Cover for high voltage electrical connector
A locking mechanism particularly adapted to lock a cover of an electrical connector which connects an electrical transmission conductor to a distribution conductor. The locking mechanism includes a tip portion, a spiral portion, a holding portion, and an engagement portion, where the tip portion has a smaller cross-sectional area than the spiral portion and where the engagement portion is a widest portion of the locking mechanism. The present invention is also directed to a method of using the locking mechanism to lock the cover, as well as to a cover system which includes the locking mechanism and the cover engaged such that the cover is locked.
1 . A cover assembly for surrounding a high-voltage electrical connector attached to multiple electrical conductors forming an electrically conductive path between the connector and the multiple electrical conductors, the cover assembly comprising:
a first cover side configured to receive at least a first portion of the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors;
a second cover side configured to receive at least a second portion of the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors, and having one end pivotably secured to one end the first cover side, such that when in a closed position the first and second cover sides form a hollow interior that receives the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors solely to cover and protect the high-voltage electrical connector and the multiple electrical conductors attached to the high-voltage electrical connector; and
a locking member configured to releasably lock the first cover side to the second cover side, the locking member including:
a spiral flange that extends at least once around at least a portion of an axial member;
a supporting member at a first end of the axial member; and
an engagement member attached to the supporting member, the engagement member includes a ring-like member having an opening.
2 . The cover assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the axial member includes a holding portion, wherein a terminal end of the spiral flange defines a first end of the holding portion, and wherein the supporting member defines a second end of the holding portion.
3 . The cover assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the first end and the second end of the holding portion are configured to contact the first and second cover sides at least when the first and second cover sides are in a closed position.
4 . The cover assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first cover side is joined to the second cover side by a cover end.
5 . The cover assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the first cover side includes a first aperture on an end of the first cover side opposite the cover end and the second cover side includes a second aperture on an end of the second cover side opposite the cover end, and wherein the locking member is interactive with the first aperture and the second aperture to releasably lock the first cover side to the second cover side.
6 . The cover assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the spiral flange ends proximate the supporting member or at the supporting member.
7 . A cover assembly for surrounding a high-voltage electrical connector attached to multiple electrical conductors forming an electrically conductive path between the connector and the multiple electrical conductors, the cover assembly comprising:
an insulating cover having one end of a first side pivotably joined to one end of a second side, the first side having a first opening and the second side having a second opening, the first side being configured to receive at least a first portion of the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors and the second side configured to receive at least a second portion of the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors, such that when in a closed position the first and second sides form a hollow interior that receives the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors solely to cover and protect the high-voltage electrical connector and the multiple electrical conductors attached to the high-voltage electrical connector; and
a locking member interactive with the first opening and the second opening, the locking member including:
a spiral flange that extends at least once around at least a portion of an axial portion;
a supporting end at one end of the spiral flange; and
an engagement member attached to the supporting member, the engagement member includes a ring-like member having an opening.
8 . The cover assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the axial portion includes a holding portion, wherein the spiral flange ends at a first end of the holding portion, and wherein a second end of the holding portion is proximate the supporting end or at the supporting end.
9 . The cover assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the first end and the second end of the holding portion are configured to contact the cover at least when the cover is in a closed position.
10 . The cover assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the first side is joined to the second side by a cover end.
11 . The cover assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the first opening is on an end of the first side opposite the cover end and the second opening is on an end of the second side opposite the cover end.
12 . A cover assembly for surrounding a high-voltage electrical connector attached to multiple electrical conductors forming an electrically conductive path between the connector and the multiple electrical conductors, the cover assembly comprising:
an insulating cover having one end of a first side pivotably joined to one end of a second side, the first side having a first opening and the second side having a second opening, the first side being configured to receive at least a first portion of the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors and the second side configured to receive at least a second portion of the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors, such that when in a closed position the first and second sides form a hollow interior that receives the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors solely to cover and protect the high-voltage electrical connector and the multiple electrical conductors attached to the high-voltage electrical connector; and
a locking member interactive with the first opening and the second opening to releasably lock the first side to the second side, the locking member including:
an axial portion having a first end insertable into the first opening and the second opening when locking the first side to the second side;
a spiral flange that extends at least once around at least a portion of the axial portion;
a supporting end at a second end of the axial portion; and
an engagement member attached to the supporting member, the engagement member includes a ring-like member having an opening.
13 . The cover assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the axial portion includes a holding portion, wherein the spiral flange ends at a first end of the holding portion, and wherein a second end of the holding portion is proximate the supporting end or at the supporting end.
14 . The cover assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the first end and the second end of the holding portion are configured to contact the cover at least when the cover is in a closed position.
15 . The cover assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the first side is joined to the second side by a cover end.
16 . The cover assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the first opening is on an end of the first side opposite the cover end and the second opening is on an end of the second side opposite the cover end.
17 . A cover assembly for surrounding a high-voltage electrical connector attached to multiple electrical conductors forming an electrically conductive path between the connector and the multiple electrical conductors, the cover assembly comprising:
a first side having one end pivotably joined to one end of a second side, the first side has a first opening and the second side has a second opening, wherein the second opening aligns with the first opening when the first and second sides are in a closed position forming a hollow interior, the first side being configured to receive at least a first portion of the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors and the second side configured to receive at least a second portion of the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors, such that when in the closed position the hollow interior receives the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors solely to cover and protect the high-voltage electrical connector and the multiple electrical conductors attached to the high-voltage electrical connector; and
a locking member interactive with the first opening and the second opening, the locking member including:
an axial member having a first end insertable into the first opening and the second opening;
a spiral flange that extends at least once around at least a portion of the axial member;
a supporting member at a second end of the axial member; and
an engagement member attached to the supporting member, the engagement member includes a ring-like member having an opening.
18 . The cover assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the locking member further includes a holding portion associated with the axial member, wherein a terminal end of the spiral flange defines a first end of the holding portion, and wherein the holding portion has a second end proximate the supporting member or at the supporting member.
19 . The cover assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the first end of the holding portion is configured to contact the first side and the second end of the holding portion is configured to contact the second side at least when the first and second sides are in the closed position.
20 . The cover assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the first side is joined to the second side by a cover end.
21 . The cover assembly according to claim 20 , wherein the first opening is on an end of the first side opposite the cover end and the second opening is on an end of the second side opposite the cover end.
22 . A connector assembly for connecting multiple high-voltage electrical conductors and covering the high-voltage electrical conductors, the connector assembly comprising:
a high-voltage electrical connector; and
a cover assembly for surrounding the high-voltage electrical connector when the high-voltage electrical connector is attached to the multiple electrical conductors so that an electrically conductive path is formed between the electrical connector and the multiple electrical conductors, the cover assembly including:
a first cover side configured to receive at least a first portion of the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors;
a second cover side configured to receive at least a second portion of the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors, and having one end pivotably secured to one end of the first cover side, such that when in a closed position the first and second cover sides form a hollow interior that receives the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors solely to cover and protect the high-voltage electrical connector and the multiple electrical conductors attached to the high-voltage electrical connector; and
a locking member configured to releasably lock the first cover side to the second cover side, the locking member including:
a spiral flange that extends at least once around at least a portion of an axial member;
a supporting member at a first end of the axial member; and
an engagement member attached to the supporting member, the engagement member includes a ring-like member having an opening.
23 . The connector assembly according to claim 22 , wherein the axial member includes a holding portion, wherein a terminal end of the spiral flange defines a first end of the holding portion, and wherein the supporting member defines a second end of the holding portion.
24 . The connector assembly according to claim 23 , wherein the first end and the second end of the holding portion are configured to contact the first and second cover sides at least when the first and second cover sides are in a closed position.
25 . The connector assembly according to claim 22 , wherein the first cover side is joined to the second cover side by a cover end.
26 . The connector assembly according to claim 25 , wherein the first cover side includes a first aperture on an end of the first cover side opposite the cover end and the second cover side includes a second aperture on an end of the second cover side opposite the cover end, and wherein the locking member is interactive with the first aperture and the second aperture to releasably lock the first cover side to the second cover side.
27 . The connector assembly according to claim 22 , wherein the spiral flange ends proximate the supporting member or at the supporting member.
28 . A connector assembly for connecting multiple high-voltage electrical conductors and covering the high-voltage electrical conductors, the connector assembly comprising:
a high-voltage electrical connector; and
a cover assembly for covering the electrical connector when the high-voltage electrical connector is attached to the multiple electrical conductors so that an electrically conductive path is formed between the high-voltage electrical connector and the multiple electrical conductors, the cover assembly including:
an insulating cover having one end of a first side pivotably joined to one end of a second side, the first side having a first opening and the second side having a second opening, the first side being configured to receive at least a first portion of the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors and the second side configured to receive at least a second portion of the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors, such that when in a closed position the first and second sides form a hollow interior that receives the high-voltage electrical connector attached to the multiple electrical conductors solely to cover and protect the high-voltage electrical connector and the multiple electrical conductors attached to the high-voltage electrical connector; and
a locking member interactive with the first opening and the second opening, the locking member including:
a spiral flange that extends at least once around at least a portion of an axial portion;
a supporting end at one end of the spiral flange; and
an engagement member attached to the supporting member, the engagement member includes a ring-like member having an opening.
29 . The connector assembly according to claim 28 , wherein the axial portion includes a holding portion, wherein the spiral flange ends at a first end of the holding portion, and wherein a second end of the holding portion is proximate the supporting end or at the supporting end.
30 . The connector assembly according to claim 29 , wherein the first end and the second end of the holding portion are configured to contact the cover at least when the cover is in a closed position.
31 . The connector assembly according to claim 28 , wherein the first side is joined to the second side by a cover end.
32 . The connector assembly according to claim 31 , wherein the first opening is on an end of the first side opposite the cover end and the second opening is on an end of the second side opposite the cover end.