IL113579A

IL113579A - Connector for wires

Info

Publication number: IL113579A
Application number: IL11357995A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Gripple Ltd
Priority date: 1994-05-05
Filing date: 1995-05-02
Publication date: 1999-01-26
Also published as: IL113579A0; AU2349795A; WO1995030844A1

Description

Connector for wires GRIPPLE LIMITED C. 97588 CONNECTOR FOR WIRES ETC.

This invention relates to a connector for wires or the like, e.g., cables or strands (hereinafter referred to simply as "wires" ) , being of the type claimed in UK Patent GB 2 210 517B but provided with wedges as the "wedge means" slidable along respective channels in the body, each channel converging at an acute angle to and into communication with a respective one of twin bores (which are separated by a thin wall) towards one (inlet) end of that respective bore, the wedges being provided with transverse ribs (or "teeth") on one face for gripping engagement with the wires to be connected under the urge of compression springs between the wedges and recessed abutments within the body of the connector.

Tensioning adjustment of an inserted wire can be effected by pulling the wire end emerging from the other (outlet) end of the bore, causing release of the grip of the wedge until that pull is released and the wedge can again exert a force on the wire.

One object of the invention is to provide means for ensuring correct alignment of the springs with the wedges regardless of interchanges of wedges -of different thicknesses and of springs of different coil diameters to suit different diameters of wires to be connected.

Another object is to provide means for controlling the wedges during insertion of wires and also during removal or reverse adjustment of wires after the wedges have been pushed back against the urge of the compression springs as by means of a separate tool pushed through respective apertures in the body of the connector.

A further object is to provide means whereby the compression springs are prevented from migrating into or through the gaps between the respective wedges and recessed abutments into the paths of the entering wire ends.

According to one aspect of the present invention, in a connector of the type referred to above with wedges as the "wedge means", the face of each wedge abutted by the respective compression spring has a concave profile, whereby the end of the spring contacting the wedge is centralised on that face, and whereby any tendency for the wedge to rotate upon insertion or removal of a wire is resisted by an opposite moment exerted by the spring against the appropriate side of the concave face of the wedge.

The concave profile preferably consists of two planar surfaces at an angle to each other of 150°.

The concave profile preferably terminates towards the ribbed (or "toothed") face of the respective wedge at an integral projection of the wedge towards the respective recessed abutment, to prevent migration of the respective compression spring into or through the gap between the wedge and the recessed abutment. Each projection preferably has a hooked profile curving towards the respective compression spring, with the inner curve of the hooked profile merging into the concave profile abutted by the spring.

The other end of the concave profile preferably merges into an arcuate heel of the wedge also merging into a planar sliding face of the wedge opposite to the ribbed face, and the other end of the sliding face preferably merges into an arcuate toe of the wedge also merging into a forward planar face making an angle of 55° with the sliding face of the wedge .

The ribbed face of each wedge preferably has the ridges of at least five ribs arranged in a convex arc such that the middle rib (or a middle rib) makes first contact with a wire to be gripped by the wedge.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a connector of the type referred to above with means enabling release of either wedge to allow the respective wire to be withdrawn or adjusted in the opposite direction to that in which it had been inserted.

According to another aspect of the present invention therefore, a connector of the type referred to above is provided with apertures in the body each having an inner end opening into one channel intermediate the inlet end of the respective bore and the position of the respective wedge after insertion of a wire end into the bore and into gripping engagement with the wedge, the aperture being available as a guide for a separate tool pushed into the channel through the aperture to move the wedge against the urge of its spring.

Each aperture may be a straight hole through the body from adjacent the inlet end of the respective bore and into the respective channel, the axis of the hole being such that a straight rigid rod pushed into the channel through the hole will move the respective wedge against the urge of its spring.

Each hole may have a non-circular cross-section, to suit a rigid rod of complementary non-circular cross-section; thus the rigid rod may have a hexagonal cross-section, e.g., it may be an Allen key, slidable in a hole in the body of complementary cross-section.

Each hole in the body may be arcuate lengthwise, so that only a rigid rod having a matching curvature can be pushed through the hole to move the respective wedge against the urge of its spring.

Alternatively, each aperture may be a hole through a side of the body and into the corresponding side of the respective channel; or it may be a hole through the part of the body remote from the bore and opening into the back of the respective channel. Again, each aperture may be a notch through the part of the body remote from the bore opening into the back of the respective channel. The axis of such a hole or notch is preferably inclined inwardly towards the aforesaid position of the respective wedge, but - in any case - the separate tool preferably has a curved leading end portion to facilitate insertion of its tip through the hole or notch and into engagement with the wedge and to move it against the urge of its spring.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a side view, actual size, of a connector for wires in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view, actual size, of a separate tool for use with the connector for releasing or adjusting the position of a wire or wires secured in the connector; Figure 3 is a greatly enlarged end view of the connector of Figure 1 seen from the right hand end thereof; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the connector, taken from the line IV-IV of Figure 3 and showing a wire end being pushed into one of the bores in the connector; Figure 5 corresponds to the lower half of Figure 4 but shows the wire end after it has been pushed past the wedge and pulled back to effect gripping by the wedge; Figure 6 is a full transverse cross-section projected from the line VI-VI of Figure 5; Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 5 but shows the wire end freed from the wedge by means of a tool similar to that shown in Figure 2; Figure 8 corresponds to Figure 4 but shows two wires inserted into the connector and gripped in a manner differing from that in Figure 5; Figure 9 is a further enlarged side view of a wedge as used in the connector; Figure 10 is an end view of the wedge seen from the left hand end of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a plan view of the wedge; Figure 12 is the other end view of the wedge; Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the purpose of one feature of the wedge; Figure 14 corresponds to Figure 13 but illustrates the purpose of another feature of the wedge; Figure 15 corresponds to the left hand end of Figure 7 but shows a modified tool compared with that of Figure 2 or Figure 7 and a different position of entry of the tool into the connector; Figure 16 corresponds to Figure 15 but shows another position of entry of the tool of Figure 15; Figure 17 corresponds to the left hand end of Figure 5 but shows an alternative form of aperture for entry of a tool modified in comparison with the tool of Figure 2 or Figure 7; Figure 18 corresponds to the left hand end of Figure 7 but shows another version of aperture and tool; and Figure 19 corresponds to Figure 18 but shows a further version of aperture and tool.

The connector for wires (or the like) shown actual size in Figure 1 is of the type claimed in U.K. Patent GB 2 210 517B but provided with wedges 20A, 20B (see Figure 4 et. seg. ) as the "wedge means" slidable along respective channels 21 A, 21 B in the body 22 of the connector, each channel converging at an acute angle to and into communication with a respective one of twin bores 23A, 23B (which are separated by a thin wall 24) towards one (inlet) end 25A or 25B of that respective bore, the wedges being provided with transverse ribs (or "teeth") 26 for gripping engagement with inserted wires 27A, 27B (see also Figure 8) to be connected, under the urge of compression springs 28A, 28B between the wedges 20A, 20B and recessed abutments 29A, 29B within the body 22 of the connector .

The wedges 20A, 20B are made of sintered carbon steel and the body 22 is a die-casting of No. 2 zinc alloy (3% Cu, 4% Al, balance Zn), the springs 28A, 28B are formed from stainless steel wire, and the abutments 29A, 29B are formed of plastics material and are secured in place, following insertion after the wedges and springs, by squeezing in pairs of wings 30, as shown by Figure 3.

Figure 4 shows one wire 27A inserted through the inlet end 25A of the bore 23A until it pushes against the respective wedge 20A. Continued pushing of the wire 27A moves the wedge 20A against the urge of its spring 28A until the wire can slide over the ribs 26 of the wedge, whereafter pulling back of the wire (or tension in the wire) causes the wire to be gripped between the wedge 20A and the thin wall 24, e.g., as shown by Figure 5 or Figure 8.

Tensioning adjustment of the wire 27A can be effected by pulling the wire end 27X emerging from the other (outlet) end 31 A of the bore 23A, causing release of the grip of the wedge 20A until that pull is released and the wedge can again exert a force on the wire.

To enable release of either wedge 20A or 20B to allow the respective wire end 27X or 27Y to be withdrawn or adjusted in the opposite direction to that in which it had been inserted, the body 22 of the connector is provided with apertures 32A, 32B each having an inner end opening into one channel 21 A or 21 B intermediate the inlet end 25A or 25B of the respective bore 23A or 23B and the position of the respective wedge after insertion of a wire end into the bore, the aperture being available as a guide for a separate tool 33 (see Figure 7 or, actual size, Figure 2) pushed into the channel through the aperture to move the wedge against the urge of its spring.

In Figures 3 to 14, each aperture 32A, 32B is a straight hole from adjacent the inlet end 25A or 25B of the respective bore 23A or 23B and the axis of the hole is such that a straight rigid rod-like portion of the tool 33 pushed into the respective channel 21 A or 21 B through the hole will move the respective wedge 20A or 20B against the urge of the spring, irrespective of whether the wedge occupies the full-line position shown in Figure 5, corresponding to the smallest diameter of wire with which the connector is intended to be used, or occupies the position indicated by chain-dotted lines corresponding to the largest diameter of wire which can be accommodated .

Referring also to Figures 9 to 12, each wedge 20A or 20B has five ribs 26 with their ridges arranged in a convex arc such that the middle rib 26X makes first contact with a wire to be gripped by the wedge. If the wires are galvanised then the middle rib 26X on either wedge will bite through the zinc coating and grip the hard wire surface below the zinc before the next rib engages. Most wires are flexible enough to cause the thin wall 24 between the bores 23A, 23B to yield, as shown in Figure 8, so that all the ribs 26 come into gripping contact with the wires, the grip on the wires being enhanced by the increased frictional contact between the wires and the distorted portion of the wall 24.

The face 34 of each wedge abutted by the respective compression spring has a concave profile, which consists of two planar surfaces 35, 36 at an angle to each other of 150°, whereby the end of the spring contacting the wedge is centralised on that face, and whereby any tendency for the wedge to rotate upon insertion or removal of a wire is resisted by an opposite moment exerted by the spring against the appropriate side of the concave face of the wedge, as indicated by the arcuate arrows M' and M' ' in Figures 13 and 14 respectively.

The concave profile 34 terminates towards the ribbed face of the respective wedge 20A or 20B at an integral projection 37 of the wedge towards the respective recessed abutment 29A or 29B, to prevent migration of the respective spring 28A or 28B through the gap between the wedge and the abutment into the path of the entering wire end, and each projection has a hooked profile curving towards the respective compression spring, with the inner curve 38 of the hooked profile merging into the surface 35 of the concave profile 34.

The other surface 36 of the concave profile merges into an arcuate heel 39 of the wedge also merging into a planar sliding face 40 of the wedge opposite to the ribbed face, and the other end of the sliding face merges into an arcuate toe 41 of the wedge also merging into a forward planar face 42 making an angle of 55° with the sliding face 40 of the wedge .

In Figure 15 the aperture 32A for a tool 33 is a hole through the part of the body 22 remote from the bore 23A and opens into the back of the channel 21 A, and the tool 33 has a curved leading end portion 33X to facilitate insertion of its tip through the hole and into engagement with the wedge 20A and to move it against the urge of its spring 28A. Alternatively, the aperture 32A may be a notch (not shown) across the body in the same location as the hole shown in Figure 15.

In Figure 16 the aperture 32A is a hole in one side of the body 22 and into the corresponding side of the channel 21 A, the tool 33 again having a curved leading end portion 33X to facilitate insertion of its tip through the hole and into engagement with the wedge 2OA and to move it against the urge of its spring 28A.

In Figure 17 the aperture 32A is a straight hole in the same location as in Figure 7 but the hole has a hexagonal cross-section matched by the cross-section of the separate tool 33.

In Figure 18 the aperture 32A is a hole in the body 22, which hole is arcuate lengthwise, so that only a rigid rod 33 having a matching curvature can be pushed through the hole to move the respective wedge 20A against the urge of its spring (not shown); while in Figure 19 the aperture 32A has a hexagonal cross-section and is also arcuate lengthwise, so that only a rigid rod 33 having both a matching cross-section and a matching curvature can be pushed through the hole to move the wedge 20A against the urge of its spring (again not shown ) .

