NL2026477A

NL2026477A - Female conductor socket and associated connector

Info

Publication number: NL2026477A
Application number: NL2026477A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Chapman Paul; Martin David
Original assignee: Technetix Bv
Priority date: 2019-09-16
Filing date: 2020-09-16
Publication date: 2021-04-19
Also published as: GB2587470A; GB2587470B; AT523017A3; GB201913311D0; AT523017B1; GB202009473D0; NL2026477B1; AT523017A2

Abstract

There is provided a female conductor socket (20) for receiving and electrically contacting a pin of a male-type comprising a cylindrical wall (22) in which is disposed a gripping region (30) comprising a plurality of inwardly-depending resilient wall sections (32). Each resilient wall section (32) comprises two inwardly angled sloping portions (40, 40’) joined together by a portion (42) extending in an axial direction. At least one groove (50) is disposed between adjacent resilient wall sections.

Description

Female conductor socket and associated connector

DESCRIPTION Field of the invention This invention relates to female conductor sockets used to establish an electrical connection, and in particular female conductor sockets and female connectors incorporating such sockets as used in telecommunication and electrical networks. Background to the invention Female connectors are generally provided with a female central conductor socket to receive a male centre pin. The female sockets are manufactured as wrapped pressed metal components from metal sheet with the open insertion end of the socket typically formed as fingers to grip the male pin when it is inserted. Sometimes spring clips or elastic sleeves can be positioned over the fingers to improve grip. Soldering can be used at the rear end of the connector pin to improve stiffness of the rear of the socket. After repeated reinsertions of male pins, particularly those of different sizes, the grip of the female socket on the male pin tends to loosen as it opens along a seam, breaking the electrical connection between the pin and socket. Summary of the invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a female conductor socket for receiving and electrically contacting a pin of a male-type, wherein the female conductor socket comprises a seamless cylindrical wall in which is disposed a gripping region comprising a plurality of inwardly-depending resilient wall sections. Such a conductor socket is able to receive male-type pins having different diameters as the gripping section is expandable to accommodate the large diameter pins. Each resilient wall section is preferably formed between opposing slits in the cylindrical wall, the slits extending in an axial direction.

Preferably each resilient wall section comprises two inwardly angled sloping surfaces joined together by a portion extending in an axial direction. Thus the gripping section has a reduced diameter which correlates to the minimum diameter of the male pin that the connector is required to connect to, with the resilient wall sections able to expand to accommodate larger diameter pins. At least one groove may be positioned between each adjacent resilient wall section, the at least one groove extending in an axial direction so as to extend along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical wall. The groove is preferably equi-spaced between resilient wall sections so as to be centrally disposed. The gripping section is preferably elastically deformable, expanding from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter on insertion of a male pin with a larger diameter and restoring to the first smaller diameter on removal of the male pin. By having a gripping section that exhibits elastic behaviour, the connector is able to be used multiple times with pins having different diameters without electrical contact between the connector and pin being compromised. Preferably at least three inwardly-depending resilient wall sections are provided, preferably being circumferentially equi-spaced. The cylindrical wall may be substantially closed at one end to form a rear contact and have a flared entrance at the other end. The substantially closed end may comprise a pierced aperture.

The cylindrical wall may be stepped in diameter, the substantially closed end having a smaller diameter than the remainder of the cylindrical wall. The conductor socket is preferably formed as a seamless tube and is preferably formed from metal. Typically the socket is formed form strip material as a deep drawn stepped tube using a single metal and cutting and forming process.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector comprising a body within which is located a female conductor socket as aforesaid for receiving and electrically contacting a pin of a male-type. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows examples of prior art female conductor sockets; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a prior art female conductor socket; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a female conductor socket in accordance with one aspect of the invention; Figure 4 shows a side view of the female conductor socket; Figure 5 shows a section along line V of Figure 4; Figure 6 shows cross-sections through the female conductor socket, with Figure 6(a) showing a cross-section along line VI of Figure 5, Figure 6(b) showing a cross-section along line VII of Figure 5, and Figure 6(c) showing a cross-section along line VIII of Figure 5; and Figure 7 shows a cross-section through a connector incorporating a female conductor socket as shown in Figure 4.

Description Figure 1 shows four different types of prior art female conductor sockets or tulips 10 which are formed by cutting and bending or wrapping flat sheet metal, rear contact 12 either formed integrally with the remainder of wrapped socket 10 or as a separate pin crimped or soldered into rear 14 of socket 10. With these prior art sockets, the wrapped tube forming the socket can unwrap when large male pins are inserted into it, see Figure 2 where the original wall 16 formed with a circular cross-section is distorted in shape and opened partially when large pins are inserted into it, see cross-section 18, which limits the grip that can be applied to pins inserted after distortion has taken place.

Figures 3 to 6 show an embodiment of a female conductor socket capable of accepting a range of male centre-pin diameters, typically ranging from 0.64mm to 1.3mm in diameter, whilst maintaining a minimum 115g withdrawal force after repeated insertions of largest and smallest male centre pins.

Female conductor socket 20 is formed from a seamless cylindrical metal tube 22 stepped in diameter and comprises a rear contact section 24, central section 26 having a greater diameter than rear section 24 and capable of receiving male centre pins, and flared opening 28 which helps guide male centre pins into section 26. Rear section 24 is substantially closed although may be provided with a pierced hole or aperture 29, aperture 29 being substantially smaller than the diameter of rear section 24. Within central section 26 is provided gripping region 30 to ensure tube 22 electrically contacts with an inserted male pin, gripping region 30 comprising a plurality of inwardly- depending resilient wall sections 32 to provide a localised area for gripping different diameter male pins upon insertion into the socket with enough elasticity to recover on pin removal. For this particular embodiment, three inwardly-depending wall sections 32 are provided, see in particular Figure 6(b), the wall sections 32 being circumferentially equi- spaced.

Each wall section 32 is formed by opposing slits 34, 34’ cut within section 26 and extending in an axial direction. Slits 34, 34" allow wall section 32 to be formed, typically by machine pressing, into an inwardly-depending shape, see in particular Figure 5 where wall section 32 comprises two angled portions 40, 40’ connected by a central section 42 extending in an axial direction. The wall sections act as sprung fingers and by being restrained by an unbroken ring of metal at both ends, the wall sections 32 have improved strength when compared to arrangements with unbounded spring fingers. The strength and elasticity of the grip exerted by gripping region 30 can be modified by the length and width of wall sections 32, which is adjusted by the positions and lengths of slits 34, 34’ and also the angle of incline of angled regions 40, 40°. In addition, appropriate selection of metals, metal thickness and metal treatment steps can be used to modify the elasticity. Inwardly-depending wall sections 32 create reduced diameter channel 44 extending for the length of central section 42, see Figure 8(b). Channel 44 corresponds in diameter to the smallest male centre pin that conductor socket 20 is intended to be used with. For male centre pins with a larger diameter, inwardly-depending wall sections 32 will expand outwards to accommodate the pin, restoring to their original inwardly-directed position when the pin is removed. Gripping region 30 is thus elastically deformable and can receive a range of male centre pin diameters, repeatedly accepting and connecting to male centre pin diameters having different diameters. The stiffness of gripping region 30 depends on the length of slits 34, 34° and the width of wall sections 32, 32’.

5 To assist flexing of tube 22 for different diameter male connector pins, grooves 50 extend in an axial direction along the length of region 26, with a single groove 50 disposed between adjacent wall sections 32. Grooves 50 extend from just before flared end 28 along central section 26, ending proximal to rear section 24. By ensuring grooves 50 are truncated and do not reach to the edge of opening 28, good hoop strength is ensured at the insertion/open end 28. Typically one groove is disposed between each pair of adjacent wall sections 32, such that three wall sections and three longitudinal grooves are provided. Grooves 50 are typically positioned centrally between adjacent wall sections 32.

Figure 7 shows tubular conductor socket 20 incorporated into a connector 80 shown as one of an example of many different types of connector or connection that can incorporate a female conductor socket. Tubular conductor socket 20 is retained between front insulator 62 and rear insulator 64, with this sub-assembly pressed into connector housing

68. The connector can repeatedly accept male pins of different diameters whilst maintaining a minimum withdrawal force of at least 115g for the pins. By forming the rear contact section, gripping region and opening integrally in a single deep drawn stepped metal tube, a centre conductor socket is provided that can maintain a minimum withdrawal force of 115g for a smallest diameter male centre conductor pin after repeated insertions of largest and smallest conductor centre pins, without the need for additional spring/support components or soldering.

Claims

CONCLUSIONS

A female lead socket for receiving and making electrical contact with a male type pin, the female lead socket comprising a seamless cylindrical wall incorporating a gripping region comprising a plurality of inwardly inclined resilient wall portions.

Female socket according to claim 1, wherein at least one groove is provided between adjacent resilient wall parts.

The female conductor socket of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each resilient wall portion is formed between opposed slots in the cylindrical wall, the slots extending in an axial direction.

A female conductor socket according to any preceding claim, wherein each resilient wall portion comprises two inwardly inclined portions joined together by a portion extending in an axial direction.

The female conductor socket of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one groove is positioned between each adjacent resilient wall portion, the at least one groove extending axially to extend along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical wall.

Female conductor socket according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one groove is disposed centrally between adjacent resilient wall portions.

A female lead socket according to any preceding claim, wherein the gripping region is elastically deformable.

The female wire receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least three inwardly inclined resilient wall portions.

The female conductor socket of claim 8, wherein the inwardly dependent resilient wall portions are circumferentially equidistant from each other.

The female conductor socket of any preceding claim, wherein the cylindrical wall is closed substantially at one end to form a rear contact and has a flared entrance at the other end.

The female conductor socket of claim 10, wherein the cylindrical wall is stepped in diameter, the substantially closed end having a smaller diameter than the remainder of the cylindrical wall.

The female conductor socket of claim 10 or 11, wherein the substantially closed end includes a pierced opening.

A female conductor socket according to any preceding claim, formed as a seamless tube.

Female conductor socket according to any one of the preceding claims, formed of metal.

A connector comprising a body housing a female lead socket for receiving and making electrical contact with a male type pin, the female lead socket being in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 14.