JPH07192782A - Electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a new electric connector which can judge connection conformability of two conductors before a connection work in a nondestructive manner at the time when two conductors are mutually or branch-connected. CONSTITUTION: An electric connector 1' has a two-piece structure constituted of a C-shaped member 2' and a wedge member 12'. Conductors 30', 30' to be connected are arranged in grooves in both sides of the C-shaped member 2', the wedge member 12' is lightly pushed inside the member 2', and then the conformability of both conductors 30', 30" is judged based on marks A, B formed in the C-shaped member or the wedge member. The marks may be ribs 7', 9' formed in the outer face of the C-shaped member 2' in the direction at right angles to the insertion direction of the wedge member 12'. Moreover, it is preferable that a plurality of holding teeth are formed in the inner face of the C-shaped member 2'.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector of the type for interconnecting or branching two conductors having a relatively large cross-sectional area for electric power and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrical connector (or a wedge-type electrical connector) for interconnecting or branching two conductors or cables by using a C-shaped member and a wedge-shaped member is known as Brazilian Patent Application No. P.
No. I9102719 and No. PI8202511, and the like.

In the former case, teeth are provided so as to bite into the cable conductor to strengthen the connection tension of the cable conductor. Also,
In the latter electrical connector, bumpers and latches are provided to prevent the components of such connector from moving after the conductor connecting operation.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional wedge-type electric connector, it is difficult to judge in advance whether or not the connected conductor to be connected to the electric connector has a size suitable for the connector. Is. If the conductor size is too small, the electrical connection will be incomplete, and the connection resistance will be too large, causing heat generation and voltage drop, and in some cases, a connection failure may occur during long-term use. Further, if the conductor size is too large, the wedge-shaped member may not be sufficiently pressed into the C-shaped member, and the wedge-shaped member may fall off during long-term use. In particular, when the wedge-shaped member has elasticity formed by bending the elastic plate-shaped member, there is a possibility that the wedge-shaped member may be permanently (or plastically) deformed due to excessive press-fitting.

Since there are various sizes and shapes of the cable conductors connected by the wedge type electrical connector as described above,
Before the wedge-shaped member is press-fitted into the C-shaped member by using a tool, it is preferable to be able to judge in advance whether or not the dimensions of the conductor to be connected are in the proper range (that is, the conforming state). Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector that can easily determine whether or not the conductor to be connected is in a proper range before connecting work. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector capable of improving the strength and electrical / mechanical properties while maintaining the required elasticity of the C-shaped member.

[0006]

The electrical connector of the present invention is an electrical connector of the type having a C-shaped member and a wedge-shaped member in which conductors to be connected are arranged in grooves on both sides of the C-shaped member and press-fitted inward. It is a connector.

The first electrical connector of the present invention is a mark for preliminarily determining the conformity of the conductor to be connected to the electrical connector at two different positions spaced from each other in the wedge-shaped member or the C-shaped member in the insertion direction of the wedge-shaped member. Is provided.

The second electrical connector of the present invention is characterized in that two ribs are formed on the outer surface of the C-shaped member in the direction orthogonal to the inserting direction of the wedge-shaped member.

The third electrical connector of the present invention is C
It is characterized in that the outer surface of the character-shaped member has two ribs in the direction orthogonal to the inserting direction of the wedge-shaped member and the holding teeth are formed on the inner surface.

[0010]

In the electrical connector of the present invention, a pair of conductors to be connected are arranged in the grooves on both sides of the C-shaped member, and the wedge-shaped member is press-fitted inside the conductors (between the conductors). Interconnect between conductors. A press-fitting tool such as pliers is used for this interconnection work, that is, for pressing the wedge-shaped member into the C-shaped member. However, in the electrical connector of the present invention, prior to this press-fitting work, first, the conductors to be connected are arranged in the grooves on both sides of the C-shaped member, and the wedge-shaped member is lightly pushed in by hand, so that the wedge-shaped member is C-shaped. See if it fits between two marks or ribs on the part. That is, when the wedge-shaped member is outside the first mark (or rib), it means that one or both of the conductors are too large, and when the wedge-shaped member exceeds the second mark (or rib), it is too small and both are incompatible. means. Therefore, only when the wedge-shaped member fits between both marks (or ribs) of the C-shaped member, it is judged that the conductor is a proper or compatible conductor. afterwards,
Normal connection work is performed using the above-mentioned tools and the like. The conductors connected by this series of connection operations can be stably and reliably maintained in a connected state for a long period of time by the electric connector.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Some preferred embodiments of the electrical connector according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a first embodiment of an electrical connector according to the present invention as seen from obliquely above and below, respectively. This electrical connector 1 has a C-shaped member (or external element) 2 and a wedge-shaped member (or internal element) 3.

