EP1280239A2 - Steckverbinder - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP1280239A2
EP1280239A2 EP02254738A EP02254738A EP1280239A2 EP 1280239 A2 EP1280239 A2 EP 1280239A2 EP 02254738 A EP02254738 A EP 02254738A EP 02254738 A EP02254738 A EP 02254738A EP 1280239 A2 EP1280239 A2 EP 1280239A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
components
connector
port
locking member
connector according
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Withdrawn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
EP02254738A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1280239A3 (de
Inventor
Kenneth Gee
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.)
Sicame Electrical Developments Ltd
Original Assignee
Sicame Electrical Developments Ltd
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 Sicame Electrical Developments Ltd filed Critical Sicame Electrical Developments Ltd
Publication of EP1280239A2 publication Critical patent/EP1280239A2/de
Publication of EP1280239A3 publication Critical patent/EP1280239A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
    • H01R4/30—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a screw or nut clamping member
    • 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
    • H01R4/58—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 characterised by the form or material of the contacting members
    • H01R4/60—Connections between or with tubular conductors

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a connector for use in the connection of electrical conductors, and particularly although not necessarily exclusively for the connection of the ends of two electrical cables with any insulation surrounding the conducting cores removed at the respective ends to allow the ends to be inserted into and secured in the connector parts.
  • One such conventional connector comprises two parts, each part having a port at one end for the location of an electrical conductor end therein and an engagement portion at the other end.
  • the parts are joined together by overlapping the engagement portions of the respective parts so as to provide a horizontal interface between the parts and clamping them together using a bolt which passes through corresponding apertures in said overlapping engagement portions.
  • a problem associated with this type of connector is that there is nothing to mechanically hold the two parts of the connector together before the bolt is located therewith. As such, a user is required to use both hands to fit the connector together; a first hand to grip the two parts of the connector together in overlapping arrangement and a second hand to locate the bolt in the aperture and tighten the same.
  • this type of connector is typically used for connection of electrical conductors underground, there is normally limited space and/or access in which the connectors can be fitted and thus the user often has difficulties in manoeuvring themselves to be able to fit the connector. In practice, the user often has difficulties in aligning the parts using one hand whilst locating the bolt in the aperture using the other hand. Thus conventional connectors tend to be fiddly and time consuming to assemble.
  • a further problem associated with such connectors is that in order to manoeuvre the mating connector parts into an overlapping position, an extended portion of each of the conducting cable ends located with the parts of the connector need to be able to flex to allow relative movement of the conductor ends and connector parts and allow connection. This is not always easily possible and this adds to the difficulties associated with assembly of the connector.
  • a connector for use in connecting together at least first and second electrical conductors, said connector including first and second components and at least one component having at least one port therein for the location therein of one of said first and second electrical conductors and characterised in that said components are provided with complimentary engagement means to allow engagement of said components together to form the connector and limit relative movement along the longitudinal axis of the connector and retaining means are provided to retain the components in the engaged position and limit movement of said components perpendicularly of the longitudinal axis of the connector.
  • said retaining means includes a locking member which locates in a port in the connector to clamp the components together.
  • one end of the locking member has smaller cross sectional dimensions than the other end of the member.
  • At least a portion of the locking member is tapered along its length.
  • a greater portion of the port for the location of the locking member is formed on one component than on the other component.
  • only the wider part and tapered section of the locking member contacts with one of the components.
  • At least a portion of the locking member is threaded and engages with a complementary threaded portion of the port.
  • the locking member When the components are engaged together by said complementary engagement means, the locking member is inserted into said port and the threaded portion engages with the threaded bore.
  • the portion of the locking member with increased cross sectional dimension contacts both components and forces the two components apart to a limited extent, thereby increasing the clamping effect of the complementary engagement means.
  • the complimentary engagement means are in the form of, on one of said components, a flange portion or portions which slidably engage(s) with a complementary groove or grooves on the other of said components, thereby forming said engagement means.
  • the groove(s) has an open end for sliding the flange portions therein and a blind end against which ends of the flange portions engage.
  • the connector allows self alignment and electrical connection of the conductors.
  • the components are engaged by the complimentary engagement means, they do not need to be held together by the user to the same extent as the conventional connectors when clamping the components together, thereby allowing the user to use only one hand to secure the locking member in position and hence form the connector.
  • This is advantageous when there is only limited space available for assembling the connector.
  • the user can use two hands to locate the locking member in the offset port if required, which is not typically possible with prior art connectors.
  • the user need only be concerned with separation of the components in a single direction whilst securing the locking member, compared to conventional connectors which can separate in any number of directions.
  • the present invention increases the ease with which the connector can be assembled.
  • a further advantage of the present invention is that the engagement portions of the components are relatively short as they do not require the length to be provided for the mating parts as required in conventional connectors. As such, a reduced length of conducting cable is required to be flexed in the present invention to allow fitment and assembly of the connector components, compared to conventional connectors.
  • FIG. 1 there is illustrated the components of a connector 2 for connecting at least ends of first and second electrical cables together.
  • the connector 2 comprises a first component 4, a second component 6 and a locking member in the form of a locking shear screw 8.
  • the first and second components 4, 6 have ports 5, 7 respectively for the location of first and second electrical conductor cables respectively.
  • the ports are sized according to the size of the cable core, with insulating removed, to be located therein and securing means such as clamping screws are provided to locate in threaded apertures, shown in Figure 3, in the components to exert a clamping force on the conductors and retain the same in the components.
  • first and second complimentary engagement means 10, 14.
  • the component 4 is provided with a flanged portion 10 at end 12.
  • the component 6 is provided with a complimentary grooved portion 14 at end 16.
  • the flanged portion 10 is slidably located in the grooved portion 14, as shown by arrow 17, thereby holding the two components together to prevent movement axially along the longitudinal axis of the connector as shown by arrow 18.
  • the grooved portion 14 is shaped so that there is a first open end 20 through which end 22 of the flanged portion 10 is inserted, and a blind end 24 against which end 22 engages when in a fully connected position. Therefore, the component 4 is slidably engaged with the component 6 in direction 17.
  • the two components can be separated by moving the components in the reverse direction to 17.
  • the grooved and flanged portions, when engaged, also limit movement of the components transversally to one possible direction, as well as preventing movement axially.
  • the user need only be concerned with separation of the components in a single direction, compared to conventional connectors which can separate in any number of directions unless the parts are securely gripped in a user's hand.
  • Port 27 is provided in and formed by component 6 and, to a lesser extent, by component 4 and has a threaded portion 29 to engage with threaded end 26 of the locking member.
  • the port 27 includes the threaded portion 29 and a wider diameter part 28. The majority of the port 27 is formed on one component, 6, and indeed, as shown in Figures 2b and c, only a portion of the wider diameter part 28 of the port 27 is formed in component 4.
  • the threaded portion can be provided along a greater or smaller portion of locking member 8 as required.
  • the connector is typically made from a conducting material, such as a metallic material.
  • the outer surface of the connector is provided with smooth contours so as to reduce electrical discharge as required in the conventional manner.
  • Figure 3 illustrates an assembled connector 2 formed from components 4, 6.
  • the engagement means 10, 14 are shown engaged and the locking member 8 is shown with the head 40 of the same removed as the same is designed to shear off via weakened line 42, shown in Figure 1, when a predetermined turning torque is reached.
  • conductors 44, 46 are respectively located with respective ends 48, 50 located in ports 7, 5 respectively and held in position by shear bolts 52 with their heads sheared off as with locking member 8 with the shear bolts located in apertures in the connector components and contacting the conductors to exert a clamping force on the same and secure them in the connector to allow the electrical connection through the connector and between the conductors.
  • shear bolts 52 as required can be provided as required.
  • the present invention provides a connector which can be easily assembled in limited space.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
EP02254738A 2001-07-25 2002-07-05 Steckverbinder Withdrawn EP1280239A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0118080A GB0118080D0 (en) 2001-07-25 2001-07-25 Connector
GB0118080 2001-07-25

