AU5145993A

AU5145993A - A connector apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU5145993A
Application number: AU51459/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Case Schaafsma
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Tyco Electronics Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1992-10-13
Filing date: 1993-10-13
Publication date: 1994-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2013-10-13
Also published as: AU677967B2

Description

A PLANAR MEMBER FOR GRIPPING A CABLE The present invention relates to electrical cabling and its installation.

The present invention is particularly useful in the electrical contracting and construction industry where it is necessary to install electrical devices and interconnect them with electrical cabling. In such situations, a major part of such an operation involves connecting the individual cores of a cable to applicable terminals of each electrical apparatus.

Because of safety regulations and working standards, it is necessary to secure each cable connection so that it cannot be easily disconnected and is isolated from external environmental factors . Typically, the cores of a cable are connected to particular electrical terminals and the cable sheath is gripped by a cable gland so that any axial force applied to the cable is restrained by the cable glands grip on the cable sheath. This type of arrangement is particularly important to avoid any axial force being applied to the connection between the cable cores and their relevant terminals.

The major problem with cable glands however, is that although they may provide adequate retentive force on the cable sheath, the cost of providing such a cable gland and the time required to connect it to a cable adds to the expense of an electrical connection between a cable and an electrical apparatus.

In addition, in situations where cables are small in diameter (for example, less than 2cm) and there are a number of cables which are to be connected to an apparatus in close proximity to each other, cable connections become more difficult and problems with availability of space are also experienced. Further, in the telephone and communications industries, telephone connections between the provider and the consumer often require a junction connection between the consumers equipment (e.g. cable and telephone

SUBSTITUTE SHE •EETT unit) and the providers equipment (telephone network) . The junction usually involves connection between cores of provider cable and cores of consumer cable. This junction will usually be external to the consumers property to enable access by the provider. The connection must be sufficiently protected from the environment to prevent premature breakdown.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a member for gripping a cable, comprising a recess formed in a side edge surface, the recess having inner side wall portions separated by a distance which enables them to engage a peripheral portion of a cable, which is arranged to be forced therebetween, to thereby apply a predetermined force in opposition to an axial force applied to an end of the cable.

Preferably the inner side wall portions each comprise planar surfaces.

Preferably the width of the inner side wall portions is less than 3mm.

Preferably the width of the inner side wall portions is 2mm.

The inner side wall portions may each have a shape arranged to correspond to the peripheral surface of a cable which is to be gripped.

The inner side wall portions may each comprise a rectilinear surface.

The rectilinear surfaces preferably are parallel and/or vertical. The inner side wall portions may each comprise a curvilinear surface.

The curvilinear surface preferably forms a base surface.

The base surface may be arcuate. Preferably the curvilinear surface forms a base surface which together with the rectilinear surfaces form the shape of an arch.

The recess may extend perpendicular to the level

SUBSTITUTE SHEET of the opposing side edge.

The base surface may be an arc of a circle.

Preferably the distance between opposing rectilinear surfaces is less than the diameter of a cable to be inserted therebetween.

The recess may comprise a guide section which leads into a gripping section.

The recess may comprise a mouth portion and a throat portion. It is preferred that the rectilinear surfaces form part of a gripping section/throat portion.

The guide section may comprise matching opposing slanting side walls.

The depth of the gripping section may be greater than the radius of a cable to be gripped.

Preferably the depth of the gripping section is dependent upon the diameter of a cable to be gripped.

Preferably the ratio of the depth of the gripping section compared to the width of the gripping section is 5 : 5.8.

Preferably the above mentioned ratio is 2.75 : 3.

It is preferred that the angle of the slanting side walls of the guide section with respect to a vertical line is 30°.

The ratio of the maximum width of the gripping section with respect to the maximum width of the guide section is preferably 5.8 : 7.4 or 3 : 4.

Preferably the guide section comprises parallel vertical walls extending from the slanting side walls.

Preferably the rectilinear inner side wall portions are perpendicular to the level of the opposite side edge surface.

The depth of the gripping section is preferably greater than % of the radius of a cable to be gripped.

The member is preferably a planar member.

The member may be in the form of a blade.

The member may comprise a plurality of recesses.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET Preferably the plurality of recesses are formed in one side edge surface.

The plurality of recesses may comprise four recesses . The recesses may be evenly spaced apart.

Preferably the distance between side walls of adjacent recesses is no less than 3.6mm.