Claims

1. A connector for wires or the like provided with wedges (^J0 , 2p&) slidable along respective channels 2 ) in the body (j ) of the connector, each channel converging at an acute angle to and into communication with a respective one are separated by a thin wal 2 ) of that respective bore provided with transverse ribs ngagement with the wires (y , 2^) to be connected under the urge of compression springs ( 2 ^, β ) between the wedges and recessed abutments (^#A, 2JH3) within the body ( 2 f of the connector, characterized in that the face (3-^) of each wedge abutted by the respective compression spring i. 2filL, 2 ) has a concave profile, whereby the end of the spring contacting the wedge is centralised on that face, and whereby any tendency for the wedge to rotate upon insertion or removal of a wire is resisted by an opposite moment (Μ' or H" ) exerted by the spring against the appropriate side (^ or ^ of the concave face ) of the wedge.

2. A connector as in Claim 1 , characterized in that the concave profile of two planar surfaces (35, 36) at an angle to each other of 150°.

3. A connector as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the concave profile terminates towards the ribbed face of the respective wedge at an integral projection ( of the wedge towards the respective recessed abutment { to prevent migration of the respective compression spring ( 2^ or 2^) into or through the gap between the wedge and the recessed abutment into the path of the entering wire end.

4. A connector as in Claim 3, characterised in that ving towards the with the inner nto the concave

5. Ά connector as in Claim 4, characterised in that the other end of the concave profile (ΑΪ merges into an making an angle of 55° with the sliding face (4j9^ of the wedge .

6. A connector as in any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the ribbed face of each wedge (2pA", 2pa has the ridges of at least five ribs arranged in a convex arc such that the middle rib ( 2 ) makes first contact with a wire or 2 Tjrf to be gripped by the wedge.

7. A connector for wires or the like provided with wedges ( 20A, 2JHET) slidable along respective channels (2JA^ 2l ) in the body ( 2? of the connector, each channel converging at an acute angle to and into communication with a respective one of twin bores ( 2¾ 2 ) , which are separated by a thin wall ( yf) , towards one end (2 X^ 2 ) of that respective bore, the wedges ( 2JfC, 2β&) being provided with transverse ribs ( ^) on one face for gripping engagement with the wires to be connected under the urge of compression springs { 2 , 28i_ between the wedges and recessed abutments (^A, 294- within the body (^) of the connector, characterized by apertures ( 3^, 3 ά) in the body (^) of the connector each having an inner end opening into one channel f the the e end with as a hrough the aperture to move the wedge against the urge of its spring.

8. A connector as in Claim 7, characterised in that each aperture ( 3 ά or 3?!& ) is a straight hole through the body or 2 ii ) of the respective bore (23^ or 23^) and into the respective channel ( f. or 2y&) , the axis of the hole being such that a straight rigid rod ( pushed into the channel through the hole will move the respective wedge ( 2β£ or 2 *f) against the urge of its spring (28ft^or 28^) .

9. A connector as in Claim 7, characterised in that eac so be or

10. A connector as in Claim 8 or Claim 9, characterised in that each hole (32¾for 3Jtf) has a non- circular cross-section to suit a rigid rod ) of complementary non-circular cross-section.

11. A connector as in Claim 7, characterised in that each aperture {^Zh or 32-^) is a hole through a side of the body (^ ) of the connector and into the corresponding side of the respective channel ( 2^ or 2 £) .

12. A connector as in Claim 7 characterised in that each aperture ( 32^* or 3/tfs) is a hole through the part of the body of the connector remote from the bore ^23i( or 2^) and opening into the back of the respective channel (2^ or

13. A connector as in Claim 7 characterised in that each of the body or 23 ) and (^A or 2Λ&.

14. The combination of a connector and a tool yd) for use therewith as in any one of Claims 7 to 10.

15. The combination of a connector as in any one of Claims 11 to 13 and a tool {^ j for use therewith having a curved leading end portion (3 $£) to" facilitate insertion of its tip through the hole (3^A or 32ΒΪ or notch in the body (2^) of the connector and into engagement with the respective wedge ( or 2 d) and to move it against the urge of its spring. For the Applicants DR. REINHOLD By: