GB2149231A - Highway cable connector - Google Patents
Highway cable connector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2149231A GB2149231A GB08427029A GB8427029A GB2149231A GB 2149231 A GB2149231 A GB 2149231A GB 08427029 A GB08427029 A GB 08427029A GB 8427029 A GB8427029 A GB 8427029A GB 2149231 A GB2149231 A GB 2149231A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- members
- cable
- connector
- wires
- highway
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
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
- H01R4/24—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
-
- 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
- H01R4/2433—Flat plates, e.g. multi-layered flat plates mounted in an insulating base one part of the base being movable to push the cable into the slot
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
- H01R13/52—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
-
- 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
- H01R4/70—Insulation of connections
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R9/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, e.g. terminal strips or terminal blocks; Terminals or binding posts mounted upon a base or in a case; Bases therefor
- H01R9/03—Connectors arranged to contact a plurality of the conductors of a multiconductor cable, e.g. tapping connections
- H01R9/05—Connectors arranged to contact a plurality of the conductors of a multiconductor cable, e.g. tapping connections for coaxial cables
Landscapes
- Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
- Connections By Means Of Piercing Elements, Nuts, Or Screws (AREA)
Abstract
A highway cable connector comprises a pair of relatively movable members 30, 31 hingedly connected together, one member 30 carrying terminals 37, 38 adapted to make electrical connections to conductors of a cable, and the other member 31 carrying pressure blocks 44, 45 arranged to urge conductors into engagement with the terminals 37, 38 on movement of the two members 30, 31 together. Each member 30, 31 carries a seal 47 or 48 arranged to engage the seal 48 or 47 carried by the other member to provide sealing about the connections between the terminals 37, 38 and conductors when the members 30, 31 are closed together. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Highway cable connector
The present invention relates to a highway cable connector for making electrical connection to a conductor in a length of insulated highway cable at a point intermediate to the ends of the length of cable.
According to the invention there is provided a highway cable connector for making electrical connection to a conductor in a length of insulated highway cable at a point intermediate to the ends of the length of cable, comprising a pair of interconnected members which are moveable relative to one another between open and closed positions, electrically conductive cutting or penetrating means mounted on at least one of said members, said members being formed to receive the highway cable with the members in the open position, to present the cable to said cutting or penetrating means and to press the cable against said cutting or penetrating means when the members are moved to the closed position whereby on closing the members said means cuts or penetrates through the insulation of the cable to make contact with the conductor, and a terminal enabling electrical connection to be made to said cutting or penetrating means, wherein said cutting or penetrating means comprises at least two Vshaped members mounted on one of said members and arranged to receive respective insulated wires of a multiwire highway cable, the other of said members having an abutment means arranged to bear on the wires and press the wires into the V-shaped members on closing the members of the connector, whereby the insulation of the wires is displaced by the V-shaped members to make electricl contact between the V-shaped members and the wire conductors, and wherein resiliently deformable seals are mounted on each of the relatively moveable members of the connector so as to co-operate with one another and, on closing the members, make a moisture tight seal between the members and around the wires of the highway cable to prevent ingress of moisture to the connections between V-shaped members and wire conductors, the relatively moveable members being formed to locate the seals mounted thereon and to apply additional squeezing pressure on the seals, on closing the connector, immediately adjacent the wires of the highway cable.
With this connector, sealed connections can be made intermediate the ends of a length of highway cable without breaking the cable.
This is especially useful when connecting telephone apparatus to a communication cable as will become apparent.
This invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure lis a perspective view of a highway cable connector embodying the present invention, and
Figures 2 and 3 are detailed cross-sectional views of part of the connector of Fig. 1.
The drawings show a connector for connecting to the wires of a twisted pair highway cable.
The connector has hinged members 30 and 31, the member 30 being formed with two transverse grooves 32 and 33 substantially parallel to the axis of the hinge 34 between the members 30 and 31. The grooves 32 and 33 are sized to receive the individual wires of a twisted pair cable. It will be appreciated that the twisted pair is untwisted for a short length to enable the wires pair to be located in the respective grooves 32 and 33 and extend out either side of the member 30 through slots 35 in raised side flanges 36 formed upstanding from the member 30.
