US2021701A - Electrical wire connection - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 19, 1935. Q, sMlTH 2,021,701

ELECTRICAL WIRE CONNECTION Filed Sept. 18, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 19, 1935. H 0, gym. 2,021,701

ELECTRICAL WIRE CONNECTION Filed Sept. 18, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 19, 1935 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL WIRE CONNECTION Harold 0. Smith, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application September 18, 1933, Serial No. 689,923

2 Claims.

The improved connection comprising the present invention is primarily adapted for use in electrically joining the free ends of two or more wires, with or without the use of solder, in such a manner that there will be a relatively large contact area between the wires to be joined to accommodate the maximum current flow or amperage permitted by the wires themselves.

The connection is capable of quick assembly, and is furthermore readily detachable, thereby adapting itself admirably to use in all manner of electrical circuits whether the current flow be large or small and whether the connection be a permanent one or merely temporary. Because of the large contact area provided between the elements of the connection and the consequent large volume of current flow accommodated, the connection is well adapted for use in household lighting and power circuits as well as in the starting and ignition circuits of automotive vehicles.

Whether the connection be employed for joining the free ends of two wires together or whether additional wires are introduced into the connection, the connection thus formed is designed to be a permanent safeguard against failure or looseness of contact.

Because of the ruggedness of construction of the connection, the use of solder is wholly unnecessary and in some cases is undersirable as it leads to difficulty or inconvenience in disassembling the same and contributes little that is not already inherent in the construction of the connection itself. However, in cases where it is known that a proposed connection will be a permanent one, the use of solder may be resorted toto doubly insure a long life to the connection.

Convenience of arrangement of parts, ruggedness and durability, simplicity of construction and consequent inexpense of manufacture are further desirable features that have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this time perceptible, will become more readily apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the connection showing the same in operative position, two wire ends being joined thereby in electrical contact.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the connection showing the same enclosed in a sheath of insulating material, the sheath being sectioned to disclose the connection.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a male member forming a part of the connection, showing the same attached to a wire and adapted to be joined 5 to its counterpart. I

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the female member or counterpart of the connection shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an endview of the male member 10 shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6, of Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on the line ll, in Figure 1, in the direction of the arrows and 15 showing the connection closed.

Figure 8 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 1 showing the preferred form of connection in operative position establishing an electrical contact between two wire ends.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the same corresponding to Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a female member of the connection.

Figure 11 is a. side elevation of the same.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of a male member joined to a wire end prior to connection to its female counterpart.

Figure 13 is an end elevation of the female member of the connection as shown in Figure 11, 30 looking from the right in said figure.

Figure 14 is an end elevation of the connection shown in Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a top plan view of the male member.

Figure 16 is a section on the line I6-l 6, in Figure 8 in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 17 is a side elevation of a multiple wire connection formed by employing the male and female counterparts shown in the preceding 40 figures.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts' in the different figures, the construction shown comprises electric wire ends I and 2 which 45 as shown are suitably insulated though the presence of insulation is not necessary to the operativeness of the connection of the invention. These wires I and 2 are shown in Figures 1 and 2 as joined by the connection of the invention.

This connection, as shown in Figures 1 to 7, consists of a male member 3 and a female member I. The male 3 as shown is in the formof a thin sheet of metal plate which may be thin sheet copper or any desired metal or alloy that 56 is a good conductor of electricity, preferably one which has a high degree of ductility so that it may be bent readily without breaking. This member 3 comprises a split tubular portion 4, the split 5 being ordinarily at the bottom of the tube as best shown in Figure 7, so that the tube may be opened and closed or clamped around the wire end I. On closing the same tightly, the yielding nature of the insulation I is of assistance in attaching the member 3 to the wire end. Beyond the tube 4 the male member 3 is formed with a channel shaped portion 5 which extends coaxially of the tube, it being a continuation thereof. This channel shaped portion, as shown in Figure 3, has its edges turned downwardly and it is provided with a perforation B so that the bared end 7 of the wire, from which the insulation has been scraped, may be passed through this perforation 6 and turned backwardly upon itself as indicated in Figure 3. Beyond the channel shaped member 3, the plate 8 of which the male member is formed is provided with two wings or clips 9 which are spaced apart at the bottom and are connected by a flat portion ID of the sheet metal from which the connection is made. The clips 9 extend upwardly from this bottom portion 10, and preferably as shown in Figure 5.

Referring now to Figure 4, the female member i4 is formed with a split tubular portion IS the split being shown at 5", Figure 6, similar to the tubular portion 4 of the male member 3. This encloses the end of the wire preferably with the insulation 2 thereon as does the tubular portion of the male member. Beyond the tubular portion 15 the female member is formed with a channel shaped shank IS in line with the tube l5. This channel shaped portion i6 is shown as perforated at il just beyond the tubular portion so that the wire end l8 from which the insulation has been removed may extend through the perforation H and be turned backwardly, as already described, to positively connect the wire to the female member. The channel shaped shank I6 is shown 'as slotted at IS in a direction parallel to thetube, the slot 19 being of a width somewhat less than the overall width of the converging clips 3 near their center.

It will be understood that the wire ends 1 and it may be connected to the tubular members 4 and i5 of the respective male and female members 3 and 44 by soldering, though this is not essential to a permanent and positive electrical connection between these members and the wire ends and any method of connecting the male and female members to the wire ends may be employed.

To assemble the male and female connections to form a positive electrical connection between the wire ends I and 2, the wings or clips 9 of the male member are passed together through the slot i 9, the male and female members ,3 and I4 being placed in alignment and the channel shaped shank I8 of the female member is forced down over the converging clips 9 of the male member until the slot I9 is closely in contact with clips 9 at both sides. Then the ends of the wings or clips 9 are bent outwardly and downwardly over the sides of the channel shaped portion l6 of the female member, as best shown in Figure '7, when the connection becomes positive and permanent until it is desired to disassemble it. The connection when completed may be covered by means of a tube l3 of insulating material.

It is of particular importance to note that the connection thus established between the wire ends I and 2 and between the male and female members 3 and i4 is definite, positive and serves for a period of indefinite length and is a constant and permanent connection, first on account of the contact of the wings 9 with the channel shaped member 16 where they are turned down over the latter; second, on account of the positive contact between the converging wings or clips 9 with the sides of the slot 19 in the channel shaped member l6 which is in the natural operation of the connection forced downwardly over the male member until such positive contact is obtained; and third, on account of the close overlapping contact maintained between channel shaped shank l6 and the overlying portions of the wings 9.

Figures 8 to 15 show another form of the invention comprising a female member 25 and a male member 26. In Figure 8 these members are shown in operative position connecting two wire ends 24 and 24'. The manner of securing the male and female members 26 and 25 to the wire ends is the same as or similar to that just described, as to tubular members 4 and 15 shown in the previous figures. The differences lies in the fact that the female member 25 instead of the channel shaped portion I6 is provided with a fiat plate 29 extending forwardly in alignment with the tubular portion 21 and slotted in any convenient manner, the slot being shown as extending longitudinally at 30 near its end. The male member 26 is similar to the male member 3 described in connection with Figures 1 to 7, but is provided with a flat metal plate at 31 extending from the tubular portion or the female member 28. A pair of wings or clips 32 project upwardly therefrom and preferably converge, although this is not essential. The wings 32 are formed by slotting the plate 3| transversely at 23, the slots being spaced apart and extending outwardly to the longitudinal edges of the plate on each side. The slots 23 are spaced from the ends of the plate 3! so that the wings 32 are located medially of the plate leaving fiat portions 40 and 4| the full width of the plate on each side of the wings 32. The wings 32 are bent at 33 out of the plane of the plate extending upwardly or transversely to the flat portion 3!. The slot 30 in the female member is of such dimension transversely that it fits down over the wings or clips 32 to a point close to the point of deflection 33 when the two plates 29 and 3| are in contact.

In assembling the connection the wings or clips 32 are passed through the slot 30, the male and female members having been connected to the wire ends 23 and 24 as alreadydescribed, and the plate 29 is forced downwardly until the wings 32 bear on both sides of the slot 30 which places the slot 39 near the point of deflection 33, when the plates 29 and 3| are in close contact. Then the clips 32 are bent outwardly at a sharp angle causing them to lie flat against the plate 29. It is found desirable to kink the ends 34 of the wings 32 sharply over as shown in Figure 16 so that they bear closely against plate 29 of the female member. In this way the plate 29 is held in the lowermost position shown in Figure 16 where the inner lower edges of the slot 30 immediately overlie the point of deflection 33 bearing closely thereagainst, the clips or wings also bearing outwardly against the sides of the slot 39 so that at this point they are in close contact with the edges of the slot 30. It is of primary importance that the plate 29 ofthe female member is forced down and held in close contact with plate 3| of the male member giving a positive contact of considerable area.

The shape of plate 3| is of interest in that it is easily and cheaply formed and furnishes a large contact area. The wings or clips 32 are cut out of the sides of the plate in such a way as to form an I shaped member which bears on a large area of plate 29 of the female member and this bearing is on both sides of the clips 33. The upper side of plate 29 is engaged by clips 33 so that the clips and the I plate react oppositely against the plate 29 and hold it in close engagement. The connection may be covered by a tube 50 of insulating material.

In Figure 17 a three way electrical connection utilizing the elements disclosed in Figures 8 to 16 is shown'. The three wire ends thus connected are indicated by reference characters 43, 44, 45. The wire ends 44 and 45 are each connected to a female member 25 and a male member 26 is connected to the wire end 43. The two'flat plates 29 of the female members 25 may be combined in any suitable manner to form the shank of a Y comprising the two female members 25 with means at the ends of the arms of the Y as already described for attachment of the wire ends 44 and 45. The wings or clips 32 of the male member are then passed through slots 30 deflected outwardly one away from the other and turned flat against the surface of the plate 29 of the female member which is outside or on top as shown in Figure 17. The plates 29 thus comprise the shank of the Y which is extended by connection thereto of the male member 26 as described. This forms a most effective multiple connection which may by modification be used for joining any number of wires to a single wire, it being understood that the wings 32 are of sufficient length to accommodate an ordinary triple or quadruple connection.

The improved connection comprising the invention is adapted for forming electrical contact or otherwise for connecting electrical wire ends for any and every purpose, but on account of its adaptability to use in making quick connections without solder, if desired, it is particularly adapted for installing new equipment in automobiles as well as for performing any changes which may be made in the lighting system or in the addition of other new electrical equipment. It is of interest that the connection thus quickly formed comprises extended metal surfaces attached to the respecive wire ends and held in close contact with each other when the connection is completed so that an electrical contact of the most efficient type which will accommodate a large current flow is thus accomplished and maintained.

It will be observed that the electrical connection thus described is adapted for easy and quick attachment to the wire ends with or without soldering. The connection when closed gives and maintains at all times a positive electrical contact between the two members of the connection so that there can be no failure or looseness of com tact under any circumstances. This makes soidering of the connection wholly unnecessary and permits quick disengagement of the connection and separation of the wire ends for any and all purposes when and if desired. In addition to this, the connection by virtue of its large contact area will accommodate a large current flow when demanded. Such a connection would be admirably adapted for use in the starting circuit of a motor vehicle.

I have thus described specifically and in detail a preferred and a modified form of electrical connection embodying my invention in order that the manner of constructing, applying, operating and using the same may be fully understood, however, the specific terms herein are used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A connection for electrical wire ends consisting of a male and a female terminal end member of thin easily bendable sheet metal, each said member having clamping contact means for attachment to corresponding wire ends to be electrically joined, the female member comprising a slotted metal plate and the male member comprising a plate with bendable wings projecting side by side on one side of the plate and adapted to be passed through the slot in the female member until the plates are in contact, and to be then bent outwardly away from each other and over on to the female member with the wings in close contact with the sides of the slot and overlying and closely engaging the surface of the female member at each side of the slot.

2. A connection for electrical wire ends consisting of a male terminal end member and a plurality of female terminal end members, said members being of thin easily bendable sheet metal and each having clamping contacting means for attachment to corresponding wire ends to be electrically joined, the female members each comprising a slotted metal plate and the male member comprising a plate with bendable wings projecting side by side on one side of the plate and adapted to be passed through the slots in the female members which are placed with the slots in registration and. the plates in contact for this purpose, the wings being adapted to be bent outwardly away from each other and over on to the surface of the outer female member holding all of said plates together in contact with each other with the wings in close contact with the sides of the slots in the female members.

HAROLD "0. SMITH.

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