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1280239A2 true EP1280239A2 (de) 2003-01-29
EP1280239A3 EP1280239A3 (de) 2004-01-02

Family

ID=9919125

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02254738A Withdrawn EP1280239A3 (de) 2001-07-25 2002-07-05 Steckverbinder

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1280239A3 (de)
GB (1) GB0118080D0 (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2421642A (en) * 2004-12-21 2006-06-28 Tyco Electronics Electrical connector
EP3159977A1 (de) * 2015-10-21 2017-04-26 Tyco Electronics SIMEL S.A.S Keilverbinder mit kreisförmigem schwalbenschwanz
CN109546372A (zh) * 2018-10-24 2019-03-29 武汉船用机械有限责任公司 一种分支电缆
US11276946B2 (en) * 2019-03-21 2022-03-15 TE Connectivity Services Gmbh Cable connector system and a method of connecting electrical cables

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB287239A (en) * 1926-12-17 1928-03-19 William Richard Macdonald Improvements relating to couplings or joints for electric cables
FR1013917A (fr) * 1950-03-07 1952-08-06 Fiche électrique normalisée, étanche et rapide
DE29715164U1 (de) * 1997-08-23 1997-10-23 Heimann, Birgit, 79694 Utzenfeld Winkelbeweglicher Steckverbinder

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB287239A (en) * 1926-12-17 1928-03-19 William Richard Macdonald Improvements relating to couplings or joints for electric cables
FR1013917A (fr) * 1950-03-07 1952-08-06 Fiche électrique normalisée, étanche et rapide
DE29715164U1 (de) * 1997-08-23 1997-10-23 Heimann, Birgit, 79694 Utzenfeld Winkelbeweglicher Steckverbinder

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2421642A (en) * 2004-12-21 2006-06-28 Tyco Electronics Electrical connector
GB2421642B (en) * 2004-12-21 2008-12-24 Tyco Electronics Electrical connector
EP3159977A1 (de) * 2015-10-21 2017-04-26 Tyco Electronics SIMEL S.A.S Keilverbinder mit kreisförmigem schwalbenschwanz
US10135158B2 (en) 2015-10-21 2018-11-20 Tyco Electronics Simel Sas Split connector with circular dove tail
CN109546372A (zh) * 2018-10-24 2019-03-29 武汉船用机械有限责任公司 一种分支电缆
US11276946B2 (en) * 2019-03-21 2022-03-15 TE Connectivity Services Gmbh Cable connector system and a method of connecting electrical cables

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0118080D0 (en) 2001-09-19
EP1280239A3 (de) 2004-01-02

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