Preferably the walls between adjacent recesses are resiliently deformable. Preferably the inner side wall portions are resiliently deformable.

The plurality of recesses preferably comprise two inner and two outer recesses.

The two inner recesses and outer recesses may be substantially identical respectively.

The four recesses can be symmetrically arranged about an axis extending midway between the two inner recesses.

Each outer recess can be located a predetermined distance from its respective adjacent inner recess.

The inner recesses may be configured to grip cables of a first size and the outer recesses may be configured to grip cables of a second size.

Preferably the member is rectangular in shape with recesses formed in one side edge surface.

Preferably the outer most portions of the guide sections of each recess are arcuate in shape.

Preferably upper walls adjoining adjacent recesses are in the form of male portions which are arranged to be received in respective corresponding female portions of a closure.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for gripping a cable comprising a casing and a receiving means for receipt of a member, the member being for gripping a cable and comprising a recess formed in a side edge surface, the recess having inner side wall portions separated by a distance which enables them to compress a

SUBSTITUTE SHEET peripheral portion of a cable, which is arranged to be forced therebetween, to thereby apply a retentive force in opposition to an axial force applied to an end of the cable, the casing having an upper and lower portion which are arranged to be connected together to form a receptacle with an inlet, the member being arranged to be held inside the receptacle by the receiving means.

The member may have any one or combination of the features previously recited above.

The receiving means may be arranged to resist movement of the member in the axial direction of a cable gripped by the member.

Preferably the receiving means is arranged to prevent movement of the member. The receiving means may comprise a guide or slot.

According to one embodiment of the invention the slot is rectilinear and is arranged perpendicular to the axis of a cable to be gripped. It is preferred that the receiving means be in the lower portion.

The upper portion may comprise a cover means for covering a top side edge of the member.

Preferably the top side edge is the one side edge.

Preferably the cover means covers the one side edge surface of the member.

The cover means may comprise a slot arranged to receive the top side edge of the member. Preferably the cov r means comprises the female portion and is in the form c_ a slot.

Preferably the cover means slot comprises protruding side walls.

The protruding side walls may be parallel. The protruding side walls may comprise recesses which are arranged to oppose corresponding recesses of the planar member.

Preferably the upper and lower portions comprise

SUBSTITUTE SHEET an alignment means for aligning the cover means with the top side edge of the member which it is to cover.

The recesses in the protruding side walls of the cover means may be arcuate in shape. Preferably the receiving means comprises a rectilinear slot with side wall portions having arcuate recesses formed therein which are arranged to be aligned with corresponding recesses in the member.

Preferably the length of the slot is the same as the length of the side edge surface of the member.

Preferably the walls separating adjacent recesses in the side walls of the slot are arranged to be aligned with corresponding male portions of the member.

Preferably each wall separating adjacent recesses in the side walls of the slot have a top abutment surface which is arranged to abut with a corresponding abutment surface of the cover means.

Preferably the abutting top surfaces of the cover means and lower portion respectively are level with adjacent abutting top surfaces of their respective cover means or lower portion respectively.

The alignment means is preferably formed in the upper portion of the casing and is in the form of male members which are arranged to mate with female portions in the lower portion of the casing.

The male members may be arranged to be separated by a distance greater than the length of the side edge surface of the member.

The male members are preferably arranged on opposite sides of the cover means.

The male members may be arranged at opposite ends of the cover means.

According to another embodiment of the present invention the apparatus comprises two members which are arranged to lie in parallel when held in the casing.

Preferably the casing comprises parallel slots which are arranged to receive respective members.

The lower casing may comprise two parallel

SUBSTITUTE SHEET slots .

The slots may be arranged to be 1cm apart .

The slots may be arranged in the upper and lower portions of the casing respectively. Preferably a longitudinal gap extends parallel and between the two parallel slots.

Preferably the male members are arranged between respective receiving means for members located in the parallel slots. Preferably the male members are arranged to be connected with female portions located at respective ends of the parallel slots.

Preferably the female portions are between longitudinal axes formed by the parallel slots. ^τhe male members may be in the form of lugs which extend perpendicular to the length of the parallel slots.

The female portions may comprise lateral protrusions on opposite sides of the lower portion of the casing.

The upper and lower portions of the casing preferably comprises two inlet areas, each inlet area being arranged to receive a member.

