IP Library Granted Patent US 7,549,898
Granted Patent B2
US 7,549,898 · App. 11/904,355 · Granted Jun 23, 2009

Waterproof electrical connector

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,549,898
App. No.
11/904,355
Granted
Jun 23, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical connector including a connector body having a plurality of conductor receiving areas; a plurality of set screws connected to the connector body for clamping conductors against the connector body in the conductor receiving areas; a seal casing on the connector body; and a valve on the connector body and in communication with at least one of the conductor receiving areas. The valve is configured to allow gas from inside the at least one conductor receiving area to vent out of the electrical connector.

Claims (33)

1. An electrical connector comprising:

a connector body having a plurality of conductor receiving areas;

a plurality of set screws connected to the connector body for clamping conductors against the connector body in the conductor receiving areas;

a seal casing on the connector body; and

a vent on the connector body and in communication with at least one of the conductor receiving areas, wherein the vent is configured to allow gas from inside the at least one conductor receiving area to vent out of the electrical connector and prevent water from entering the electrical connector through the vent.

2. An electrical connector as in claim 1 wherein the conductor receiving areas comprise a plurality of parallel conductor receiving areas aligned in at least one row.

3. An electrical connector as in claim 1 wherein the vent comprises a check valve in a valve conduit of the connector body.

4. An electrical connector as in claim 3 wherein the check valve comprises a coil spring and a ball.

5. An electrical connector as in claim 1 wherein the seal casing comprises a hole thought the seal casing which is in communication with the vent to allow gas to pass from the vent through the casing.

6. An electrical connector as in claim 1 wherein the seal casing comprises set screw holes to screw the set screws into the connector body, and the electrical connector comprises at least one cap configured to be inserted into at least one of the set screw holes in the seal casing, wherein the at least one cap comprises a valve configured to allow gas from inside the seal casing to vent out of the electrical connector.

7. An electrical connector as in claim 6 wherein the valve in the at least one cap comprises a check valve.

8. An electrical connector as in claim 7 wherein the check valve comprises a spring and a ball.

9. An electrical connector as in claim 6 wherein the valve in the at least one cap comprises a resiliently deflectable elastomeric valve.

10. An electrical connector as in claim 9 wherein the elastomeric valve comprises a duck bill valve.

11. An electrical connector comprising:

a connector body comprised of electrically conductive material, wherein the connector body comprises a plurality of conductor receiving areas and at least one gas conduit connecting at least two of the conductor receiving areas to each other;

a plurality of set screws connected to the connector body for clamping conductors against the connector body in the conductor receiving areas;

a seal casing on the connector body;

a valve on the connector body and in communication with at least one of the conductor receiving areas, wherein the valve is configured to allow gas from inside the at least one conductor receiving area to vent out of the electrical connector; and

a plurality of caps configured to be inserted into set screw holes in the seal casing, wherein the caps each comprise a valve configured to allow gas from inside the seal casing to vent out of the electrical connector.

12. An electrical connector as in claim 11 wherein the conductor receiving areas comprise a plurality of parallel conductor receiving areas aligned in at least one row.

13. An electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein the valve comprises a check valve in a valve conduit of the connector body.

14. An electrical connector as in claim 13 wherein the check valve comprises a spring and a ball.

15. An electrical connector as in claim 14 wherein the seal casing comprises a hole thought the seal casing which is in communication with the valve to allow gas to pass from the valve through the casing.

16. An electrical connector as in claim 15 wherein the valves in the caps comprise check valves.

17. An electrical connector as in claim 16 wherein the check valves comprise a spring and a ball.

18. An electrical connector as in claim 16 wherein the check valves in the caps comprise a resiliently deflectable elastomeric valve.

19. An electrical connector as in claim 18 wherein the elastomeric valve comprises a duck bill valve.

20. A method of manufacturing an electrical connector comprising:

providing a connector body comprised of electrically conductive material, wherein the connector body comprises a plurality of conductor receiving areas and at least one gas conduit connecting at least two of the conductor receiving areas to each other;

connecting set screws to the connector body, wherein the set screws are configured to clamp conductors against the connector body in the conductor receiving areas;

connecting a seal casing on the connector body; and

connecting a gas vent to the connector body, wherein the gas vent is configured to vent gases from inside the connector body to outside the electrical connector.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2010
From: BURNDY TECHNOLOGY LLC
To: HUBBELL INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 025406/0729 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2010
From: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: BURNDY TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 025192/0432 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2007
From: WALTZ, PETER A.
To: FCI AMERICAS TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 019951/0120 →