Metallic v-shaped members 37 and 38 are positioned one aligned with each of grooves 32 and 33 to receive a respective wire of the highway cable. The V-shaped members 37 and 38 are spaced apart along the grooves 32 and 33 as illustrated in the drawing. The member 30 is formed in the region of the grooves 32 and 33 and the V-shaped members 37 and 38 with locating blocks 39 to 43. The member 31 of the connector is formed on the underside as shown in the drawing with two pairs of pressure blocks 44 and 45 positioned to correspond with respective V-shaped members 37 and 38, so that on pivoting the member 31 to close the connector, the pairs of blocks 44 and 45 engage respective wires of the cable on both sides of the V-shaped members to force the wires down into the V's of the members.The Vshaped members 37 and 38 are formed with opposed inwardly directed edges which displace the insulation cover of the wires as the wires are pressed down towards the bases of the V's. The base of the V of each member is sized to be just smaller than the diameter of the conductor in each wire of the highway cable, so that when each wire is fully pressed down into the respective V-shaped member, the insulating cover is completely displaced and connection is made by the V-shaped member to the conductor of the wire. In practice, the opposed inwardly directed edges of the V's of the members 37 and 38 need not be sharp in the sense of being razor edged. Indeed excessively sharp members would tend to cut right through the metal conductors of the wires.Thus, the inwardly directed edges of the V's may have a substantially flat profile, almost parallel or slightly angled relative to the wire engages by the Vshaped member. The profile of the edge may be similar to that of the edge of one blade of a pair of scissors.
In order to form a seal completely around the region where the insulation of the wires of the highway cable is being cut into by the Vshaped members 37 and 38, a shallow rectangular cross-section groove 46 is formed completely encompassing the V-shaped members 37 and 38. The groove is formed as a square in the illustrated example. A square shaped seal member 47 is secured in the groove 46. The seal 47 is conveniently of a spongy material and is arranged to have a natural, undistorted thickness such that the seal 47 extends just above the level of the groove 46. The seal 47 co-operates with a corresponding square seal member 48 located on the member 31.Thus, when the member 31 is rotated to close the connector, the seals 47 and 48 engage each other and are compressed to make moisture proof seals completely around the connection region and in particular around the wires of the highway cable located in the grooves 32 and 33.
Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the sealing arrangement in more detail. As can be seen, the material of the members 30 and 31 immediately under the spongy seal members 47 and 48 is profiled to enhance the sealing effect and to accommodate material of the seals 47 and 48 displaced by the presence of the wires 49 and 50. Thus, enlarged portions 51 and 52 are formed to accommodate seal material displaced by the wires 49 and 50 and raised portions 53 and 54 are formed immediately adjacent the enlarged portions 51 to ensure extra compression of the seal material around the wires.
In the connector shown in the drawings provision is made in a housing region 55 which is closed by the member 31, to accommodate, for example, patches of insulating material for use in repairing the damaged insulation of the highway cable when the connector is disconnected and removed. The housing region 55 may also accommodate spare fuses for use in the connector.
Claims (5)
1. A highway cable connector for making electrical connection to a conductor in a length of insulated highway cable at a point intermediate to the ends of the length of cable, comprising a pair of interconnected members which are moveable relative to one another between open and closed positions, electrically conductive cutting or penetrating means mounted on at least one of said members, said members being formed to receive the highway cable with the members in the open position, to present the cable to said cutting or penetrating means and to press the cable against said cutting or penetrating means when the members are moved to the closed position whereby on closing the members said means cuts or penetrates through the insulation of the cable to make contact with the conductor, and a terminal enabling electrical connection to be made to said cutting or penetrating means, wherein said cutting or penetrating means comprises at least two V-shaped members mounted on one of said members and arranged to receive respective insulated wires of a multiwire highway cable, the other of said members having an abutment means arranged to bear on the wires and press the wires into the V-shaped members on closing the members of the connector, whereby the insulation of the wires is displaced by the V-shaped members to make electrical contact between the V-shaped members and the wire conductors, and wherein resiliently deformable seals are mounted on each of the relatively moveable members of the connector so as to co-operate with one another and, on closing the members, make a moisture tight seal between the members and around the wires of the highway cable to prevent ingress of moisture to the connections between the V-shaped members and wire conductors, the relatively moveable members being formed to locate the seals mounted thereon and to apply additional squeezing pressure on the seals, on closing the connector, immediately adjacent the wires of the highway cable.