Each inlet area may be arranged to receive two parallel members in respective parallel slots (as the receiving means⁾ . Two parallel members may provide respective gripping forces on cables running in respective recesses in the parallel members.

Each inlet area may be formed by upper and lower portions in the upper and lower portions of the casing respectively.

An alignment means may be provided at each inlet portion.

Preferably the male members of each alignment means are arranged to clip onto the female portions.

The upper or lower portion of the casing may be provided with protrusions which are arranged to extend to the interior of the receptacle formed by connection of

SUBSTITUTE SHEET the upper portion to the lower portion.

Preferably the receptacle is arranged to receive a connection block to allow cables from the or each inlet to have their cores connected with other cores of the same or another cable.

Preferably, there are a plurality of inlets for receiving a plurality of cables, and a plurality of selectively removable gates are provided to enable or disable access to the interior of the casing via the inlets. This enables a choice as to which inlets to use, whether to use some of them or all of them. The inlets that are not used can remain blocked by the gates, enabling secure sealing of the interior of the casing from the environment. For example, a sealing gel may be contained in the casing, escape from the casing of the sealing gel being prevented by gates being maintained in inlets which are not being used.

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of one embodiment of a planar member for gripping a cable;

Figure 2 shows a bottom view of a base portion of a casing according to the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a top portion of the casing of figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a side view of the base and top portions when aligned ready for connection; Figure 5 shows a front view of the base and top portions of figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a bottom view of the top portion of the casing;

Figure 7 shows a top view of the base portion of the casing;

Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional front view on line A-A of the upper portion of the casing;

Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional front view on line X-X of the base portion of the casing;

Figure 10 shows a portional front cross- sectional view of the base portion of the casing on line D-D; Figure 11 is a front view of the base portion of the casing;

Figure 12 is a front view of the top portion of the casing;

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the section C-C of figure 6;

Figure 14 (a) is an end view of one of the lugs shown in figure 6;

Figure 14 (b) is a front view of one of the lugs shown in figure 6; Figure 15 is a front view of a further embodiment of a planar member for gripping a cable;

Figure 16 is a front view of a "gate" for enabling or disabling access to an inlet of a casing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 17 is a front view of a further gate for enabling or disabling access to an inlet of a casing in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 18 is a top view of a top portion of a casing in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 19 is a bottom view of a base portion of the casing of figure 18;

Figure 20 shows a side view of the base and top portions of the casing of figures 18 and 19 when aligned ready for connection;

Figure 21 shows a front view of the base and top portions of figure 20;

Figure 22 shows a bottom view of the top portion of the casing of figure 18; Figure 23 shows a top view of the base portion of the casing of figure 19;

Figure 24 is a sectional view on line X-X of figure 22;

SUBSTITUTE SHEET i Figure 25 is a sectional view on line Y-Y of figure 23;

Figure 26 is a section on line Z-Z of figure 23;

Figure 27 is a front view of the base portion of the casing;

Figure 28 is a front view of the top portion of the casing;

Figure 29 is a section on line A-A of the top portion of the casing; Figure 30 is an exploded perspective view of the casing of figures 18 to 29, showing the top and base portions aligned ready for closure; and

Figure 31 is a perspective view of the casing of figures 18 to 30 in closed position. The planar member shown in figure 1 is in the form of a plate of steel similar to a blade but not having sharp edges. The steel plate 11 is rectangular and has left and right sides 12 and 13, base 14 and a top surface 15. The top surface 15 is provided with two inner recesses 16a, 16b and two outer recesses 17a, 17b. These recesses are arranged symmetrically about a centre line 18 which divides the metal plate into two halves.

The inner and outer recesses 16a, 16b and 17a and 17b respectively have the same shape.

The shape of the inner and outer recesses are effectively the same except the dimensions of side wall surfaces are slightly different. Accordingly, for example, only one of the recesses will be described in detail.

Recess 16a comprises a guide section 19 and a gripping section 20. The recess 16a has a central axis 21 which is parallel to the sides 12 and 13. The gripping section 20 comprises an arcuate base wall 22 and opposing rectilinear walls 23 and 24 which together form an inverted arch shape.

The top of the rectilinear walls 23 and 24 open into the guide section 19 which is defined by matching

SUBSTITUTE SHEET slanting walls 25 and 26 which are inclined at 30° with respect to the vertical axis 21.

The top of the slanting walls 25 and 26 abut with vertical walls 27 and 28. The top surfaces 29 of the walls adjoining adjacent recesses, are curved to avoid any sharp edges.

The outer recesses 17a and 17b are similar in shape to the inner recesses 16a and 16b but are smaller to accommodate smaller cables. In addition, the length of the vertical walls 30 and 31 are longer than those 27 and 28 of the recesses 16a and 16b, to ensure that the gripping portion of the outer recesses extends sufficiently far into the interior of the metal plate so that the wall 32 separating the outer recesses from the inner recesses is sufficiently thick to prevent excessive deformation and thus possible damage.

The dimensions of the recesses and walls of the metal plate are not shown but are 5 times their normal size having regard to the particular embodiment and application shown in figure 1.

The width of the metal plate is less than 3mm or preferably 2mm. The surfaces of the walls of the recesses are all preferably smooth and perpendicular to the plane of the metal plate. The metal plate shown in figure 1 is designed so that it can be held within a container as shown in figures 2 to 14b. This container is intended to house a connection between the cores of a cable and a connection terminal. The connection terminal may be connected to cores of other cables exiting from other inlets to the container, i.e. so that two sets of cables are connected together e.g. to connect a telephone subscribers to a telephone network provider. For convenience the shape of the area intended to house the connection terminal is not shown.

As shown in figures 2 and 3, the base and top components are symmetrical about both a centre line drawn midway between the sides 40 and 41 and the front and back

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 42 and 43. For convenience, like features of the base and top components will be referred to by item a and b respectively. As shown in figures 2 and 3, both components are effectively rectangular conglomerations, with inlet rectangular portions 44 and 45 respectively located on the left and right hand sides of a body rectangular portion 46. The upper compartment contains downwardly extending lugs 47 which are arranged on front and back sides of the inlets 44b and 45b. These lugs 47 are arranged to snap fit together with protrusions 48 located in corresponding positions on inlets 44a and 45a of the base component .

As shown in figure 4, the lugs 47 have a rectangular hole 49 which is arranged to clip onto the protrusion 48. The lugs 47 and the protrusions 48 are arranged so that they extend between axes defined by two metal plates 50 and 51 located in the base component.

Referring to figures 14a and 14b each lug 47 is provided with a rectangular slot 49 located approximately midway between opposite sides of the lug 47 and extending parallel to the sides from left side 49a (which is normally the lower most side) . Each recess 49 is arranged to receive one of the protrusions 48.

Referring to figure 7, it can be seen that the base component inlet portion 44a and inlet portion 45a are each provided with receiving slots 52a, 53a; and 54a and 55a respectively. These slots extend in a straight line between the back and front sides of the inlets 44a and 45a in parallel and are each provided with side walls 56a, 57a, 58a, 59a; and 60a, 61a, 62a and 63a respectively. For convenience, these walls have been removed from figure 4 but can be seen in figures 5, 9, 10 and 11 as vertically extending parallel walls provided with recesses 64 in a matching configuration to that of the recesses provided in the metal plate shown in figure

1. Thus, as shown in figure 5, the side walls 56a, 57a, 58a, 59a, 60a, 61a, 62a and 63a provide a means of reinforcing the metal plate when inserted in the

SUBSTITUTE SHEET f applicable slot.

In contrast to the metal plate however, the recesses in the side walls 57a to 63a only correspond to the lower part of the gripping sections of each recess in the metal plate. Thus, when the metal plate is inserted in one of the slots, the walls of the guide sections protrude above the top level of the side walls of the slots as shown in figure 5. Consequently, these protruding parts are available to fit into corresponding slots 52b, 53b and 54b and 55b provided in the upper component of the casing (Fig 6) .

Referring to the upper portion of the casing as shown in figure 6 and figure 8, each inlet 44b and 45b is provided with slots and adjacent walls which are the same as those provided in the inlets 44a and 45a of the base portion. Thus, this embodiment allows the metal plate to be inserted with its base in either the upper portion or the base portion of the casing.

The metal plates and casing may be connected together as follows.

With the casing shown in figures 2 to 14b, four metal plates as shown in figure 1 are required. Each of these are fitted into respective slots 52a to 55a of the base compartment. The distance between respective metal plates in each inlet is dictated by the retentive force which is to be applied by both metal plates to cables inserted in their respective gripping sections of their recesses. As shown in figure 10, adjacent slots are separated by approximately lcm and thus so are adjacent gripping sections on different metal plates. With the metal plates inserted in their respective slots, the metal plates are seated in the slots as shown in figure 5 so that they extend vertically upwardly.

As shown in figure 5, the top compartment is aligned with the base compartment so that the slots in the top compartment are aligned with the slots in the base compartment. The top compartment is then placed

SUBSTITUTE SHEET over the base compartment and the protruding portions 65 of the metal plate are received in an opposing slot in the top compartment. At the same time, the lugs 47 are aligned in position over the protrusions 48 and the base and top compartments can then be snapped together due to engagement of the lugs 47 with the protrusions 48.

When this occurs, the casing as observed from the front view, for example, as shown in figure 5, presents an inlet with four substantially circular openings. Because both the protrusions 65 of the metal plate and its side and base walls are held in a fixed position within one of the slots, the recesses in the metal plate stay aligned with the recesses in the side walls of the slots. In order for the top compartment to be aligned with the base compartment, the base compartment may be provided with a protrusion as shown in figure 10 by item 66a which is arranged to receive a female protrusion extending vertically downwardly from the top compartment . In a similar fashion the top compartment can have male protrusion(s) 66b adapted to mate with female protrusions in the base compartment .

In actual use, the receptacle of the casing 42 is arranged to house a terminal block and a cable is stripped at one end so that its internal cores or wires can be connected to the terminal block. The recesses in the metal plate are sized so that a cable may be pressed into the gripping section of the one of the recesses so that the walls of the gripping section actually compress the outer sheath of the cable without necessarily cutting it. Accordingly, because of this plastic deformation, the sheath spreads around the outside of the walls of the gripping section and thus provides an abutting surface which abuts with the corresponding surface of the wall of the gripping section if an axial force is applied to the opposite end of the cable.

The cable is pushed into the gripping section of two aligned recesses in different metal plates and the

SUBSTITUTE SHEET casing is then closed by clipping the base compartment and top compartment together. when this occurs, an axial force applied to the end of the cable outside the casing is opposed by a restraining force applied by the walls of the gripping section by virtue of the interaction of abutting surfaces of the cable sheath and the walls of the gripping section.

Because of this arrangement, any axial force applied to the cable is supported by the cable sheath rather than the connections between the cores (wires₎ in the cable and the terminal block.

In a similar fashion, a cable gripped by any of the other recesses of the metal plate can achieve the same advantage as can a cable inserted through the other inlet.

Because of the above arrangement, a connection can be more easily made between a cable and a terminal block without requiring a cable gland to ensure the cable can withstand a predetermined axial force applied at its external end.

Connections may be made within the casing between two or more cables. For example, a terminal block may be provided for connecting the cores of two conductors, each conductor entering from opposite ends of the connector. So each conductor may include the conductor for a subscriber side of a telephone and the conductor for a provider side of a telephone network.

The arrangement of the casing and metal plate ₍s₎ as described above, enables a connection housed inside the casing to be sealed by filling the casing with a suitable gel, and any excess gel will be forced out through the inlets when the casing components are connected together. This is possible because the recesses in the metal plate may still be provided with a space in their guide sections which will enable the gel to pass from the interior of the casing to the outside of the inlets.

Figure 15 shows a further^' embodiment of a planar

SUBSTITUTE SHEET member for use with a connector housing as illustrated in figures 16 through 31. The planar member of figure 15 is the same in all respects as the planar member of figure 1, except that the large diameter recesses 17a and 17b are on the outside of the small diameter recesses 16a, 16b. The same reference numerals are used for the corresponding features of the planar member of figure 15, and no further description is required.

Figures 18 through 31 show a connector housing similar to the casing of figures 2 to 14b. Like reference numerals are used for like parts throughout and no further description will be given for these like parts. Description will be given of differences between this embodiment and the previous embodiment, in the following.

Firstly, the planar member 11 of figure 15 is of a different configuration to the planar member 11 of figure 1, in that the outer recesses 17a and 17b are dimensioned to take large diameter cables than the inner recesses 16a and 16b. The equivalent recesses 64 (figure 21) in the walls 56a through 63a of the connector housing of figures 18 through 31 are dimensioned to accord with the dimensions of the recesses 16a through 17b of the plate 11 of figure 15. This particular embodiment is particularly designed to take two cables through the inlet ends 45a, 44a respectively, either two large diameter cables or two small diameter cables, but not necessarily both. It is thought that placing the smaller diameter cables close together in the centre of the inlet area 44a, 45a, or, alternatively, placing the larger diameter cables further apart, enables installation of the connectors to be handled more easily.

Further, the lugs 47 in this embodiment are slightly wider in dimension than the lugs 47 of the previous embodiment. Similarly, the protrusions 48 on the base portion are correspondingly wider. Further lugs and protrusions 47a, 48a repsectively are provided on the sides of the central body of the connector housing, to

SUBSTITUTE SHEET provide further security.

In addition, the base portion of the container 46a is provided with lugs 100, 101 for receiving screws, nails or other like fastening means for mounting the base 46a secure the container.

Referring to figure 23, the inside of the base portion 46a is provided with a mounting 102 (also illustrated in figure 30) for receiving a plurality of connector blocks, in this case MRC's (moisture resistant connectors) employing insulation displacement technology

(IDT) to connect the core of a first conductor to the core of a second conductor. These MRC's are known. The mounting block 102 is arranged to take four MRC'ε, each capable of connecting a first conductor to a second conductor. The four MRC's would be housed in recesses 102a, 102b, 102c and 102d. Pins 103 are provided on which the MRC's can be seated. Corresponding pins 103b are provided symmetrically spaced on the upper portion of the container (figure 22) , to enable the upper portion of the container to be placed around either way on the lower portion of the container.

The MRC' s may be used to connect the conductor of a cable entering from inlet end 44 to another cable entering from inlet end 45, for example. The cables may be two core, in which case two cables entering from either end can be connected together by four MRC's.

This connector housing is particularly designed for the connection of a telephone subscribers line to a telephone provider network. The connector housing would usually be placed external to the subscribers house and therefore good environmental protection qualities for the connection inside the container are required. Further, a space 104 (figure 23) is provided in the bottom part of the container to enable installation of a remote insulating device (RID) to enable the telephone provider to determine on which side of the connection a fault exists, where a fault occurs.

To assist in providing the best environmental

SUBSTITUTE SHEET protection for the connection, an external wall ₁0 entirely surrounds the periphery of the connector housin

⁽figure 22, 23 and 30) . The top portion is furthe provided with a protrusion 106 which extends entirel around the top portion apart from the inlet ends 44b,

45b. A corresponding recess 107 is provided in the bottom portion, extending entirely around the botto portion apart from the inlet areas 45a, 44a.

On closure of the connector housing the protrusion 106 seats within the recess 107, to provide a good seal against the external environment.

The seal is further assisted by the provision of gates 110, ill arranged to be seated within recesses 112b, 113b in the upper portion at either inlet end 44b, 45b ⁽see figure 21, figure 22 and figure 30₎ '. Corresponding recesses 112a, 113a are provided in the bottom portion for receiving portions of the gates 110, 111 which extend from the recesses 112b, 113b in the upper portion of the connector housing. The gates 110, HI are shown in more detail in figures 16 and 17 respectively. Gate 110 comprises a wider upper portion 110a and a narrower lower portion 110b, the upper portion 110a_^ fitting into the slot 112b, 113b in the upper portion of the connector. The narrower portion 110b fits into the lower recess 113a, 112a in the lower portion of the connector. Similarly with portions Ilia, nib of gate ill.

These gates are removable to enable access to the connector housing by a cable. The gates thus enable selection of which inlets may be used by cables. Inlets not in use, are sealed against the environment by leaving the gates blocking the inlets.

The interior of the connector will be filled with an insulating gel to provide a further protection against environmental invasion. The connection is that well-protected against the environment and premature breakdown.

It should be noted that the recesses 16a through

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 17b in the metal plate 11 are preferably designed so that at least the bottoms of the curvilinear base portions sit below the bottoms of the equivalent curvilinear base portions in the recesses 64 formed by the wall portions in the connector housing. The base of a cable gripped by the metal planar member will therefore sit evenly on the bottom of the recess in the wall portions, while still being gripped by the rectilinear portions of the planar member. ^{τ t} will b appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A member for gripping a cable, comprising a recess formed in a side edge surface, the recess having inner side wall portions separated by a distance which enables them to engage a peripheral portion of a cable, which is arranged to be forced therebetween, to thereby apply a predetermined force in opposition to an axial force applied to an end of the cable.

