Abstract: A reinforced cable having hauling, electrical and hydraulic lines. The cable has a substantially rectangular cross section and includes at least one internal support to protect these lines by resisting external compressive forces, and yet is bendable about one of its transverse axes for easy storage on and deployment from a drum. The internal support also protects the hauling lines from compressive forces applied longitudinally thereof by resisting radial displacement of the hauling lines. In one embodiment, the cable comprises an armor layer, a pair of engaged channels inside the armor layer, and a pair of corrugated supports inside the channels and fixedly spaced apart. The hauling lines, in the form of wire ropes, are located inside the corrugated supports, while the electrical lines are located inside the channels between the corrugated supports. The hydraulic lines can alternatively be located inside the channels between the corrugated supports, or inside the wire ropes.

Abstract: A ballast tester for HPS lamp circuits includes a body of insulating material, a base which fits the lamp socket, a single wire connected to the base and extending through the body forming a loop, and a hole in the body within the loop to receive a clamp-on ammeter. The ammeter measures short-circuit current, giving an indication of ballast condition.

Abstract: An emergency lighting circuit includes a lamp which can be energized by a battery-inverter circuit upon power failure. The battery is connected to the inverter circuit and the lamp by operation of a relay which is connected to the rectifier supplying charging current to the battery. The rectifier is connected across the line in series with a ballast reactor. The circuit can be used as emergency lighting only or the lamp can be employed for normal lighting purposes and switched to the inverter power when line voltage is interrupted.

Abstract: A reinforced electrical cable having a plurality of conductor assemblies in an armor covering, and filler material filling the interstices between the conductor assemblies and the armor covering, and the method of forming the cable. Each conductor assembly includes a core of conducting material, a layer of insulation which surrounds the core, a second layer of chemical barrier material which surrounds the first layer and a layer of reinforcing material surrounding the insulation layer. The plurality of conductor assemblies are then arranged as desired and the filler material (in the unvulcanized state) is placed around and between the conductor assemblies. The quantity of filler material placed between and around the conductor assemblies is sufficient to fill the interior of the armor covering in its unvulcanized state. The armor covering is next placed around the conductor assemblies and the filler material. The unvulcanized filler material conforms to the interior of the armor covering.

Abstract: An electrical connector has an electrically non-conductive outer housing and connector members recessed in one end of the housing. Electromagnetic interference shielding is provided by members surrounding the components within the housing including an electrically conductive grommet circularly contacting conductive braid on the cable to which the connector is attached and a sleeve which surrounds the wires within the housing and extends axially to the connector end. One of the connector prongs is designated as the ground prong and is electrically attached to the sleeve. Embodiments accommodating three and four wires are disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical outlet box formed of nonmetallic material which has a pair of integral bosses that angularly align, engage and retain wiring device mounting screws therein. The bosses each have a through bore for receiving the screws comprising in sequence a frustoconical surface, a cylindrical surface having a diameter slightly larger than the crest diameter of the mounting screw threads, and a self-tapping surface defining a regular hexagon in transverse cross section. The hexagon has a diameter across its corners slightly larger than the crest diameter of the screw threads, and a diameter across its flat sides slightly larger than the root diameter of the screw threads and slightly smaller than the crest diameter of the screw threads.

Abstract: A trolley wire suspension hanger includes a rod bent to form two loops at opposite ends with a substantially straight portion in between, one loop being to go over the messenger wire and the other for holding a clip. The clip includes a V-shaped member bent from sheet bronze with a C-shaped latch member passing through a T-shaped opening in each leg of the clip. The ends of the clip are bent inwardly toward each other to engage grooves in the trolley wire, whereupon the latch member is rotated to clamp the ends of the clip member in place.

Abstract: A self-threading polymeric fastener and blank therefor which can be used, for example, to support a wall plate over an electrical outlet or switch. The fastener blank comprises three portions, all integrally molded together, including a slotted head, a substantially cylindrical shank and a tapered tip. A helical thread is formed on the shank and tip by deforming the outer surfaces thereof without removing any significant amount of polymeric material therefrom. This is accomplished by rotating the tip and shank in a helically threaded bore, such as that provided in an outlet or switch. The polymeric fastener blank can be integrally molded with a polymeric wall plate to make their colors identical.

Abstract: An electrical assembly comprising a plurality of electrical components aligned in a row under an axial load and wrapped with filament windings. The wrapped components are then preferably enclosed in a housing. MOV blocks can be used as the electrical components, resulting in a surge arrester having excellent heat transfer properties as well as improved tensile and cantilever strengths. The electrical components can be varistors, resistors, capacitors and insulators or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A reinforced cable having hauling, electrical and hydraulic lines. The cable has a substantially rectangular cross section and includes at least one internal support to protect these lines by resisting external compressive forces, and yet is bendable about one of its transverse axes for easy storage on and deployment from a drum. The internal support also protects the hauling lines from compressive forces applied longitudinally thereof by resisting radial displacement of the hauling lines. In one embodiment, the cable comprises an armor layer, a pair of engaged channels inside the armor layer, and a pair of corrugated supports inside the channels and fixedly spaced apart. The hauling lines, in the form of wire ropes, are located inside the corrugated supports, while the electrical lines are located inside the channels between the corrugated supports. The hydraulic lines can alternatively be located inside the channels between the corrugated supports, or inside the wire ropes.

Abstract: A knockout structure is provided for selectively forming openings for either one of two different sizes of conduit. The center of the inner knockout is offset from the center of the outer knockout, creating an eccentric relationship which permits a positive ground to be established between the smaller conduit and the box wall by a standard lock washer when the smaller conduit is mounted therein. A secure mechanical connection is similarly established.

Abstract: A connector for engaging non-metallic liquid-tight conduit includes an inner ferrule having a cylindrical portion with an annular rib dimensioned to be inserted into the end of the conduit, and a surrounding sleeve having a conical outer surface and axially extending slots. The sleeve surrounds the conduit and is engaged by a compression nut which radially inwardly decreases the radius of the sleeve, engaging the conduit between the smaller compressed end thereof and the annular rib on the ferrule. The connector also includes a body with threads to engage the nut and the ferrule and body include means for limiting rotational motion of the ferrule.

Abstract: A flat cable system includes a flat cable of a first type which has equally spaced flat conductors in a body of insulating material. A cable of a second type has three conductors, the centers of two of which are separated by the same spacing as in the cable of the first type but the third conductor is separated from the second by twice the spacing. A cable of a third type has three conductors which are uniformly spaced by the same center-to-center spacing as in the first type. When the cables are used together, the proper conductors are easily aligned for interconnection by using a reference edge adjacent the first conductor in each cable. The conductors are also color-coded.

Abstract: A trolley pole is supported on a vertical shaft so as to be rotatable from side to side while in its elevated, operating position. The shaft is supported on a support structure which is tiltably mounted on a base plate on a vehicle. The base plate can be tilted by extending the arm of a linear actuator. When the base plate is tilted, the pole is lowered and centered and a gravity operated latch structure comes into effect to maintain the pole centered whenever it is not in its operating position. A control circuit coupled to the actuator extends and retracts the actuator arm to pivot the support structure between an upright and a stowed position.

Abstract: A wire retaining assembly for use with an electrical device such as a switch or receptacle. The assembly comprises an anchoring bore and a guide slot formed in a wall adjacent each terminal screw to retain the exposed wire on an electrical conductor. By initially locating the end of the exposed wire in the anchoring bore, then bending the wire around the screw shank and locating the other end of the wire in the guide slot, electrical connection to the device is more quickly and securely accomplished. The bore and slot are substantially parallel and have portions with substantially coplanar bottom surfaces so that the bent wire lies in substantially a single plane.

Abstract: A cover assembly for an electrical outlet includes a mounting member which can be attached to an electrical device and a cover plate. The mounting member has extensions projecting from its front surface adjacent its periphery, which extensions are unitary portions of the mounting member. The cover plate has projections extending from its rear surface adjacent its periphery. The extensions and projections mate to releasably couple the mounting member to the cover plate. Tabs and notches can be provided on the sides of the mounting member to facilitate alignment of a plurality of ganged electrical devices covered by a single cover plate.

Abstract: A hook-type railroad car coupling includes a hook vertically centered and laterally offset in a pocket opening in the front face and a guide pin and hole at opposite top corners. At one side of the bottom a guide horn extends beyond the hook, the front plate having an opening beside the horn and below the hook. A guide wedge is inside the opening to contact the horn of the mating head and improve the parallelism of the front faces of the heads as they come together.

Abstract: Upper and lower molded polymeric housing portions are coupled together to form a closed housing. Each housing portion has an end wall, the end wall of one having openings for a power receptacle and the end wall of the other having either knock-outs to form openings for a power receptacle or knock-outs to form openings for communication connectors. A hook and groove arrangement permits the housing portions to be coupled together and moved between open and closed positions. The housing is especially useful with flat cable in an under-carpet wiring system.

Abstract: An arrester support and disconnector structure enclosed, in one embodiment, a cylindrical housing having a lower wall with a weakened zone. Electrically conductive members extend through the upper and lower walls of the housing and make electrical connection with the arrester and a ground wire, respectively. Between the conductive members is an explosive charge which is detonated by the passage of excess current, thereby removing the lower member. The cylindrical body has an exterior recess to receive a supporting strap. In another embodiment, the support structure includes an elongated nonconductive body mounted at one end to a conventional support bracket. At the other end an upper surface supports an arrester and a housing below that surface contains the disconnector, again containing upper and lower conductive members with an explosive charge therebetween. The housing surrounding the conductive members has a weakened zone which is separated when the charge is detonated by excessive current.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making an armored electrical cable from a plurality of reinforcing struts and a plurality of electrical conductors covered by an armored jacket. The apparatus includes a series of stations along an assembly line that feed, converge, orient, combine, compress and wrap the struts and conductors into the cable configuration. The cross section of the cable so formed is rectangular, although this rectangular shape can be made arcuate by bending.