|
To all whom it may concern: Be
it known that I, ARTHUR O. AUSTIN,
a citizen of the United States, residing at Barberton, in the county of
Summit and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in
Suspension Devices for Insulators, of which the following is a
specification. This
invention relates to insulators, more particularly high tension
insulators such as are required to carry current conductors of high
voltage. The
primary object of this invention is to provide new and improved
suspension or coupling devices or mechanism for use in connection with
insulators of this class, embodying a member provided with a socket and
a complementary member provided with an enlarged head adapted to be
detachably interlocked in the socket of the first member. A
further object of the invention is to so construct the socket that the
head of the complementary member may be easily seated therein and when
so seated may be effectually locked against unintentional disengagement
therefrom, while permitting a considerable amount of movement or play
between the interlocking members. A
still further object of the invention is to provide a connecting or
coupling mechanism for the purpose described, which is simple in
construction, Strong, durable, efficient in use, readily set up and one
in which the various portions of the insulator connected thereby may be
readily assembled or separated from each other without the use of
special tools. A
still further object is to construct the connecting or coupling
mechanism without employing any sharp projecting portions which might
have a tendency to cause the arcing of the current past the insulator
units, or cause or permit a strong localized discharge to the insulating
skirt or shell. One
of the objects of the invention is to so proportion the coupling members
that the insulating skirts of adjacent sections cannot come into contact
with each other or be damaged by striking the cap or other object. With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in
the novel construction, combination and arraignment of parts
constituting the invention to be hereinafter specifically described and
illustrated in
the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein is shown the
preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that
changes variations and
modifications can he resorted to which come within the scope of the
claims hereunto appended. In
the drawings, in which similar reference numerals indicate like parts in
the different figures: Figure 1 is a view of a high tension insulator
embodying two units, the upper shown in section and the other in side
elevation, with my improved coupling mechanism employed in connection
therewith. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of one form of coupling
member. Fig. 3 is a view in
side elevation of two insulator units united by the coupling member
shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a cap provided with a socket
constituting one of the coupling members of this invention; and, Fig. 5
is a perspective view of the cap shown in Fig. 4, clearly illustrating
the socket formed in the upper end thereof. Referring
to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 1 denotes an insulator
unit comprising a flange 2 from which extends a neck portion 3 provided
with exterior serrations or threads 4 and also provided with an
interiorly grooved or serrated recess 5. The under face of the flange 2
is also provided with a plurality of annular petticoats 6. Surrounding
the neck portion Secured
preferably by cement 22 in the recess 5 in the neck of the insulator
unit is a pin 23 the upper end of which is preferably circumferentially
grooved in order to more firmly engage the cement and provided on its
lower end with a head 24, similar in all respects to the head 18 which
is seated in the socket in the head 11 of the cap 8. Inclosing the head
24 is a cap 25 secured to a second insulator unit 26, both cap and unit
being constructed similarly to the cap 8 and unit 1 just described and
this latter insulator unit 26 is also provided with a depending pin
having a head 28 on which is suspended a conductor clamp embodying a
head 29 constructed similarly to the head 11 from which depends a body
portion 30 suitably recessed to receive a complementary member 31
secured thereto by bolts 32 for clamping a conductor 33. It
will of course be obvious that instead of using two insulator units,
such as are designated in the drawings by the reference numerals 1 and
26, any number may be employed, or the shape and configuration thereof
may be varied, or other types of insulators may be employed, or other
forms of conductor clamps used, without departing from the scope of this
invention. In
Fig. 2 is shown a coupling member, designated by the reference numeral
34 having heads on both ends thereof to connect two insulator units in
the manner shown in Fig. 3, where the units are designated by the
reference numerals 36 and 37, provided with caps 38 and 39 having
recessed heads to receive the member 34 in the same manner as has been
described with reference to the recessed head of the cap 8. It is immaterial in this invention whether the male member of the coupling be provided with a loop 20, as shown in Fig. 1, or with a threaded shank 23, or with two enlarged heads, as shown in Fig. 2, so long as the head portion is constructed so as to interlock in the recess in the heads of the caps carried by the insulator units; in fact, various constructions are necessarily employed in setting up the various types of insulators and hence various forms of coupling members are required; but in carrying out this invention the male member of the coupling must necessarily be provided at one end with an enlarged head from which extends a narrower neck or shank.
It will be noted that each of the caps constitutes a socket member; the
recess in which is adapted to receive the enlarged head of the
complementary or male member and in locking these two members together
the head of the male member is passed laterally into the opening or
mouth 16 of the recess 12 until approximately centrally positioned
therein, during the positioning of which the reduced shank of the male
member passes through the radial opening 15. After the head of the male
member has been thus positioned, it is raised sufficiently to engage the
upper, inwardly converging inner surface of the recess 12 and when it is
in this position it is prevented from lateral movement by reason of the
fact of the head of the male member being in alignment with the radial
opening 15 and being greater then the width thereof it consequently
cannot be removed without being again lowered into alignment with the
opening or mouth 16. In order to prevent unintentional disconnection of the members, suitable means are employed for preventing the lowering of the head of the male member into alignment with the mouth or opening 16, and as a means for locking the head of the male member in its upper position, I preferably employ as one of the many devices for carrying this object into effect a spring cotter 40 of sufficient size inserted in the aperture 17 extending inwardly below the lower end of the male member constituting a stop for |
 |
|
|
preventing
unintentional descent of the head and consequently the disengagement of
the coupling members, and as long as a suitable locking means is in
operative position the head of the male member of the coupling is
prevented from moving sufficiently to permit its lateral passage
outwardly through the mouth 16. Of course it will be obvious that in
order to disconnect the coupling the locking means is removed and the
enlarged head of the male member lowered into alignment with the mouth
16 and is then passed outwardly therethrough. In constructing the device the opening 13 is preferably slightly larger
than the shank of the male member so as to permit considerable play of
the latter therein, and as the upper inner surface of the recess 12 is
approximately conoidally formed and the head of the male member of the
coupling is to a certain extent bulbous, the coupling constitutes in one
sense a ball and socket joint, allowing considerable play of the members
thereof with respect to each other, sufficient to prevent injury to the
insulator by jars or movement of the different parts thereof under
service conditions, thereby enabling the insulator to be used in a
variety of ways and under a variety of conditions, which is not
possible with the connections now in common use, thus producing an
efficient and satisfactory coupling, not only for the purpose of uniting
the insulator units to each other; but for uniting them to a supporting
medium and for uniting the units to a conductor supporting
instrumentality. From
the foregoing description it will be apparent that this invention
particularly resides in coupling mechanism embodying complementary
members, one of which is recessed and the other having an element
provided with a head arranged to be positioned in said recess and be
interlocked therein by being moved to such a position on the same that
it cannot be unintentionally disengaged, by reason of the fact that the
portion of the recess which is adapted to contain the head of the
complementary member in its locked position is so nearly surrounded by
the material of the member that the complementary member cannot be
withdrawn therefrom unless it is moved to the position which it
necessarily assumes when being introduced therein; in other words, the
recess in one of the members is provided with an enlarged lower portion
from which extends a contracted upper portion terminating in a suitable
opening to receive the shank of the complementary member, so that when
the head of the complementary member is first passed laterally into the
enlarged portion of the recess and then moved into the contracted upper
portion thereof it cannot be withdrawn without first returning it to the
enlarged portion. It will be obvious that a great variety of means or devices may be
employed for preventing the unintentional movement of the head of the
complementary member from its locked position in the upper portion of
the recess to the lower portion thereof, too numerous to set out fully
in detail and it is not believed to be required, for the reason that the
invention primarily resides in the broad construction already fully
described. It will be further apparent that while I have shown and
described as the preferred manner of employing this invention providing
the cap which carries the insulator units with a recess capable of
interlocking with a headed complementary member it will be entirely
within the scope of this invention to provide the complementary member
with a recess and the caps with an end having a head capable of
interlocking therewith. This
is peculiarly well shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, where if one of the
caps were provided with an enlarged head and the other with a recess,
the two units might be united together without the employment of the
connecting member shown in Fig. 2. It will be further pointed out that
in the construction shown and described, each of the units are severally
capable of rotation with respect
to each other, but if desired or necessity requires it, they may
severally be prevented from rotation by making the recesses with an
angular conformation and the heads of the complementary members
similarly shaped so that when in interlocking engagement with each
other, rotation of the units is entirely prevented and at the same time
a reasonable amount of play sufficient to enable the same to yield under
service conditions is permitted and yet having sufficient rigidity to
prevent the material of the insulator being injured by coming into
contact with any object or adjacent units striking each other. What
I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-- 1.
A suspension device for insulators comprising a recessed body adapted to
inclose and be secured to an insulator unit, a head integral with the
closed end of said body and provided with an inverted T-shaped recess,
and a suspension member provided with means adapted to interlock in said
recess whereby the insulator unit can be suspended from a suitable
support. 2.
A suspension device for insulators comprising a recessed body adapted to
inclose and be secured to an insulator unit, a head integral with the
closed end of said body and provided with an inverted T-shaped recess,
and a suspension member provided with means adapted to interlock in said
recess whereby the insulator unit can be suspended from a suitable
support, the area of said recess with respect to the size of said means
permitting movement of the body upon said suspension member. 3.
A suspension device for insulators comprising a recessed body adapted to
inclose and be secured to an insulator unit, a head integral with the
closed end of said body and provided with an inverted T-shaped recess,
and a suspension member provided with means adapted to interlock in said
recess whereby the insulator unit can be suspended from a suitable
support, the walls of said 4.
A suspension device for insulators comprising a recessed body adapted to
inclose and be secured to an insulator unit, a head integral with the
closed end of said body and provided with an inverted T-shaped recess,
and a suspension member provided with means adapted to interlock in said
recess whereby the insulator unit can be suspended from a suitable
support, the area of said recess with respect to the size of said means
permitting movement of the body upon said suspension member, the wails
of said T-shaped recess being rounded and said means being rounded. 5. A suspension device for insulators comprising a truncated cone-shaped
body provided
with a tapering recess, said body adapted to inclose and be secured to
an insulator unit, a head of less diameter than the diameter of said
body, said head formed integral with the closed end of said body and
provided with an inverted T-shaped recess, and a suspension member
provided with a head adapted to interlock in said recess whereby the
insulator can be suspended from a suitable support. 6.
A suspension device for insulators comprising a truncated cone-shaped
body provided with a tapering recess, said body adapted to inclose and
be secured to an insulator unit, a head of less diameter than the
diameter of said body, said head formed integral with the closed end of
said body and provided with an inverted T-shaped recess, and a
suspension member provided with a head adapted to interlock in said
recess whereby the insulator can be suspended from a suitable support,
the walls of said T-shaped recess being rounded and said suspension
member and the head thereof being rounded. 7.
A suspension device for insulators comprising a truncated cone-shaped
body provided with a tapering recess, said body adapted to inclose and
be secured to an insulator unit, a head of less diameter than the
diameter of said body, said head formed integral with the closed end of
said body and provided with an inverted T-shaped recess, and a
suspension member provided with a head adapted to interlock in said
recess whereby the insulator can be suspended from In
testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two
subscribing witnesses. ARTHUR
O. AUSTIN. Witnesses C.
E. HUMPHREY, GLENARA FOX. |