US3515795A

US3515795A - Connector for electrical conductors with deformable side panels for contact with such conductors

Info

Publication number: US3515795A
Application number: US690655A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ted L C Kuo
Original assignee: Thomas and Betts Corp
Current assignee: ABB Installation Products Inc
Priority date: 1967-12-14
Filing date: 1967-12-14
Publication date: 1970-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 1987-06-02
Also published as: DE1814437B2; FR1592710A; BE724231A; SE360781B; DE1814437A1; GB1205346A; NL6817715A

Description

' June 2,1970

L. c. KUO 3,515,795 CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS WITH DE'FO RMABLE SIDE PANELS FOR CONTACT WITH SUCH CONDUCTORS Filed Dec. 14, 1967 I 3 Sheets-fSheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

TED L. C. KUO

ATTORNEY June 2, 1910- c KUO V 3,515,795

CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS WITH DEFORMABLE' vSIDE PANELS FOR CONTACT WITH SUCH CONDUCTORS Filed Dec. 14, 1967 3 SheetsSheet 2 INYENTOR. TED L, C. KUO

ATTORNEY T. L. c. KUO 3,515,795

CAL CONDUCTORS WITH DEFORMABLE' "June Z, 197 I CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRI SIDE PANELS FOR CONTACT WITH SUCK-Iv GONDUCTORS Filed Dec. 14, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 11

FIG. 12

INVENTOR. TED KUO L w/ u 04 [m FIG. l3

ATTORNEY US. Cl. 174-94 United States Patent otatt 3,515,795 Patented June 2, 1970 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is directed to a connector and more particularly to a connector for coupling a plurality of mem- 'bers, such as conductors, together. The connector is made of a top member and a bottom member and two side members coupled thereto. The side members are arranged to be deformable such that when the connector is subjected to externally applied compression forces, the side members will deform towards the center of the connector thereby to apply compression forces in the direction of the externally applied force as Well as transverse force to the members placed 'within the connector. Thus, providing holding forces on all sides of the members placed therein.

That is to say, the compression forces applied externally of the connector will cause the top and bottom members to grasp the members placed therein and in addition the deformance of the side members, towards the center of the connector, will apply transverse force to the members placed :within the connector to provide additional holding force to the members. The connector body can also include a lug for receipt of additional conductors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention I The invention is directed to the field of connecting a plurality of members such as conductors together. The connector finds application in the splicing of conductors, in providing taps for conductors and for similar types of connections.

Description of the prior art Prior art connectors, of the type arranged to be sub- .jected to external crimping, or compression forces, generally had side members coupling the top and bottom 'or compression force, and the overall size of the connector was greatly increased. Further, in the event that conductors of different diameter were placed in the connector, equal holding forces were not imparted to each conductor which might permit the conductors to be moved and with drawn from the connector if the top and bottom members of the connector were not able to deform to match the difference in diameters of the conductors placed therein, Further, the failure to provide any transverse forces to hold the conductors in position would not guarantee that the conductors were held in intimate contact or would lie along the same general line. Additionally, the holding force provided by the top and bottom members generally failed to provide adequate strain relief for the conductors so that they might be easily pulled from the connector.

Additionally, these devices, because of the expansion of the side members during compression, would provide an unsmooth varying sized connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an ideal solution to the above noted problems found with respect to prior art devices. In addition to the normal top and bottom members found in connectors ofthis type, side members are provided which are readily inwardly deformable upon the application of compression or crimping force to the connector. The degree of inward deformation of the side members will be in dependence upn the applied force, the size of the conductors placed within the connector, the connector material and configuration. The deforming of the side members will cause the conductors to be totally enclosed on all sides and to have applied to them a force transverse to the direction of the applied compression force. As a result a'tight, rigid connection is maintained which also provides strain relief for the conductors placed within the connector. Variations in the diameters of the conductors will have little effect upon the operativeness of the connector in that additional transverse forces provided by the deforming of the side members will tend to hold the conductors in intimate contact and will make them secure to the connector. Further, due to the deforming of the side members inwardly, the relative size of the connector, before and after the compression or crimp-ing operation, is relatively the same. A lug can be provided on the connector body to receive additional conductors. it is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved form of connector.

