GB1398939A - Wire connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

1398939 Sleeve couplings RELIABLE ELECTRIC CO 16 May 1973 [16 Aug 1972] 23274/73 Heading H2E To connect two bare or insulated wires 50, 52, soft metal channel 10 with toothed inturned flanges 12, 14, containing a slightly shorter resilient metal unflanged channel 16 carrying spikes 28 over its inner surfaces, the whole being wrapped in adherent insulating tape. U-shaped piece 30 with toothed edges 43, is crimped over the wires laid along the channels. The tape pieces are optionally cut in the crimping operation from ladder-like pre-perforated continuous strip carrying the channels. To make a tapping connection, the tapped wire 50 is laid straight while tapping wire 52 changes sides near the mid point of length to position 54. On crimping, optionally by a device described but not claimed (Figs. 1, 2, 3, not shown) and also described in Specification 1,366,626, base 18 and sides 22 of channel 16 wrap round the conductors, allowing spikes 28 to penetrate the insulation, with soft outer channel 10 lying outside the turn of channel 16. The overhanging edges 40 of tape 30 turn inwards inside channel (16, see Fig. 9) where the conductors lie together, and (see (Fig. 10) where they lie on opposite sides of the channel. The teeth 43 of the tape edge under the upper conductor in Fig. 9, and under the lower conductor in Fig. 10, can never completely prevent spikes 28 from penetrating any of the respective conductors, unlike a plain tape edge. Where the lower conductor crosses over, teeth 15 on the edge of outer channel 10 allow the conductor to pass without interference with the crimping action. In the course of the crimping process one end of tapping wire 52 is cut short.