US3718888A - Universal connector for cable conductors - Google Patents
Universal connector for cable conductors Download PDFInfo
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- US3718888A US3718888A US00103687A US3718888DA US3718888A US 3718888 A US3718888 A US 3718888A US 00103687 A US00103687 A US 00103687A US 3718888D A US3718888D A US 3718888DA US 3718888 A US3718888 A US 3718888A
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- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 title abstract description 105
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 abstract description 43
- 235000010210 aluminium Nutrition 0.000 description 68
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 67
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 67
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 26
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 26
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 26
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 13
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 10
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- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 8
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- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxo(oxoalumanyloxy)alumane Chemical compound O=[Al]O[Al]=O TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 4
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- 229910052738 indium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- APFVFJFRJDLVQX-UHFFFAOYSA-N indium atom Chemical compound [In] APFVFJFRJDLVQX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 2
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Images
Classifications
-
- 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
- H01R4/24—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands
- H01R4/2416—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
- H01R4/2445—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives
- H01R4/245—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives the additional means having two or more slotted flat portions
- H01R4/2454—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members having additional means acting on the insulation or the wire, e.g. additional insulation penetrating means, strain relief means or wire cutting knives the additional means having two or more slotted flat portions forming a U-shape with slotted branches
Definitions
- An electrical connector having a capability for both butt-splicing and bridge-splicing a plurality of insulated wires with solderless connections.
- the connector includes a metallic contact containing a plurality of tap ered slots, the sidewalls of which are formed to pierce the insulation on the wire. The portion of the contact at the entrance to the slots is formed into a shoulder transverse to the axis of the slots.
- a retainer is also provided to hold the wires in place prior to being forced into the slots and to provide mechanical support for the wires after the connection is made.
- This invention relates to solderless electrical connectors, and particularly to such connectors as are adapted for permanently splicing together insulated wires.
- a typical application for such connectors is in the splicing of plastic-covered copper or aluminium wire at telephone cable junctions.
- a solderless connector of this type generally includes three main parts: a base, a contact, and a cover.
- the base is an insulating piece having tunnels or channels into which the wires to be interconnected are inserted.
- the cover is also an insulator and is arranged to substantially enclose the base.
- the contact is a conductive metallic piece having a plurality of wire receiving slots cut into it. The pressing action of mating the base and the cover together is arranged to force the wires into the slots in the contact.
- the side walls of the slots have a configuration for piercing the insulation on the wires, making contact with the conductors of the wires, and thereby interconnecting the conductors of the various wires through the contact piece.
- any connector designed for use with aluminum conductors should retain all the advantages of connectors designed for copper conductors, and, in fact, should also be suitable to connect to aluminum or copper conductors with equal facility. At the same time, such a connector must be capable of coping with the special problems presented by aluminum conductors.
- An oxide film forms on analuminum surface Within seconds after bare metal is exposed.
- the film will normally attain a thickness of from 60 to angstroms, but may reach as high as several thousand angstroms under conditions of extremely high humidity and temperature.
- the oxidation of aluminum is self-limiting because the films density, amorphous nature, and low ionic conductance prevent progressive oxidation. Electrical contact with an aluminum conductor is relatively poor through the oxide since the dense, inert aluminum oxide surface film is non-conducting. Before a good electrical joint can be made, the oxide film must be removed or penetrated so that bare metal surfaces will be in intimate contact with one another.
- the aluminum oxide surface film is brittle and so will not follow the plastic deformation of the underlying aluminum conductor. However, the film will fracture at points of high stress and deformation, allowing bare metal surfaces to be exposed. This means that where 10- calized stress is applied to an aluminum wire, the oxide film may be fractured and effective electrical contact established. Since aluminum is particularly subject to creep or cold flow, this contact stress will eventually be accommodated by movement away from the stressed area. The rate of creep increases with temperature and is noticeably higher for aluminum than it is for copper. Thus, the contact pressure of a connector decreases more rapidly for an aluminum conductor than it does for a copper conductor. As a result, the critical level at which contact degradation occurs is reached much sooner with aluminum than it is with copper.
