GB2275136A - Electrical cable-to-pin connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector which comprises a body 1 and a split collet 2. The body is provided with a crimping socket at one end for attachment of a cable core. The split collet is bored to accept a pin. The body and collet are tapered in such a way that when forced together they exert a high clamping force on the pin, thus giving the connector a high pull-off load and a low electrical resistance. Swaging can then be carried out. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRICAL CE3LE-TO-PIN CONNECTOR This invention relates to an electrical connector for the permanent attachment of cable cores to fixed pins.

There is a frequent requirement in electrical and electronics engineering to connect the cores of an electric cable to fixed pins in a permanent manner, as opposed to the non-permanent method used in plug and socket connectors. This has traditionally been achieved by the crimping technique used almost universally for the ends of cable cores. This technique is not practical with multi-pin connectors, due to the space needed for the crimping tool. Such applications are usually met by demountable multipin plugs and sockets, which occupy a larger volume, have lower integrity and higher electrical resistance than the equivalent permanent connector.

:according to the present invention there is provided a cable-to Din electrical connector which can be crimped to the end of < cable core in the conventional manner and then clamped on to a fixed pin using a special tool or tools. The small diameter of the connector relative to the pin size, and the form of the clamping tool jaws, permits very tight spacing of the pins in a multi-pin connector array.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in -*hich:- Figure 1 shows an enlarged section of the assembled connector; and Figure 2 illustrates in perspective the assembly process, including the jaw sections of the special tool(s).

The special tool(s) to be used provide a simple compression action, and can take a wide variety of forms. They do not constitute part of this invention.

Referring to the drawing, the connector comprises two components, a body 1 and a split collet 2 . One end of the body is provided with a crimping socket to accept the required size of cable core.

The other end of the body is provided with a tapered bore to accept the split collet. The split collet is tapered on its outside diameter to match the body with a small interference fit, and bored to match the required size of fixed pin.

The pin end of body and collet are chamfered to facilitate the swaging over of the body end after insertion of the collet. The taper of body and collet, the amount of interference between body and collet, and the size of the swage are all optimised to give a high pull-off load and a low electrical resistance after assembly.

The connector is assembled as shown in Figure 2, by placing the body and collet (already attached to the cable core) into the jaws of the special tool, inserting the fixed pin into the collet, and then forcing body and collet together so that the device clamps on to the fixed pin. Swaging can be carried out in the same operation, by a modification to the outer jew of the tool, or it can be carried out with a separate tool. The tool is then released and moved radially to extract it from the pin array.

The connector can be manufactured from any materials suitable for crimping, and for the conduction of electricity. This would nornally be of copper or a copper-based alloy or aluminium or an aluminium-based alloy.

The connector can be plated with a more noble material to improve its electrical resistance properties. This would normally be gold, or a gold-based alloy.

Claims (4)

CLAII :C

1. An electrical cable-to-pin connector comprising a body with a crimping socket and a split collet bored to suit a fixed pin, the two components being designed to be forced together in such a way as to provide a clamping force on the pin, and to be swaged together to prevent subsequent withdrawal.

2. An electrical cable-to-pin connector as claimed in Claim 1, but without the arrangements for swaging the body end over the collet.

This will not be necessary on very small sizes of the connector.

3. An electrical cable-to-pin connector as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 but with the components plated with a metal or alloy more noble than the materials of construction of the connector, in order to improve its long-term electrical conductivity.

4. An electrical cable-to-pin connector substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying diagram.

4. n electrical cable-to-pin connector substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the acconpanying diagram.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An electrical cable-to-pin connector for making permanent connections to a close-pitched multi-pin array, comprising a body with a crimping socket and a split collet bored to suit a fixed pin, the two components being designed to be forced together in such a way as to exert a clamping force on the pin, and to be swaged together to prevent subsequent withdrawal.

2. An electrical cable-to-pin connector as claimed in Claim 1, but without the arrangements for swaging the body end over the collet. This will not be necessary on very small sizes of connector.

3. An electrical cable-to-pin connector as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 but with the components plated with a metal or alloy more noble than the materials of construction of the connector, in order to improve its long-term electrical conductivity.