The C-shaped member 2 and the wedge-shaped member 3 are obtained by bending a conductive metal plate having a desired thickness. The C-shaped member 2 forms on both sides a bent groove for receiving a pair of connected conductors or cable conductors 30. An opening 7 is formed in the inner end 5 and a slope 6 is formed in the vicinity thereof.

The wedge-shaped member 3 is bent and formed in a substantially wedge shape, and has substantially cylindrical bodies 9 on both sides. A duct (or a concave curved surface) 10 is formed on the outer surface of each tubular body 9, and holds a conductor 30 arranged via the flange 4 of the C-shaped member 2 together with the grooves on both sides of the C-shaped member 2.

The central duct 11 is formed by bending the wedge-shaped member 3. A protrusion 12 is formed near the end of a substantially flat portion that connects both tubular bodies 9, and after connecting a conductor 30 to the electrical connector 1, engages with the opening 7 of the C-shaped member 2 so that the wedge-shaped member 3 is C-shaped. It is clamped (fixed) to the character-shaped member 2.

The wedge-shaped electrical connector 1 is adaptable to various combinations of cable conductors and is limited only by the total dimensions of both conductors. However, given an arbitrary pair of (2) conductors, it is necessary to judge whether or not both of these conductors are compatible with this electric connector 1 without destroying the connector (that is, non-destructively). There is. In particular, such a need is needed not at the laboratory but at the connection site.

In order to make these judgments without assembling the electric connector 1, the C-shaped member 2 or the wedge-shaped member 3 is provided.
A mark is provided on one or both sides. That is, marks are formed by means of paint, punching, or other means when manufacturing these members 2 and 3.

In a preferred embodiment of the electrical connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the marks A and B are provided on the outer surface of the C-shaped member 2 in the direction orthogonal to the inserting direction of the wedge-shaped member 3. . Mark A represents the maximum total size of both conductors 30, and mark B represents the minimum allowable total size.

With these marks A and B, the engineer can use the conductor 30.
It is possible to judge in advance whether or not the electric connector 1 is compatible with the combination of the both conductors 30 before actually connecting the electric connector 1 to the electric connector 1, thus eliminating the possibility of accidentally connecting the nonconforming conductor.

As an example, if the leading edge of the wedge-shaped member 3 of FIG. 1 is between the marks A and B of the C-shaped member 2, the combination of both conductors 30 is at the maximum and minimum and is compatible. Indicates that. In this embodiment, marks A and B are lines on both flanges (free ends) 4 of the C-shaped member 2 in a direction orthogonal to the inserting direction of the wedge-shaped member 3.

As described above, it is needless to say that the mark is not necessarily limited to the C-shaped member 2 and may be formed on the visible portion of the wedge-shaped member 3. FIG. 2 shows another embodiment in which the marks A and B are attached to the connecting portion of the wedge-shaped member 3.

Next, another embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This electrical connector
1'also has a two-body structure of a C-shaped member 2'and a wedge-shaped member 3 ',
A pair of conductors 30 'are sandwiched between them. Both the C-shaped member 2'and the wedge-shaped member 3'can be formed by bending a metal plate. An opening 5'and a slope 4'are formed on the bottom surface of the wedge-shaped member 3 '.

The C-shaped member (or receptacle) 2'is provided with two spaced ribs (projections) or ridges (ridges) 7 ', 9'in the direction orthogonal to the inserting direction of the wedge-shaped member. The ribs 7'and 9'are formed so as to be convex on the outer surface and to be concave portions 8'on the inner surface. Further, a plurality of holding teeth 10 'are formed on the inner surface of the C-shaped member 2'and are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction thereof. These ribs 7'and 9'are formed at positions corresponding to the marks A and B of the electric connector 1 of the first embodiment described above.

The retaining teeth 10 'of the C-shaped member 2'are preferably notched in the inner wall 11' of the C-shaped member 2 ',
This shape increases the tensile strength of the cable conductor 30 '. In the electrical connector 1'of the present invention, the notch has a diamond shape. However, it is needless to say that this shape is merely an example and may be another arbitrary shape.

The retaining teeth 10 'are arranged to be inserted between the two recesses 7', to distribute the tension of the connection of the cable conductor 30 'and to increase the tension of the cable conductor in the connector.

The wedge-shaped member 12 ', which is another element of the electrical connector 1', is preferably formed by bending a conductive metal plate. The wedge-shaped member 12 'is bent at its both ends inward to form two cylindrical bodies 13' and 14 ', and each of the channels 1'
Form 5'and 16 '. These channels 15 ', 16' are the inner wall 11 'of the C-shaped member 2'when the wedge-shaped member 12' is pressed in.
Press the cable conductor 30 'against.

The C-shaped member 2'of the electrical connector 1'is a conductor 30 '.
When placed inside and wedge-shaped member 12 'is inserted inside, conductor 30' is pinched and connected. This wedge-shaped member 12 'has a protrusion 1
When the 7'is formed and pressed into the C-shaped member 2 ', the slope
It engages the opening 5'through 4'and clamps both.

The ribs 7'and 9'use a C-shaped member 2'which is relatively thin and lightweight and has great strength, and the recess 8 '.
With the holding teeth 10 ', the conductor 30' can be held with sufficient strength. The ribs 7 ', 9'are the same for both conductors 3 as described above.
Used to determine if the total size of 0's fits the electrical connector 1 '.

Although the preferred embodiments of the electrical connector according to the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention should not be limited to only those embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made if necessary. For example, the wedge-shaped member may be a block (solid) made of a metal material such as aluminum or a plastic material instead of bending the metal plate.

[0030]

As will be understood from the above description, according to the electric connector of the present invention, marks are provided at different positions in the insertion direction on the C-shaped member or the wedge-shaped member that constitutes the electric connector, and the conductors to be connected are adapted. It is possible to determine the state in advance. Therefore, it is possible to effectively avoid the possibility that the non-conforming conductor is erroneously connected to cause a connection failure later.

Further, according to the electric connector of the present invention, C
By forming ribs on the outer surface of the character-shaped member in a direction orthogonal to the inserting direction of the wedge-shaped member, it is possible to improve marks and strength.

Furthermore, in addition to the ribs on the outer surface of the C-shaped member, a plurality of holding teeth are formed on the inner surface of the C-shaped member so that the tension (holding force) of the conductor is increased.
It is also possible to increase

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a branch connector using the electrical connector of the present invention as seen from diagonally above.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electric connector of FIG. 1 viewed from below.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a C-shaped member of another embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the electrical connector in which the C-shaped member of FIG. 3 is assembled with a wedge-shaped member (however, the conductor is a cross section).

6 is a perspective view of the electrical connector of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1'Electric connector 2, 2'C-shaped member 3, 12 'Wedge-shaped member A, B Mark 7', 9'Rib (mark) 10 'Holding tooth 30, 30' Connected conductor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electrical connector having a C-shaped member and a wedge-shaped member in which conductors to be connected are arranged in grooves on both sides of the C-shaped member and press-fitted inward, wherein the C-shaped member or the wedge-shaped member is provided. An electric connector, wherein marks are provided in advance at two different positions separated from each other in the inserting direction of the wedge-shaped member to determine the fitting state of the conductor to be connected to the electric connector. 2. An electrical connector having a C-shaped member and a wedge-shaped member in which conductors to be connected are arranged in grooves on both sides of the C-shaped member and press-fitted inward, wherein an outer surface of the C-shaped member is provided. Is an electric connector in which two ribs are formed in a direction orthogonal to the inserting direction of the wedge-shaped member. 3. An electrical connector comprising a C-shaped member and a wedge-shaped member in which conductors to be connected are arranged in grooves on both sides of the C-shaped member, and the wedge-shaped member is press-fitted inward. An electrical connector characterized in that ribs and holding teeth are formed so as to be separated from each other in a direction orthogonal to the inserting direction of the wedge-shaped member.