GB2361364A

GB2361364A - Connector having wires folded back and held in place by a ring

Info

Publication number: GB2361364A
Application number: GB0109210A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Johnny Robert Pay
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-11
Filing date: 2001-04-11
Publication date: 2001-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-11
Also published as: GB0008778D0; GB0109210D0; GB2361364B

Abstract

An electrical connector comprises a terminal body (10) formed with at least one passage (14,16,18) for receiving an exposed wire (W) of a cable (C). The or each passage (14,16,18) extends into the terminal body (10) from an end face thereof and continues to emerge on a side surface thereof. The or each passage (14,16,18) further provides a point of electrical contact with a connecting terminal (12) . In use, an exposed wire (W) of a cable (C) is inserted through the or each passage (14,16,18) in the terminal body (10), so that an electrical connection is formed at the or each said point of electrical contact, and so that the or each wire (W) projects from the side surface of the terminal body (10). The projecting end of the or each wire (W) can then be folded back flat against the side surface of the terminal body (10). The connector can be water resistant and can also include cable gripping finger (fig 3, 26).

Description

2361364 Water Resistant Electrical Connector The present invention relates

to an electrical connector which, in a preferred embodiment, is water resistant.

Many forms of electrical connector are known. Generally, electrical connectors require a time consuming procedure to strip-back the insulated wires of the or each cable to be terminated, and then to secure the wires to the terminals of the connector. Generally the wires of the cable must be stripped back over different lengths. Generally the wires are secured to the terminals by means of a screw clamp or other arrangement requiring the use of tools.

I have now devised an electrical connector which requires a relatively simple procedure for terminating a cable to it.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector comprising a terminal body formed with at least one passage for receiving an exposed wire of a cable, the or each passage extending into said terminal body from an end face thereof and continuing to emerge on a side surface thereof and providing a point of electrical contact with a connecting terminal.

In use, an exposed wire of a cable is inserted through the or each passage in the terminal body, so that an electrical connection is formed at the or each said point of electrical contact, and so that the or each wire projects from the side surface of the terminal body. The projecting end of the or each wire can then be folded flat against the side surface of the terminal body.

Preferably a ring or tie is provided for fitting around the terminal body to hold the folded end of the or each wire in place, against the surface of the terminal body. Preferably the side surface of the terminal body is formed with a groove over which the folded end of the or each wire will lie, and the ring or tie registers with this groove.

Preferably the connector also comprises an inner 2 sleeve, one end of which f its arou- 1 the terminal body. Preferably the opposite end of the inn 9.1eeve is arranged to grip the cable.

Preferably the connector further comprises a tubular 5 outer casing one end of which fits over the terminal body.

Preferably the opposite end of the outer casing is arranged to bear on the corresponding end of the inner sleeve, to urge portions of this into gripping relation with the cable.

The connector may be arranged so that two or more wires of a cable need to be stripped back over equal lengths.

Furthermore, the connector may be arranged as a waterproof connector: in this case, the outer casing is provided with a seal at its opposite ends.

The terminal body may comprise a plurality of passages, each providing a point of electrical contact with either the same or a separate respective connecting terminal.

It will be appreciated that the connector requires a relatively simple procedure to terminate a cable to it, which does not require the use of any tool to fasten the wires to the connector terminals.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view through a terminal block of a first embodiment of electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a sectional view showing the manner of assembly of the connector of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is an isometric view showing some of the components of the connector of Figures 1 and 2; FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section through the connector of Figures 1 to 3; FIGURE 5 is a side view of the assembled connector; FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of the assembled connector; 3 FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of a modified connector, shown with its two parts separated; FIGURE 8 is an isometric view of another embodiment of connector in accordance with the present invention, in the form 5 of a distribution unit; FIGURE 9 is a sectional, side view of a further embodiment of connector in accordance with the present invention, for fitting to a coaxial cable; FIGURE 10 is an end view of the connector of Figure 9; FIGURE 11 is a coaxial cable, prepared for fitting to the connector of Figure 9; FIGURE 12 is sectional side view showing the connector of Figure 9 assembled and fitted to the cable of Figure 11; and FIGURE 13 is a complementary connector for coupling to the connector of Figure 9.

Referring to Figure 1 to 6 of the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown an electrical connector which comprises a terminal block B arranged to terminate the conductor wires of two cables to be connected together, one of the cables being shown at C and its insulated wires at W. The connector further comprises tubular inner sleeves S1,S2 to be fitted to opposite ends of the terminal block B over the respective cables, and tubular outer casings El,E2 to be fitted to the opposite ends of the terminal block B over the respective inner sleeves S1,S2.

The terminal block B comprises a generally cylindrical body 10 of insulating material, having three terminals 12 mounted at its centre, the three terminals 12 extending axially of the body 10 but spaced apart around its circumference so as to be electrically isolated from each other. Three bores 14 extend into the body 10 from each of its opposite ends, to register with short bores 16 in the respective ends of respective terminals 12: bores 18 extend radially through the body 10 to join with the bores 16 in the ends of the respective terminals 14.

4 In use and referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the wires W of each cable C are stripped back by equal lengths and inserted into the respective bores 14 at one end of the terminal body 10: the ends of the bores 16 in the terminals 12 are shaped so that the ends of the wires W are defected radially outwards and so emerge through the radial bores 18. The projecting ends of the wires W are then folded back, towards the corresponding end of the terminal body 10, to overlie an annular groove 20 formed in the outer surface of the body 10. An elastomeric ring 22 is then rolled over the assembly and registered over the groove 20, to hold the foldedback ends of the wires W in position. It will be appreciated that the wires W make electrical contact with the respective terminals 12, where they pass through the bores 16 in the latter.

