GB2267186A - Devices for facilitating electrical contact - Google Patents
Devices for facilitating electrical contact Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2267186A GB2267186A GB9309022A GB9309022A GB2267186A GB 2267186 A GB2267186 A GB 2267186A GB 9309022 A GB9309022 A GB 9309022A GB 9309022 A GB9309022 A GB 9309022A GB 2267186 A GB2267186 A GB 2267186A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- wall
- slot
- base
- limb
- clip
- 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- Withdrawn
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
- H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
- H01R4/48—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member
Landscapes
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
- Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
Abstract
A device for facilitating electrical contact between an electrical connection and a wall (29) of a compartment containing electrical circuitry, through which wall (29) said electrical connection passes, to which circuitry said electrical connection is connected, said device comprising a U-shaped clip (1), each limb (3, 5) of which has formed therein a slot which extends from a first end of said slot away from the base (15) of said clip (1) to and out of a side (17, 19) of the limb (3, 5) opposite said base (15), the slot tapering outwardly towards the side (17, 19) of the limb (3, 5) opposite said base (15), in use the device being secured to said wall (29) by clipping it on the wall (29) such that the limbs (3, 5) of the clip (1) lie one on either side of the wall (29) and the first ends of the slots together with a first end (39) of a slot (35) in said wall (29) constitute sides of an aperture through which said electrical connection passes, the clip sides being biassed against said connection e.g. by a container lid engaging the clip base (15) in a slot (41). The connection constitutes the screening of a coaxial cable, or a filter feed through. <IMAGE>
Description
Devices for facilitating electrical contact
This invention relates to devices for facilitating electrical contact.
More particularly the invention relates to devices for facilitating electrical contact between an electrical connection and a wall of a compartment containing electrical circuitry, through which wall the electrical connection passes, to which circuitry the electrical connection is connected. The invention also relates to methods of facilitating such electrical contact and to electrical equipment including the aforesaid devices.
There exists the requirement to take a coaxial cable into a compartment to connect to electrical circuitry contained in and RFI (radio frequency interference) screened by the compartment. At the same time it is required that the RFI screening provided by the outer conductor of the coaxial cable be maintained up to the circuitry itself and that an earth connection of the outer be made to the wall of the compartment through which the cable passes. It is known to achieve the foregoing using a coaxial connector in the wall of the compartment. It is also known to solder the outer of the cable to the compartment wall using an eyelet.
In the solder method a hole is drilled in the compartment wall and a tin-plated eyelet fitted in the hole using a powerful hot air gun and solder. The coaxial cable is prepared by stripping off typically about a 5mm length of the cable sleeving at an appropriate point along the cable (not of course at the ends). The coaxial cable is then pushed through the eyelet and a strong soldering iron applied and the exposed outer of the cable soldered in place to the eyelet.
This method poses problems with regard to soldered-in cable flexibility when positioning electrical circuitry in the compartment, i.e. the cable obstructs the circuitry as will now be explained. When the cable is soldered into the eyelet, hot solder runs down the outer of the cable under the cable sleeving by capillary action. On cooling the cable becomes rigid around the joint, up to typically 10mum in length. If the cable is moved or flexed, the soldered part of the outer at the end of the eyelet becomes very brittle, and a complete break in the outer may well result at this point rendering total isolation from the earth connection and an increase in RFI leakage.
To replace the soldered-in cable it has to be cut off on one side of the compartment wall and the eyelet re-heated to pull the cable out. The eyelet then has to be removed because its barrel contains solder inhibiting threading of a new cable. On re-heating to remove the eyelet any surrounding cable loom cables will begin to melt. After that has been done a new eyelet has to be fitted causing more damage to the surrounding cable loom.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for facilitating electrical contact, a method for doing the same, and an electrical equipment including a device as aforesaid wherein the above problems are overcome.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for facilitating electrical contact between an electrical connection and a wall of a compartment containing electrical circuitry, through which wall said electrical connection passes, to which circuitry said electrical connection is connected, said device comprising a U-shaped clip, each limb of which has formed therein a slot which extends from a first end of said slot away from the base of said clip to and out of a side of the limb opposite said base, the slot tapering outwardly towards the side of the limb opposite said base, in use the device being secured to said wall by clipping it on the wall such that the limbs of the clip lie one on either side of the wall and the first ends of the slots together with a first end of a slot in said wall constitute sides of an aperture through which said electrical connection passes, which sides are biassed against said connection.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of facilitating electrical contact between an electrical connection and a wall of a compartment containing electrical circuitry, through which wall said electrical connection passes, to which circuitry said electrical connection is connected, said method comprising securing to said wall a device comprising a
U-shaped clip, each limb of which has formed therein a slot which extends from a first end of said slot away from the base of said clip to a side of the limb opposite said base, the device being secured to said wall by clipping it on the wall such that the limbs of the clip lie one on either side of the wall and the first ends of the slots together with a first end of a slot in said wall constitute sides of an aperture through which said electrical connection passes, which sides are biassed against said connection.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical equipment comprising: electrical circuitry; a compartment containing said circuitry; an electrical connection to said circuitry which passes through a wall of said compartment; and a device facilitating electrical contact between said electrical connection and said wall, said device comprising a
U-shaped clip, each limb of which has formed therein a slot which extends from a first end of said slot away from the base of said clip to a side of the limb opposite said base, the device being clipped on the wall such that the limbs of the clip lie one on either side of the wall and the first ends of the slots together with a first end of a slot in said wall constitute sides of an aperture through which said electrical connection passes, which sides are biassed against said connection.
A device, method and equipment as aforesaid in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the device;
Figure 3 is an underneath view of the device;
Figure 4 is a view of a section of a side wall of a compartment of the equipment to which section the device is secured in use; and
Figure 5 is a view of a development of the device of
Figures 1 to 3.
The device of Figures 1 to 3 facilitates electrical contact between the outer conductor of a coaxial cable and a wall of a compartment containing and RFI screening electrical circuitry, through which wall the cable passes, to which circuitry the cable is connected. The device enables both the outer of the cable to be earthed to the wall of the compartment and the screening provided by the outer to be maintained up to the circuitry contained in the compartment.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the device comprises a
U-shaped clip 1 of beryllium/copper alloy, each limb 3, 5 of which is generally planar and has formed therein a slot 7, 9 which extends from a first end 11, 13 of the slot 7, 9 away from the base 15 of the clip 1 to a side 17, 19 of the limb 3, 5 opposite the base 15.
Each slot 7, 9 tapers outwardly at 21, 23 towards the side 17, 19 of its respective limb 3, 5. Side 17 of limb 3 is bent at 25 away from limb 5. The first end 11, 13 of each slot 7, 9 is semi-circular.
Referring to Figure 4, cut into the top 27 of the side wall 29 of the compartment containing and screening the electrical circuitry is a T-shaped aperture 31. The aperture 31 comprises a rectangular cross piece part 33 and a stem slot 35. Slot 35 tapers outwardly at 37 towards part 33. The end 39 of slot 35 remote from part 33 is semi-circular.
Clip 1 is used to facilitate electrical contact between the outer of the aforementioned coaxial cable and side wall 29 of the compartment as follows.
A length, typically about 3mm, of the sleeving of the cable is stripped off the cable at an appropriate point along the length of the cable. The cable is placed loosely into slot 35 in wall 29 such that the length of the outer of the cable exposed by the stripping off of the cable sleeving lies in the region of slot 35.
Clip 1 is clipped over the top 27 of wall 29 such that its limbs 3, 5 lie one on either side of wall 29, such that its base 15 lies along the base 41 of rectangular cross piece part 33 of aperture 31, and such that the length of exposed outer of the cable is trapped in the circular aperture created by semi-circular ends 11, 13 of limbs 3, 5 of clip 1 and semi-circular end 39 of slot 35 of aperture 31 of wall 29.
A lid (not shown) of the compartment is secured down onto the top 27 of wall 29 to close the compartment. The lid gasket clamps down onto the base 15 of clip 1 so as to bias the sides of the aforementioned circular aperture against the cable outer. In this connection the depth of the cross piece part 33 of aperture 31 is such that the base 15 of clip 1 is recessed to the level of the top 27 of wall 29. Thus, an earth connection of the cable outer is made to wall 29 and the screening provided by the outer is maintained up to the circuitry contained in the compartment.
Using the device described by way of example as good an earth connection is made and as good an RFI seal is maintained as with the aforementioned prior art solder method. Using the device the cable inside the compartment can be flexed and tucked away without risk of breaking the outer of the cable thereby allowing free positioning of circuitry in the compartment.
Further, as compared to the solder method, the time taken to produce electrical equipment requiring coaxial connections of the above kind, i.e. outer earthed to the compartment wall and screening provided by outer maintained up to circuitry contained in and screened by compartment, is greatly reduced. The wiring looms for such equipment maybe made up with plugs on both ends of all coaxial cables. The wiring looms need then just be laid around the compartments and clipped, using clips as shown in Figures 1 to 3, into place. If at some stage a coaxial cable needs replacing it is simply unclipped and the replacement cable clipped in. Similarly, to add a cable to an existing loom it is simply clipped in. As compared to the solder method, using the device of Figures 1 to 3 obviates the need to use potentially damaging heat.
It is to be appreciated that the device of Figures 1 to 3 could straightforwardly be modified to facilitate electrical contact between wall 29 and electrical connections other than a coaxial cable. Referring to Figure 5, the electrical connection could be a feed-through or filtercon 43. For such an application the dimensions of the slots 7, 9, 35 in the device and wall 29 would need slight adjustment.
It is also to be appreciated that the aperture 31 in wall 29 need not be cut into the top 27 of wall 29 but could be cut into a centre area of wall 29. In such a case the resilience of the clip 1 itself could, for example, be solely relied upon to ensure the necessary biassing for electrical contact.
Claims (25)
1. A device for facilitating electrical contact between an electrical connection and a wall of a compartment containing electrical circuitry, through which wall said electrical connection passes, to which circuitry said electrical connection is connected, said device comprising a U-shaped clip, each limb of which has formed therein a slot which extends from a first end of said slot away from the base of said clip to and out of a side of the limb opposite said base, the slot tapering outwardly towards the side of the limb opposite said base, in use the device being secured to said wall by clipping it on the wall such that the limbs of the clip lie one on either side of the wall and the first ends of the slots together with a first end of a slot in said wall constitute sides of an aperture through which said electrical connection passes, which sides are biassed against said connection.
2. A device according to Claim 1 wherein each said limb is generally planar.
3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the side of one limb opposite said base is bent away from the other limb.
4. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein said first end of each slot in said device is substantially semi-circular.
5. A method of facilitating electrical contact between an electrical connection and a wall of a compartment containing electrical circuitry, through which wall said electrical connection passes, to which circuitry said electrical connection is connected, said method comprising securing to said wall a device comprising a
U-shaped clip, each limb of which has formed therein a slot which extends from a first end of said slot away from the base of said clip to a side of the limb opposite said base, the device being secured to said wall by clipping it on the wall such that the limbs of the clip lie one on either side of the wall and the first ends of the slots together with a first end of a slot in said wall constitute sides of an aperture through which said electrical connection passes, which sides are biassed against said connection.
6. A method according to Claim 5 wherein each said limb of the device secured is generally planar.
7. A method according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the slot in each limb of the device secured tapers outwardly towards the side of the limb opposite said base.
8. A method according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the side of one limb of the device secured opposite said base is bent away from the other limb.
9. A method according to any one of Claims 5 to 8 wherein said first end of each slot in the device secured is substantially semi-circular.
10. A method according to any one of Claims 5 to 9 wherein the device is clipped over the top of said wall and a lid of the compartment is secured on the compartment such that it clamps down on the base of the clip comprising said device thereby biassing the sides of said aperture against the electrical connection.
11. A method according to Claim 10 wherein the device is clipped over the wall such that the base of said clip lies along the base of a rectangular depression cut in the top of the wall, from which base of the depression the slot in the wall extends downwardly to its said first end.
12. A method according to Claim 11 wherein the slot in the wall tapers outwardly towards the base of the depression.
13. A method according to any one of Claims 5 to 12 wherein said first end of the slot in said wall is semi-circular.
14. A method according to any one of Claims 5 to 13 wherein said electrical connection comprises a coaxial cable, said method facilitating electrical contact between the outer conductor of said cable and said wall.
15. An electrical equipment comprising: electrical circuitry; a compartment containing said circuitry; an electrical connection to said circuitry which passes through a wall of said compartment; and a device facilitating electrical contact between said electrical connection and said wall, said device comprising a U-shaped clip, each limb of which has formed therein a slot which extends from a first end of said slot away from the base of said clip to a side of the limb opposite said base, the device being clipped on the wall such that the limbs of the clip lie one on either side of the wall and the first ends of the slots together with a first end of a slot in said wall constitute sides of an aperture through which said electrical connection passes, which sides are biassed against said connection.
16. An equipment according to Claim 15 wherein each said limb of the clip is generally planar.
17. An equipment according to Claim 15 or Claim 16 wherein the slot in each limb of the clip tapers outwardly towards the side of the limb opposite said base.
18. An equipment according to Claim 15 or Claim 16 or Claim 17 wherein the side of one limb of the clip opposite said base is bent away from the other limb.
19. An equipment according to any one of Claims 15 to 18 wherein said first end of each slot in said device is substantially semi-circular.
20. An equipment according to any one of Claims 15 to 19 wherein the device is clipped over the top of said wall and a lid of the compartment is secured on the compartment such that it clamps down on the base of the clip comprising said device thereby biassing the sides of said aperture against the electrical connection.
21. An equipment according to Claim 20 wherein the device is clipped over the wall such that the base of said clip lies along the base of a rectangular depression cut in the top of the wall, from which base of the depression the slot in the wall extends downwardly to its said first end.
22. An equipment according to Claim 21 wherein the slot in the wall tapers outwardly towards the base of the depression.
23. An equipment according to any one of Claims 15 to 22 wherein said first end of the slot in said wall is semi-circular.
24. An equipment according to any one of Claims 15 to 23 wherein said electrical connection comprises a coaxial cable, said device facilitating electrical contact between the outer conductor of said cable and said wall.
25. A device for facilitating electrical contact or a method of facilitating electrical contact or an electrical equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9309022A GB2267186A (en) | 1992-05-20 | 1993-04-30 | Devices for facilitating electrical contact |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB929210787A GB9210787D0 (en) | 1992-05-20 | 1992-05-20 | Devices for facilitating electrical contact |
| GB9309022A GB2267186A (en) | 1992-05-20 | 1993-04-30 | Devices for facilitating electrical contact |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9309022D0 GB9309022D0 (en) | 1993-06-16 |
| GB2267186A true GB2267186A (en) | 1993-11-24 |
Family
ID=26300907
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9309022A Withdrawn GB2267186A (en) | 1992-05-20 | 1993-04-30 | Devices for facilitating electrical contact |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2267186A (en) |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1200801A (en) * | 1967-08-14 | 1970-08-05 | Thomas And Betts Company | Method and means for terminating flexible etchings |
| US3648334A (en) * | 1970-07-02 | 1972-03-14 | Calvin D Swalm | Clip for attaching sign to a staff |
-
1993
- 1993-04-30 GB GB9309022A patent/GB2267186A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1200801A (en) * | 1967-08-14 | 1970-08-05 | Thomas And Betts Company | Method and means for terminating flexible etchings |
| US3648334A (en) * | 1970-07-02 | 1972-03-14 | Calvin D Swalm | Clip for attaching sign to a staff |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9309022D0 (en) | 1993-06-16 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US2798113A (en) | Shield connectors | |
| US5772454A (en) | Wire to board contact terminal | |
| US5949020A (en) | Surface mount cable clip and shield clip | |
| US6166918A (en) | Protective shield for electrical components | |
| GB2331634A (en) | Coaxial connector for high power radio frequency systems | |
| US5447441A (en) | Connector box for shielded cables | |
| EP0662735A3 (en) | Method and apparatus for forming leakproof feed-through connector and for installing and holding sealing components in place | |
| US2533200A (en) | Partially insulated electrical terminal | |
| KR20010033777A (en) | A method of shielding a printed board assembly with at least one component and a shielding element for shielding components on such a printed board assembly | |
| WO2017098086A1 (en) | A coaxial cable connector | |
| US3634601A (en) | Staking electrical contact and method of making an electrical connector | |
| IL97992A (en) | Metallic housing for an electrical connector | |
| CN108986971B (en) | Cable shielding device | |
| GB2267186A (en) | Devices for facilitating electrical contact | |
| MXPA01003188A (en) | Braided shield terminating potting backshell. | |
| US4613191A (en) | Grounding connector | |
| EP0469845A1 (en) | Lock pin and electrical connector using the same | |
| US6619997B1 (en) | Modular connector strain relief back shell and wiring method | |
| EP0091319B1 (en) | Shield connection device | |
| CN111527801B (en) | Cable seal assembly | |
| DE4212369C2 (en) | Control unit | |
| GB2187898A (en) | Connecting shield of coaxial cable to p.c.b. | |
| CA2296820C (en) | Connecting device for high-voltage cable | |
| EP1887848A2 (en) | Methods and apparatus for installing a feed through filter | |
| US5695110A (en) | Procedure for soldering an insulated wire |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |