US426200A - James f - Google Patents

Description

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J. F. MUNSIE. FLEXIBLE GONNEGTOR.

No. 426,200. Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

Q Vi-bnemw 5 m we. n [be Jwzayfmllnda UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. MUNSIE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS LEONARD OOLES, OF SAME PLACE.

FLEXIBLE CONNECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,200, dated April 22, 1890. Application filed October 30, 1839- Serial No. 328,659. N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. MU NsIE, a subject of the Queen of England, and residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Connectors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in flexible connectors for electric circuits, and particularly to that class of said connectors wherein the current from a single conductor of large carrying capacity and corresponding cross-section istransmitted through said connector to another conductor or to a switch-board by means of an assemblage of smaller wires whose aggregate carrying capacity is as great as that of the larger single wire, but which, by reason of the smaller cross-section of the individual wires composing it, is quite flexible, so as to adapt itself readily for use in a connector. To insure absolute efficiency in such connectors, it is essential that they should oppose no resistance to the passage of the electric current. Otherwise the connector will be subjected to danger of destruction by the heating effect of the current. To this end the connection between the sm all wires of the flexible connector and the end plates joining them should be of a permanent and substantial character, so that there may be no liability of the formation of an are at said end plates, and the connection between' the end plates themselves and the single conductor or the switch-board to which they transmit the current received should be of large capacity, so as to overcome all liability of heating, and should be of such construction as to insure a suiiicient electrical contact at all times.

My invention is designed to furnish a construction and arrangement of parts realizing the advantages referred to, while at the same time economical in point of manufacture and durable during long continued use.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my invention, Figure 1. represents, partly broken away and partly in section, a flexible connection embodying my improvements and joining or coupling up a high-tension-current conductor with a switch-board. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section taken on a plane indicated by the line 21 21 of Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in both figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a high tension-currcnt wire, and 2 a switchboard to which said wire is to be connected. 3 indicates the main body portion of the flexible connector for joining said wire and switchboard, and consists of an insulating coating or covering of a flexible character surrounding a group or assemblage of small flexible wires 1, whose combined cross-section and carrying capacity is at least as great, and preferably somewhat greater, than the cross-section and carrying capacity of the conductor 1. At their ends the wires at issue from the insulating covering and are spread out singly, as shown, in fan shape, and at their outer extremities are firmly held between two clampin g-plates 5 6 of metal, good. electrical contact between the wires and said plates being assured by means of the screws 7, which firmly clamp and absolutely secure the spread-out wires between them. The plates are provided with spring fingers or extensions 8, adapted to be forced into a hollow metallic casing 9 of large carrying capacity, so as to form reliable rubbing spring-contact therewith. A similar section or casing 10 is connected to the casing 9 by the flanges, as shown, thereby forming an inclosed space and insuring permanency of contact.

The casing 9 terminates at its outer end in a tubular projection, which may be either internally screw-threaded, so as to connect with the conductor 1 by cutting a screw-thread thereon, as indicated at 11; or said tubular projection may be longitudinally slotted, as shown at 1 1, so as to make spring-contact with the switchboard.

The metallic casing J 10 is encompassed or surrounded by an insulating-casing, preferably of vulcanized fiber, and consisting of two parts 12 13, firmly connected by flanges, as shown.

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The mode of operation of my invention is apparent. The parts being put together to form the complete flexible connector, in the manner shown and described, the conductingwire 1 maybe connected to the screw-threaded projection of one end of the flexible connector by causing the said screw-threaded projection to cut a thread upon the end of the conductor. The split projection of the other end of the flexible connector may then be inserted in the switch-board opening, all as shown in Fig. 1.

It is evident that where the connector is to be used for joining two conductors, instead of joining a conductor and switch-board, it may be at once adapted to that use by simply removing that one of the casings 9 which has the split tubular projection and substituting therefor the casing 9 which has the screwthreadedprojection. This capability enables a single connector to be readily adapted for either purpose, as occasion may require.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A connector for electric circuits, consisting of a flexible body portion 3, containing a group or assembly of small wires spread out at their ends, end plates 5 6, between which the spread ends of the Wires are clamped, said end plates being provided with springfingers, a metallic casing for receiving said vided with a tubular projection, and an insulating-casing surrounding said metallic oasing, substantially as described.

A connector for electric circuits, consisting of a flexible body portion 3, containing a group or assemblage of small wires spread out at their ends, end plates 5 6, between which the spread ends of the wires are clamped, said end plates being provided with springfingers, a two-part metallic casing 9 10, surrounding the spread ends of the wires and receiving the spring-fingers, and a two-partinsulating-casin g surrounding said metallic casing, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. MUNSIE. Vitnesses:

JOHN C. PENNIE, J. A. GoLDsBoRoUeH.

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