Cable shield grounding clamp connector

Claim 1

In a cable shield grounding clamp connector for establishing an electrical connection with the shield of an electrical cable having an inner core of insulated conductors, an outer insulating jacket with an outer diameter, and a shield between the inner core and the outer jacket, the shield having an inner surface and including a metallic sheath and a corrosion inhibiting coating on the metallic sheath at least along the inner surface of the shield, an improvement for effecting the electrical connection and maintaining the electrical connection continuously during service in the field, the improvement comprising: an outer plate extending longitudinally between opposite ends thereof and having a transverse cross-sectional configuration curved circumferentially along an arc of a first radius to conform essentially to the outer diameter of the jacket; an inner plate extending longitudinally between opposite ends thereof and laterally between opposite edges thereof, the inner plate including a web portion curved circumferentially between the laterally opposite edges along an arc of a second radius; clamping means for urging the outer plate and the inner plate toward one another; and scraping means located along the laterally opposite edges of the inner plate for projecting toward the outer plate when the inner plate and the outer plate are juxtaposed with one another, with the jacket and the shield interposed between the juxtaposed outer plate and inner plate; the second radius being related to the first radius such that upon urging the outer plate and the inner plate toward one another, the inner plate will be resiliently deflected toward conformance with the curved configuration of the outer plate and the scraping means will be displaced concomitantly circumferentially along the shield to scrape away portions of the coating and make electrical contact with corresponding portions of the metallic sheath without piercing the metallic sheath, and will be biased continuously toward the metallic sheath to maintain the electrical contact continuously during service in the field.