JPH0415586B2 - - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connector comprises a plurality of metal split cylinders (18) each having an axially extending slot (33) for receiving an insulated wire to form an electrical connection, and an insulating housing (20) for each cylinder, supporting the cylinder and including slots (61, 62) on diametrically opposed sides with one slot coaxially extending with the slot of the cylinder. The housings are aligned in two rows with the slots thereof aligned transversely to the rows and with the housings in each row laterally spaced apart to form a plurality of inter housing slots (63) and the housings in different rows laterally offset.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Terminal connection blocks or modules are widely used in the field of communications engineering to connect devices and distributed lines, especially for signal switching and distribution purposes. Its main function is the solder-free connection of two or more wires.

Apart from its main function of connecting modules of this type, the invention consists in providing a fast, mechanically safe and electrically robust connection. Furthermore, it provides for relatively simple and quick disassembly of the connection if it is necessary to change the connection more frequently. Rapid connection is provided by eliminating pre-connection and post-connection requirements as much as possible. No stripping, pending or trimming operations should be necessary, thus the connection can be completed in a few moves. A mechanically secure and electrically robust connection is provided by means of interfaces, clamps, etc. in which the connection module provides a secure grip on the prepared wire conductor.

In order to provide connection modules with such characteristics, it is known to use metal split cylinders with narrow axially extending slots. Connecting the wire to the cylinder by moving the cylinder in its axial direction transversely to the slot;
The edge of the slot is sliced along the insulation and the connection with the conductor is established by the gripping force provided by the elasticity of the cross section of the cylinder. It is well known to concentrically support cylinders within generally columnar insulating housings of rectangular cross-section to form connector modules. The housing has slots in diagonally corresponding corners in which the cylinder is disposed, with the slot in one corner being aligned with the receiving slot in the cylinder. A wire installation extends it across the cylinder and through a housing slot, and an impact tool drives the wire into a split cylinder, which is preferably located opposite the wire receiving slot to remove excess wire. Contains cutting edges for trimming or cutting lengths of wire. The wires thus installed are shielded from each other by the housing and problems of short circuits and interference are avoided. In practice, a plurality of housings are mounted and extend perpendicularly from the planar member to form a connector terminal connection panel. An example of such a panel is disclosed in co-pending US Patent Application No. 321107, "Electrical Connector Module," filed November 31, 1981 by Vachhani.

Although the Vachhani panel can handle large numbers of wires quickly and reliably without soldering in a central location with relatively high density, it has drawbacks. One is that assembly of panels requires individual modules to be mounted simultaneously, making such assembly time consuming and therefore expensive. Another drawback is that the wire slots provided in the housing require the wires to be positioned and installed simultaneously, requiring the technician to constantly perform the positioning and insertion operations. This is not efficient for equipment that positions and inserts many wires in succession.
The Vachhani module also has the disadvantage that the wire insertion tool stresses the split cylinder. That is, due to the impactful handling of the tool and the relatively flexible housing material used for the module, the cylinder that receives the wire can become a connection that is susceptible to deformation during wire installation. moreover
Vachhani's tool has the disadvantage that the housing needs to be oriented for proper operation. Finally, the tools include moving parts and are relatively expensive.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention provides an electrical connector panel and a tool for installing or inserting wires into the panel that can alleviate or eliminate the deficiencies described above in the Vachhani device. According to one aspect of the invention, a plurality of metal split cylinders of the type described above are provided and mounted in a non-conductive housing to form a connector module. The housing is configured such that the split cylinder is supported by a plurality of cylindrical subhousings formed in two rows, each of the subhousings including slots on diametrically opposed sides thereof, and the subhousing slots are arranged in a plurality of cylindrical subhousings. One extends coaxially with the subhousing slots arranged transversely to the slots and rows in the split cylinder. The subhousings in each row are laterally spaced apart to form a plurality of internal subhousing slots, and the subhousings in different rows are laterally offset such that one slot in each subhousing mates with one of the internal subhousing slots. Line up in a straight line. According to this aspect of the invention, a plurality of installed wires are placed parallel to each other in the subhousing slots in one series of operations, and installed in another series of operations, and the positioning of the wires and the two This eliminates the need for switch-back-and-forth insertion operations to serially install one or more wires into a panel.

According to another aspect of the invention, the modular housing includes a snap mounting arrangement arranged on one side of the housing and having one or more laterally spaced flexible bridges arranged on one side of the housing. and shoulders. The bridge has a bridge member spaced apart from the housing and supported at an opposite end so as to be capable of bending relative to the housing when pressure is applied. A panel member provided to support the housing has an aperture dimensioned to receive the housing with an aperture including one or more tabs, the tabs being positioned to engage the one or more bridges so that the housing is It is designed to be pressed inward when it is slid into the opening,
It also engages the side edges of the bridge when the housing is mounted. A shoulder is provided to stop the housing in the mounting position, and the housing is snapped into place and maintained immovably by the shoulder on one side of the housing and the lateral edge of the bridge on the other. Thus, the present invention allows multiple connectors to be mounted to a panel at the same time while maintaining opposite sides in a single connector module at the same time, resulting in substantial time savings in panel assembly.

However, according to another aspect of the invention, the housing is made of a relatively rigid plastic non-conductive material and a tool or simple wire insertion means having no moving parts is provided for inserting the wire. . The wire insertion tool includes a center post sized to fit within the split cylinder and a cylindrical member extending coaxially around the post, and sized to fit around the outside circumference of the cylinder between the cylinder and the housing. I'm here. A shoulder is provided on the tool and extends axially from the tip, the shoulder being sufficient to engage the lateral edge of the end of the subhousing with the tip of the tool extending in and around the mounted split cylinder. It has a radius of The wire to be installed can then be passed across the top of the cylinder extending through the subhousing slot and pressed onto the cylinder with a tool, so that the cylindrical shape needs to be oriented. no moving parts. Furthermore, during tool operation, the subhousing can absorb stress from the tool to avoid deformation of the split cylinder when the wire is inserted.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the end of each subhousing cylinder is funnel-shaped to facilitate insertion of the tool into the end of the subhousing and to align the tool with the split cylinder in a suitable axial direction. It is designed to guide you to the correct position. Additionally, at least one slot in each housing includes a precisely axially extending lip on each side of the slot, the lip having a passageway formed between the lips slightly less than the diameter of the wire being installed. It has a width.
The lip thus provides a mechanical grip and a safe strain on the wire during and after the installation.

Thus, the present invention provides an electrical connector panel that eliminates or alleviates the problems discussed above with respect to the Vachhani device. Further specific details, aspects and distinguishing features of the structure and operation of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

〔Example〕

The electrical connector device of the present invention is used in a connecting panel or a terminal block that can be easily assembled to electrically connect a large number of lead wires or electrical circuits to other lead wires or electrical circuits. . In actual use, the lead wire is part of a communication circuit, such as a telephone line or a data transmission circuit. When the lead wire is a telephone line, the electrical connector module of the present invention can be used to modify or interconnect the telephone line to accommodate increased frequency of telephone usage, changes in the number of telephone subscribers, movement of telephone subscribers, etc. used for connections.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrical connector apparatus of the present invention is shown in perspective and plan views. The connector module 10 is mounted in an opening 12 in a relatively flat panel member 11, typically having the same cross-section as the connector module 10. The module 10 has a housing 1 made of relatively hard non-conductive plastic.
Contains 5. The housing 15 includes a plurality of generally cylindrical shaped panel members 11.
It includes a sub-housing 20 (see FIG. 3) extending on both sides, and this sub-housing 20 supports a longitudinally split cylindrical connector member 18 positioned in its center. Both sides of the sub-housing 20 are formed to include funnel-shaped ends 17, the shape of which is well represented in FIGS. 3 and 4.
This will be explained in more detail later in subhousing 2.
This is to facilitate the entry and alignment of the tool inserted into the hole. Although partially asymmetrical in detail, the module is identical on both sides of the panel member with respect to its function and the configuration of the working parts of the subhousing 20.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, color 3
1. Connector member 18 is shown with a first end 30 including a wire mating slot 33 and a wire trimming edge or blade 34. At the other end of this connector member 18, a pair of protruding members 37, 38 are cut out from the side wall of the cylinder.
, a mating slot 39 , and another trimming blade 40 . Also,
On either side of the connector member 18 there are wire guides 41, 42 which are narrower towards said slots 33, 39, respectively, and lateral wire guides 41, 42 which structurally separate the elastic forces at the ends in the transverse direction. A cut 35 is further provided.

Connector member 18 is connected to cylindrical sub-housing 2
0, the subhousing 20 includes an annular retaining portion 50 extending inwardly from its sidewall and having a radius slightly smaller than the radius of the connector member 18. This retaining portion 50 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending grooves 51, 52, each having a width slightly greater than the width of the projecting members 37, 38. Attachment of the connector member is carried out by first inserting the protruding end of the connector member into the subhousing, so that the protruding member 3
7 and 38 are compressed when passing over the upper part of the holding portion 50, and open at the grooves 51 and 52 to engage therewith. In this way, the connector member 18 is positioned and held axially by the shoulder member 31 on one side of the retaining part 50 and by the projecting members 37, 38 on the opposite side of the retaining part 50. , the protruding members 37 and 38 also restrict the rotation of the connector member 18. Connector member 18 is thus positioned within subhousing 20 and provides functionally identical wire mating slots at both ends, ie, on both sides of panel member 11.

The form is best shown in Figure 1,
A pair of diametrically opposed and axially extending slots 61 and 62 are provided in the cylinder wall at both ends of the subhousing 20, and one of the slots 61 and 62 at both ends is connected to the slot 33 or the slot. slots 61 and 62 at both ends.
the other trimming blade 34 or 4 of
It is adapted to overlap the recess formed by 0. Preferably, the slots in the subhousing and the slots in the connector member are coextensive for at least two or three diameters of the wire sizes to be connected, so that the slots in the connector member 18, as described below, are coextensive. Preferably, two or three types of wires are connected at either end of the wire. In addition, an intersubhousing slot 63 is provided which extends coaxially to mate with the slots 61, 62 in the cylinder wall.

As shown in FIG.
2, 63 usually have the same width; they are slightly wider than the diameter of the wire to be installed so that they do not engage the wire during installation. The slot 61, however, has a relatively thin, arcuate, extending lip 5 in the direction of its axis.
The opening between the lips 55 and 56 is preferably narrower in width than the diameter of the wire to be attached thereto, and the opening between the lips 55 and 56 is narrower than the diameter of the wire to be attached thereto. When the wire is inserted in a direction transverse to the axis of the lip, the wire is gripped by the slot 61, thereby relieving mechanical strain on the wire. The width of the slots 61, 62, 63 is
1.14 mm (0.045 inch), width of the opening between lips 55 and 56 0.64 mm (0.025 inch), and radius of the lip 0.25 mm (0.01 inch), 0.81 mm (0.32 inch).
Given for ~0.89 mm (0.35 inch) insulated wire. The relative proportions of these dimensions are such that the wire can be pulled and pushed by hand between the lips with relative ease without undue force being applied when the wire is prepositioned. and which does not strain or degrade the conductor during wire installation. Furthermore, it is also possible to deploy the wire by sliding it downwardly between the lips with a force applied using an insertion tool, which force is only a small amount of the wire inside the subhousing. Only part of it is included. The slots 61, 62, 63 are located in the housing 1.
It should be noted that the slots 61 are identical for each end of the subhousing 20, so that all stress relief slots 61 are on a common side of the subhousing 20.

The housing 15 has four flexible bridge members 7
0-73 and a set of shoulders 74, 75 such that the housing 15 is matingly mounted within the opening 12 of the panel 11. A reinforcing wedge 69 is integrally provided to the housing 15 to add structural strength to the subhousing end. Each of the bridge members 70-73 is supported at regular intervals while maintaining relationship with the main body of the housing 15, and each has an inclined portion 76-73 as shown in cross section in FIG.
Contains 79. 4 similar tab members 80~
83 is provided on the panel member 11 so as to protrude into the opening 12. Attachment of housing 15 to panel 15 is accomplished by inserting the non-shouldered end of housing 15 into opening 12 so that ramps 76-79 engage tabs 80-83, respectively, and Housing 1
As the shoulder members 74, 75 engage the panel member 11, the tabs 80-83 engage the upper ends of the bridge members as the shoulder members 74, 75 engage the panel member 11. The housing 15 is thus held in the mounting position of the panel member 11 in an uncorrectable state.

The tool provided for installing wires into the connector member 18 and showing the method for doing so will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. In FIG. 5, a wire installation tool according to the invention is shown in a partially cut away perspective view. The tool 90 has a handle (not shown), for example a shaft 9 connected to the handle of a conventional screwdriver.
1 is provided. At the end of the shaft 91 there is a tip having a cylindrical member 93, the outer diameter of which is smaller than the inner diameter of the extension of the sub-housing 20 surrounding the connector member 18; The inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of connector member 18. A center post or punch member 94 is disposed concentrically within the cylindrical member 93 and is connected to the connector member 18.
has a radius slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the Punch member 94 includes a smaller diameter portion 100 spaced axially from its end such that when the tool is fully inserted, the smaller diameter portion is aligned with the axis of connector member 18. Exiting from the edge of the direction. Hollowed openings 101 are provided extending from the interior of the tool 90 to the exterior on both sides of the tip 92. The arrangement of small diameter portion 100 and opening 101 allows the plastic and metal residue created by wire trimming to rise between members 94, 95;
The tool does not make a residual push to facilitate movement out of opening 101. member 93
further includes a shoulder 95 that is generally equal to the outside diameter of the subhousing 20 so that when the tool is inserted into the subhousing, said shoulder rests on the edge of the subhousing so that the tool The distal end 92 extends downwardly into and around the connector member 18 .

The wire and connector 18 are assembled using the tool 90 as follows. 1st
As in the example shown, the wire to be installed is placed in the slots 61, 62, 63 (leftmost wire) and the wire is pulled downwardly across the top of the connector member 18 by hand. (rightmost wire), trimming blade 34 or 40
The extra wire extending outwardly from the slot proximate to determines by which end of the housing 15 the wire is attached. Since each of the connector members faces in the same direction on either side of the housing 15 overlapping the wire receiving slots, all attached wires are installed with extra wires extending from the same side of the housing. Both lipped slots 61, as described above, impose constraints on the wire, preferably slightly narrower than the outside diameter of the insulation overlying the wire to which it is attached. In this way, the wire is manually positioned for insertion and
The wire is pushed or pulled across the top of connector member 18 into engagement with slot 61 and held there by tool 90 until fully installed. Once fully installed, the gripping force of the lip-equipped slot 61 provides effective, reduced stress so that if the wire is pulled or bumped after installation, the connector member
The connection with 8 is not disturbed.

A wire or wires are inserted into one or more subhousing slots 61, 62,
63 and insertion of the tool 90 into the end of the subhousing is facilitated by the subhousing having a relatively large funnel-shaped end 17. As the tool 90 moves into the subhousing, the funnel shape causes the tool 90 to become axially concentric with the connector member 18 so that the tool 90 engages the wire and
Then insert the wire into the wire receiving slot 33 or 3.
Push it into 9. The trimming blade 34 or 40 of the connector member 18 cuts off the excess length of wire and the insulation of the wire is removed by sliding it through the slot 33 or 39.
As shown, slots 33 or 39 are slit by their respective inner ends to make positive electrical and mechanical connections with connector member 18. The excess wire cut by cutting edge 34 or 40 is simply removed manually. The trimmed wire remainder, as described above, travels inside the tip 92 of the tool 90 and exits through the opening 101. The tool 90 also inserts the wire further into the lipped slot 61 so that the wire that was laterally extending when installed is pushed into the subhousing.

Thus, in the connector module, installation tool, and installation method described above, a plurality of wires are securely positioned for installation through the wire gripping slots in a series of operations, and then completely positioned in a series of installation operations. Because the wires can be attached, there is no need to change the wire attachment tool back and forth between the wire placement location and the wire placement location if two or more wires are to be attached in succession. I understand that. It will also be appreciated that two or three wires can be installed in a given slot either sequentially or simultaneously. It will further be appreciated that because the installation tool of the present invention is completely symmetrical, no orientation of the installation tool is required other than axial alignment of the subhousing and connector member. In this way, a significant reduction in wire installation time and tool costs is achieved. Furthermore, along with the operation of the installation tool, the construction of the housing 15, which is made of a hard plastic material, allows the housing to absorb most of the forces applied through the tool.
Deformation or damage to the connector member 18 is prevented. Finally, but not exclusively, it will be appreciated that the connector module of the present invention can be easily installed by simply snapping onto the panel 11.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector module according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view of an electrical connector module according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a line 3--
3; FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the connector module according to the invention along line 4--4 showing equipment tools according to the invention; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the equipment tool according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a line 6-6 in FIG. 3.
Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the connector module of the present invention along . DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Connector module, 11... Panel member, 12... Opening, 15... Housing, 17... End part, 18... Split cylinder connector, 33...
Slot, 34...Trimming plate, 70-7
3... Bridge means, 74, 75... Shoulder, 8
0-83...Tab.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An electrical connector device for making electrical connections to a plurality of insulated wires of predetermined dimensions, each of which receives and engages an insulated wire to form an electrical connection. A unitary non-conductive housing formed of a plurality of metal split cylinder means and integrally formed and tightly bound cylinder subhousings, each of the cylinder subhousings having a plurality of said split metal cylinder subhousings. one of the cylinder means is held concentrically and each of said subhousings is opposite one of said subhousing slots extending coaxially with a slot for engaging a wire in said split cylinder means; wherein said subhousing has subhousing slots arranged in rows and is arranged in two rows adjacent to opposite rows of subhousings with a common insulating wall portion, the subhousings in each row having a The housing is wire 1
The subhousings in different rows are spaced apart to form a plurality of inter-subhousing slots sized to receive one of the two subhousings, the subhousings in different rows being laterally offset such that the slots on diametrically opposite sides of each subhousing defining a complete wire receiving slot for each subhousing with opposing surfaces of said wire receiving slot disposed in conjunction with one of the intersubhousing slots and separated by a distance sized to receive one of the insulated wires; and each of said wire-receiving slots includes deformation removal means for retaining one of the insulated wires inserted into said wire-receiving slot, whereby the wire to be connected is connected to said split cylinder. 1. An electrical connector device adapted to be lined up within said wire receiving slot before being inserted into said wire receiving slot. 2. An electrical connector device for making electrical connections to a plurality of insulated wires of predetermined dimensions, the plurality of metal split cylinders each receiving an insulated wire and interlocking with it to form an electrical connection. a unitary non-conductive housing formed of means and integrally formed, tightly bound cylinder subhousings, each of the cylinder subhousings having one of said split cylinder means; each of said subhousings includes a slot opposite one of said subhousing slots extending coaxially with a slot for engaging a wire in said split cylinder means; , wherein the subhousings have subhousing slots arranged in rows and are arranged in two rows adjacent to opposite rows of subhousings with a common insulating wall portion, the subhousings in each row having one of the wires.
The subhousings in different rows are spaced apart to form a plurality of inter-subhousing slots sized to receive one of the two subhousings, the subhousings in different rows being laterally offset such that the slots on diametrically opposite sides of each subhousing defining a complete wire receiving slot for each subhousing with opposing surfaces of said wire receiving slot disposed in conjunction with one of the intersubhousing slots and separated by a distance sized to receive one of the insulated wires; and each of said wire-receiving slots includes deformation removal means for retaining one of the insulated wires inserted into said wire-receiving slot, whereby the wire to be connected is connected to said split wire. panel means arranged in said wire-receiving slot prior to insertion into the cylinder and supporting said housing with one end of said housing accessible on each side of said panel means; and bracket means; An electrical connector device comprising: a removably supporting panel means spaced apart from a bracket support surface. 3. The deformation removing means includes a pair of opposing lips coaxially with the wire receiving slot in the split cylinder means and projecting into one of the subhousing slots for gripping the insertion wire across the insulation. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: 4. Opposing surfaces of subhousings within a row are generally parallel, with said opposing parallel surfaces defining a slot between said subhousings across said row. The device according to any of Item 2. 5. An electrical connector device for making an electrical connection to a plurality of insulated wires of predetermined dimensions, the unitary non-conductive housing being opposed to allocate a common wall portion. Opposing sides of the subhousings in a row are used to define a plurality of inter-subhousing slots extending through the row with offset subhousings in two rows with narrowly spaced subhousings in a "honeycomb" configuration. having a plurality of integrated subhousings, said subhousings having diametrically corresponding slots, the diametrically corresponding slots of the subhousings in one row being connected to the intersubhousing slots of the other row; The associated and arranged slots define a complete wire receiving slot for each subhousing with opposing surfaces of wire receiving slots spaced apart sufficiently to receive said insulated wires. and said wire-receiving slot includes deformation means for retaining one of said insulated wires inserted therein, and a plurality of metal split cylinder means each having a plurality of insulated wires therein; said cylinder means receiving and interlocking to form an electrical connection and forming a wire receiving slot of said cylinder means disposed relative to one of said diametrically opposed slots disposed within said subhousing. electrical connector equipment. 6. said deformation eliminating means having a pair of opposing projecting lips, one lip extending into each of one of the diametrically opposed slots disposed in said wire receiving slot of said split cylinder means; 6. The device of claim 5, wherein said lips extending from the sides are spaced apart to grip the insulation of an inserted wire. 7. Opposing surfaces of said subhousings defining slots between said subhousings are generally flat parallel surfaces having a length approximately equal to the length of the wire receiving slot of the split cylinder means. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5. 8. An electrical connector device for making electrical connections to a plurality of insulated wires of predetermined dimensions, each having a first end and an auxiliary disposed second end; a plurality of metal split cylinder means, each of said first and second ends having means for receiving and engaging an insulated wire to form an electrical connection; configured to provide a plurality of integrally formed, closely packed cylinder subhousings for concentrically supporting one of said split cylinders, each of said subhousings having first and second ends. and the first end of the subhousing has a slot diametrically opposite one of the slots extending coaxially with the wire receiving slot in the first end of the split cylinder means. and the second part of the sub-housing
said subhousing having a slot on a side diametrically opposite to one of said slots extending coaxially with a wire receiving slot in said second end of said split cylinder means; The subhousing slots are arranged in parallel rows and have subhousing slots arranged across said rows, with subhousings placed to the side away from opposing surfaces having predetermined slots arranged across said rows. a plurality of subhousing slots sized to receive wires of a given size, the subhousings in different rows being laterally offset such that the slot of each subhousing is placed in communication with one of said intersubhousing slots; forming a complete wire-receiving slot for the subhousing, and each of the wire-receiving slots for the subhousing having deformation removal means for maintaining one of the wires in the slot. electrical connector equipment. 9 a panel for supporting the housing, the panel having one side accessible to a first end of the housing and the other side accessible to a second end of the housing, the panel having an opening; and receiving said housing generally perpendicular to said opening, said housing being supported by said housing and spaced apart from said housing and disposed opposite a plurality of tabs projecting into said opening and rigidly secured to said panel. A tab having a plurality of bridge members sized to engage the surface of the bridge member as the housing is pressed against the opening bending the bridge member, and the bridge member is compressed after the bridge member passes through the tab. 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that it is foldable. 10 The cylinder subhousing has a truncated conical inner surface coaxially aligned with the cylindrical axis of the subhousing and a base of the truncated conical surface disposed at an end of the subhousing, and a funnel-shaped guide is provided. 3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device is configured to facilitate insertion and placement of an insertion tool. 11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the inner surface of the end of the subhousing is funnel-shaped to facilitate insertion and placement of an insertion tool. 12. Claim 8, wherein the interior surface of the cylinder subhousing is funnel-shaped for receiving a tool and directing the tool into alignment with the subhousing and the split cylinder means. The device described in.