GB2358092A - Terminal for an electrical connector - Google Patents

Terminal for an electrical connector Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2358092A
GB2358092A GB0015706A GB0015706A GB2358092A GB 2358092 A GB2358092 A GB 2358092A GB 0015706 A GB0015706 A GB 0015706A GB 0015706 A GB0015706 A GB 0015706A GB 2358092 A GB2358092 A GB 2358092A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
opening
screw
conductor
terminal
transfer element
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
Application number
GB0015706A
Other versions
GB0015706D0 (en
GB2358092B (en
Inventor
Yin Hong Wong
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB0015706D0 publication Critical patent/GB0015706D0/en
Priority to US09/756,678 priority Critical patent/US6368166B2/en
Publication of GB2358092A publication Critical patent/GB2358092A/en
Priority to US10/270,610 priority patent/USRE38384E1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2358092B publication Critical patent/GB2358092B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00Electrically-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
    • H01R4/28Clamped connections, spring connections
    • H01R4/30Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a screw or nut clamping member
    • H01R4/36Conductive members located under tip of screw
    • H01R4/363Conductive members located under tip of screw with intermediate part between tip and conductive member
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/02Contact members
    • H01R13/04Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets

Landscapes

  • Connections By Means Of Piercing Elements, Nuts, Or Screws (AREA)

Abstract

A terminal for an electrical connector comprises a pin 5 having a channel 6 for receiving an electrical conductor cable. A screw 1 threaded into the pin 5 secures the electrical cable in the channel by applying pressure to the cable by rotation of the screw. A pressure transfer element 2 is positioned between the screw and the channel for applying pressure from the screw 1 to the cable in the channel 6 to secure the cable in the opening. The pressure transfer element is mounted in such a manner as to allow movement of the element towards the cable but to prevent rotary movement of the element relative to the said channel to prevent distortion of the cable.

