GB2262396A

GB2262396A - Connector for elongate objects

Info

Publication number: GB2262396A
Application number: GB9224065A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Hollick
Original assignee: B & H Ltd
Current assignee: B & H Ltd
Priority date: 1991-12-14
Filing date: 1992-11-17
Publication date: 1993-06-16
Also published as: GB9224065D0

Abstract

A connector for the connection of two electrical cables or the like comprises at least one socket including a tubular bore formed between two components (14), 22 into which may be inserted the end of a cable 32 to be connected. The two components (14), 22 are provided with keying engagement means 15 to prevent relative slippage of the two components (14), 22 along the axis of the bore formed between them. The keys may be dovetailed. The connector is advantageous primarily in that it exhibits greater mechanical strength than does an otherwise similar connector without the keying engagement means. The connector comprises a socket with a through bore, or a blind bored socket connected to a blind bored, one piece socket for one or more cables. The cables are held in the sockets by screws and the two components (14), 22 can be held together by a surrounding, apertured sleeve. <IMAGE>

Description

Title - Connector This invention relates to a connector, in particular to a connector for use with electrical cables.

Cable connectors are used frequently in the electrical field for electrically connecting or terminating lengths of cables. Cable connectors commonly comprise a socket, in the form of a tubular bore, into which the end of a cable can be inserted and secured by means of locking screws.

In some connectors of this type, the tubular bore is formed between two components placed one on top of the other. A disadvantage of such an arrangement is that it is possible for the two components to slip relative to one another, with a consequential reduction in the mechanical strength of the connector.

There has now been devised a connector which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above-mentioned disadvantage.

According to the invention, there is provided a connector for the connection of two electrical cables or the like, which connector comprises at least one socket including a tubular bore formed between two components and into which may be inserted the end of a cable to be connected, wherein the said two components are provided with keying engagement means to prevent relative slippage of the two components along the axis of the bore formed between them.

The connector according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it exhibits greater mechanical strength than does an otherwise similar connector without the keying engagement means on the two components which together enclose the end of a cable or the like to be connected.

The two components are preferably part-cylindrical, most preferably being of generally semi-circular cross-section, such that they together form a tube which receives the end of the cable or the like.

The bores into which the cable ends are inserted (which are defined by the two components) may be, for example, circular or may have the form described in our co-pending UK Patent Application No 2256096.

The keying engagement means are preferably formations provided on the two components, eg corresponding arrangements of lugs and recesses.

For some applications, it is particularly preferred that the keying engagement means be such as to prevent not only relative slippage of the two components along the axis of the bore formed between them, but also separation of the two components along an axis orthogonal thereto. The engagement means may, for instance, be shaped so as to form dovetail joints.

The connector according to the invention will be provided with a number of sockets corresponding to the number of cables to be connected. The sockets may all be of the form described, ie comprising a bore formed between two part-cylindrical components.

However, for ease of use, it is generally preferred that one or more of the sockets be of generally conventional form, ie comprising a one-piece tube with one or more threaded bores through which extend locking screws.

Most commonly, the connector comprises two or three sockets.

A sleeve member is preferably provided to surround the two components and hold them together.

The connector according to the invention may be manufactured from any of the materials commonly used for the manufacture of conventional connectors. In general, any materials having the requisite mechanical strength and providing the necessary electrical connection may be used.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 to 5 are perspective views of a first connector according to the present invention, illustrating the stages in the securement of electrical cables thereto, Figure 6 is an end view of the connector of Figures 1 to 5, fully assembled, Figure 7 is an end view of a second connector according to the invention, Figure 8 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 of part of a third connector according to the invention, Figure 9 is a perspective exploded view of a fourth connector according to the invention, and Figure 10 is a side view of the connector of Figure 9 in an assembled condition.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 5, a connector body (designated generally by the numeral 10) comprises a socket portion 12 and an open channel member 14. The socket portion 12 is of tubular configuration, having a blind bore which in use receives an end of a cable 30, and includes two screw-threaded apertures 18 into which bolts 19 (see Figure 5) are screwed to clamp the cable end in position. The open channel 14 is of part-cylindrical configuration, and includes a channel 20 which in use receives an end of another cable 32. The member 14 co-operates with a part-cylindrical cover member 22 which is placed thereon to close the channel 20, and thus form a second blind bore 21. The cover member 22 is provided with two screw-threaded apertures 24 axially aligned with the apertures 18 of member 12.

As can be seen from Figures 1 to 3, the open channel member 14 is provided with a pair of projections 15, and the cover member 22 with a pair of corresponding recesses 23. When the cover member 22 is placed in position on the open channel member 14, the projections 15 are received within the recesses 23, thus preventing relative movement of the cover member 22 and open channel member 14 along the axis of the bore formed between them.

The cover member 22 is retained in position by means of a tubular sleeve 26 which surrounds the part-cylindrical member 14 and the cover member 22. This sleeve 26 is provided with two plain apertures 28, through which screw-threaded bolts 29 (see Figure 5) are passed for threaded engagement with the apertures 24 in the cover member 22.

In use, the connector 10 is used to join together the cables 30 and 32 after these have been installed in position. Typically, these cables are llkV power distribution cables and are relatively inflexible. Firstly, the end of cable 30 is inserted into the blind bore in the tubular socket portion 12. The sleeve 26 is then passed over the end of the cable 32, and the connector 10 is manoeuvred to bring the cable 32 into the channel 20 in the open channel member 14 (see Figure 2). The cover member 22 is then placed over the open channel member 14 so that these two parts together surround the end of cable 32, following which the sleeve 26 is slid from the cable 32 onto the connector 10 to surround both the open channel member 14 and the cover member 22.

The plain apertures 28 in the sleeve 26 are then aligned with the screw-threaded apertures 24, and the bolts 19 and 20 then screwed into their respective apertures 18 and 24 to retain the cable ends in position, and also thereby effect a secure electrical connection between the cables. Alternatively, the bolts 19 can be used to secure the end of cable 30 as soon as this is inserted into the support member 12. The bolts 19 and/or 29 can be normal bolts, or can be shear head bolts whose heads shear off as soon as the bolts have been screwed into proper engagement with the cables.

As can be seen from Figure 6 the blind bore 21 (and likewise the blind bore in member 12) is offset from the centre of the connector. This increases the depth of the threaded bores 24 (and 18) without increasing the amount of material in the connector, and hence its weight.

Figure 7 shows a second connector similar to that of Figures 1 to 6 save that the bore has the form shown and described more completely in our UK Patent Application No 2256096. Briefly, the internal surface of the bore facing the bolts 39 comprises two pairs of planar surfaces 40,41 arranged at 900 and 1200 respectively. This form of connector is intended for use with a solid conductor 42 with a sectored cross-section. In the Figure, the conductor cross-section subtends 1200 of arc as would be the case in a three-core cable. The planar surfaces of the conductor abut the outer pair of planar surfaces 41 which are arranged at 1200 to one another. In a four-core cable, the conductor cross-section subtends 900 of arc, in which case the planar surfaces of the conductor abut the inner pair of planar surfaces 40 which are at 900 to one another.

Figure 8 shows a connector body 70 forming part of a so-called 'breech' connector for joining two conductors to one. The design is similar to that of the connector body 10 shown in Figure 1 save that the socket portion 72 has two parallel blind bores to receive the ends of two conductors, each having two threaded apertures 78 into which bolts (not shown) are threaded to clamp the conductors in position.

Referring now to Figure 9, an electrical connector comprises two identical semi-cylindrical components 81,82. The interengaging edges of the two components 81,82 are formed as rows of dove-tail shaped lugs 83 and recesses 84. In each row of lugs 83 and recesses 84 there is a lug 83 at one end and a recess 84 at the other, such that when one of the two components 82 is inverted and placed above the other component 81, the lugs 83 of one component 81,82 can be slid sideways into the recesses 84 of the other and vice versa (see Figure 10).

Each of the two components 81,82 is provided with a pair of threaded bores 85 to receive securing bolts (not shown). In practice, a secure connection may be obtained with bolts fitted to the bores 85 in only one of the two components 81,82. Indeed, in an alternative embodiment, the bores 85 may be omitted from one of the two components 81,82.

The connectors of Figures 1 to 10 may be manufactured from any of the materials conventionally used, eg aluminium or brass.

Claims

1. A connector for the connection of two electrical cables or the like, which connector comprises at least one socket including a tubular bore formed between two components and into which may be inserted the end of a cable to be connected, wherein the said two components are provided with keying engagement means to prevent relative slippage of the two components along the axis of the bore formed between them.

2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the two components are part-cylindrical.

3. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the two components are of generally semi-circular cross-section, such that they together form a tube which receives the end of the cable or the like.

4. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bores into which the cable ends are inserted are circular.

5. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the keying engagement means are formations provided on the two components.

6. A connector as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the formations are corresponding arrangements of lugs and recesses.

7. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the keying engagement means are such as to prevent not only relative slippage of the two components along the axis of the bore formed between them, but also separation of the two components along an axis orthogonal thereto.

8. A connector as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the engagement means are shaped so as to form dovetail joints.

9. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a sleeve member is provided to surround the two components and hold them together.

10. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described.

11. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6.

12. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 and 7.

13. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 8.

14. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 9 and 10.