The respective inner sleeve e.g. S1 is then slid into position, its leading end being an interference fit over the cylindrical outer surface of the terminal body 10 and serving to lock the ring 22 and the foldedback ends of the wires W in position. Finally, the respective outer casing e.g. E1 is slid over the inner sleeve S1 and its internally-threaded leading end screw-engaged to the terminal block B. The trailing end of the outer casing El is formed with a central hole into which an elastomeric bush 24 is fitted, to provide a seal around the cable C. The leading end of the outer casing E is also provided with a seal 25. The inner sleeve S1 is formed at its trailing end with a series of radial ly- inwardly curved fingers 26: as the outer casing E1 is screwed into position, its inner end surface bears on the fingers 26 of the inner sleeve S1 and urges these radially inward to grip the cable C.

Whilst the termination of a cable to one end of the connector has been described, it will be appreciated that the second cable is terminated to the other end of the connector in similar manner.

In the modified embodiment of Figure 7, the cables Cl and C2 are terminated to respective connector parts 30,32: the terminal body of one part 30 has three pins 31 projecting axially therefrom, and connected to its internal terminals, for insertion into corresponding sockets of the terminal body of the other part 32. The outer casings 34, 36 of the two connector parts screw-couple directly with each other, rather than with the respective terminal blocks.

Referring to Figure 8 of the drawings, there is shown a distribution unit 40 arranged for the connect to it of one feed cable and a number of distribution cables leading from it. The distribution unit comprises a plurality of ports, each comprising a terminal block, inner sleeve and outer casing, for example as in the connector part 30 shown in Figure 6. If any of the ports of the distribution unit is unused, a screw cap 42 is used to cover it.

A further embodiment of electrical connector is shown in Figures 9 and 10 and is arranged to be fitted to the end of a coaxial cable 40, prepared as shown in Figure 11, with a short length of the core wire 42 of the cable exposed and the exposed, braided shielding wires of the cable divided into two separate bundles 44,46.

The connector is fitted to the prepared cable 40 by inserting the end of the cable into a terminal body 48 of the connector, so that the exposed core wire 42 of the cable 40 projects through a small hole 50 formed in the front of the body 48 to form a connecting terminal, and so that the two bundles 44,46 of shielding wire extend through respective passages 52 to project from the sides of the body 48.

The projecting ends of the two bundles 44,46 of shielding wire are then folded backwards against the outer surface of the terminal body 48 and a retaining ring 54 fitted around the body 48 to hold the folded ends in place. An outer casing 56 is finally fitted to the body 48 as shown in Figure 12.

Each of the two passages 52 provides a respective point 6 of electrical contact between the bundle of shielding wire 44,46 extending through it and the threaded, inner surface 58 of a socket formed at the front of the connector.

The connector may thus be coupled to a complementary connector, such as the connector shown in Figure 13, to connect the shielding wire 44,46 of the cable 40 with a threaded connecting portion 60 of the second connector, and the projecting core wire 42 of the cable 40 with a complementary receiving socket 62 of the second connector.

7

Claims

1) An electrical connector comprising a terminal body formed with at least one passage for receiving an exposed wire of a cable, the or each passage extending into said terminal body from an end face thereof and continuing to emerge on a side surface thereof and providing a point of electrical contact with a connecting terminal.

2) An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a ring or tie for fitting around the terminal body to hold in place, against the surface of the terminal body, the folded end of a wire emerging from the or each passage.

3) An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 2,wherein the side surface of the terminal body is formed with a groove, over which the folded end of the or each wire will lie, and with which the ring or tie registers.

4) A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising an inner sleeve, one end of which fits around the terminal body.

5) A connector as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the opposite end of the inner sleeve to said one end is arranged to grip the cable.

6) A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a tubular outer casing one end of which fits over the terminal body.

7) A connector as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the opposite end of the outer casing to said one end is arranged to bear on the corresponding end e.f the inner sleeve, to urge portions of this into gripping relation with the cable.

8 8) A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged so that two or more wires of a cable need to be stripped back over equal lengths.

9) A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged 5 as a waterproof connector.

10) A connector as claimed in Claim 9 appended to Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the outer casing is provided with a seal at its opposite ends.

11) A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the terminal body comprises a plurality of passages, each providing a point of electrical contact with the same or a respective connecting terminal.

12) A connector as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the terminal body comprises a plurality of passages, each providing a point of electrical contact with a separate respective connecting terminal.

13) A method for fitting an electrical connector to a cable, comprising the steps of: providing said electrical terminal body formed with at least one passage for receiving an exposed wire of a cable, the or each passage extending into said terminal body from an end face thereof and continuing to connector comprising a emerge on a side surface thereof and providing a point of electrical contact with a connecting terminal; and inserting an exposed wire through the or each passage in the terminal body, so that an electrical connection is formed at the or each said point of electrical contact, and so that the or each wire projects from the side surface of the terminal body.

9 14) A method as claimed in Claim 13, comprising the subsequent step of folding the projecting end of the or each wire against the side surface of the terminal body.

15) A method as claimed in Claim 14, comprising the subsequent step of fitting a ring or tie around the terminal body to the or each folded wire in place, against the surface of the terminal body.

16) A connector substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17) A method for fitting an electrical connector to a cable, said method being substantially as herein described.