US 11,855,379 B2
Slidable nested conductors
Igor Strashny, Tucson, AZ (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Nov. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/456,479.
Prior Publication US 2023/0163507 A1, May 25, 2023
Int. Cl. H01R 33/00 (2006.01); H01R 13/26 (2006.01); B60L 50/53 (2019.01)
CPC H01R 13/26 (2013.01) [B60L 50/53 (2019.02); B60L 2200/40 (2013.01); H01R 2201/26 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A conductor rod, comprising:
an arm section extending along a longitudinal axis of the conductor rod, the arm section comprising:
a first piston conductor affixed to a connector assembly at a first end of the conductor rod, the first piston conductor extending along the longitudinal axis having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter;
a second piston conductor affixed to the connector assembly at the first end, the second piston conductor extending along the longitudinal axis having a second inner diameter greater than the first outer diameter and a second outer diameter; and
an arm affixed to the connector assembly at the first end, the arm extending along the longitudinal axis having a third inner diameter greater than the second outer diameter and a third outer diameter; and
a barrel section extending the longitudinal axis of the conductor rod, the barrel section comprising:
a first cylinder conductor affixed to a head-end interface at a second end of the conductor rod, the first cylinder conductor extending along the longitudinal axis having a fourth outer diameter and a fourth inner, wherein the fourth inner diameter is greater than the first outer diameter of the first piston conductor, wherein a first inner surface of the first cylinder conductor is slidably engaged to a first outer surface of the first piston conductor at a first conducting interface;
a second cylinder conductor affixed to the head-end interface at the second end, the second cylinder conductor extending along the longitudinal axis having a fifth outer diameter less than the second inner diameter of the second piston conductor and greater than the fourth outer diameter of the first cylinder conductor, wherein a second outer surface of the second cylinder conductor is slidably engaged to a second inner surface of the second piston conductor at a second conducting interface; and
a barrel affixed to the head-end interface at the second end, the barrel extending along the longitudinal axis having a sixth inner diameter greater than the third outer diameter of the arm, wherein a third inner surface of the barrel is slidably engaged to a third outer surface of the second piston conductor.