Tapping connector with insulation displacement contact

Abstract

 A current draining post construction comprises a post body therethrough a current draining cable passes, said current draining or taking cable being locked in said post body by a pair of cable pressing elements comprising nuts, said nuts engaging respective coupling threads, said post construction comprising moreover a movable centering plate element adapted to slide on the post body through guide rails formed on the sides of said post body, said post construction providing a simultaneous perforating of a portion of an insulating material on the current draining cable and power supply cable, respectively.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a current draining post construction of an insulating material perforating type.

[0002] As is known, in the electric wiring field it is frequently necessary to provide or take an electric connection from a so-called "backbone" line, that is a main power supply line.

[0003] European Patent Application EP 2 320 523 discloses a sealed connecting box or casing allowing to splice two electric wires.

[0004] However, the above conductive wire splicing system is affected by great drawbacks if it is used for taking an electric coupling therefrom.

[0005] In fact, the system disclosed in EP 2 320 523 provides to coat by a resin material a bottom cup element, after having pressed the branching cable strands, and this operation must be carried out in a clean place, with a good visibility and by tools for properly handling the perforating contacts.

[0006] This renders the wiring operation difficult to be made in situ, and moreover it is necessary a comparatively long time for allowing the resin material to cure.

[0007] Moreover, the operator must access the place where current is to be taken, by the already wired and resin coated cable, and, for example, if the cable has a short length, then this would render the current taking operation a very difficult or impossible one.

[0008] Moreover, the system disclosed in EP 2 320 523 has the further drawback that it comprises a comparatively large number of component elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide such a current draining post construction overcoming the above disclosed prior art drawbacks.

[0010] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a current draining post construction which allows current to be drained in a very quick and easy manner.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a current draining post construction which, for draining current, does not require a backbone line to be sectioned.

[0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a current draining post construction allowing current to be taken without interrupting the current power supply.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a current draining post construction which has a high IP protection degree, which may be achieved without using coating resins.

[0014] Another main object of the present invention is to provide such a current draining post construction which allows an operator to easily locate said construction at any desired places to perform the related wiring in situ without requiring resin coating or pre-assembling operations.

[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a current draining post construction which may be easily made by using easily commercially available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint.

[0016] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a current draining post construction which, owing to its specifically designed constructional features, is very reliable and safe in operation.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a current draining post construction of an insulating material perforating type, characterized in that said post construction comprises a post body therethrough a current draining or taking cable passes.

[0018] Said current draining or taking cable is locked in the post body by a pair of cable pressing elements comprising nuts, said nuts engaging respectively coupling threads, said construction comprising moreover a movable centering plate element adapted to slide on the post body, through guide rails formed on the sides of the post body.

[0019] Said post construction provides a simultaneous perforating of a portion of an insulating material on the current draining and power supply cables, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the current draining or taking post according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the post construction;

Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the threaded ring-nut;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the top of the threaded ring-nut;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the post construction; and

Figure 6 is an elevation view, as longitudinally cross-sectioned through the section plane A-A of Figure 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the current draining or taking post construction, of an insulating material perforating type, according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a post body 2, therethrough a current draining or taking cable 3 is caused to pass.

[0022] Said current draining cable 3 is locked in the body of the post 2 by a pair of cable pressing elements, consisting of nuts 4, engaging respective coupling threads 5.

[0023] Said coupling threads 5 are each provided with an overmolded gasket 6.

[0024] A movable centering plate element 7 is able of sliding on the post body 2, through guide rails 8 formed on the sides of said post body 2.

[0025] Said movable plate element 7 defines a bearing and centering plane 9 for a backbone cable 10.

[0026] Said backbone cable 10 may be locked on the bearing and centering plane 9 by a pressing plate 11, having a pair of notches 12 therein two uprights 13 of the post body 2 are engaged.

[0027] Said uprights 13 comprise half-threads 14 which may be engaged by a threaded ring-nut 15 including a bottom cavity 16 for engaging latching tooth elements 17 formed as a single piece with the pressing plate 11.

[0028] The threaded ring-nut 15 comprises a hexagonal recess 18, for a recessed head wrench, and a hexagonal projection 19 for a fixed wrench.

[0029] A perforating contact 20, including a top perforating tip 21 and a bottom perforating tip 22, is arranged in a dedicated recess or seat of the post body 2.

[0030] The current draining or taking post construction, of an insulating perforating type, according to the present invention, operates as follows.

[0031] The current taking cable 3 is inserted into the post body 2 and locked by the cable pressing elements.

[0032] Then, the perforating contact 20 is applied in the post body 2, with its bottom tip 22 contacting the cable 3.

