EP0958637B1 - Boitier pour connecteur electrique, connecteur electrique comportant un boitier et un element de contact metallique, et procede pour raccorder un cable electrique a ce connecteur electrique - Google Patents

Boitier pour connecteur electrique, connecteur electrique comportant un boitier et un element de contact metallique, et procede pour raccorder un cable electrique a ce connecteur electrique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0958637B1
EP0958637B1 EP98900338A EP98900338A EP0958637B1 EP 0958637 B1 EP0958637 B1 EP 0958637B1 EP 98900338 A EP98900338 A EP 98900338A EP 98900338 A EP98900338 A EP 98900338A EP 0958637 B1 EP0958637 B1 EP 0958637B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
insulation
piercing terminal
cable
electrical connector
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98900338A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0958637A1 (fr
Inventor
Michael Gerst
Franz Goebel
Johann Kilzer
Horst Knapp
Helmut Kreuzer
Lutz Wittig
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.)
Whitaker LLC
Original Assignee
Whitaker LLC
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whitaker LLC filed Critical Whitaker LLC
Publication of EP0958637A1 publication Critical patent/EP0958637A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0958637B1 publication Critical patent/EP0958637B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • H01R4/2416—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
    • H01R4/242—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members being plates having a single slot
    • H01R4/2425—Flat plates, e.g. multi-layered flat plates
    • H01R4/2429—Flat plates, e.g. multi-layered flat plates mounted in an insulating base
    • 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
    • H01R4/2416—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
    • H01R4/2445—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives
    • H01R4/245—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives the additional means having two or more slotted flat portions
    • H01R4/2454—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives the additional means having two or more slotted flat portions forming a U-shape with slotted branches

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a housing for an electrical connector for receiving a metallic contact element with an insulation-piercing terminal contact region, the housing having a bottom wall, two side walls and a top wall, which is divided into two parts by a slit. Furthermore, the invention relates to an electrical connector with a housing and a metallic contact element which can be arranged in the housing and has an insulation-piercing terminal contact region and a further contact region which adjoins, and is conductively connected to, the insulation-piercing terminal contact region in the direction of the longitudinal axis of a cable which can be introduced. The invention also relates to a process for connecting an electrical cable to the electrical connector.
  • DE 44 27 674 discloses a branching connector for a large range of wire sizes.
  • This branching connector comprises a housing made of an insulating material and at least one metallic contact element which can be arranged in the housing.
  • the metallic contact element has an insulation-piercing terminal contact region. This in turn has an outer region and an inner region, the inner region being suitable for relatively small cable diameters and the outer region being suitable for relatively large cable diameters.
  • the housing is provided with a cover, which is connected to the actual housing via a film hinge.
  • DE 43 31 036 A1 likewise discloses an electrical connector with a housing made of an insulating material and a metallic contact element which can be arranged therein.
  • the housing has a bottom wall, two side walls and a top wall, which has a slit.
  • the width of the slit is in this case smaller than the diameter of a wire to be introduced.
  • the top wall substantially comprises two flexible parts, which are pushed to the side when a cable is introduced. These parts are intended to achieve the effect that, when an electrical wire is introduced into the insulation-piercing terminal contact region, it is aligned exactly with this region and can no longer be pulled back out of this region.
  • the housing for the electrical connector is designed in such a way that the side walls can be bent apart and a cable for connection to the insulation-piercing terminal contact region can be introduced through the widened slit produced as a result.
  • This arrangement firstly provides a very simple housing which has no additional part, such as for example a cover.
  • this very simple housing makes it possible for further processing to proceed with a simple processing tool.
  • the opening of the housing in this case is performed with the same tool as the subsequent attachment of the cable.
  • the opening for attaching the cable in other words for the so-called stuffer, may be made very small, since the slit is widened by the bending open of the side walls in such a way that the stuffer can enter through the said slit.
  • a one-part, substantially all-enclosed housing is produced.
  • the slit over the top wall is not straight, but runs, for example, in a zigzagging or meandering manner. This staggering of portions of the slit with respect to one another makes it possible that the slit does not have to close completely, but that the penetration of a cable is nevertheless very improbable.
  • the housing has in the region of the side walls portions which protrude over the top wall. These portions then serve as a point of contact for the spreading of the side walls.
  • the tool for introducing the cables will thus first of all spread the side walls, introduce the cable and attach it appropriately with the stuffer.
  • the electrical connector has in each case pairs of insulation-piercing terminal lugs for cables of relatively small diameter and for cables of relatively large diameter.
  • the pairs of mutually opposite insulation-piercing terminal lugs for cables of the relatively large diameter are arranged on the outside and the pairs for cables of relatively small diameter are arranged on the inside. If a cable of relatively large diameter is placed into the insulation-piercing terminal lugs, the contact-making of the outer insulation-piercing terminal lugs is carried out.
  • the inner insulation-piercing terminal lugs various possibilities are conceivable.
  • the inner insulation-piercing terminal lugs it is possible for the inner insulation-piercing terminal lugs to cut into not only the outer insulating sheath of the cable but also into the inner conductor, but this partial separation does not lead to problems, since the cable is held by the strain-relieving regions. It is also possible, however, for the inner insulation-piercing terminal lugs to deform plastically when a thicker cable is introduced.
  • the contact element can be pushed into the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cable which can be introduced.
  • two lock-in positions are provided and, in a first preliminary lock-in position, a cable end can be introduced into the crimping region and, in a second final position, a cable can be introduced from above through the housing into the insulation-piercing terminal contact region by bending open the housing.
  • the electrical connector is suitable for connecting continuous cables of various sizes with a cable end or for connecting two cable ends which lie opposite each other and are of relatively large diameter to a third cable end.
  • the use of the electrical connector thereby proceeds as follows: the contact element is located in the preliminary lock-in position in the housing. First of all, one cable end is introduced into the crimping contact region and the crimping connection is closed. Thereafter, the contact element with the first cable end is introduced into the housing, into the final lock-in position. Then, the second cable, a continuous cable, is introduced from above by a tool. To do so, first of all the side walls of the housing are spread away from each other and then the cable is appropriately attached in the insulation-piercing terminal contact region. Thereafter, the spreading of the side walls is undone.
  • FIG 1 a view of a housing 1 according to the invention is represented.
  • the view is of the bottom wall 2 of the housing 1.
  • An opening 3 in the bottom wall, and a step in the bottom wall can be seen. This step can be seen particularly well in the section of Figure 2.
  • the bottom wall in this case comprises a lower portion 2 and a slightly higher portion 4.
  • a side wall 5 and part of the top wall 6 can also be seen in Figure 2.
