EP1691451A1

EP1691451A1 - Improved electric connector

Info

Publication number: EP1691451A1
Application number: EP05425071A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Enzo Catellani
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-14
Filing date: 2005-02-14
Publication date: 2006-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2025-02-14
Also published as: DE602005004007D1; ATE382196T1; EP1691451B1; DE602005004007T2

Abstract

An improved electric connector (1) is disclosed, that is composed of a first connector member (1a) connected to a first free end of at least one first electric wire (3a) and of a second connector member (1b) connected to a first free end of at least one second electric wire (3b), such first connector member (1a) and such second connector member (1b) adapted to electrically connect such first electric wire (3a) and such second electric wire (3b), the first connector member (1a) comprising a first, electrically connecting conductor wire terminal (5a), a first insulating bush (15a), a first main body (25a) equipped with a first external threading (29a); and the second connector member (1b) comprising a second, electrically connecting conductor wire terminal (5b), a second insulating bush (15b), a second main body (25b) and a locking ring nut (33b) equipped with a second internal threading (29b) adapted to engage the first threading (29a).

Description

The present invention refers to an improved electric connector, particularly adapted to electrically connect the free ends of at least a pair of electric wires.
As known, the prior art proposes an extremely high number of electric connectors, made by using the most various principles, techniques and materials, also depending on specific uses to which they are aimed, and in particular to voltage and/or current levels that it must be able to transfer safely and reliably.
In particular, patent US-A-2,931,009 discloses an electric connector in which an electric conducting wire is connected, for example through brazing, to the inside of the central opening of a connection member made of electrically-conducting material having an externally threaded end. A second electric wire is then similarly connected to the inside of a central opening of a second connection member, also made of electrically-conducting material, such second member having a tapered flange on its external face. Moreover, an internally threaded alignment nut is arranged around the second connection member with its tapered flange engaging a corresponding tapered shoulder in the nut, so that, when the first connecting member is screwed into the nut, the connecting member faces are mutually abutting. In order to censure the electric connection between connecting members, a blocking screw is provided that, when the nut operates, is tightened to circumferentially push the nut itself so that the second member is pushed towards the first member. However, while this type of connector is efficient to guarantee the electric connection between wire ends, it is clear that it is not as well efficient to ensure the electric insulation, which, in addition to making it substantially dangerous, makes it necessary to use supplementary parts in order to adequately insulate the electric connection and therefore avoid possible short-circuit or electrocution dangers, thereby becoming rather costly to manufacture.
Actually, other types of connectors are known, such as, for example, those disclosed in patents US-A-2 595 057 and USA-1 836 480. However, these connectors are extremely costly, difficult to use and scarcely reliable.
US-A-2 294 737 discloses instead an electric connector in which the reliability of the electric connection between a first and a second electric connection members, respectively connected to the free ends of a pair of electric wires, is substantially guatranteed by the fact that, once connected through a nut of the first member that engages an external threading of the second member, the two connection members are deformed with an oval shape, thereby preventing the mutual rotation of a member in the other. It is however immediately evident that, in addition to be extremely complex and consequently extremely costly, the connector disclosed in the above patent has a rather limited number of uses in time, since an excessive number of deformations inevitably make its following sealing capabilities unavoidably unreliable.
Also the electric connector disclosed in US-A-3 654 588 is rather complex and scarcely reliable, since the connection sealing is exclusively guaranteed by a nut and a related threading, both made of plastic.
Therefore, object of the present invention is removing or minimising the advantages of known electric connectors, by providing an improved electric connector that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, can be easily used and has an efficient and reliable operation.
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained with an improved electric connector as disclosed in claim 1. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.
The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of the improved electric connector according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 and 3 show an exploded side view of the improved electric connector according to the present invention; and
FIG. 4 and 5 show an exploded sectional view of the main members composing the improved electric connector according to the present invention.

With reference to the Figures, it is possible to note that the improved electric connector 1 according to the present invention is composed of a first connector member 1a connected to a first free end of at least one first electric wire 3a and a second connector member 1b connected to a first free end of at least one second electric wire 3b, the first connector member 1a and the second connector member 1b being adapted to electrically connect the first electric wire 3a with the second electric wire 3b
With particular reference now to FIG. 2 and 4, it is possible to note that the first connector member 1a comprises:

a first, electric connection conductor wire terminal 5a, adapted to be electrically connected to the conducting end of the first electric wire 3a, having a first, preferably flat conducting end 7a defining a first shoulder 9a, described below, and having preferably a first elongation 11a equipped with a first recess 13a adapted to receive and be electrically connected to the conducting end of the first electric wire 3a. The first wire terminal 5a can obviously be made of any suitably conducting material; moreover, the conducting end of the first electric wire 3a can be connected to the first recess 13a of the first wire terminal 5a through crimping, welding or any other suitable technique adapted to guarantee the appropriate electric conduction between the first electric wire 3a and the first wire terminal 5a;
a first insulating bush 15a having a preferably flat end 17a defining a second shoulder 19a and a third shoulder 21a, described below, and a second elongation 22a, such first insulating bush 15a having a first through-hole 23a that is coaxial therewith and adapted to coaxially house the first wire terminal 5a and the first electric wire 3a; the first wire terminal 5a is inserted, preferably in a restrained way, into the first through-hole 23a of the first insulating bush 15a till it assumes an operating position in which the first shoulder 9a abuts against the second shoulder 19a; the first insulating bush 15a is preferably made of nylon, but it is clear that it can be made of any other suitably insulating material; it is clear that the first wire terminal 5a can be indifferently kept in position in the first insulating bush 15a also by glueing or suitable mechanical systems;
a first main body 25a equipped with a second through-hole 27a that is coaxial therewith and adapted to coaxially house the first insulating bush 15a, in particular its second elongation 22a, the first wire terminal 5a inserted in this latter one and the first electric wire 3a, this latter one being preferably equipped, in the internal portion of the first main body 25a related to the second through-hole 27a, of its own electric indulation sheath or anyway suitably insulated in order not to transmit electric current to the first main body 25a; the first insulating bush 15a is therefore preferably inserted in the second through-hole 27a till it assumes an operating position in which the third shoulder 21a abuts against an end of the first main body 25a; the first main body 25a is further equipped, preferably on a portion of its external surface adjacent to the abutment end of the third shoulder 21a, with a first threading 29a, described below. Moreover, it is possible to provide, inside the second through-hole 27a, a narrowing part defining a fourth shoulder 31a and a fifth shoulder 33a, such fourth shoulder 31a being adapted to guarantee a further abutment to the second elongation 22a. The fifth shoulder 33a is instead adapted to guarantee an abutment portion to a possible, preferably metallic, cannula 35a, placed as to protect the first electric wire 3a; in order to keep in place the portion of cannula 35a that is internal to the second through-hole 27a, it is possible to provide, in the first main body 25a, a threaded through-hole 37a equipped with a securing screw (not shown) whose closure secures the cannula 35a inside the first main body 25a.

Next, with particular reference to FIG. 3 and 5, it is possible to note that second connector member 1b comprises:

a second, electric connecting conductor wire terminal 5b, adapted to be electrically connected to the conducting end of the second electric wire 3b, having a second conducting end 7b that is preferably flat and defines a sixth shoulder 9b, described below, ahd having preferably a third elongation 11b equipped with a second recess 13b adapted to receive and be electrically connected to the conducting end of the second electric wire 3b; like for the first wire terminal 5a, the second wire terminal 5b can obviously be made of any suitably conducting material; moreover, the conducting end of the second electric wire 3b can be connected to the second recess 13b of the second wire terminal 5b through crimping, welding or any other suitable technique adapted to guarantee the appropriate electric conduction between the second electric wire 3b and the second wire terminal 5b; obviously, due to manufacturing and scale economies, the first and the second wire terminals 5a and 5b can advantageously be mutually equal;
a second insulating bush 15b having a preferably flat end 17b defining a seventh shoulder 19b and an eighth shoulder 21b, described below, and a fourth elongation 22b, such second insulating bush 15b having a third through-hole 23b that is coaxial therewith and adapted to coaxially house the second wire terminal 5b and the second electric wire 3b; the second wire terminal 5b is inserted, preferably in a restraining way, into the third through-hole 23b of the second insulating bush 15b till it assumes an operating position in which the sixth shoulder 9b abuts against the seventh shoulder 19b; the second insulating bush 15b is preferably made of nylon but it is clear that it can be made of any other suitably insulating material; it is clear that the second wire terminal 5b can be indifferently kept in place in the second insulating bush 15b also through glueing or suitable mechanical systems; obviously, due to manufacturing and scale economies, the first and the second insulating bush 15a and 15b can advantageously be mutually equal;
a second main body 25b equipped with a fourth through-hole 27b that is coaxial therewith and adapted to coaxially house the second insulating bush 15b, in particular its fourth elongation 22b, the second wire terminal 5b inserted in this latter one and the second electric wire 3b, this latter one is preferably equipped, in the internal portion of the second main body 25b related to the second through-hole 27b, with its own electric insulating sheath or anyway suitably insulated, so that it does not transmit electric current to the second main body 25b; the second insulating bush 15b is therefore preferably inserted into the fourth through-hole 27b till it assumes an operating position in which the eighth shoulder 21b abuts against a ninth shoulder 26b, defining a tenth shoulder 28b described below, of the second main body 25b. Moreover, it is possible to provide, inside the fourth through-hole 27b, a narrowing part defining a tenth shoulder 31b adapted to guarantee a further abutment to the fourth elongation 22b;
a locking ring nut 33b coaxial with the second main body 25b, equipped inside with a second threading 29b adapted to engage the first threading 29a of the first main body 25a; inside the locking ring nut 33b, an eleventh shoulder 35b is defined, that is adapted to abut against the tenth shoulder 28b when tightening the locking ring nut 33b onto the first threading 29a to perform the operating locking of the electric connector 1. In the Figures, the locking ring nut 33b is schematically shown as smooth and preferably cylindrical, but it can be equipped with an external knurling adapted to allow a tighter grip when it is tightened, or to be externally shaped as a nut with standard sizes to allow its tightening with a tool. Preferably, it is further possible to provide that the tenth shoulder 28b and the eleventh shoulder 35b cooperate by interposing elastic means, for example at least one helical spring 37b that is external and coaxial with the second main body 25b, so that tightening of the locking ring nut 33b onto the first threading 29 compresses the spring 37b itself generating a longitudinal tension on the cooperating threads of the first and the second threading 29a and 29b, thereby highly limiting their relative sliding and consequently preventing accidental openings of the electric connector 1, for example due to vibrations or impacts.

It is further clear that the first and/or the second connector member 1a and 1b can be equipped with suitable sealing means (not shown), such as, for example, gaskets, to prevent seepage of water and/or dust that could impair the correct operation of the electric connector 1.
From what has been stated above, the operation of the improved electric connector 1 according to the present invention is clear: in fact, once having connected the electric wires 3a and 3b to their respective wire terminals 5a and 5b and having assembled the first and second connector member 1a and 1b, it is enough to mutually contact the first and the second conducting end 7a, 7b, in order to allow the electric conduction between electric wires, and to block the improved electric connector 1 by tightening the locking ring nut 33b of the second main body 25b onto the second main body 25a by screwing the second threading 29b onto the first threading 29a.
The improved electric connector 1 according to the present invention has been previously described, for an easy explanation, as aimed to the connection of a pair of electric wires, but nothing forbids that the same connector 1 can be used for simultaneously connecting many different electric wires.
It is clear that the presence of the first and the second insulating bush 15a and 15b allows advantageously realising the first and the second support body, respectively 25a and 25b, with any material, even of the conducting type, such as, for example, brass, steel or any other metal, avoiding any danger of short-circuit and/or electrocution and at the same time making it aesthetically more adapted than traditional plastic connectors to any application that provides for the visible use of the improved electric connector 1 according to the present invention, such as, for example, for laying and electrically connecting home chandeliers or lamps.
It is further clear that the chance of making the first and the second main body 25a and 25b, and the locking ring nut 33b, as well as obviously the first and the second threading 29a and 29b, of metal, makes the sealing of the electric connection of the connector 1, and in general its resistance to time, shocks and fatigue, extremely higher, guaranteeing a substantially higher reliability with respect to electric connectors that had been so far proposed by the art.

