Wire terminal for aluminum wire

Claim 2

A WIRING TERMINAL FOR ALUMINUM WIRE WHICH COMPRISES: A. A METAL BASE MEMBER HAVING AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY AT LEAST EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF SURFACE TINNER 70-30 BRASS, B. A THREADED OPENING IN SAID PLATE, C. A HEADED SCREW THREADED INTO SAID THREATED OPENING TO GENERATE A COMPRESSIVE FORCE ON A WIRE PLACED BETWEEN THE HEAD OF SAID SCREW AND THE CONFRONTING SURFACE OF SAID PLATE ON APPLICATION OF A TORQUE TO SAID SCREW, D. THE SHANK OF SAID SCREW HAVING A COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION CLOSE TO THAT OF ALUMINUM AND AT LEAST AS HIGH AS THAT OF 70-30 BRASS, E. THE UNDERSURFACE OF THE SCREW HEAD OF SAID WIRE TERMINAL BEING LUBRICATED TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE COMPRESSIVE FORCE GENERATED BY APPLICATION OF A GIVEN TORQUE, F. AND MEANS TO RESTRAIN PIVOTING OF A WIRE ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID SCREW AFTER IT IS COMPRESSED IN PLACE.

Claim 3

The wiring terminal of claim 1 wherein the metal plate is 80-20 brass.

Claim 4

The wiring terminal of claim 1 wherein the screw is a 70-30 brass screw.

Claim 5

The wiring terminal of claim 1 wherein at least some of the threads of the wire terminal are lubricated.

Claim 6

The wiring terminal of claim 1 wherein the lubricant is a wax.

Claim 7

The wiring terminal of claim 1 wherein the lubricant is a wax having a melting point higher than the normal operating temperature of the terminal.

Claim 8

The wiring terminal of claim 1 wherein the restraining means is an element including a wire receiving channel proximate the terminal.

Claim 9

A wiring device having a wire terminal which comprises: a. an insulating housing enclosing current carrying components of said wiring device and a wire terminal exposed at one surface of said insulating housing, b. said wire terminal comprising a screw threaded into a terminal plate, the plate being connected to other current carrying components of said device, c. and a wire restraining means proximate the screw of said terminal to minimize pivoting of a wire connected to said terminal about the screw axis, d. said terminal plate having a conductivity equivalent at least to the electrical conductivity of tin coated 70-30 brass, e. said screw having a thermal coefficient of expansion at least as high as that of 70-30 brass, f. and the underside of the head of said screw of said terminal being lubricated to substantially increase the compressive force developed by said terminal when a torque is applied to the screw of said screw terminal.

Claim 10

A wiring device having a wire terminal which comprises: a. an insulating housing enclosing current carrying components of said wiring device and a wire terminal exposed at one surface of said insulating housing, b. said wire terminal comprising a screw threaded into a terminal plate, the plate being connected to other current carrying components of said device, c. and a wire restraining means proximate the screw of said terminal to minimize pivoting of a wire connected to said terminal about the screw axis, d. said terminal plate having a conductivity equivalent at least to the electrical conductivity of tin coated 70-30 brass, e. said screw having a thermal coefficient of expansion at least as high as that of 70-30 brass, f. and the underside of the head of said screw of said terminal being lubricated to substantially increase the compressive force developed by said terminal when a torque is applied to the screw of said screw terminal.

Claim 11

The wiring device of claim 8 in which the plate and screw are of 70-30 brass.

Claim 12

The wiring device of claim 8 in which the lubricant is a wax of relatively high melting point.