A conductor connector guard adapted for enclosing or housing one-to-many junctions between separable connectors. The guard is configured to house separable connectors for 3-channel, 5-channel, or 7-channel power distribution, with some of the embodiments presented being configured to house five pairs of separable connectors, with the connectors taking the form of single-pole conductor connectors in some cases. The guard is designed to comply with safety requirements for power distribution junctions that may be positioned within a public space. The guard is configured to provide a compact solution when contrasted with prior configurations involving physical barriers around power distribution junctions or involving physical objects such as trash cannisters and planters being placed over junctions. The guard is also adapted to provide enhanced public safety for spliced or joined conductors and to sequester energy sources in public spaces such as with a lock and tag out-type device.
BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Description.
The present description relates, in general, to electrical connectors and protective guards for such connectors. More particularly, the description relates to a guard adapted for electrical connectors, such as single-pole connectors used in 3-channel, 5-channel, and other applications. 2. Relevant Background.
There are many power distribution applications where it is desirable to run electrical power lines from a power source to one-to-many electrical components. For example, outdoor entertainment applications often require power lines, e.g., 3 to 7 lines or the like to provide the wires or conductors for neutral, ground, and hot, to be run long distances, e.g., 100 to 400 feet or more. To provide such long runs, two or more coils or cables will have to be joined or connected together. For example, a conventional power cable or line may be 50 feet long such that two or more junctions of the lines will be used to obtain the desired longer run. The single conductor, high-current power distribution is often made with five, parallel 4/0 American wire gauge, Type W cables provided in 50-foot segments or coils. Due to their weight, interconnecting each cable may be achieved with a 400 A-rated, single pole connector (e.g., Cam-Lok™ connectors or the like).
The junctions for the set of wires or lines are typically made up of a set of single-pole connectors (or single conductor connectors). These connectors include plugs and
1. An apparatus for guarding a set of connectors used to electrically connect a set of conductors, comprising: a body; and an inner chamber within the body defined by a planar base, spaced apart first and second sidewalls extending orthogonally from an inner side of the base, a pair of spaced-apart end walls extending from the inner side of the base, and a lid; wherein the lid is pivotally attached to the first sidewall and positionable between an open position with a side of the lid distal to the second sidewall and a closed position with the side of the lid proximate to the second sidewall and with the lid covering the inner chamber, and wherein the end walls each comprises a plurality of dividers spaced apart from adjacent ones of the dividers to define a set of guide slots therebetween each with a width greater than an outer diameter of each of the conductors. ||
12. An apparatus for guarding a set of connectors used to electrically connect a set of conductors, comprising: a base; spaced apart first and second sidewalls extending orthogonally from an inner side of the base; a pair of spaced-apart end walls extending from the inner side of the base; and a lid, wherein an inner chamber is defined by an upper surface of the base, inner surfaces of the first and second sidewalls and the end walls, and a lower surface of the lid, wherein the lid is pivotally attached to the first sidewall and positionable between an open position with a side of the lid distal to the second sidewall and a closed position with the side of the lid proximate to the second sidewall and with the lower surface of the lid facing the inner chamber, and wherein the lid includes a hasp with a body and at least one hole therethrough, wherein one of the dividers includes a recessed surface for receiving the body of the hasp when the lid is in the closed position, wherein the one of the dividers includes a hole within the recessed surface that aligns with the hole in the body of the hasp when the lid is in the closed position, and wherein the apparatus further includes a locking mechanism with a member selectively positionable through both of the holes when the lid is in the closed position, the locking mechanism being adapted to require a key or a tool to operate to remove the member from the holes and unlock the lid. ||
18. An apparatus for guarding a set of connectors used to electrically connect a set of single pole conductors, comprising: a body; and an inner chamber within the body defined by a planar base, spaced apart first and second sidewalls extending orthogonally from an inner side of the base, a pair of spaced-apart end walls extending from the inner side of the base, and a lid, wherein the lid is pivotally attached to the first sidewall and positionable between an open position with a side of the lid distal to the second sidewall and a closed position with the side of the lid proximate to the second sidewall and with the lid covering the inner chamber, wherein the inner chamber has a length of at least two times a length of the body of the connectors, wherein the inner chamber has a depth greater than the outer diameter of each of the conductors, and wherein an inner surface of the lid abuts and is physically supported by, when in the closed position, a pair of shelves comprising upper surfaces of the dividers of the end walls.