[0033] Then, the movable centering plate element 7 is applied on the post body uprights 13 and the backbone cable 10 is caused to bear on the bearing and centering plane 9 of the plate 7.

[0034] Then, the pressing plate 11 is applied, and the ring-nut 15 is nested thereon through the latching tooth elements 17 which will allow said ring-nut to turn with respect to the pressing plate 11.

[0035] By clamping the ring-nut 15, the pressing plate 11 is pushed on the backbone cable 10 and the latter being in turn pushed on the movable centering plate 7, which will slide along the uprights 13 of the post body 2, thereby perforating both the backbone cable 10, by the top perforating tip 21 of the perforating contact 20, and the current draining or taking cable 3 by the bottom perforating tip 22.

[0036] Friction notches 23 are advantageously formed on the outer sides of the uprights 13 of the post body 2 to prevent the movable centering plate 7 from undesirably sliding.

[0037] It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

[0038] In fact, the invention has provided a post construction allowing to take current from an already installed backbone line in a very quick and easy manner, and without interrupting the power supply.

[0039] The post construction of the invention is characterized in that it simultaneously performs a perforation of the two backbone and current draining cables.

[0040] The inventive post construction does not require resins and provides a high IP protection degree, since the backbone cable or line protection gasket provides a broad contact surface between the cable of line and the central body, protecting the assembly from dust and water.

[0041] Moreover, the post construction according to the present invention provides the operator with a great operating freedom, since the operator may properly locate the post as desired, since it is not necessary to wire the branching cable in a shop: in fact, all the assembling operations may be performed in situ, without resin applying or pre-assembling operations.

[0042] In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, according to requirements.

Claims

1. A current draining post construction of an insulating material perforating type, characterized in that said post construction comprises a post body (2) therethrough a current draining cable (3) passes, said current draining or taking cable (3) being locked in said post body (2) by a pair of cable pressing elements comprising nuts (4), said nuts (4) engaging respective coupling threads (5), said post construction comprising moreover a movable centering plate element (7) adapted to slide on the post body (2) through guide rails (8) formed on the sides of said post body (2), said post construction providing a simultaneous perforating of a portion of an insulating material on the current draining cable (3) and power supply cable (10), respectively.

2. A current draining post construction, according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable plate element (7) defines a bearing and centering plane (9) for said power supply cable (10), said power supply cable being locked on said bearing and centering plane by a pressing plate element (11), said pressing plate element (11) comprising a pair of notches (12) therein two uprights (13) of said post body (2) are engaged.

3. A current draining post construction, according to claim 2, characterized in that said uprights (13) comprise half-threads (14) which may be engaged by a threaded ring-nut (15) including a bottom cavity (16) for engaging therein latching tooth elements (17) formed as a single piece with said pressing plate element (11).

4. A current draining post construction, according to claim 3, characterized in that said threaded ring-nut (15) comprises a hexagonal recess (18) for a recessed head wrench, and a hexagonal projection (19) for a fixed wrench, a perforating contact element (20) including a top perforating tip (21) and a bottom perforating tip (22) being arranged in a seat of said post body (2).

5. A current draining post construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said post construction comprises moreover a double insulating material perforation of the power supply line (10) and current taking cable (3), respectively.

6. A current draining post construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said current draining cable (3) is engaged in the post body (2) and is locked therein by cable pressing elements and that the perforating contact (20) is applied in the post body (2) by a bottom perforating tip (22) contacting the current draining cable (3).

7. A current draining post construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said movable centering plate (7) is applied on said uprights (13) of said post body (2) and that said power supply cable (10) is caused to bear on the bearing and centering plane (9) of said plate element (7), said post construction comprising moreover a pressing plate element (11) and a ring-nut (15) which is applied on said pressing plate element (11) by latching tooth elements (17) allowing said ring-nut (15) to turn with respect to said plate element (11).

8. A current draining post construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ring-nut (15) is adapted to push said pressing plate element (11) on said power supply cable (10) and said power supply cable (10) on said movable centering plate element (7), said movable centering plate element (7) sliding along the uprights (13) of the post body (2) thereby perforating the power supply cable (10) by the top perforating tip (21) of the perforating contact (20) and also perforating the current taking cable (3) by said bottom perforating tip (22).

9. A current draining post construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said post construction comprises moreover friction notches (23) formed on the outer sides of said uprights (13) of the post body (2) to prevent said movable centering plate (7) from undesirably sliding.

10. A current draining post construction, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said post construction comprises moreover a co-molded gasket (6) providing a high IP protecting degree, up to IP68, by encompassing said perforating contact (21) contacting said backbone cable or line (10).

Drawing