2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said seals are located in grooves in each of the relatively moveable members of the connector, each seal having an undistorted thickness such that the seal extends out of the groove.
3. A connector as claimed in Claim 2, wherein each of said grooves is formed with enlarged portions to accommodate seal material displaced by the wires of a cable with which the connector is used.
4. A connector as claimed in Claim 1,
Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said additional squeezing pressure is provided by raised portions on each of the relatively moveable members.
5. A highway cable connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08427029A GB2149231B (en) | 1981-11-04 | 1984-10-25 | Highway cable connector |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8133302 | 1981-11-04 | ||
| GB08231399A GB2109180B (en) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-11-03 | Highway cable connector |
| GB08427029A GB2149231B (en) | 1981-11-04 | 1984-10-25 | Highway cable connector |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8427029D0 GB8427029D0 (en) | 1984-11-28 |
| GB2149231A true GB2149231A (en) | 1985-06-05 |
| GB2149231B GB2149231B (en) | 1985-12-04 |
Family
ID=27261355
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08427029A Expired GB2149231B (en) | 1981-11-04 | 1984-10-25 | Highway cable connector |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2149231B (en) |
Cited By (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7101216B2 (en) | 2004-09-15 | 2006-09-05 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Insulation displacement system for two electrical conductors |
| US7165983B1 (en) | 2005-12-08 | 2007-01-23 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Access cover configured to receive a testing device |
| US7223117B2 (en) | 2005-06-30 | 2007-05-29 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Circuit marker apparatus |
| USD554068S1 (en) | 2004-09-15 | 2007-10-30 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Cap for an electrical connector |
| US7331814B2 (en) | 2005-06-30 | 2008-02-19 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Apparatus configured to attach to an electrical connector block |
| US7335049B2 (en) | 2004-09-15 | 2008-02-26 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Connector assembly for housing insulation displacement elements |
| US7399197B2 (en) | 2004-09-15 | 2008-07-15 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Connector assembly for housing insulation displacement elements |
| US7458840B2 (en) | 2004-09-15 | 2008-12-02 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Cap configured to removably connect to an insulation displacement connector block |
| EP2299543A1 (en) * | 2009-09-22 | 2011-03-23 | Günther Spelsberg GmbH & Co. KG | Electrical connection device |
-
1984
- 1984-10-25 GB GB08427029A patent/GB2149231B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7101216B2 (en) | 2004-09-15 | 2006-09-05 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Insulation displacement system for two electrical conductors |
| USD554068S1 (en) | 2004-09-15 | 2007-10-30 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Cap for an electrical connector |
| US7335049B2 (en) | 2004-09-15 | 2008-02-26 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Connector assembly for housing insulation displacement elements |
| US7399197B2 (en) | 2004-09-15 | 2008-07-15 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Connector assembly for housing insulation displacement elements |
| US7458840B2 (en) | 2004-09-15 | 2008-12-02 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Cap configured to removably connect to an insulation displacement connector block |
| US7223117B2 (en) | 2005-06-30 | 2007-05-29 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Circuit marker apparatus |
| US7331814B2 (en) | 2005-06-30 | 2008-02-19 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Apparatus configured to attach to an electrical connector block |
| US7165983B1 (en) | 2005-12-08 | 2007-01-23 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Access cover configured to receive a testing device |
| EP2299543A1 (en) * | 2009-09-22 | 2011-03-23 | Günther Spelsberg GmbH & Co. KG | Electrical connection device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2149231B (en) | 1985-12-04 |
| GB8427029D0 (en) | 1984-11-28 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE20 | Patent expired after termination of 20 years |
Effective date: 20021102 |