Claims

Electric connector (1) composed of a first connector member (1a) connected to a first free end of at least one first electric wire (3a) and of a second connector member (1b) connected to a first free end of at least one second electric wire (3b), said first connector member (1a) and said second connector member (1b) being adapted to electrically connect said at least one first electric wire (3a) and said at least one second electric wire (3b), characterised in that said first connector member (1a) comprises:
- a first, electric connecting conductor wire terminal (5a) adapted to be electrically connected to a conducting end of said first electric wire (3a);

- a first insulating bush (15a) having a first through-hole (23a) that is coaxial therewith and adapted to coaxially house said first wire terminal (5a) and said first electric wire (3a);

- a first main body (25a) equipped with a second through-hole (27a), that is coaxial therewith and adapted to coaxially house said first insulating bush (15a) and said first electric wire (3a), and with a first external threading (29a); and in that said second connector member (1b) comprises:

- a second, electric connecting conductor wire terminal (5b) adapted to be electrically connected to a conducting end of said second electric wire (3b) and to be electrically and abuttingly connected to said first wire terminal (5a);

- a second insulating bush (15b) having a third through-hole (23b) that is coaxial therewith and adapted to coaxially house said second wire terminal (5b) and said second electric wire (3b);

- a second main body (25b) equipped with a fourth through-hole (27b), that is coaxial therewith and adapted to coaxially house said second insulating bush (15b) and said second electric wire (3b);

- a locking ring nut (33b) coaxial with said second main body (25b) and equipped with a second internal threading (29b) adapted to engage said first threading (29a).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first wire terminal (5a) is equipped with a first flat conducting end (7a) defining a first shoulder (9a).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first wire terminal (5a) is equipped with a first elongation (11a) equipped with a first recess (13a) adapted to receive and be electrically connected to said conducting end of said first electric wire (3a).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first insulating bush (15a) is equipped with an end (17a) defining a second abutment shoulder (19a) of said first shoulder (9a) and a third shoulder (21a), and a second elongation (22a).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first insulating bush (15a) is made of nylon.
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1 or 4, characterised in that said second through-hole (27a) is adapted to house said second elongation (22a).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said third shoulder (21a) is abutting against an end of said first main body (25a).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said second through-hole (27a) is equipped with an internal narrowing part defining a fourth abutment shoulder (31a) of said second elongation (22a) and a fifth shoulder 33a, said fifth shoulder (33a) being an abutment portion of a protection cannula (35a) of said first electric wire (3a).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1 or 8, characterised in that said first main body (25a) is equipped with a threaded through-hole (37a) equipped with a securing screw of said cannula (35a).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said second wire terminal (5b) is equipped with a second flat conducting end (7a) defining a sixth shoulder (9b).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said second wire terminal (5b) is equipped with a third elongation (11b) equipped with a second recess (13b) adapted to receive and be electrically connected to said conducting end of said second electric wire (3b).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said second insulating bush (15b) is equipped with an end (17b) defining a seventh abutment shoulder (19b) of said sixth shoulder (9b) and an eighth shoulder (21b), and with a fourth elongation (22b).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said second insulating bush (15b) is made of nylon.
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1 or 12, characterised in that said fourth through-hole (27a) is adapted to house said fourth elongation (22b).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said eighth shoulder (21b) is abutting against a ninth shoulder (26b) of said second main body (25b) defining a tenth shoulder (28b).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said fourth through-hole (27b) is equipped with an internal narrowing part defining a tenth abutment shoulder (31b) of said fourth elongation (22b).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said locking ring nut (33b) is internally equipped with an eleventh abutment shoulder (35b) of said tenth shoulder (28b).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said locking ring nut (33b) is equipped with an external knurling.
Electric connector (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said tenth shoulder (28b) and said eleventh shoulder (35b) cooperate by interposing elastic means.
Electric connector (1) according to claim 19, characterised in that said elastic means are at least one helical spring (37b).
Electric connector (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first connector member (1a) and/or said second connector member (1b) are equipped with sealing means or gaskets.
Electric connector (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said first main body (25a) and/or said second main body (25b) and/or said locking ring nut (33b) are made of conducting material, preferably metallic material.