US3676574A - Deformable fin spring connector - Google Patents

Deformable fin spring connector Download PDF

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Publication number
US3676574A
US3676574A US99365A US3676574DA US3676574A US 3676574 A US3676574 A US 3676574A US 99365 A US99365 A US 99365A US 3676574D A US3676574D A US 3676574DA US 3676574 A US3676574 A US 3676574A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
fastening element
shell
fins
wire
wire connector
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US99365A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Ronald C Johansson
Wayne Donald Weeklund
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
3M Co
Original Assignee
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co filed Critical Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3676574A publication Critical patent/US3676574A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/26—Connections in which at least one of the connecting parts has projections which bite into or engage the other connecting part in order to improve the contact
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/22—End caps, i.e. of insulating or conductive material for covering or maintaining connections between wires entering the cap from the same end

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A tapered coiled spring wire secured within an insulating shell containing interior deformable fins for engagement with the spring wire to form retaining threads in the fins and avoid any substantial tensioning or deformation of the shell.
  • This invention relates generally to screw-on type wire connectors providing a secure connection between electrical wire ends without use of soldering, welding or the like.
  • a number of two-piece connectors that is a connector including a coiled spring and a surrounding insulating shell, have been devised.
  • Such connectors commonly include molded interior threads within the shell into which the coiled spring is tightly screwed, thus longitudinally securing the spring within the shell.
  • Forming of the interior threading of the insulating shell requires additional time during the molding operation and results in high manufacturing costs.
  • a tight interference fit between the spring and shell such as caused by mismatching of the threads or excessive expansion of the coiled spring caused by joining of large electrical wires, can cause substantial deformation of the shell resulting in deterioration of its physical and electrical properties.
  • the invention in one aspect involves the combination of a tapered coil spring wire fastening element with an insulating shell having internal deformable fins for forming threads between the spring wire and the fins.
  • the spring wire forms threads, closely corresponding to the physical dimensions of the element, by local deformation of the fins.
  • the changing physical dimensions of the element can be compensated for within the readily deformable fins without any substantial deformation of the insulating shell so that degradation of the shell is minimized.
  • FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the present connector securing together two electrical wire ends;
  • FIG. 3 shows a section of the insulating shell illustrating the end wall of the shell with the spring wire removed for clarity, taken on line 3-3 ofFlG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 represents a portion of the interior of the shell illustrating in plan view a single deformable fin
  • FIG. 5 shows a section of insulating shell, with the spring wire removed, taken along lines 55 of FIG. 1.
  • the wire connector has been denoted in its entirety by the reference numeral and includes a tapered coil spring wire fastening element 12 secured within an insulating shell 14.
  • the connector 10 is used to provide a firm electrical connection between two or more electrical wires having their insulation previously removed, as for example, wires 16 and 18.
  • the element 12 is formed of a spring wire 20 and has an enlarged foremost end to permit easy insertion of the electrical wires l6, 18 therein and progressively decreasing convolutions to guide the wires 16, 18 to the restricted throat opening.
  • the throat opening has a diametric dimension less than the combined thickness of the minimal sized wires to be electrically connected.
  • the spring wire may terminate rearwardly adjacent the restricted throat opening, in the illustrated embodiment the element 12 progresses in increasing diametrical convolutions from the restricted throat portion to the rearmost end of the element.
  • the enlarged rearmost end provides a longer spring wire lever arm, and thereby permits a lesser force against the terminous tip of the wire while applying the required torque in twisting the element over the wire ends 16, 18.
  • the elongated insulating shell 14 has an open front end 26 .defined by a skirt 27 and an integrally connected body 29 terminating at the closed rearward end 28.
  • the enlarged interior opening of the skirt 27 provides clearance for electrical wires 16, 18 having insulation thereon and the longitudinal length of the skirt 27 shields the stripped ends 16, 18 against arcing between conductors and ground.
  • the interior surface 30 has a plurality of deformable fins 31 extending inwardly and along the surface 30 in a generally longitudinal direction.
  • the interior surface 32 of the rearward end 28 is circumferentially grooved to provide a ramp 33 extending uniformly from the level of the surface 32 in the direction shown to a depth of 0.075 inch at the abutment 34.
  • Wings 35 provide leverage to enable an operator to manually twist the element 12 over the wires 16, 18 by way of surface 34 abutting the terminous tip of the rearmost end of element 12.
  • the element 12 is formed of steel spring wire having a square cross section measuring 0.041 inch across a side and I disposed diagonally as illustrated.
  • the element consists of two forward turns at an inside diameter of 0.253 inch followed by 42 slightly overlapping turns of uniformly progressively decreasing diameter reaching a minimum diameter of 0.135 inch. One turn at the minumum diameter is followed by 11/; turns increasing to two end turns at 0.188 inch interval diameter, making a total of ll close-wound turns to provide an overall length of 0.620 inch.
  • the coiled spring wire is then zinc coated for corrosion resistance and wax coated for lubrication during application of the connector 10 to the wires l6, 18.
  • the shell 14 is integrally molded of polypropylene.
  • the interior wall 30 progresses inwardly from a diameter of 0.388 inch adjacent the skirt 27 to 0.314 inch adjacent the surface 32 and is provided with 16 uniformly spaced longitudinal fins 31.
  • Each fin has a substantially equilaterally triangular crosssection and progresses uniformly from a forward maximum height of 0.035 inch to a rearward minimum height of 0.010 inch.
  • the abutment 34 extends 0.075 inch past the level of the surface 32.
  • the sloping front surfaces 36 of the fins 31 initially guided the element 12 therein.
  • the spring wire 20 engages the fins and deform the same to define threads therein.
  • the element 12 is advanced until the rearmost terminous tip of the wire 20 engages the abutment surface 34. As shown in FIG.
  • a wire connector comprising a coil spring wire fastening element which is convergingly tapered from a foremost end toward a rearmost longitudinally spaced end, said rearmost end having a terminous tip to which a force may be applied to threadably rotate the fastening element over a plurality of electrical wire ends, and an elongated insulating shell having a cavity in which said fastening element is positioned, said cavity extending from an open front end to a longitudinally spaced closed rear end which rear end has means in engagement with the terminous tip of the fastening element for transferring rotational forces thereto, and said shell having a multiplicity of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending deformable fins projecting from the interior surface of said shell into said cavity, said deformable fins being deformed by and in engagement with the exterior surface of said fastening element adjacent said foremost end of said fastening element and retaining said fastening element within said shell.
  • a wire connector according to claim 1 wherein said fastening element is convergingly tapered from said foremost end to a section of minimum diameter intermediate its ends and is divergingly tapered from said section of minimum diameter to said terminous tip affording spacing between said fastening element and said fins adjacent said section of minimum diameter.

Landscapes

  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Connections Effected By Soldering, Adhesion, Or Permanent Deformation (AREA)
US99365A 1970-12-18 1970-12-18 Deformable fin spring connector Expired - Lifetime US3676574A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US9936570A 1970-12-18 1970-12-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3676574A true US3676574A (en) 1972-07-11

Family

ID=22274649

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US99365A Expired - Lifetime US3676574A (en) 1970-12-18 1970-12-18 Deformable fin spring connector

Country Status (16)

Country Link
US (1) US3676574A (fi)
JP (1) JPS5521433B1 (fi)
AU (1) AU465098B2 (fi)
BR (1) BR7108368D0 (fi)
CA (1) CA944835A (fi)
CH (1) CH550491A (fi)
DE (1) DE2163817C3 (fi)
DK (1) DK141422B (fi)
ES (1) ES397791A1 (fi)
FI (1) FI56081C (fi)
FR (1) FR2118736A5 (fi)
GB (1) GB1371359A (fi)
IT (1) IT945513B (fi)
NO (1) NO132569C (fi)
SE (1) SE368883B (fi)
ZA (1) ZA718445B (fi)

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3902005A (en) * 1974-03-04 1975-08-26 Ite Imperial Corp Screw-on electrical connector
US4220811A (en) * 1978-08-24 1980-09-02 Ideal Industries, Inc. Screw-on electrical connector
US4227040A (en) * 1979-04-09 1980-10-07 Ideal Industries, Inc. Screw-on electrical connector
US4451695A (en) * 1982-04-16 1984-05-29 Heyman Manufacturing Co. Connector assembly
US4473715A (en) * 1983-10-31 1984-09-25 Amp Incorporated Wire connector
US4573820A (en) * 1984-07-02 1986-03-04 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Applicator tip assembly for a pen-like instrument
US4691079A (en) * 1985-07-29 1987-09-01 Ideal Industries, Inc. Screw-on wire connector
US5001301A (en) * 1989-06-02 1991-03-19 Marr Electric Limited Twist-on wire connector with expansion spring
US5023401A (en) * 1990-08-02 1991-06-11 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Twist-on spring connector with breakaway wings
US5132494A (en) * 1991-03-01 1992-07-21 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Dual durometer twist-on connector
WO1993017467A1 (en) * 1992-02-20 1993-09-02 Raychem S.A. Electrical connector
WO1994009531A1 (en) * 1992-10-12 1994-04-28 Raychem S.A. Electrical connector
US5461198A (en) * 1991-12-05 1995-10-24 Raychem Sa Electrical connector
US5557069A (en) * 1994-06-30 1996-09-17 Thomas & Betts Corporation Electrical spring connector having improved shell for controlling spring expansion
US5559307A (en) * 1994-06-30 1996-09-24 Thomas & Betts Corporation Twist-on connector having improved finger grip wings
WO1998015035A1 (en) * 1996-09-30 1998-04-09 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Twist-on wire connector
US5922994A (en) * 1997-08-27 1999-07-13 Robinson, Sr.; James H. Wire connector
US5939678A (en) * 1995-10-02 1999-08-17 Boyanich; Joseph E. Screw on wire connector
EP1213789A2 (en) * 2000-12-05 2002-06-12 Lloyd H. King Low torque twist-on wire connector
US6677530B2 (en) 1999-08-13 2004-01-13 Ideal Industries, Inc. Cushioned grip twist-on wire connector
US20060180336A1 (en) * 2005-02-15 2006-08-17 King Lloyd H Jr Twist-on wire connector with peelable covering
US20070224891A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2007-09-27 K.S. Terminals, Inc. Connector and method for manufacturing and connecting wire
US20080121409A1 (en) * 2004-06-21 2008-05-29 The Patent Store Molded twist-on wire connector
US20100018741A1 (en) * 2005-10-13 2010-01-28 Steven Rhea Finger friendly twist-on wire connector
US20170040790A1 (en) * 2015-08-04 2017-02-09 Ideal Industries, Inc. Pre-filled splice connector
US20200176894A1 (en) * 2018-11-29 2020-06-04 Yazaki Corporation Bonder cap accommodating structure, electrical connection box, and wire harness

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3150220A1 (de) * 1981-12-18 1983-07-07 Fa. Lisa Dräxlmaier, 8313 Vilsbiburg Verzweigter leitungsstrang, insbesondere kabelbaum fuer kraftfahrzeuge und verfahren zu seiner herstellung

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2825750A (en) * 1954-03-10 1958-03-04 Ideal Ind Connector with spring insert having a small distended portion at its inner end and method of assembling same
US3297816A (en) * 1964-07-22 1967-01-10 Thomas & Betts Corp Connector for electrical conductors
US3448223A (en) * 1967-12-29 1969-06-03 Oswald Willy Thorsman Clamp for connecting electric wires

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2825750A (en) * 1954-03-10 1958-03-04 Ideal Ind Connector with spring insert having a small distended portion at its inner end and method of assembling same
US3297816A (en) * 1964-07-22 1967-01-10 Thomas & Betts Corp Connector for electrical conductors
US3448223A (en) * 1967-12-29 1969-06-03 Oswald Willy Thorsman Clamp for connecting electric wires

Cited By (45)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3902005A (en) * 1974-03-04 1975-08-26 Ite Imperial Corp Screw-on electrical connector
US4220811A (en) * 1978-08-24 1980-09-02 Ideal Industries, Inc. Screw-on electrical connector
US4227040A (en) * 1979-04-09 1980-10-07 Ideal Industries, Inc. Screw-on electrical connector
US4451695A (en) * 1982-04-16 1984-05-29 Heyman Manufacturing Co. Connector assembly
US4473715A (en) * 1983-10-31 1984-09-25 Amp Incorporated Wire connector
US4573820A (en) * 1984-07-02 1986-03-04 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Applicator tip assembly for a pen-like instrument
US4691079A (en) * 1985-07-29 1987-09-01 Ideal Industries, Inc. Screw-on wire connector
US5001301A (en) * 1989-06-02 1991-03-19 Marr Electric Limited Twist-on wire connector with expansion spring
US5023401A (en) * 1990-08-02 1991-06-11 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Twist-on spring connector with breakaway wings
EP0501745A1 (en) * 1991-03-01 1992-09-02 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Dual durometer twist-on connector
US5132494A (en) * 1991-03-01 1992-07-21 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Dual durometer twist-on connector
US5461198A (en) * 1991-12-05 1995-10-24 Raychem Sa Electrical connector
WO1993017467A1 (en) * 1992-02-20 1993-09-02 Raychem S.A. Electrical connector
AU682322B2 (en) * 1992-10-12 1997-10-02 Raychem S.A. Electrical connector
WO1994009531A1 (en) * 1992-10-12 1994-04-28 Raychem S.A. Electrical connector
US5514836A (en) * 1992-10-12 1996-05-07 Raychem S.A. Electrical connector
US5559307A (en) * 1994-06-30 1996-09-24 Thomas & Betts Corporation Twist-on connector having improved finger grip wings
US5557069A (en) * 1994-06-30 1996-09-17 Thomas & Betts Corporation Electrical spring connector having improved shell for controlling spring expansion
US5939678A (en) * 1995-10-02 1999-08-17 Boyanich; Joseph E. Screw on wire connector
WO1998015035A1 (en) * 1996-09-30 1998-04-09 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Twist-on wire connector
US5894110A (en) * 1996-09-30 1999-04-13 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Twist-on wire connector
US5922994A (en) * 1997-08-27 1999-07-13 Robinson, Sr.; James H. Wire connector
US6677530B2 (en) 1999-08-13 2004-01-13 Ideal Industries, Inc. Cushioned grip twist-on wire connector
EP1213789A2 (en) * 2000-12-05 2002-06-12 Lloyd H. King Low torque twist-on wire connector
US20030168239A1 (en) * 2000-12-05 2003-09-11 King, Jr. Lloyd H Low torque twist-on wire connector
EP1213789A3 (en) * 2000-12-05 2003-07-23 Lloyd H. King Low torque twist-on wire connector
US7038136B2 (en) 2000-12-05 2006-05-02 King Jr Lloyd H Low torque twist-on wire connector
US7498514B2 (en) * 2004-06-21 2009-03-03 Kwg Technology Molded twist-on wire connector
US20080121409A1 (en) * 2004-06-21 2008-05-29 The Patent Store Molded twist-on wire connector
WO2006088873A3 (en) * 2005-02-15 2007-04-12 Patent Store Llc Twist-on wire connector with peelable covering
US7788803B2 (en) * 2005-02-15 2010-09-07 King Jr Lloyd Herbert Method of making a twist-on wire connector
US20080073103A1 (en) * 2005-02-15 2008-03-27 The Patent Store Twist-on wire connector with peelable covering
CN101120483B (zh) * 2005-02-15 2011-11-30 专利店有限责任公司 具有可剥离覆层的扭接式导线连接器及其制造方法
WO2006088873A2 (en) * 2005-02-15 2006-08-24 The Patent Store Llc Twist-on wire connector with peelable covering
US20060180336A1 (en) * 2005-02-15 2006-08-17 King Lloyd H Jr Twist-on wire connector with peelable covering
US20100018741A1 (en) * 2005-10-13 2010-01-28 Steven Rhea Finger friendly twist-on wire connector
US8212147B2 (en) 2005-10-13 2012-07-03 The Patent Store Llc Finger friendly twist-on wire connector
US20070224891A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2007-09-27 K.S. Terminals, Inc. Connector and method for manufacturing and connecting wire
US7364478B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2008-04-29 K.S. Terminals, Inc. Connector and method for manufacturing and connecting wire
US20170040790A1 (en) * 2015-08-04 2017-02-09 Ideal Industries, Inc. Pre-filled splice connector
US9831654B2 (en) * 2015-08-04 2017-11-28 Ideal Industries, Inc. Pre-filled splice connector
CN107851907A (zh) * 2015-08-04 2018-03-27 理想工业公司 预填充接合式连接器
CN107851907B (zh) * 2015-08-04 2020-01-17 理想工业公司 预填充接合式连接器
US20200176894A1 (en) * 2018-11-29 2020-06-04 Yazaki Corporation Bonder cap accommodating structure, electrical connection box, and wire harness
US10819045B2 (en) * 2018-11-29 2020-10-27 Yazaki Corporation Bonder cap accommodating structure, electrical connection box, and wire harness

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI56081B (fi) 1979-07-31
IT945513B (it) 1973-05-10
BR7108368D0 (pt) 1973-04-19
AU3705471A (en) 1973-06-21
NO132569C (fi) 1975-11-26
ZA718445B (en) 1972-09-27
JPS5521433B1 (fi) 1980-06-10
CH550491A (de) 1974-06-14
DK141422C (fi) 1980-09-08
DE2163817C3 (de) 1982-03-18
DK141422B (da) 1980-03-10
FR2118736A5 (fi) 1972-07-28
GB1371359A (en) 1974-10-23
ES397791A1 (es) 1974-06-01
DE2163817B2 (de) 1981-07-23
NO132569B (fi) 1975-08-18
SE368883B (fi) 1974-07-22
FI56081C (fi) 1979-11-12
AU465098B2 (en) 1975-09-18
DE2163817A1 (de) 1972-07-06
CA944835A (en) 1974-04-02

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