Hollow ring seating indicator
View Patent ↗A seating indicator for loadbreak connectors and deadbreak connectors that includes a substantially round, elastic O-ring having a body and an opening, wherein the O-ring is installed on the transition shoulder portion of a loadbreak bushing insert, and wherein the O-ring extends radially and outwardly from the bushing insert when an elbow connector is properly installed thereon. The O-ring can be hollow so that it will more easily deform and can be made from an elastomeric material in easily viewable colors.
1. A seating indicator for loadbreak connectors and deadbreak connectors, the indicator comprising a substantially round, elastic O-ring having a body and an opening, wherein the O-ring is installed on a transition shoulder portion of a loadbreak bushing insert, and wherein a compressed surface of the O-ring extends radially above an interface between an elbow connector and the loadbreak bushing insert when the elbow connector is properly installed thereon and the O-ring is compressed between an elbow cuff of the elbow connector and the transition shoulder portion.
2. The seating indicator in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the O-ring is white, red, green, orange or yellow.
3. The seating indicator in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the O-ring is made from a soft rubber.
4. The seating indicator in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the O-ring is made from a natural rubber, butyl, butadiene, nitrile, neoprene, EPDM, silicone, fluorosilicone, ethylene/acrylic, polyisoprene fluoroelastomer, polybutadiene, or Buna-S.
5. The seating indicator in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the body of the O-ring has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 0.75 inches.
6. The seating indicator in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the body of the O-ring has a thickness of from about 0.25 inches to about 0.50 inches.
7. A seating indicator for loadbreak connectors and deadbreak connectors, the indicator comprising a substantially round, elastic O-ring having a hollow body and an opening, wherein the O-ring is installed on a transition shoulder portion of a loadbreak bushing insert, and wherein a compressed surface of the O-ring extends radially above an interface between an elbow connector and the loadbreak bushing insert when the elbow connector is properly installed thereon and the O-ring is compressed between an elbow cuff of the elbow connector and the transition shoulder portion.
8. The seating indicator for a loadbreak connector in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the O-ring is white, red, green, orange or yellow.
9. The seating indicator for a loadbreak connector in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the O-ring is made from a soft rubber.
10. The seating indicator for a loadbreak connector in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the O-ring is made from natural rubber, butyl, butadiene, nitrile, neoprene, EPDM, silicone, fluorosilicone, ethylene/acrylic, polyisoprene fluoroelastomer, polybutadiene, or Buna-S.
11. The seating indicator for a loadbreak connector in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the body of the O-ring has a thickness of from about 0.125 inches to about 0.75 inches.
12. The seating indicator for a loadbreak connector in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the body of the O-ring has a thickness of from about 0.25 inches to about 0.50 inches.
13. A seating indicator for loadbreak connectors and deadbreak connectors, the indicator comprising a substantially round, elastic O-ring having a hollow body and an opening, wherein the O-ring is made from natural rubber, butyl, butadiene, nitrile, neoprene, EPDM, silicone, fluorosilicone, ethylene/acrylic, polyisoprene fluoroelastomer, polybutadiene, or Buna-S, wherein the body of the O-ring has a thickness of from about 0.25 inches to about 0.50 inches, wherein the O-ring is installed on a transition shoulder portion of a loadbreak bushing insert, and wherein a compressed surface of the O-ring extends radially above an interface between an elbow connector and the loadbreak bushing insert when the elbow connector is properly installed thereon and the O-ring is compressed between an elbow cuff of the elbow connector and the transition shoulder portion.
14. The seating indicator for a loadbreak connector in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the O-ring is white, red, green, orange or yellow.