US Patent 11982303 Captive shear bolt

A captive shear bolt assembly includes a bolt and a shear coupling. The bolt may have a head, an extension, and a shank. The shear coupling may be configured to be received by the extension. The shear coupling may be configured to receive the extension via an orifice in the shear coupling. The shear coupling may be configured to shear when an upper head of the shear coupling is driven at a threshold torque. When the shear coupling has sheared, the extension may be configured to captively secure the upper head to the bolt. The captive shear bolt assembly may be used in a tap connector for electrically connecting a main conductor to a tap conductor.