I It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved form of connector which has side members deformable towards members placed within the connector and which provide transverse holding force to such members.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved connector having side members formed in a deformable bellows shape which side members move inwardly to contact members placed within the connector, as a result of the application of external compression or crimping forces.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved connector having deformable side members which deform inwardly to seize members placed within the connector and which further includes apertures in either the top or bottom member, or both, of the connector, to permit the application of external holding materials.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved connector having deformable side members and top and bottom members of the connector at their con- I ductor entrance and exit regions.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved connector having deformable side members and which when deformed will provide a connector having relatively the same transverse dimension as the connector does in its uncrimped, or uncompressed form.

Other objects and features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose by way of example, the principle of the invention, and the best modes which have been contemplated for carrying it out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention and showing the positioning of conductors to be coupled therein.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the connector, of FIG. 1, compressed about conductors having a relatively large diameter.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the connector, of FIG. 1, compressed about conductors having a relatively small diameter.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 1 compressed about conductors having a square cross-section.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification of the top member of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a connector constructed in accordance with the concepts of this invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of a modification of the connector of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 7 showing it in the partiall compressed state.

FIG. 9 is a view of the connector of FIG. 7 in a totally compressed state about conductors placed therein.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a further modification of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 illustrates a front view of a further modification of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 illustrates an additional modification to the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 illustrates a modification of the top member to include a conductor receiving lug.

Similar elements will be given similar reference characters in each of the respective drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIG. 1 there is illustrated in perspective form a connector constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. The connector 20 has a top member 22 and bottom member 24 as well as

side members

26 and 28. Each of these side members, 26 and 28, have a plurality of planar panels 30 joined together as at 32. Although the planar panels 30 are approximately equal in size, they may be varied as required. Planar panels 30 are joined in such a manner that they will form a generally bellows shaped side wall. Placed within the connector 20, between the top member 22 and bottom member 24, are two

conductors

34 and 36. Upon the application of compression, or crimping forces, to the connector 20, as by the use of pliers, or similar tools, to the top member 22 and bottom member 24, the

side members

26 and 28 will tend to move inwardly towards

the'conductors

34 and 36 to provide a holding force in a direction transverse to the direction of application of the compression or crimping force to the connector 20.

As is illustrated in FIG. 2, when the

conductors

34 and 36 are of relatively large diameter, with respect to the spacing between top member 22 and bottom member 24, the

side members

26 and 28 will move inwardly to provide transverse holding force to the

conductors

34 and 36. The joints 30 will tend to round out while the planar panels will conform generally to the outer shape of the

conductors

34 and 36. When the connector 20' is applied to

conductors

38 and 40, having relatively small diameter, as is shown in FIG. 3, the degree of inward deforming of the planar panels 32 will be greater thus providing transverse holding force to the conductors and taking up the greater space between the outer surfaces of the conductors and the original positions of the

side members

26 and 28. FIG. 4 illustrates the connector 20 as applied to

square cross-section conductors

42 and 44. It should be noted that the planar panels 32, contacting the side portionsof the

conductors

42 and 44, also have a planar configuration which is contrasted to the arcuate configuration of the

side members

26 and 28 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 conforming to the circular outer surfaces of the

conductors

34, 36, 38 and 40 respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 5 there is shown a modified top member 22 of the connector 20, shown in FIG. 1. The top member 22' has a plurality of apertures 50 extending along the length thereof. Once the connector 20 has been crimped or compressed about the conductors placed therein, for

example conductors

34 and 36 of FIG. 1, solder, epoxy or other materials may be employed for permanently connecting the conductors together by placing this material through the apertures 50.

The connector 60, of FIG. 6, is similar in most details to connector 20 of FIG. 1 with the exception that the side members 66 and 68 are arcuate in their shape rather than bellowed as is shown in FIG. 1. It should be noted that the crests of the arcs face each other and thereby decrease the width of the connector. As is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 the application of compression or crimping force to the connector 60 causes the side members 66 and 68 to deform inwardly towards the

conductors

34 and 36. FIG. 8 shows the side members 66 and 68 partially deformed whereas FIG. 9 shows the connector 60 completely compressed about the

conductors

34 and 36.

Turning to .FIG. 7 a modification of the connector 60 as shown in FIG. 6 will be described. The connector of FIG. 7 is the same in general construction as the connector of FIG. 6 with the exception of the inclusion of strain relief tabs coupled to the top member 72 and the bottom member 74. Although not shown in this figure these strain relief tabs 80 are present on both sides of the connector; that is, at the regions of entry and exit of the conductors into the connector 70. As may be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 the strain relief tabs 80 will tend to fold in towards the conductor and thus permit atighter fitting between the top and

bottom members

72 and 74 and the

conductors

34 and 36.

Turning now to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 additional modifications of the side member arrangement of FIG. 1 are shown. In FIG. 10 the connector has

side members

106 and 108. However, the side panel 112 of each of the

side members

106 and 108 are planar and are perpendicular to the top member 102. The planar side panels 112a and 112b are formed in a bellows arrangement as was true of the

entire side members

26 and 28 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 11 connector 120, having side members 126 and 128, has a planar panel 130 perpendicular to the top member 122 and two bellows-type sections constructed of the planar panels 132 on either side of the planar panel 130 and coupled respectively to the top member 122 and the bottom member 124. The connector of FIG. 12 is similar to connector 120 of FIG. 11 except that the planar panel 130 has been replaced by an arcuate panel mounted between the two bellows sections composed of the planar panels 132.

FIG. 13 illustrates a modification of the top member of the connector. Top member is extended to provide a lug 162 having an aperture 164 therein. Conductors on other devices may be soldered, wire wrapped or otherwise attached to lug 162. This type of top member may be employed with any of the side member configurations described above. Further, both said top and bottom members may include lugs.

Each of the modifications in the basic connector provide arrangements found suitable for different types of connector materials, different types of conductor insulation, different conductor configurations or permit application with different types of compression or crimping tools. All these connectors operate in the manner described with reference to FIG. 1 to provide positive transverse holding force caused by the inward deformation of the side members to intimately couple and contact the conductors placed within the connector.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A coupling adapted to be subjected to externally applied forces to couple together a plurality of members comprising: a top member and a bottom member being laterally spaced sufficiently to receive at least one member therebetween; two side members coupled to opposite edges of said top and bottom members, said two side members are in the form of bellows wherein the panels of said bellows are of nonuniform width and the bellows panel junctions extend in a plane parallel with said top and bottom members; said side members in a first stable state maintaining said top and bottom members in said member receiving spaced relationship; said two side members being inwardly deformable in response to externally applied forces and capable of remaining in a second stable state upon removal of externally applied forces whereby upon the application of externally applied forces said two side members deform into intimate contact with the member placed between said top and bottom members and retain said member in cooperation with said top and bottom members upon the removal of externally applied forces.

2. An electrical connector fabricated of electrically conductive material adapted to be subjected to externally applied forces to electrically couple together a plurality of electrical conductors comprising: a top member and a bottom member being laterally spaced sufficiently to receive at least two electrical conductors therebetween; two side members coupled to opposite edges of said top and bottom members forming a partially closed unit with said top and bottom members, open at both ends for receipt therein of electrical conductors; said side members in a first stable state maintaining said top and bottom members in said conductor receiving spaced relationship; said two side members each comprising: a first planar panel perpendicular to the plane of said top and bottom members; a first pair of planar panels disposed intermediate said first planar panel and said top member and coupled thereto, the two panels of said first pair of planar panels coupled one to another in oblique planar relationship with the jointure therebetween extending outwardly from the plane defined by the corresponding edges of said top and bottom members; and a second pair of planar panels disposed intermediate said first planar panel and said bottom member and coupled thereto, the two panels of said sec ond pair of planar panels coupled one to another in oblique planar relationship with the jointure therebetween extending outwardly from the plane defined by the corresponding edges of said top and bottom members; said two side members being deformable to assume a shape complementary to the surface contour of said conductors in response to externally applied forces and capable of remaining in a second stable state upon removal of externally applied forces.

3. An electrical connector fabricated of electrically conductive material adapted to be subjected to externally applied forces to electrically coupled together a plurality of electrical conductors comprising: a top member and a bottom member being laterally spaced sufiiciently to receive at least two electrical conductors therebetween; two side members coupled to opposite edges of said top and bottom members forming a partially closed unit with said top and bottom members, open at both ends for receipt therein of' electrical conductors; said side members in a first stable state maintaining said top and bottom members in said conductor receiving spaced relationship; said two side members each comprising: a first planar panel perpendicular to the plane of said top and bottom members; and a pair of planar panels disposed intermediate said first planar panel and one of said top and bottom panels and coupled thereto, the two panels of said pair of planar panels coupled to one another in oblique planar relationship with the jointure therebetween extending outwardly from the plane defined by the corresponding edges of said top and bottom members; said two side members being deformable to assume a shape complementary to the surface contour of said conductors in response to externally applied forces and capable of remaining in a second stable state upon removal of externally applied forces.

4. An electrical connector fabricated of electrically conductive material adapted to be subjected to externally applied forces to electrically couple together a plurality of electrical conductors comprising: a top member and a bottom member being laterally spaced sufficiently to receive at lease two electriacl conductors therebetween; two side members coupled to opposite edges of said top and bottom members forming a partially closed unit with said top and bottom member's, open at both ends for receipt therein of electrical conductors; said side members in a first stable state maintaining said top and bottom members in said conductor receiving spaced relationship; said two side members each comprising: a first arcuate panel perpendicular to the plane of said top and bottom members; a first pair of planar panels disposed intermediate said first arcuate panel and said top member and coupled thereto, the two panels of said first pair of planar panels coupled one to another in oblique planar relationship with the jointure therebetween extending outwardly from the plane defined by the corresponding edges of said top and bottom members; and a second pair of planar panels disposed intermediate said first arcuate panel and said bottom member and coupled thereto, the two panels of said second pair of planar panels coupled one to another in oblique planar relationship with the jointure therebetween extending outwardly from the plane defined by the corresponding edges of said top and bottom members; said two side members being deformable to assume a shape complementary to the surface contour of said conductors in response to externally applied forces and capable of remaining in a second stable state upon removal of externally applied forces.

5. An electrical connector fabricated ofelectrically conductive material adapted to be subjected to externally applied forces to electrically coupled together a plurality of electrical conductors comprising: a top member and a bottom member being laterally spaced sufiiciently to receive at least two electrical conductors therebetween; two side members coupled to opposite edges of said two and bottom members forming a partially closed unit with said top and bottom members, open at both ends for receipt therein of electrical conductors; said side members in a first stable state maintaining said top and bottom members in said conductor receiving spaced relationship; said two side members each comprising: at least three planar panels in oblique planar relationship one to another coupled at corresponding edges to one another, the edges of the ends ones of said panels coupled to said top and bottom panels respectively, the apices of the jointures of each two of said panels extending away from the plane defined by the corresponding edges of said top and bottom members; said two side members being deformable to assume a shape complementary to the surface contour of said conductors in response to externally applied forces and capable of remaining in a second stable state upon removal of externally applied forces.

6. A connector as defined in claim 5, wherein at least one of said top and bottom members has a plurality of 7 l v 1 8 apertures therein whereby said connector may be further 1 FOREIGN PATENTS coupled to conductors placed therein by externally applied 692,708 8/1964 Canada.

materlals- 764,654 12/1956 Great Britain.

7. A connector as defined in claim 5, wherein at least sildee gfl 321d top or bottom members 1s extended to pro- 5 DARRELL L. CLAY, Primary Examiner References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,137,925 6/1964 Wahl. 3,265,807 8/1966 Smith -1 174 s7