  • the top wall 6 has a slit 7, which does not extend in a straight line, however, but is only straight in certain portions and these straight portions are staggered with respect to one another.
  • a larger opening 8, which serves for the stuffer or the attaching tool, can also be seen.
  • Figure 2 there can also be seen two impressions 9 and 10 in the side wall, which serve for the locking of the contact element in the preliminary and final lock-in positions.
  • Figure 4 clearly shows the box-shaped structure of the housing 1. It comprises a bottom wall 2, a top wall 6, which is appropriately divided by the slit 7 into two parts, and also two side walls 5 and 11.
  • the side walls 5 and 11 respectively have portions 12 and 13 which protrude over the top wall 6 and serve as points of contact for a tool, in order to bend the side walls apart.
  • an electrical connector 14 is represented.
  • the housing 1 is substantially in the form of box, as shown in Figures 1 to 6.
  • the top wall 6 is at the top in the Figure and the bottom wall 2 of the housing 1 is at the bottom. Both are shown in a corresponding section.
  • a step 15 in the bottom wall 2 can be seen. It divides the bottom wall 2 into two different regions, into a region 2 and a region 4.
  • Located on the lower level of the bottom wall 2 is the metallic contact element 16.
  • the metallic contact element 16 has only been pushed in partially; it is in the preliminary lock-in position. Pulling out of the contact element 16 from the housing 1 is prevented by two mutually opposite resilient elements 17 and corresponding depressions 10 in the housing 1, into which the resilient elements 17 engage.
  • the metallic contact element 16 has an insulation-piercing terminal contact region 18 and a crimping contact region 19. In the preliminary lock-in position of the contact element 16 in the housing 1, the insulation-piercing terminal contact region 18 is already located in the housing 1, while the crimping contact region 19 is accessible outside the housing 1.
  • Crimping contact region 19 and insulation-piercing terminal contact region 18 are conductively connected to each other.
  • the crimping contact region 19 comprises two pairs of crimping lugs arranged one behind the other, of which those further away from the insulation-piercing terminal contact region serve for fixing a cable end to the cable sheath and the crimping lugs arranged closer to the insulation-piercing terminal contact region 18 serve for fixing the stripped conductors of the cable end and consequently for electrical contact-making.
  • the crimping contact region 19 is adjoined by the insulation-piercing terminal contact region 18. Both regions are designed in such a way that cables fixed therein are aligned in line with one another and lie one above the other with respect to the bottom wall 2.
  • the insulation-piercing terminal contact region 18 comprises the actual insulation-piercing terminal lugs 20 to 23 and two strain-relieving regions 24 and 25. If the insulation-piercing terminal contact region 18 is viewed along the axis of a cable to be inserted, the different regions are arranged one behind the other as follows: a strain-relieving region 24, for example formed by a pair of mutually opposite tongues which are crimped for the strain relief, a pair of mutually opposite insulation-piercing terminal lugs 20, which are suitable for cables of relatively large diameter, two pairs, arranged one behind the other, of insulation-piercing terminal lugs 21 and 22 arranged next to each other, which are suitable for cables of relatively small diameter, a further pair of insulation-piercing terminal lugs 23, arranged next to each other, which are suitable for cables of relatively large diameter, and a strain-relieving region 25, which comprises, for example, two mutually opposite lugs which are crimped for the fixing of the cable.
  • FIG 8 the arrangement according to Figure 7 is represented in plan view of the top wall.
  • the top wall 6 with the slit 7, which is of a staggered arrangement, and with the opening 8 for the attaching tool can be clearly seen.
  • a stop 26, which engages in a widening in the housing 1, can also be seen in Figure 8, at the free end of the crimping contact region 19. This stop 26 avoids the crimping contact region being bent, or even torn off the contact element, when there is strain on the cable end.
  • the corresponding widening in the housing can be seen, for example, in Figure 6 and also in Figure 5 by the reference numeral 27.
  • FIG 10 it is shown how the side walls 5 and 11 of the housing 1 are bent apart for receiving a cable 30 in the insulation-piercing terminal contact region.
  • two parts 31 of a tool act on the portions 12 and 13 of the side walls 5 and 11 and bend the side walls apart by pulling them to the outer sides.
  • the slit in the top wall 6 opens to such an extent that the cable can be introduced through it.
  • the cable is then contacted and fastened in the insulation-piercing terminal contact region.
  • a corresponding attaching tool is introduced through the opening 8 in the top wall, which has likewise been widened.
  • the elastic properties of the housing 1 it will revert to its original form as soon as the tool no longer exerts any tension on the portions 12 and 13.
  • particularly simple handling of the housing is made possible and no additional parts, such as for example a cover, are required.
  • FIG 11 an installation situation of an electrical connector 14 with a cable 30 and a cable end 33 is represented.
  • a cable end 33 is fixed at the crimping contact region 19.
  • the conductors of the cable end 33 can be clearly seen. They are held by a crimping lug.
  • the stops for the preliminary lock-in position 32 have been bent round. As can be clearly seen in Figures 7 and 8, these stops for the preliminary lock-in position strike against the outer wall of the housing 1 and thus prevent the further penetration of the contact element in the preliminary lock-in position.
  • These stops 32 are bent round in the crimping operation, in order in this way to permit the introduction of the contact element 16 in the housing 1 to reach the final lock-in position.
  • the metallic contact element 16 was pushed into the housing 1.
  • the resilient elements 17 are thereby pushed further from one widening in the cross-section of the housing to a second widening.
  • a stop of the contact element 16 strikes against the step 15.
  • the second cable 30 is then inserted into the insulation-piercing terminal contact region 18, as already explained in Figure 10. The cable 30 is then conductively connected to the cable end 33.

Landscapes

  • Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

Claims (10)

  1. Boítier pour un connecteur électrique destiné à recevoir un élément de contact métallique (16) avec une région de contact à bornes à percement de l'isolation (18), le boítier (1) comprenant une paroi inférieure (2), deux parois latérales (5, 11) et une paroi supérieure (6), divisée en deux parties par une fente (7), caractérisé en ce que les parois latérales (5, 11) sont configurées de sorte à pouvoir être écartées par pliage, pour permettre l'introduction d'un câble servant à la connexion de l'élément de contact (16) à travers la fente élargie (7).
  2. Boítier selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les parois latérales (5, 11) comportent des parties (12, 13) débordant au-dessus de la paroi supérieure (6) et servant de point de contact pour l'écartement des parois latérales (5, 11).
  3. Boítier selon l'une des revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que la fente (7) n'a pas une configuration droite continue, mais comporte des parties échelonnées les unes par rapport aux autres.
  4. Connecteur électrique comportant un boítier selon la revendication 1, le connecteur comportant en outre un élément de contact métallique (16) pouvant être agencé dans le boítier et comportant une région de contact à bornes à percement de l'isolation (18) et une autre région d'établissement de contact (10).
  5. Connecteur électrique selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que l'élément de contact métallique (16) comporte une région de contact à bornes à percement de l'isolation (18) et une région de contact de sertissage (19) adjacente et connectée par conduction à la région de contact à bornes à percement de l'isolation (18) dans la direction de l'axe longitudinal d'un câble pouvant être introduit.
  6. Connecteur électrique selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que l'élément de contact (16) peut être poussé dans le boítier (1) dans la direction de l'axe longitudinal d'un câble pouvant être introduit, de sorte que dans une position de verrouillage préliminaire, une extrémité de câble (31) peut être connectée à la région de contact de sertissage (19), et que dans la position de verrouillage finale, au moins un câble (30) peut être introduit d'en haut dans le boítier, dans la région de contact à bornes à percement de l'isolation (18), les parois latérales étant écartées l'une de l'autre en vue de l'introduction du câble.
  7. Connecteur électrique selon l'une des revendications 5 et 6, caractérisé en ce que l'agencement de la région de contact à bornes à percement de l'isolation (18) et de la région de contact de sertissage (19) est tel que les câbles sont alignés les uns avec les autres et sont agencés les uns au-dessus des autres dans le boítier par rapport à la paroi inférieure (2).
  8. Connecteur électrique selon l'une des revendications 4 à 7, caractérisé en ce que la région de contact à bornes à percement de l'isolation (18) comporte deux régions de décharge de traction (24, 25), des pattes de bornes à percement de l'isolation (20 à 23) étant respectivement agencées entre ces régions, opposées les unes aux autres et agencées par paires, deux paires (20, 23) des pattes de bornes à percement de l'isolation (21, 22) étant à chaque fois destinées à des câbles de diamètre relativement réduit et aux câbles de diamètre relativement grand, de sorte que les paires des pattes de bornes à percement de l'isolation pour les câbles à diamètre relativement réduit sont agencées entre celles destinées aux câbles de diamètre relativement grand.
  9. Connecteur électrique selon l'une des revendications 4 à 8, caractérisé en ce que le contact à bornes à percement de l'isolation de la région de contact à bornes de percement d'isolation (18) comprend un profil en W avec quatre niveaux, comportant dans chaque cas une paire de pattes de bornes à percement de l'isolation mutuellement opposées (20, 21, 22, 23).
  10. Procédé de connexion d'un câble électrique à un connecteur électrique comportant un boítier (1) comportant une paroi inférieure (2), deux parois latérales (5, 11) et une paroi supérieure (6), divisée en deux parties par une fente (7) et un élément de contact métalliquc (18) comprenant les étapes d'écartement par pliage des parois latérales (5, 11) du boítier, de sorte que la fente (7) est élargie, permettant l'introduction du câble électrique (30) à travers la fente dans le boítier, et connectant le câble électrique (30) à la région de contact à bornes à percement de l'isolation (19).
EP98900338A 1997-02-04 1998-01-28 Boitier pour connecteur electrique, connecteur electrique comportant un boitier et un element de contact metallique, et procede pour raccorder un cable electrique a ce connecteur electrique Expired - Lifetime EP0958637B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19704155 1997-02-04
DE19704155A DE19704155A1 (de) 1997-02-04 1997-02-04 Gehäuse für einen elektrischen Verbinder und elektrischer Verbinder mit einem Gehäuse und einem metallischen Kontaktelement
PCT/IB1998/000105 WO1998034297A1 (fr) 1997-02-04 1998-01-28 Boitier pour connecteur electrique, connecteur electrique comportant un boitier et un element de contact metallique, et procede pour raccorder un cable electrique a ce connecteur electrique

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0958637A1 EP0958637A1 (fr) 1999-11-24
EP0958637B1 true EP0958637B1 (fr) 2002-01-02

Family

ID=7819266

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98900338A Expired - Lifetime EP0958637B1 (fr) 1997-02-04 1998-01-28 Boitier pour connecteur electrique, connecteur electrique comportant un boitier et un element de contact metallique, et procede pour raccorder un cable electrique a ce connecteur electrique

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0958637B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU5493798A (fr)
DE (2) DE19704155A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1998034297A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19844869A1 (de) 1998-09-30 2000-05-11 Alcatel Sa Kontaktelement zur Verbindung einer Flachbandleitung mit Rundleitern und Drehverbinder mit einem derartigen Kontaktelement

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4331036C2 (de) * 1992-09-14 1997-03-20 Yazaki Corp Schneidklemm-Verbindungsstecker
GB9425107D0 (en) * 1994-12-13 1995-02-08 Amp Gmbh IDC branch connector for large range of wire sizes
US5577930A (en) * 1995-06-28 1996-11-26 Molex Incorporated Electrical connector with improved conductor retention means
DE19529893A1 (de) * 1995-08-14 1997-02-20 Whitaker Corp Elektrischer Verbinder

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE19704155A1 (de) 1998-08-06
DE69803363T2 (de) 2002-08-14
WO1998034297A1 (fr) 1998-08-06
AU5493798A (en) 1998-08-25
DE69803363D1 (de) 2002-02-28
EP0958637A1 (fr) 1999-11-24

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