a hollow interior and a front portion, said front portion formed to engage the front portion of the first coupler housing, said second coupler housing also having a rear portion adapted to sealably receive the end of the second high voltage cable; the hollow interior of said second coupler housing adapted to receive the three male coupling members therewithin; and F. means for mounting said three male coupling members within the interior of the second coupler housing in spaced relationship with the front edge thereof so that the contacts of said male and female coupling members align and matingly engage one another when the first and second coupler housings are interconnected and, likewise, so that the aligned pairs of shielded male and female contact housings of each coupling member contact one another at their front edge portions so as to allow a continuous electrical shield to exist around each of the three phase conductors of the first cable through the male and female coupling members to and around the three phase conductors of the second cable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
219 words
The cable coupler device of claim 3 wherein the means for mounting said three female coupling members and said three male coupling members within their respective first and second coupler housings includes: A. a pair of mounting plates adapted to be attached to the front portion of each of said first and second coupler housings, said pair of mounting plates each having three mounting holes positioned in spaced relationship therethrough, said mounting holes formed to accommodate the outside diameter of the male and female coupling members; B. each of said male and female coupling members also including a mounting flange, outwardly extending from the contact housing of the coupling members, each coupling member also including a threaded section formed on the exterior of the contact housing, positioned forwardly in spaced relationship from said mounting flange; C. each male and female coupling member also including a locking ring, each of said locking rings having an internal threaded section, the threads of which are formed to engage the aforementioned external threads of the contact housings, so that when the male and female coupling members are positioned within the mounting holes of their respective mounting plates, they will be held in place by their respective mounting flanges on one side of the plate and by their locking rings on the other side.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
The cable coupler device of claim 4 wherein the pair of mounting plates for mounting the male and female coupling members, each contain three mounting holes therethrough positioned such that two of said holes are aligned in parallel, spaced relationship at the outer extremity of the mounting plate, the third mounting hole for said coupling members being offset vertically from the horizontal centerline of the aforementioned two mounting holes and positioned substantially at the vertical centerline of said mounting plate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cable coupler device of claim 3 wherein the first and second coupler housings are constructed of aluminum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The cable coupler device of claim 3 wherein either the first or second coupler housings include a pair of locking bolts, fixedly secured near the front of the housing, outwardly extending on either side therefrom, to aid in clamping the first and second coupler housings together after they have been interconnected.
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) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |