Patents by Inventor William T. Auclair

William T. Auclair has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6710251
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable shield bond system provides reliable, weather resistant ground connections to the conductive shield of a fiber optic cable. The system includes a cable shield connector having a rigid, electrically conductive bond plate which is mounted to the fiber optic cable by at least one hose clamp. At least one ground connector in electrical communication with the bond plate penetrates the protective jacket of the fiber optic cable to electrically connect the bond plate to the cable shield. A harness assembly mounted to the bond plate may be connected to a ground point and thereby ground the conductive shield of the fiber optic cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 6702596
    Abstract: A cable shield ground connector includes an inner part and outer part clamped together by means of a threaded stud carried by the inner part engaged by a nut. The inner part defines a smoothly tapered, arcuate, conductor-receiving trough portion configured for insertion between the conductors of a service cable and the cable shield. A threaded stud and tang project from the inner part in a direction opposite from the opening defined by the trough portion. A plurality of teeth project integrally from fillets of the outer part in parallel rows to define a jacket-gripping portion of the outer part. The channel-shaped outer part defines a guide for receiving the tang of the inner part. The stud passes through an aperture defined by the web of the outer part and the tang is received in the guide, thereby assuring longitudinal alignment of the inner and outer connector parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Publication number: 20040005796
    Abstract: A cable shield ground connector includes an inner part and outer part clamped together by means of a threaded stud carried by the inner part engaged by a nut. The inner part defines a smoothly tapered, arcuate, conductor-receiving trough portion configured for insertion between the conductors of a service cable and the cable shield. A threaded stud and tang project from the inner part in a direction opposite from the opening defined by the trough portion. A plurality of teeth project integrally from fillets of the outer part in parallel rows to define a jacket-gripping portion of the outer part. The channel-shaped outer part defines a guide for receiving the tang of the inner part. The stud passes through an aperture defined by the web of the outer part and the tang is received in the guide, thereby assuring longitudinal alignment of the inner and outer connector parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Electric Motion Company
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 6494726
    Abstract: A cable rack clamp includes a clamping member, a base member, a retainer, and first and second bolts. The clamping member includes a longitudinally extending, U-shaped female mounting segment having a front wall and oppositely disposed side walls. A clamping segment extends laterally from the side walls at an end portion of the female mounting segment, forming an opening. The base member includes a longitudinally extending rack engagement portion having upper and lower segments. The lower segment extends laterally forward of the front surface of the upper segment to a longitudinally extending male mounting segment. The male mounting segment is dimensioned to be slidably received in the opening of the clamping member. The retainer may be inserted through the opening of the cable rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Publication number: 20020176674
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable shield bond system is adapted to provide reliable, weather resistant ground connections to the conductive shield of a fiber optic cable. The system includes a cable shield connector having a rigid, electrically conductive bond plate which is mounted to the fiber optic cable by at least one hose clamp. At least one ground connector in electrical communication with the bond plate penetrates the protective jacket of the fiber optic cable to electrically connect the bond plate to the cable shield. A harness assembly mounted to the bond plate may be connected to a ground point and thereby ground the conductive shield of the fiber optic cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 6340250
    Abstract: A fiber optic shield connector and enclosure are adapted to provide reliable, weather resistant ground connections to the conductive shield of a fiber optic cable. The connector comprises two steel clamp sections which form a rigid, conductive assembly surrounding the fiber optic cable. A plurality of sharpened, hollow grounding screws thread through the clamp sections to pierce the cable jacket and establish electrical contact with the cable shield. A gel-filled, two-part molded plastic enclosure surrounds the assembled cable and connector to provide protection from the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 6322378
    Abstract: A conductor protector for providing crush resistant support to the conductors in a cable and implementing a ground connection between the metallic shield of a cable and a common ground point employs an elongated, trough-like member composed of electrically conductive, structurally rigid material particularly adapted for use in conjunction with cable shield ground clamps. Conductive extensions project from one end of the conductor protector to provide a conductive path between the cable shield and a location exterior of the cable jacket, eliminating the need to remove the jacket prior to assembly into a ground clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 6174177
    Abstract: A strand clamp comprises a clamp assembly including first and second, substantially identical, clamp members. Grooves in the end portions of each clamp member form a pair of receptacles for receiving a ground wire and a strand. The shaft of a bolt extends through openings in the mid portion of each clamp member such that the bolt head and a nut mounted on the bolt shaft are positioned adjacent the outside surfaces of the clamp members. Torquing the nut clamps the ground wire and strand within the clamp assembly. A positioning tab extends inwardly from each end edge of each clamp member. The positioning tabs are laterally offset from each other to resist rotation of one clamp member relative to the other clamp member. The mid portion of each clamp member has an arcuate shape and is elastically compressible by the bolt and nut such that the mid portion imposes a spring force on the head of the bolt and the nut to resist loosening of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 6160217
    Abstract: An isolation ground assembly includes a ground stud having a nut segment breakably connected to a stud segment. The ground stud has a longitudinal bore and at least first and second longitudinally spaced threaded transverse bores which intersect the longitudinal bore. Similarly, a ground connector has a longitudinal bore and at least first and second longitudinally spaced threaded transverse bores which intersect the longitudinal bore. A ground wire has a first end portion which extends into the longitudinal bore of the ground stud, via the nut segment, to a point intermediate the two transverse bores and a second end portion which extends into the longitudinal bore of the ground connector to a point intermediate the two transverse bores. Set screws disposed in the first transverse bores of the ground stud and the ground connector engage the ground wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 6111193
    Abstract: A mast clamp assembly including a strap, a drop wire clamp, and a hook. The ribbon-like strap forms a loop which engages a utility pole or mast. The drop wire clamp includes a clamp for clamping to the drop wire and a loop which engages the hook. The hook includes a back wall and first and second side walls. The loop of the drop wire is received in loop mounting slots in the side walls and engages a protrusion on each side wall. Each side wall also has a strap mounting opening having a triangular-shaped lower portion and a rectangular-shaped upper portion. The hook is mounted on the strap by inserting the strap, bottom edge first, through a slot in the back wall into the lower portion of the strap mounting openings and rotating the hook around the strap such that the upper edge of the strap rotates into the upper portion of the strap mounting opening and the strap engages the hook back wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Auclair, John W. Auclair, William J. Balfour
  • Patent number: 5967805
    Abstract: A combination messenger strand ground and cable lashing clamp comprising a jaw for gripping the messenger strand and a clamp assembly which is engageable with the jaw for clamping the jaw to the messenger strand. The jaw and clamp assembly are composed of electrically conductive material. The jaw is comprised of opposingly positioned jaw members. The clamp assembly is comprised of a stud-like member which is received by openings in each jaw member. A flanged portion of the stud engages the first jaw member. A first nut is threadably positionable on the stud to engage the second jaw member. Applying torque to the first nut clamps the second jaw member and the first jaw member together thereby clamping the messenger strand between jaw member claws and causing the jaw member teeth to pierce the messenger strand insulation and engage the messenger strand conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Auclair, Randolph L. Auclair
  • Patent number: 5772455
    Abstract: A combination messenger strand ground and cable lashing clamp comprising a jaw for gripping the messenger strand and a clamp assembly which is engageable with the jaw for clamping the jaw to the messenger strand. The jaw and clamp assembly are composed of electrically conductive material. The jaw is comprised of opposingly positioned jaw members. The clamp assembly is comprised of a studlike member which is received by openings in each jaw member. A flanged portion of the stud engages the first jaw member. A first nut is threadably positionable on the stud to engage the second jaw member. Applying torque to the first nut clamps the second jaw member and the first jaw member together thereby clamping the messenger strand between jaw member claws and causing the jaw member teeth to pierce the messenger strand insulation and engage the messenger strand conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Auclair, Randolph L. Auclair
  • Patent number: 5725185
    Abstract: A cable clamp bracket assembly includes a bracket having a base which is mountable to a fixed structure such as the surface of an enclosure and two clamp mounting clips. Each clamp is a compressively self-locking cable clamp having an interior surface for gripping a cable and a portion of the clip. Teeth project upwardly from a conformal bracket seat and engage the cable jacket to provide additional pull-out strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 5722840
    Abstract: A ground clamp for clamping to a cable shield to provide a ground connection employs a U-shaped yoke. A keeper has a driver which threadably engages thread surfaces at the interior side of the yoke legs. The keeper has a clamp jaw which may be compressively engaged against a cable shield received in an aperture defined by the yoke. A surface of the clamp jaw and a surface of the driver have complementary radially extending projections and grooves, respectively. The projections are received by the grooves when the clamp jaw engages the cable shield to resist relative movement between the driver and the clamp jaw. The yoke then connects to a common ground point via a flexible ground wire connection. A protective shoe may be inserted between the cable conductors and the clamp jaw to prevent crushing of the connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Auclair, John W. Auclair, Randolph L. Auclair
  • Patent number: 5674079
    Abstract: A ground lug comprising a collar which defines a receptacle for receiving a ground wire. A machine screw is threadably positionable in an aperture in the collar upper surface to engage a clamping plate and clamp a ground wire positioned between the collar and the clamping plate lower surface. The clamping plate has first, second, and third segments. The first segment has an aperture for bolting the ground lug to a ground point. The second segment has an axially extending tang and defines a first transverse shoulder. The third segment has a first end portion having axially extending tabs defining a second transverse shoulder. The third segment is inserted in the collar receptacle wherein the first shoulder engages the collar first end and the collar first end is received between the third segment and the tang. Rotating the clamping plate causes the second shoulder to engage the collar second end. The clamping plate may be further secured in place by crimping the tab towards the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 5597314
    Abstract: A ground clamp for clamping to a cable shield to provide a ground connection employs a U-shaped yoke. A keeper has a driver which threadably engages thread surfaces at the interior side of the yoke legs. The keeper has a clamp jaw which may be compressively engaged against a cable shield received in an aperture defined by the yoke. A surface of the clamp jaw and a surface of the driver have complementary radially extending projections and grooves, respectively. The projections are received by the grooves when the clamp jaw engages the cable shield to resist relative movement between the driver and the clamp jaw. The yoke then connects to a common ground point via a flexible ground wire connection. A protective shoe may be inserted between the cable conductors and the clamp jaw to prevent crushing of the connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Auclair, John W. Auclair, Randolph L. Auclair
  • Patent number: 5494462
    Abstract: A ground rod clamp for clamping a ground rod and at least one ground wire employs a clamp body and a bolt. A transverse orifice in a first portion of the clamp body receives the ground rod and ground wire. A threaded portion of the bolt is received by a threaded axial bore in a second portion of the clamp body. The distal end of the bolt engages the ground rod and ground wires. Torquing the bolt head clamps the ground rod and ground wires within the clamp body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 5315063
    Abstract: A ground connector for grounding a small diameter cable enclosed by an exposed shield employs a collapsible tube formed by a strip of material wound in a spiral shape. A braided connector engages the shield and connects with a ground lead. An elastomeric covering biases the braided connector against the shield. The connector is forced against the shield when a pull-out force is applied to the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Auclair
  • Patent number: 5131861
    Abstract: A terminal connector for a ground wire employs a threaded sleeve. The sleeve is configured and dimensioned with a bore having threaded portions of different sizes so that the terminus of the ground wires of different sizes can be alternatively threaded to the sleeve. An extension connected to the sleeve includes an opening that is dimensioned for mounting the connector to a terminal post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Auclair, Randolph L. Auclair
  • Patent number: 5055056
    Abstract: An electrical connector adapted for connecting a ground wire to a service wire employs a clamp arm having a bifurcated head which clamps the ground wire. A nut mounted to a threaded shaft of the arm is tightened to force a sleeve to engage exterior surfaces of the arm to clamp the ground wire. A pair of service wires may be secured by a bow tie type connector band disposed between the sleeve and the lock nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Electric Motion Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Auclair, Randolph L. Auclair