Description

1 2358092 "TERMINAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR" The present invention
relates to a terminal for an electrical connector, in particular, but not exclusively, a terminal formed on a pin of an electric plug. 5 In a conventional electric plug there are three pins, and electrical connecting wires or cables composed of a plurality of strands are connected thereto. In each of the earth, neutral, and live pins, the multi-strand cable is inserted into a circular cross-section channel of a terminal on top of the pin, and a screw threaded into the terminal is used to apply pressure on the cable by tightening the screw. Thus the screw presses the cable hard against the inner wall of the channel to provide connection between the pin terminal and the electric wire, so that the cable receives current from the power supply,.through the pin. However a problem arises in that as the screw is tightened by rotating the screw by a screw driver, the tip of the screw first comes into contact with the bare cable, and a downward force and also a rotary force are applied to the cable. Since the cable is composed of a group of strands, some of the wire strands are caused to be deformed. It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least reduce, this problem.
According to the present invention there is provided a terminal for an electrical connector, the terminal comprising: a terminal body, an opening in the terminal body for receiving an electrical conductor, a screw threaded into the terminal body for securing the electrical conductor in the opening by applying pressure to the conductor by rotation of the screw, and a pressure transfer element positioned between the screw and the opening for applying pressure from the screw to a conductor in the opening to secure the conductor in the opening.
In one preferred form, one end of the terminal body has a cavity leading to the said opening for the electrical conductor, the transfer element being positioned in the cavity and being movable in the cavity towards the said opening to secure the electrical conductor in the opening, the walls of the cavity having 2 screw threads to allow the screw to be threaded into the terminal body and to protrude into the cavity to make contact with the pressure transfer element. Conveniently the opening is a channel extending into or through the terminal body in one direction and the cavity is an open trough-shaped cavity on top of the terminal body extending transverse to direction of the channel. In one preferred form embodying the invention the pressure transfer element has one side for contacting a conductor in the said opening in the terminal body, and an opposite side for contacting the screw, the first side having a protruding portion for contacting the conductor in the opening, and the opposite side having a U- shaped valley therein into which the screw protrudes.
In one particularly preferred form the opening comprises a channel of circular cross-section, and the pressure transfer element has a convex curved surface on its side remote from the screw, positioned opposite an interior surface of the channel, for securing a conductor in the channel by gripping the conductor between the curved surface of the pressure transfer element and the interior surface of the channel. Preferably the convex curved surface has a part circular cross-section of radius less than the radius of the cross-section of the channel.
It is a preferred feature that the pressure transfer element is mounted in such a manner as to allow movement of the element towards the said opening for the conductor, but to prevent rotary movement of the transfer element relative to the said opening. Another preferred feature is that the contact area of the pressure transfer element available in use for contacting an electrical conductor in the opening, is greater than the contact area of the screw with the pressure transfer element. These preferred features allow the conductor to be secured in place while preventing, or reducing, the tendency for a rotation of the screw to deform the conductor which is being secured.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the neutral pin of an electric plug; 3 Figures 2 and 3 show respectively a front view and plan view of the pin of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a front view of the pin, during assembly with a cable; Figures 5 and 6 show respectively a perspective view and side view of the pin during assembly of components in the pin; Figure 7 shows an exploded view of components of the pin, viewed from the front; Figure 8 shows a front view of the pin during assembly of components of the pin; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a pressure transfer element embodying the invention; and Figures 10, 11 and 12 show various effects of securing a cable in the pin shown earlier, both with and without a pressure transfer element embodying the invention.
Referring first to Figure 1, a terminal for an electrical connector embodying the invention is constituted by a pin 5 of an electric plug. The pin 5 forms at its upper end a terminal body having a circulw cross section channel or bore 6 for receiving an electrical conductor such as a cable 3 shown in Figure 4. A screw 1 is threaded into the top of the pin 5 to secure the cable in the channel 6 by applying pressure to the cable by rotation of the screw. Between the screw 1 and the channel 6 there is provided a pressure transfer element 2 for applying pressure from the screw to the cable to secure the cable in the channel.
The pressure transfer element 2 consists of a generally rectangular pad or plate shown particularly in Figures 7 and 9, which is positioned in a rectangular 4 trough shaped cavity 9 in the upper end of the pin 5. The pressure transfer element 2 is mounted in the cavity 9 in such a manner as to allow movement of the element 2 towards the channel 6 but to prevent rotary movement of the transfer element relative to the channel. The cavity 9 is formed as an open trough on the top of the terminal body extending transverse to the direction of the channe16.
Referring to Figure 9, the transfer element has one side 10 for contacting the cable in the channel 6 and an opposite side 11 for contacting the screw 1.
The first side 10 has a protruding portion 12 in the shape of a cam for contacting the cable in the channel 6, and the opposite side 11 has a Ushaped valley 13 therein into which the screw 1 protrudes.
Referring particularly to Figures 7 and 8, the radius of the semicircular protruding portion 12 is smaller than the radius of the channel 6, and the relationship between the cavity 9 and the pressure element 2 is such that there is provided a space 8 between the pressure element 2 and the bottom of the channel 6, which accommodates the cable 3.
Figure 4 shows the cable 3 being placed in the circular channel 6 where the strands of wire of the cable 3 are indicated at 4. Figure 5 shows the perspective view of Figure 1 with the screw 1 removed. Figure 6 shows a side view of Figure 5. Figure 7 shows the screw 1 and pressure element 2 removed from the pin 5. In use the tip of the screw 1 will apply pressure to the most bottom part of the U-shaped valley 13 of the pressure element 2 during operation. Figure 8 shows the pressure element 2 being placed in the pin 5.
Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the pressure element 11. The element 11 is made up basically as a rectangular piece with the U-shaped valley in the centre and the semi-circuiar cam shaped protruderence at its bottom. The diameter of the cam 12 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the circular channel 6 as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
Figure 3 shows clearly that the width of the pressure element 2 (in the direction of the channel 6) is much less than the diameter of the threaded hole for the screw 1, so that when the cavity 9 is cut out of the pin terminal 5, the screw threads are not removed totally, as shown in Figure 5. Otherwise the screw 1 could never be tightened. The same design can be applied for the earth and line pins of the electric plug.
Figure 10 shows a comparison of the quality of contact for the pin terminal, both when incorporated with the pressure element 2 and without the pressure element 2. On the left hand side of Figure 10, the bottom of the cam element 2 has a bigger area of contact for wire strands 4 of the cable compared to the tip of the screw 1 which although slightly convex has an area for contact which is still small when the cable is placed in the centre of circle 6. Figure 11 shows the cable being placed in such a way that the strands of wires are skewed to the left. The cam 2 is again in contact with most of the strands as compared with the tip of the screw 1, as some of the wire strands 4 are not under pressure. Figure 12 shows the wire strands 4 skewed to the right and the same reasoning applies as for Figure 11 - Figure 8 shows, in broken lines, the position of the pressure transfer element 2 when the screw 1 is tightened to its maximum extent, for example in the absence of a cable. In this position, the bottom flat surface 10 (Figure 9) of the pressure transfer element 2 rests against the bottom of the trough- shaped cavity 9, and is stopped from moving any lower. In this position, a half annular space 8 is left between the semi-circular protruding portion 12, and the bottom of the circular cross-section channel 6.
6 -

Claims (12)

1 A terminal for an electrical connector, the terminal comprising:
a terminal body, an opening in the terminal body for receiving an electrical conductor, a screw threaded into the terminal body for securing the electrical conductor in the opening by applying pressure to the conductor by rotation of the screw, and a pressure transfer element positioned between the screw and the opening for applying pressure from the screw to a conductor in the opening to secure the conductor in the opening.
2. A terminal according to Claim 1 in which one end of the terminal body has a cavity leading to the said opening for the electrical conductor, the transfer element being positioned in the cavity and being movable in the cavity towards the said opening to secure the electrical conductor in the opening, the walls of the cavity having screw threads to allow the screw to be threaded into the terminal body and to protrude into the cavity to make contact with the pressure transfer element.
3. A terminal according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the pressure transfer element is mounted in such a manner as to allow movement of the element towards the said opening but to prevent rotary movement of the transfer element relative to the said opening.
4. A terminal according to any preceding claim in which the opening is a channel extending into or through the terminal body in one direction and the cavity is an open trough-shaped cavity on top of the terminal body extending transverse to direction of the channel.
5. A terminal according to any preceding claim in which the transfer element has one side for contacting a conductor in the said opening in the terminal body, and an opposite side for contacting the screw, the first side having a protruding portion for contacting the conductor in the opening, and the opposite side having a U-shaped valley therein into which the screw protrudes.
6. A terminal according to any preceding claim in which the opening comprises a channel of circular cross-section, and the pressure transfer element has a convex curved surface on its side remote from the screw, positioned opposite an interior surface of the channel, for securing a conductor in the channel by gripping the conductor between the curved surface of the pressure transfer element and the interior surface of the channel.
7. A terminal according to Claim 6 in which the convex curved surface has a part circular cross-section of radius less than the radius of the crosssection of the channel.
8. A terminal according to any preceding claim in which the contact area of the pressure transfer element available in use for contacting an electrical conductor in the opening is greater than the contact area of the screw with the pressure transfer element.
9. An electrical plug including at least one terminal according to an y preceding claim.
10. An electrical plug according to Claim 9 in which the terminal comprises a pin protruding from the plug at one end of the pin, the pin having the said opening for a conductor, at the other end of the pin.
11. A terminal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. An electrical plug substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0015706A 2000-01-10 2000-06-27 Terminal for an electrical connector Expired - Fee Related GB2358092B (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/756,678 US6368166B2 (en) 2000-01-10 2001-01-10 Terminal for electrical connector including pressure transfer element
US10/270,610 USRE38384E1 (en) 2000-01-10 2002-10-16 Terminal for an electrical connector

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0000338A GB0000338D0 (en) 2000-01-10 2000-01-10 Improved pin terminal for electric plug

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0015706D0 GB0015706D0 (en) 2000-08-16
GB2358092A true GB2358092A (en) 2001-07-11
GB2358092B GB2358092B (en) 2003-10-15

Family

ID=9883349

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0000338A Ceased GB0000338D0 (en) 2000-01-10 2000-01-10 Improved pin terminal for electric plug
GB0015706A Expired - Fee Related GB2358092B (en) 2000-01-10 2000-06-27 Terminal for an electrical connector

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0000338A Ceased GB0000338D0 (en) 2000-01-10 2000-01-10 Improved pin terminal for electric plug

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB0000338D0 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB875693A (en) * 1958-12-19 1961-08-23 S E P M Soc D Expl Des Procede Junction or transfer clamp for electric cables
US5690515A (en) * 1996-07-16 1997-11-25 Cipolla; Frank G. Splicing block for multi-strand electric cable
US5934818A (en) * 1997-04-12 1999-08-10 Wago Verwaltungsgesellschaft Mbh Screen connector

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4103986A (en) * 1977-09-12 1978-08-01 Thomas & Betts Corporation Electrical terminal

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB875693A (en) * 1958-12-19 1961-08-23 S E P M Soc D Expl Des Procede Junction or transfer clamp for electric cables
US5690515A (en) * 1996-07-16 1997-11-25 Cipolla; Frank G. Splicing block for multi-strand electric cable
US5934818A (en) * 1997-04-12 1999-08-10 Wago Verwaltungsgesellschaft Mbh Screen connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0000338D0 (en) 2000-03-01
GB0015706D0 (en) 2000-08-16
GB2358092B (en) 2003-10-15

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20090627