EP0083517A2 - Verbinder mit niedrigem Profil - Google Patents

Verbinder mit niedrigem Profil Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0083517A2
EP0083517A2 EP19820307034 EP82307034A EP0083517A2 EP 0083517 A2 EP0083517 A2 EP 0083517A2 EP 19820307034 EP19820307034 EP 19820307034 EP 82307034 A EP82307034 A EP 82307034A EP 0083517 A2 EP0083517 A2 EP 0083517A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
centerbody
connector
contact
extending
cable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19820307034
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Michael A. Grundfest
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ABB Installation Products Inc
Original Assignee
Thomas and Betts Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thomas and Betts Corp filed Critical Thomas and Betts Corp
Publication of EP0083517A2 publication Critical patent/EP0083517A2/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/50—Fixed connections
    • H01R12/59—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
    • H01R12/65—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures characterised by the terminal
    • H01R12/69—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures characterised by the terminal deformable terminals, e.g. crimping terminals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/50—Fixed connections
    • H01R12/59—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
    • H01R12/594—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures for shielded flat cable
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/24—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electrical connectors and assemblies and pertains more particularly to apparatus and methods for insulation piercing interconnection of flat cable.
  • Flat multiconductor cable is in increasing use as a substitute for customary discrete power distribution cables.
  • a typical present installation finds the flat cable extending from power mains to the floor of an office and thereacross beneath carpet tiles into as many branches as are required to energize office outlets.
  • Each branch from the flat cable connected to the power mains occasions a splice or tap connection thereto of a branch cable, itself feeding the outlet. Should it be necessary to lengthen any installed cable, a longitudinally aligned further cable is splice connected thereto.
  • the several commercial undercarpet wiring systems known at present employ insulation piercing connectors for making such taps and splices.
  • the tap/splice connector of which is shown in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 123,490 filed on February 21, 1980, entitled "Electrical Connector”, assigned in common herewith the cables to be connected are first overlapped. A locating hole is then made through the cables in registry with each pair of conductors to be connected and the connector is placed in the hole with its insulation piercing arms facing the exterior sides of the cables. The arms are then crimped upon the cables into electrical connection with the conductors therein.
  • a hole is made through overlapped cables and a rivet contact is placed in the hole with its ends extending outwardly of the exterior sides of the cables. The contact is then crimped upon the cables into full rivet configuration, the ends thereof piercing cable insulation and the contact electrically engaging the conductors registered with the hole.
  • the present invention has as its primary object the provision of an improved insulation piercing connector.
  • a more particular object of the invention is to provide an insulation piercing connector of low profile which simplifies the interconnection of flat multiconductor cables, particularly from a crimping force viewpoint.
  • the connector of the invention has a body for seating, by expeditious insertion from above, in a hole formed through registered conductors of a pair of flat cables.
  • the connector has a plurality of individually deformable and perimetrically spaced contact members extending from the body, which electrically interconnects them, and each contact member has opposed insulation piercing end courses, one extending axially with the centerbody and the other spaced outwardly from the body.
  • such connector body is a cylindrical centerbody of spring tempered metal having an opening extending axially therethrough.
  • First contact fingers extend contiguously with the opening in perimetrically spaced relation from one end of the centerbody in such courses that the free ends of the contact fingers reside in a locus exteriorly coaxial with the center body.
  • Second contact fingers extend in perimetrically spaced relation from the opposite end of the centerbody axially therewith and conti g- uously with the opening.
  • the centerbody In use of the connector, the centerbody is placed in the cable-hole with the first contact finger ends abutting exterior cable insulation. A crimping tool is then applied, one die surface thereof engaging the first contact fingers during crimping. Another die surface is configured to engage the ends of the second contact fingers and, in the course of crimping, to impart individually to the fingers a curvature such that the finger ends become exteriorly coaxial with the centerbody and assume a line of attack with respect to the cable they confront.
  • a known flexible cable assembly 10 including a flexible multiconductor cable 12, an electrically conductive member constituted by flexible metallic shield 14 positioned above the cable 12, and a flexible plastic shield 15 positioned below the cable 12.
  • the multiconductor cable 12, the metallic shield 14, and the plastic shield 15 have about the same width and are flat such that the cable assembly 10 can be installed underneath a carpet (not shown) or some other similar type of floor covering.
  • the multiconductor cable 12 contains a plurality of flat electrical conductors 16, 18, 20, which are contained within a casing constituted by a thin sheet 22 of electrical insulation.
  • the insulation 22 is preferably made from a laminate of polyester and polyvinylchloride.
  • the poly vinylchloride is is contiguous with the conductors 16, 18, 20, while the polyester forms the outer surface of the cable 12.
  • the conductors 16, 18, 20, which are made from copper or any other good electrically conductive material, extend side-by-side along the entire length of the multiconductor cable 12.
  • conductors 16 and 20 adjacent to the opposite longitudinally extending edges of the multiconductor cable 12 may be employed as hot conductors, the middle conductor 18 serving as a ground conductor.
  • the ground conductor 18 is permanently connected, both mechanically and electrically, to the metallic shield 14 by a plurality of welds 24 which are arranged at intervals along the length of the cable assembly 10.
  • Indicia, such as color-coded markings 25, may be provided on the insulation 22 above and below the conductors 16, 18, 20 to distinguish them from each other.
  • the metallic shield 14 is made from a thin sheet of good electrically conductive metal such as copper.
  • a layer (not shown) of steel preferably overlies shield 14 and further insulation is disposed stripwise between shield 14 and the insulation of the cable.
  • the metallic shield 14 and the conductors 16, 18, 20 are made from the same metal to prevent galvanic corrosion between the metallic shield 14 and the ground conductor 18.
  • the plastic shield 15 is employed to provide a cushion for the multiconductor cable 12.
  • the plastic shield 15 can be made of any suitable flexible plastic, such as polyester, sufficiently strong to protect the multiconductor cable 12 from abrasion and possible piercing as a result of its installation on a floor, especially if the floor is made from concrete.
  • the plastic shield 15, which may be permanently attached to the multiconductor cable 12 in any suitable manner also inhibits the penetration of the multiconductor cable 12 by any projections extending upwardly from the floor.
  • shield 15 is secured to cable 12 insulation by heat-sealing thereof at locations spaced lengthwise of the shield.
  • shield 14 The selective securement of shield 14 to cable 12 at locations mutually spaced lengthwise of the cable gives rise tc successive shield extents which are respectively unsecured and secured to the cable.
  • the extent of shield 14 downwardly of weld 24 in Fig. 1 is not secured to the cable.
  • the successive extent of shield 14, i.e., adjacent weld 24, is secured to the cable.
  • the next successive shield extent, upwardly of weld 24 in Fig. 1 is again not secured to the cable.
  • This pattern preferably repeats along the cable length, with uniform or nonuniform shield extents, giving rise to redundant electrical connection of shield 14 to cable 12.
  • Electrically conductive means are in registry with each secured shield extent.
  • the body of material comprising weldment 24 extends through the cable insulative casing, opposed terminal portions of the body having electrical connection to the shield and to an exclusive one of the cable conductors.
  • the cable assembly 10 is joined to another identical cable assembly 26, having a metallic shield 28, a plastic shield 29, and a multiconductor cable 30 which is joined to the multiconductor cable 12 by connectors 32. It is not necessary to mechanically and electrically connect the lapping ends of metallic shields 14 and 28 to each other and to ground in order that they are properly grounded, inasmuch as the metallic shields 14 and 28 are electrically connected to ground through welds 24, the ground conductor 18 of the multiconductor cable 12, the corresponding one of the connectors 32, the ground conductor of the multiconductor cable 30, and welds 36 which mechanically and electrically connect the ground conductor of the multiconductor cable 30 to the metallic shield 28.
  • the lapping ends of shields 14 and 28 may be peeled back (Fig. 2) to inspect or observe the cables 12 and 30 or the connectors 32.
  • connector 32 of the present invention has a hollow cylindrical centerbody 38 of outer diameter D, approximating the diameter of hole 40 (Fig. 2) formed through conductors of cables to be joined.
  • Adjacent ones of fingers 42 are equally spaced at courses 42a by spacing Sl, giving rise to a mutual perimetric spacing relation among the plurality of fingers 42.
  • a plurality of second contact fingers 44 extends from the lower end of centerbody 38 axially therewith and contiguously with opening 39, each finger 44 having a lead course 44a and an end course 44b to be deformed in a crimping operation and an end 44c of insulation piercing type including a chamfered surface, i.e. a flat surface tapering radially outwardly of centerbody 38.
  • Adjacent ones of fingers 44 are equally spaced at courses 44a by spacing 82, giving rise to a mutual perimetric spacing among the plurality of fingers 44.
  • connector 32 is preferably constituted as a body of electrically conductive material, such as a spring tempered metal, e.g., beryllium copper or spring steel suitably plated, and contact fingers 42 and 44 are integral therewith.
  • the first and second sets or pluralities of contact fingers 42 and 44 are provided with contact fingers in number at least three, with the successive end courses of each set extending in different arcuate directions (Fig. 5).
  • the cables are overlapped at ends and longitudinally aligned.
  • Next holes, one shown at 40 are punched through the cables, each hole extending through a longitudinally registered pair of conductors.
  • Connectors 32 are now inserted into the holes conveniently from above the cables, contact fingers 44 leading, until contact fingers 42 engage the insulation of the upper cable.
  • a crimping tool is now applied to each inserted connector, the tool having an upper die member whose die surface is generally flat, engaging each contact finger 42, to displace finger end course 42c in line of attack to the cable insulation. As shown in Fig.
  • insulative layer 22 is pierced with the finger ends 42d penetrating but preferably not piercing through conductor 18. As indicated, the line of attack of insulation piercing is at a generally orthogonal angle with respect to the surface of such insulation.
  • the crimping tool lower die member 50 (Figs. 7 and 8) has a die surface 52 adapted to receive contact finger 44 end courses 44b and to impart configuration as indicated in Fig. 6, wherein courses 44a of these fingers are deformed into radially outward configuration so as to support end courses 44b preferably in a substantially othogonal line of attack with respect to the cable undersurface insulation.
  • finger ends 44c pierce through insulation 46 penetrating, but preferably not piercing through conductor 48 of cable 30.
  • finger end courses 42c pierce through insulation 22, the finger ends 42d penetrating but preferably not piercing through conductor 18 of cable 12, the assembly thus providing gas-tight electrical engagement at opposed sets of locations which are mutually perimetrically spaced.
  • Centerbody 38 preferably electrically engages the conductors further by contact therewith at its cylindrical periphery within the assembly. Thus, the centerbody is exteriorly perimetrically bounded by the conductors.
  • the length of fingers 44 and curvature thereof during crimping is such that finger end courses 44b, upon crimping, are located radially outboard of centerbody 38 and radially inboard of finger end courses 42c.
  • finger end courses 44b are in perimetric spacing of measure greater than S2, their perimetric spacing upon manufacture, and less than the perimetric spacing of finger end courses 42c.
  • a coaxial relationship exists, following crimping, among centerbody 38, finger end courses 42c and finger end courses 44b.
  • die surface 52 of Figs. 7 and 8 is formed to be substantially circular and is recessed in die member 50, having arcuate extent indicated in the sectional showing of Fig. 8 of less than a full semicircle.
  • Such die surface configuration in cooperation with the spring characteristic of fingers 44, causes the finger end courses to bend around an arcuate locus during crimping, as shown in Fig. 6. such that the end courses thereof face in directions nearly opposite their direction as manufactured (Fig. 4).
  • the connector of the invention can be overcrimped without such result, since it does not continuously perimetrically confront the conductor but does so in spaced perimetric manner.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Connections By Means Of Piercing Elements, Nuts, Or Screws (AREA)
  • Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
EP19820307034 1981-12-29 1982-12-22 Verbinder mit niedrigem Profil Withdrawn EP0083517A2 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US33537981A 1981-12-29 1981-12-29
US335379 1981-12-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0083517A2 true EP0083517A2 (de) 1983-07-13