2. A member according to claim 1 wherein the inner side wall portions each comprise planar portions.

3. A member according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the inner side wall portions each comprise a curvilinear surface.

4. A member according to claim 3 wherein the inner side wall portions each comprise a rectilinear surface.

5. A member according to claim 4 wherein the curvilinear surface forms an arcuate base surface.

6. A member according to claim 5 wherein the recess is in the shape of an inverted arch with rectilinear side walls.

7. A member according to claim 6 wherein the distance between opposing rectilinear surfaces is less than the diameter of a cable to be inserted therebetween.

8. A member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the recess comprises a guide section which leads into a gripping section.

9. A member according to claim 8 wherein the guide section comprises matching opposing slanting side walls.

10. A member according to claim 9 wherein the depth of the gripping section is greater than the radius of a cable to be gripped.

11. A member according to claim 10 wherein the ratio of the depth of the gripping section compared to the width of the gripping section is to 5 : 5.8 or 2.75 : 3.

12. A member according to claim 11 wherein the guide section comprises parallel vertical walls extending from the slanting side walls.

r

SUBSTITUTE SHEET ]

13. A member according to claim 12 wherein the rectilinear inner side wall portions are perpendicular to the side edge surface.

14. A member according to claims 12 or 13 wherein the depth of the gripping section is greater than

% of the radius of a cable to be gripped.

15. A member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the member comprises four recesses.

16. A member according to claim 15 wherein the distance between side walls of adjacent recesses is no less than 3.6mm.

17. A member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the inner side wall portions are resiliently deformable.

18. A member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the member is in the form of a metal plate which is arranged to be retained within an enclosure having an inlet and outlet.

19. A member according to claim 16 wherein the outer most portions of the guide sections are arcuate in section.

20. A member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the inner side wall portions are smooth.

21. A member according to any one of the preceding claims wherein two inner and two outer recesses are formed in the planar member, the inner recesses being of different dimensions to the outer recesses whereby to support cables of different diameters.

22. A member according to claim 21 wherein the inner and outer recesses are symmetrical about a central axis perpendicular to the side edge face.

23. A member according to any preceding claim, the member being planar.

24. An apparatus for gripping a cable comprising a casing and a receiving means for receipt of a member, the member being for gripping a cable and

SUBSTITUTE SHEET j comprising a recess formed in a side edge surface, the recess having inner side wall portions separated by a distance which enables them to compress a peripheral portion of a cable, which is arranged to be forced therebetween, to thereby apply a retentive force in opposition to an axial force applied to an end of the cable, the casing having an upper and lower portion which are arranged to be connected together to form a receptacle with an inlet, the member being arranged to be held inside the receptacle by the receiving means.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the receiving means comprises a slot for receipt of the member.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the slot is rectilinear and is perpendicular to the axis of the cable to be gripped.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein the upper portion comprises a cover means for covering a top side edge of the member, the top side edge having the or each recess formed therein.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the cover comprises a downwardly extending wall having a slot which is arranged to receive the top side edge of the member.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the downwardly extending wall comprises recesses which are located in positions arranged to oppose corresponding recesses of the member.

30. An apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 29 wherein the upper and lower portions comprise an alignment means for aligning the cover means with the top side edge of the member.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the receiving means slot comprises recesses which are arranged to be aligned with corresponding recesses in the member when located in the slot.

32. An apparatus according to claims 30 or 31 comprising two members which are arranged to lie in

SUBSTITUTE SHE^? parallel when held in the casing.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the receiving means comprises two parallel slots which are arranged to receive respective members.

34. An apparatus according to claim 33 wherein slots of the receiving means are 1 centimetre apart .

35. An apparatus according to claim 34 wherein a longitudinal gap extends parallel and between the two parallel slots of the receiving means.

36. An apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the upper and lower portions of the casing comprise two inlet areas, each inlet area being arranged to receive a member.

37. An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein each inlet has two receiving means for receiving two members separated by a gap.

38. An apparatus according to claims 36 or 37 wherein the casing comprises a central area with a terminal block for connecting cables therewith.

39. An apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 36, wherein there are a plurality of inlets enabling access by cables to the interior of the receptacle and the or each member comprises a plurality of recesses for receipt of a plurality of cables, a plurality of selectively removable gates being provided at each inlet, for enabling or disabling access to the interior of the casing through the inlets.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET |