Visible break tee-connector

Claim 2

A visible break tee-connector for electrically connecting a high voltage cable to a bushing for an electrical device, said connector comprising: a housing formed from a resilient insulating material, an electrically conductive primary cable connecting element positioned in said housing, said element being electrically connected to said primary cable, and a bushing connecting member positioned in said housing and including a body portion electrically engaging said element, means at one end for electrically connecting said member to said bushing, means at the other end for electrically connecting said element to ground, and mechanical means for holding said bushing connecting member onto said element on disconnection from said bushing whereby said bushing connecting member can be grounded prior to disconnection from said bushing without disconnecting said member from said cable connecting element.

Claim 3

The connector according to claim 1 wherein said primary cable connecting element includes an opening and said bushing connecting member includes a section on said body portion conforming to the opening in said cable connecting element, said member being rotatable with respect to said element.

Claim 4

The connector according to claim 1 wherein said first electrically connecting means comprises a threaded section on one end of said member for securing said bushing connecting member to the bushing, and said second ground connecting means at the other end of said member includes first means for turning said bushing connecting member into and out of said bushing.

Claim 5

The connector according to claim 3 wherein said ground connecting means includes a second threaded section at the other end and including a ground contact assembly including a nut having a threaded opening corresponding to said second threaded section for threadedly engaging said second threaded section, and a second turning means in said nut larger than said first turning means in said bushing connecting member, said contact assembly including a hollow sleeve mounted on said nut for connecting said bushing connecting member to ground potential whereby said bushing connecting member can be removed from said bushing without disconnecting said contact assembly from said bushing connecting member.

Claim 6

The connector according to claim 4 wherein said nut includes means for locating said nut on said connecting member to allow said member to rotate with respect to said element.

Claim 7

The connector according to claim 5 wherein said member includes an external tapered section and said locating means comprises an internal tapered section to matingly engage said tapered section on said member.

Claim 8

The connector according to claim 2 wherein said bushing connecting member includes an annular shoulder having a diameter greater than the diameter of said opening, said shoulder being located between said bushing and said cable connecting element.

Claim 9

The connector according to claim 1 wherein said cable connecting element includes a circular opening and said bushing connecting member includes a cylindrical section having an outer diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said opening, said first means comprising a threaded section at one end of said member for securing said bushing connecting member to said bushing, and an annular shoulder on said member having a diameter greater than said opening and located between said bushing and said cable connecting element.

Claim 10

The connector according to claim 1 wherein said connecting member includes means for frictionally engaging said bushing.

Claim 11

The connector according to claim 1 wherein said cable connecting element includes a threaded opening and said bushing connecting member comprises a cylindrical shaft having a slotted tapered section at one end and an axial passage tapering at said one end to a small openinG, a threaded section for connecting said bushing connecting member to the threaded opening in said primary cable connecting element, and means positioned in said small opening in said bushing connecting member passage to expand said tapered section into locking engagement with said bushing.

Claim 12

A visible break tee-connector for electrically connecting a high voltage cable to a bushing for an electrical apparatus, said connector comprising: a housing formed from a resilient insulating material, said housing includes a first passage having one end formed to sealingly engage said bushing and a second passage intersecting said first passage, an electrically conductive primary cable connecting element positioned in said second passage and extending partially into said first passage, said element being electrically connected to said primary cable and having an opening axially aligned with said first passage, and a bushing connecting member including a body portion positioned in said opening in said element and being in electrical communication with said element and including threaded means for electrically connecting said member to said bushing, and ground connecting means for electrically connecting said member to ground, said bushing connecting member being disconnectable from said bushing without disconnecting said member from said cable connecting element and from ground whereby a visible break will be formed on disconnection of said bushing connecting member from said element.

Claim 13

A visible break tee-connector for electrically connecting a high voltage cable to a bushing for an electrical apparatus, said connector comprising: a housing formed from a resilient insulating material, said housing includes a first passage having one end formed to sealingly engage said bushing and a second passage intersecting said first passage, an electrically conductive primary cable connecting element positioned in said second passage and extending partially into said first passage, said element being electrically connected to said primary cable and having an opening axially aligned with said first passage, and a bushing connecting member including a body portion positioned in said opening in said element and being in electrical communication with said element and including threaded means for electrically connecting said member to said bushing, and ground connecting means for electrically connecting said member to ground, said bushing connecting member being disconnectable from said bushing without disconnecting said member from said cable connecting element and from ground whereby a visible break will be formed on disconnection of said bushing connecting member from said element.

Claim 14

The connector according to claim 11 including an annular shoulder on said member and a contact assembly for holding said member on said element with said shoulder located between said bushing and said element.

Claim 15

The connector according to claim 12 wherein said contact assembly includes means for locating said assembly on said member to allow said member to rotate freely in said element.

Claim 16

The connector according to claim 11 wherein said opening is threaded and said member includes a threaded section on said body portion corresponding to said threaded opening.

Claim 17

The connector according to claim 14 wherein said bushing includes a tapered opening and said member includes an axial bore, said bore tapering to a small bore at the inner end of said member, the inner end of said member being tapered and slotted to fit in said tapered opening in said bushing and rod means in said bore mounted for movement into engagement with said taper to force the slotted end of said member outward.

Claim 18

A visible break tee-connector for connecting a primary cable to the electrical conductor in a bushing for an electrical apparatus, said connector comprising: a resilient dielectric housing for sealingly engaging the bushing, an electrical connector assembly housed within said housing, said assembly including a connecting element for terminating the primary cable, a manually disconnectable member electrically bridging the bushing to the connecting element, and grounding means electrically connected to said member, said disconnectable member grounding means and connecting element being disconnectable from said bushing and bushing conductor with said member remaining in electrical communication with said element and grounding means to maintain said member and element at ground potential on disconnection from said brushing.

Claim 19

A visible break tee-connector for connecting a primary cable to the electrical conductor in a bushing for an electrical apparatus, said connector comprising: a resilient dielectric housing for sealingly engaging the bushing, an electrical connector assembly housed within said housing, said assembly including a connecting element for terminating the primary cable, a manually disconnectable member electrically bridging the bushing to the connecting element, and grounding means electrically connected to said member, said disconnectable member grounding means and connecting element being disconnectable from said bushing and bushing conductor with said member remaining in electrical communication with said element and grounding means to maintain said member and element at ground potential on disconnection from said brushing.