Family

ID=23311534

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19820307034 Withdrawn EP0083517A2 (de) 1981-12-29 1982-12-22 Verbinder mit niedrigem Profil

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0083517A2 (de)
JP (1) JPS6023470B2 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0092143A2 (de) * 1982-04-12 1983-10-26 Burndy Corporation Apparat für eine elektrische Verbindung für Flachkabel und ähnliche Artikel
DE202004012418U1 (de) * 2004-08-06 2005-12-15 Lear Corp., Southfield Elektrisches Kontaktelement für Flachleiterbahnen aufweisende, flexible Folienleiter
DE102013206069B3 (de) * 2013-04-05 2014-05-22 Lear Corp. Sitz-Sensoranordnung und Verfahren zum Herstellen derselben

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6062773U (ja) * 1983-10-07 1985-05-02 東洋端子株式会社 平形導体ケ−ブルの接続端子

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0092143A2 (de) * 1982-04-12 1983-10-26 Burndy Corporation Apparat für eine elektrische Verbindung für Flachkabel und ähnliche Artikel
EP0092143A3 (en) * 1982-04-12 1985-09-04 Burndy Corporation Electrical connection apparatus and procedure for flat conductor cables and similar articles
DE202004012418U1 (de) * 2004-08-06 2005-12-15 Lear Corp., Southfield Elektrisches Kontaktelement für Flachleiterbahnen aufweisende, flexible Folienleiter
DE102013206069B3 (de) * 2013-04-05 2014-05-22 Lear Corp. Sitz-Sensoranordnung und Verfahren zum Herstellen derselben

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS6023470B2 (ja) 1985-06-07
JPS58128680A (ja) 1983-08-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4065199A (en) Flat cable wiring harness and method of producing same
EP0843906B1 (de) Anordnung von elektrode und anschlussklemme
CA1060967A (en) Crimpable electrical connector having conductor grasping means and method of making same
US4551579A (en) Construction of a connection for flat cables
EP0063457B1 (de) Elektrischer Kontakt und Zusammenbau eines elektrischen Verbinders
EP1930988B1 (de) Kabelbefestigung, Kabelanordnung damit und Schalter mit der Befestigung
EP0251736B1 (de) Drahthaltevorrichtung in einem elektrischen Steckverbinder
US3549786A (en) Insulation piercing connector
EP0698943B1 (de) Flach-zu-Rundkabel-Verbindereinrichtung
CA1130404A (en) Installation kit for undercarpet wiring system
US4573752A (en) Flat cable connection system
US5151560A (en) Grounding connector
US4558915A (en) Electrical connector
EP0718913B1 (de) Elektrisches Kabel zur Verwendung mit Schneidklemmen und elektrische Verbindungselemente
US4437723A (en) Three-row connector for mass terminating flat cable
US4249304A (en) Method of connecting flat electrical cables
US3768062A (en) Terminal for flexible circuits
EP0084413B1 (de) Adaptereinheit und Verfahren zum Abzweigen oder Verbinden eines mehradrigen Flachkabels
EP0083517A2 (de) Verbinder mit niedrigem Profil
US4833775A (en) Electrical connection apparatus for flat conductor cables and similar articles
US4636017A (en) Flat conductor cable
US6247961B1 (en) Distribution wiring harness assembly
US4029376A (en) Bridging clip assembly and cover therefor
US5052945A (en) Contact for connection of a shielded wire
US6638118B2 (en) Distribution wiring harness assembly

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

18W Application withdrawn

Withdrawal date: 19840824

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: GRUNDFEST, MICHAEL A.