EP0568510B1

EP0568510B1 - Identification mark for electric wires

Info

Publication number: EP0568510B1
Application number: EP19930850082
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lars Skarin
Original assignee: Partex Marking Systems AB
Current assignee: Partex Marking Systems AB
Priority date: 1992-04-29
Filing date: 1993-04-13
Publication date: 1996-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2013-04-13
Also published as: SE9201356D0; SE505219C2; DE69301756T2; DE9214721U1; DE69301756D1; EP0568510A1; SE9201356L

Description

The present invention relates to a wire identification mark of the type consisting of a body closed in its circumferential direction like a sleeve or a ring and carrying identification symbols. It is manufactured by division into smaller units of an extruded hose of a elastic plastic material.
The development of such marks started during the period just after World War II and the use of such marks has thereafter continuously increased at rapid rate. Already during an early stage one realized the advantage of being in a position to use a mark of given size not only for conductors having a certain, predetermined diameter but also for conductors within a relatively wide diameter interval, for example 4-10 millimeters. That object was achieved in the way that the marking sleeves were provided with two structurally integral portions which, as counted in the circumferential direction of the sleeve, were located after each other and which were to carry out mutually different functions. The one portion of the mark, which was to perform the identification function, was provided with a substantially flat outer wall carrying the identification symbols, usually figures and/or letters, during the later years with the aid of an ink beam writer. The rest of the marking sleeve performs the holding function and makes possible use within a diameter interval. For that purpose the last-mentioned portin consists of a bellows-shaped section having a central seat. This receives the thinnest wire within the diameter interval at issue whereas, when the marking sleeve is used on the conductor having the maximum diameter, all of the sleeve wall is expanded to circular shape and is in contact with a conductor along all of the circumference. An example for such a marking sleeve is described in US-A-4 199 884.
The miniaturization of electric circuits and components going on during later years has resulted in a corresponding reduction of the diameters of the connecting wires and, since, also of the size of the identification marks. It has, however, especially for manufacturing and handling reasons, proved difficult to achieve that size matching by simply scaling down marks designed for thicker conductors. This does in any case apply to the very thinnest wires having a diameter of one or a few millimeters. For that reaons it has in such applications since long been considered necessary to choose for the marking sleeves an external dimension substantially greater than the wire diameter. The resulting greater relative wall thickness has, however, in turn resulted in a reduced flexibility and expansion capacity so that the field of use of a given sleeve has been limited to a very narrow diameter interval, for practical purposes almost to one single diameter value.
The object of the invention is to provide a wire identification mark, especially for very thin wires, which does not suffer from the disadvantages above mentioned. It is mainly characterized therein that the cross-section of its internal cavity is substantially shaped like a T.
Three embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawing, the three figures of which does each illustrate one embodiment, in all cases a wire identification mark mounted on a thin electric conductor or wire.
Figure 1 shows a mark 1 mounted on a wire 2. Its internal cavity 3 does essentially have a T-profile, the ends of the T being located in the corners of an essentially equilateral triangle. The two walls between which the stem of the imaginary T is located have concave outer walls whereas the top wall, corresponding to the horizontal bar of the T, is defined by a somewhat convexed outer surface carrying the identification symbol 4. The drawing shows that the relatively thin walls can be forced apart to a circular internal shape so that the mark can be mounted on a considerably thicker wire and on wires having all intermediate diameter sizes.
According to the embodiment shown in figure 2 the stem of the T is considerably greater than in figure 1 and the identification symbol 4 is here located on the outer wall of that extended portion; in the practice usually on both of its lateral sides. This configuration increases the maximum cross-sectional area of the cavity 3 and hence also the usable diameter interval.
Figure 3, finally, shows a mark having a cavity 3 of the same general shape as in figure 1. However, the profile is cross-shaped because opposite the portion extending downwards there is a portion 5 directed upwards and defining a pocket 7 for a marking plate 6 which can be inserted in the axial direction. When such a mark is extruded, a transparent plastic material is used.

Claims

A conductor identification mark, particularly for marking a very thin conductor or wire (2), which conductor when the mark is mounted thereon, passes through the circumferentially closed internal cavity (3) of the mark, the wire-receiving cross-sectional area of the cavity being variable within a diameter interval due to the mark being manufactured from an elastic plastic material, characterized therein that the cross-sectional shape of cavity (3) is substantially like a T.
An identification mark as claimed in claim 1, characterized therein that also the walls defining said cavity (3) do substantially have a T-profile.
An identification mark as claimed in claim 1 and manufactured from a transparent plastic material, characterized therein that its cross-section is substantially like a cross, one (5) of the four arms of said cross enclosing a pocket (7) for a marking plate (6).
An identification mark as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized therein that marking symbols (4) are located on the external side of the portion corresponding to the horizontal bar of the T.
An identification mark as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized therein that marking symbols (4) are located on the external side of the portion corresponding to the vertical stem of the T.