- aluminum conductors do not have the mechanical strength that copper conductors have. Since aluminum has a much lower yield strength than copper, only approximately 40%, and since aluminum is relatively notch sensitive, the aluminum conductor wire must be mechanically supported to prevent fracture of the aluminum conductor at the joint resulting from any external stressing of the connected wires. This is a particular problem when a connector capable of piercing the plastic Wire insulation is contemplated. In order to pierce the insulation and penetrate the underlying oxide coating, the aluminum conductor must be deformed and extruded. This flattens or notches the conductor at the termination joint, giving it a reduced cross-sectional width that greatly weakens the aluminum and makes it particularly susceptible to mechanical failure.
- any over-extrusion of the conductor at the entrance to the contact slot reduces the intimate metal-to-metal and electrically conductive contact between the conductor and the sidewalls of the slot in the mated connector. This loss of intimate contact creates an unworkable and unstable connection because the resulting low pressure between the slot sidewalls and the conductor permits air to react with the surface of the bared aluminum conductor and reoxidize it at the joint.
- the width of the slot must be less than the diameter of the smallest conductor contemplated, For large conductor wires an excessive pressure may thereby result. If the slot width is increased to avoid this problem, the piercing pressure will then be too low for small diameter wires. This will result in the insulation not being completely pierced. Because of this, a layer of insulation will remain between the conductor and the contact of the connector and electrical contact will not be established.
- the performance of a termination is determined by the contact resistance of the joint interface. Since aluminum oxide is essentially nonconductive, the presence of an oxide coating at the interface decreases the effective contact area available tocarry current. This increased contact resistance could impair transmission. Since aluminum has a greater tendency to oxidize than copper, a practical termination must overcome this problem while accommodating the lower mechanical properties that aluminum has. The special problems of terminating aluminum con ductor wire have been a deterrent to the widespread use of aluminum.
- the termination or joint interface must be sealed to prevent air from entering the interface and surrounding bored conductor to oxidize the aluminum. Otherwise, as stress is relieved with time and the contact pressure decreases oxidation can occur as relative movement due to temperature changes and the difference in thermal expansion causes areas of aluminum to be exposed.
- Another important factor affecting the electrical stability of a termination is the effect of daily or seasonal temperature changes. Since different conductor metals expand and contract at varying rates, relative movement between contacting members of different metals occurs with temperature changes. A joint that initially has a low resistance may develop a much higher resistance when heated or cooled, yet may still return to a low resistance when the initial temperature returns. For example, when an aerial cable is terminated on a telephone pole, the temperature inside a termination closure may reach 140 F. A sudden thunderstorm may cause wind-driven rain to plunge the temperature to 70 F. in minutes. This rapid change in temperature causes a conductor to move relative to any other metal which it contacts.
- This relative movement resulting from temperature fluctuations may cause an initially low resistance termination to become a high resistance termination. This occurs where the movement of the aluminum conductor brings a port on of h oxide sea g in; s n act wi h e connector. A subsequent change in temperature may again cause contact to be established with a portion of the aluminum conductor.
- the intermittent nature of such an unstable termination would generate as much transmission difiiculty as a continuous high resistance termination, yet in some ways he even more of a problem.
- a high resistance termination can be readily found by testing, but an unstable termination is frequently within test limits whenever a test is performed, yet will generate customer complaints due to the instability of the termination. Further, if the termination is not sealed, an unstable termination will progressively deteriorate with time since the relative movement will expose the initially clean alu minum to the air which causes it to oxidize.
- Solderless connectors have been known and used for some time.
- An example of a connector adapted for buttsplicing, or connecting together several wire ends is US. Pat. No. 3,012,219, issued Dec. 5, 1961, to E. J. Levin et al.
- devices such as these are effective when used to splice Wires having copper conductors, the foregoing shows that ditferent technical considerations are involved in splicing aluminum conductor wire.
- Still another object of my invention is to prevent the formation of an insulation film between the side walls of the contact and the conductors by restraining the insulation from being drawn down into the slots in the contact.
- Yet another object of my invention is to permit a single connector to be used interchangeably for either buttsplicing or bridge-splicing.
- the connector includes a base, a cover, and a contact containing a plurality of inwardly tapering slots, the entrances of which include a shouldered portion transverse to the aixs of the slots.
- a plurality of wires to be interconnected is inserted into tunnels in the base where they are held in position.
- the wires are supported by the base against torsional or tensional stresses which may be applied to the wires.
- the interconnection of the plurality of wires is accomplished by forcing the cover over the conductive metallic contact where it mates with the base.
- the body of the connector is adapted to butt-splice a p lurality of wire ends and is readily converted to bridgesplicing one or more wire ends to a continuous wire.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled connector shown butt-splicing three wire endstogether.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembled connector showing two wire ends bridge-spliced to a through going wire.
- FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the elements of the connector arranged for butt-splicing.
- FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the connector shown prior to the interconnection of the wires.
- FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the connector shown with the base and cover mated and the wires interconnected.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a practical cross-section of the connector base showing a wire end in place for a splice.
- FIG. 7 is a partially exploded perspective view of the connector base showing the base adapted for use as a bridge-splice connector.
- FIG. 8 is a partial cross-section of the connector shown in FIG. 2.
- FIG. 9 is a perspective of the contact of the connector showing a wire in its connected position.
- FIGS. 1 through 9 A solderless connector embodying my invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 9.
- FIG. 1 shows the connector used to buttsplice three wire ends 1, 2 and 3 together.
- the same connector is shown in FIG. 2 adapted to be used for bridge-splicing two wire ends 1 and 2 to a through wire 4.
- the basic parts of the connector shown clearly in an exploded perspective view in. FIG. 3, are a base 10, a cover 20, and a contact 30.
- Base 10 includes three wire tunnels 12, 13 and 14 into which wire ends 1, 2 and 3 are respectively inserted.
- the entrances to the tunnels are beveled to prevent the wire ends from catching on the edge of the entrances, or hanging up, which would prevent the wire end from being inserted all the way into the tunnels.
- the tunnels are blind, or closed at the far end, and it is desirable that the wire ends bottom against the end of the tunnels. Once inserted, the wires must be retained in the tunnels of the base to prevent the wires from backing out of the tunnels as a result of subsequent handling.
- FIG. 6 The means for retaining the inserted wires is clearly illustrated in FIG. 6.
- wire end 1 is fully inserted into tunnel 12
- the free end of the wire is drawn down against retainer tab 41 and then looped under snubber 46.
- a restraining force is exerted against wire 1.
- the effect of this restraining force is to grip wire end -1 between retaining tab 41 and snubber 46 and prevent wire end 1 from backing out of tunnel 12. This insures that once inserted into one of tunnels 12, 13 or 14, a wire end will stay bottomed against the end of the tunnel.
- the connector is shown in cross-section in FIG. 4 as it would be shipped from the manufacturer, except wire ends 1, 2 and 3 which are shown in place in tunnels 12, 13 and 14 are naturally, not shipped with the connector assembly.
- Pins 8 and 9 of cover 20 are inserted through holes 31 and 32 respectively of contact 30. This is shown more clearly in FIG. 3.
- the pins are then headed over to secure contact 30 to the inside of cover 20.
- Dover 20 is equipped with lips 21 and 22 on either side which are designed to snap into position in matching grooves 18 and 19, respectively, in base 10, thereby latching the base and cover together.
- the wire ends 1, 2 and 3 are inserted respectively in tunnels 12, 13 and 14, the wire ends are ready to be interconnected.
- cover 20 and base 10 are pressed together. This forces lips 21 and 22 of cover 20 out of grooves 18 and 19 in base 10 and permits the base and cover to mate. In the mated position, lips 21 and 22 of cover 26 lock into position in grooves 24 and 25 respectively of base 10. At the same time, the mating of the base and the cover forces the inserted wires into slots 33, 34 and 35 of contact 30.
- contact 30 is U-shaped and each leg of the U is slotted. A slot 33 appears in both legs, for example. The primary function of the double slots is the increased reliability resulting from the redundancy.
- slot 33 in contact 30 which is representative of slots 34 and 35 as well, has an inwardly tapering shape.
- the sides of the slot in the far leg of the U-shaped contact 30 are defined by posts 61 and 62.
- the function of the continuously tapered slot is to prevent the conductor of wire 1 from being so extruded by any imperfection or burr at the entrance to slot 33 that positive contact between the conductor and the sidewalls of the slot could not be made when the wire is fully in place in the slot. This permits relatively inexpensive manufacturing methods to be used to fabricate the contact since nominal variations in the degree of taper of the slot sidewalls or moderate burrs and irregularities around the slot entrance area will have little effect on the integrity of the resulting connection.
- Posts 61 and 62 include a chamfered entrance 63 which insures that the entering wire is properly positioned in the center of slot 33.
- posts 61 and 62 are formed into shoulders 64 and 65, respectively.
- shoulders 64 and 65 are to present a large area to grip the insulation as the wire is forced into slot 33.
- the insulation is stripped away from the conductor without overly extruding the conductor. This is necessary to prevent a thin skin of insulation from being drawn down into the slot with the conductor, preventing intimate contact between the slot sidewalls and the conductor.
- the action of the shoulders causes the insulation to part at the connector leg. The parted insulation then elastically snaps back sufliciently to leave the area of slot 33 free of insulation.
- FIG. 3 Another feature of the structure of contact is perhaps best shown in FIG. 3. Between the adjacent wire slots 33, 34 and are spacer slots 55 and 56. For example, between post 62 (which together with post 61 defines wire slot 33) and post 66 (which together with post 67 defines wire slot 34) is a spacer slot 55. Spacer slot 55 permits post 62 to be deflected from its initial position by a wire being forced into wire slot 33, and for post 66 to be deflected from its initial position by a wire being forced into wire slot 34, or for both posts to be so deflected.
- the retaining force exerted on a wire inserted in tunnel 13 results from the restriction caused by torsional stops 49 and 50, whose major function will be explained in more detail later. It should be clear that the retaining force exerted on a wire in tunnel 13 is minimal for anything other than a large gauge wire. However, this is of little consequence since all other wires are firmly retained, leaving the craftsman only a single wire to juggle.
- cover 20 includes on its underside a plurality of troughs or grooves 26, 27, 28 and 29 and related blocks 37, 38, 39 and 40.
- FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a bridge-splice. The mating of the cover 20 with base 10 during the connection operation causes both ends of through wire 4 to be offset substantially from the axis of tunnel 14. At the same time, wire 4 is firmly gripped between block 39 and retaining tab 42 at its right end and between block and retaining tab 43 at its left end.
- troughs 26, 27, 28 and 29 work in conjunction with torsional stops 49, 50 and 51 to support the wires and prevent any torsional stress applied to the wires from being transmitted into the area of the termination interface.
- the combination of the troughs in cover 20 and the torsional stops on base 10 confine the wires so that any twisting applied to the wires is absorbed and not transmitted into the interface.
- the connector include a sealant to encapsulate the termination joint after the connection operation is completed.
- a sealant such as polyethylene-polybutene
- the sealant would be placed at the base of the U- shaped contact 30.
- the mating surface 6 of base 10 is concave or angled. This LS done to insure that as the base 10 and cover 20 are mated during the connection operation, the sealant will be prevented from escaping from the interior of the connector until the termination is fully sealed. Rather, the sealant is forced down into openings 52 and 53 in base 10 insuring that the termination interface is fully encapsulated. If sealant subsequently is squeezed out of the connector because of any excess, no harm is done because it has already been insured that the termination interface is fully sealed. It should also be pointed out that the retaining tabs 41, 42 and 43 are also useful to hold the sealant within the body of the connector. This is particularly important Where all wire tunnels do not contain a wire so that without the presence of the retaining tab, a clear channel out of the connector body would be provided by the trough in cover 20 associated with the unused tunnel.
- contact 30 could be advantageously plated with indium.
- Indium is a none-oxidizing, solid but readily flowable, conductive material that penetrates the microscopic cracks in the aluminum oxide film. This affords a good electrical contact with the pure aluminum of the aluminum conductor while reducing oxidants at the interface.
- base 10 and cover 20 being injection molded from a plastic material such as polycarbonate, other materials would also prove effective. Since base 10 would advantageously be molded, the removable plug 11 could be molded as part of base 10 but with readily separable perforations. This would permit only a single piece to be used, while at the same time permitting plug 11 to be readily and simply removed when necessary. This would avoid the necessity of fabricating plug 11 as a separate piece and then assembling the plug with base 10. It should also be apparent that if the particular application contemplated required it, a similar plug could also be included on the other side of base 10, permitting tunnel 12 to also be used to accept a through wire.
- retainer tabs 41, 42 and 43 permit the connector to be used to effectively hold a wide range of wire gauges. This flexibility and universality is extended to contact 30 where the tapered slots 33, 34 and 35 are also efiective to connect a wide range of wire sizes. It should be pointed out that all the wires connected by a single connector need not be the same size; large gauge and fine gauge wires can be mixed and still be readily interconnected.
- Contact 30 is shown as being generally U-shaped, although this is not essential to my invention. Contact 30 could function eflecti'vely with only a single slotted leg. However, since it is desired to establish connections that are stable and reliable for long periods of time, the redundancy of providing a double leg would seem to be preferred.
- slots 33, 34 and 35 in contact 30 are approximately one-eighth inch deep measured from the shouldered portion of the contact and approximately .012 inch wide with a one degree taper.
- the width of the shoulder is approximately 60% of the .050 inch width of the leg of contact 30.
- this connector is equally elfective with pulp insulated wire, paper insulated wire, or wire insulated with any other common type of insulation.
- the connector is not restricted in its application to aluminum conductor wire. Wire with copper conductor, or any other metallic conductor, could be as effectively connected as could the aluminum conductor wire. In fact, a mixture of wires having dilferent conductor materials could be interconnected with equal facility.
- a solderless connector for connecting a plurality of wires comprising:
- a base including means for accommodating the wires to be connected
- a conductive metallic contact including a pair of cantilevered posts for each Wire to be connected, each post including a sidewall adjacent the other post of the pair and tapering continuously towards the other post at the fixed end, and each post also undergoing an abrupt change in thickness in the direction of the axis of the wire, the abrupt change being located adjacent the free end of the post;
- cover means for mating with the base to substantially enclose the contact, the mating of the cover with the base being simultaneously effective to force the wires into the tapered spaces between the pairs of posts;
- a solderless connector for connecting a plurality of wires comprising:
- a base including means for accommodating the wires to be connected; wherein the means for accommodating the wires comprises:
- the base also includes a plug separable from the base, the separation of the plug from the base being effective to open the side and end of one of the tunnels, thereby enabling the open tunnel of the base to be placed over the continuous wire to permit connection thereto;
- the connector further comprising:
- a conductive metallic contact including a pair of cantilevered posts for each wire to be connected, the adjacent sidewalls of each pair tapering continuously together towards the fixed end of the posts;
- a cover adapted to mate with the base thereby substantially enclosing the contact, the mating of the cover with the base being simultaneously eifective to force the wires into the tapered spaces between the pairs of posts so that electrical contact is established between the conductors of the wires and the posts of the contact.
- a solderless connector for connecting a plurality of wires comprising:
- a base including means for accommodating the wires to be connected
- a conductive metallic contact including a pair of cantilevered posts for each wire to be connected, the adjacent sidewalls of each pair tapering continuously together towards the fixed end of the posts;
- a cover adapted to mate with the base thereby substantially enclosing the contact, the mating of the cover with the base being simultaneously efiective to force the wires into the tapered spaces between the pairs of posts so that electrical contact is established between the conductors of the wires and the posts of the contact; wherein the cover and the base are shaped to latch to each other in two positions;
- a solderless connector for connecting a plurality of 50 wires comprising:
- a conductive metallic contact including a pair of cantilevered posts for each wire to be connected, each post including:
- the base including:
- the insulation on insulated wires being restrained by the shouldered portion when the base and cover are mated, so that the insulation is prevented from entering the tapered spaces between the posts, thereby tearing the insulation from the conductors of the wires as the wires are forced into the tapered spaces and exposing the conductors of the wires to permit contact to be established between the exposed conductors and the tapering sidewalls of the posts.
- a connector in accordance with claim 4 wherein the holding means comprises:
- a resilient member located between the open end of the tunnel and the fixed member, the resilient member being so located that when a wire is inserted into the tunnel and positioned in engagement with the fixed member, the resilient member is deflected to bias the wire against the fixed member.
- a solderless connector for connecting a plurality of insulated wires comprising:
- a base including means for accommodating the wires to be connected, wherein the base also includes:
- a removable plug for opening the side and end of one of the tunnels to permit the base to be placed over a continuous wire, permitting connection thereto;
- a conductive metallic contact containing a plurality of slots, one for each wire to be connected, the entrance to the slots including a shouldered portion transverse to the axis of the slots for restraining the insulation to prevent the insulation from entering the slots;
- a cover which mates with the base to substantially enclose the contact, the mating of the cover with the base being also effective to force the wires into the slots in the contact.
- a solderless connector for interconnecting a plurality of insulated aluminum conductor wires comprising:
- a molded plastic base having a plurality of close-ended tunnels with chamfered entrances into which wire ends to be interconnected are inserted and including:
- a removable plug for opening the side and end of one of the tunnels to create a trough into which a continuous wire is placed to be interconnected with wire ends in others of the plurality of tunnels;
- retainer means for holding the inserted wires in position and preventing the wires from backing out of the tunnels
- a metallic contact having a pair of cantilevered posts for each wire to be interconnected, adjacent sidewalls of each pair being formed to taper inward towards the fixed end with the free end of each post having a shouldered portion transverse to the axis of the tapered slot created between the posts of each pair;
- a molded plastic cover formed to substantially enclose the metallic contact and mate with the base, the cover being eifective when mated with the base, to force the wires inserted in the base into the slots in the metallic contact so that the posts are deflected from their initial position, the insulation on the wires is pierced and restrained from entering the slots, and electrical contact is made between the aluminum conductors of the wires and the metallic contact;
- a solderless connector for connecting a plurality of plastic insulated, aluminum conductor wires, the connector comprising:
- a base having a plurality of close-ended tunnels into which one end of each wire to be connected is inserted
- a conductive metallic contact including a pair of cantilevered posts for each wire to be connected;
- the cover and the base are mated and substantially enclose the contact, the mating of the cover and the base being simultaneously effective to force the inserted wires into slots between the posts of each pair so that the insulation on the wires is pierced thereby exposing the conductors of the wires and establishing intimate electrical contact between the conductors of the wires and the contact;
- the cover also includes a chamber for containing a volume of sealant;
- the base also includesresilient means for securing any wires inserted into the tunnels of the base so that the wires cannot move out of position prior to the mating of the base and the cover, and
- the posts of the contact also include a tapered sidewall on the edge adjacent the other post of the pair thereby forming an inwardly tapering slot into which the wires are forced so that unintended extrusion of the aluminum conductors is prevented prior to the conductors reaching a seated position in the slot, and
- a plug separable from the base the separation of the plug from the base being effective to open the side and end of one of the tunnels, thereby enabling the open tunnel of the base to be placed over a continuous wire to permit connection thereto.
Landscapes
- Connections Effected By Soldering, Adhesion, Or Permanent Deformation (AREA)
- Connections By Means Of Piercing Elements, Nuts, Or Screws (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US10368771A | 1971-01-04 | 1971-01-04 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3718888A true US3718888A (en) | 1973-02-27 |
Family
ID=22296524
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00103687A Expired - Lifetime US3718888A (en) | 1971-01-04 | 1971-01-04 | Universal connector for cable conductors |
Country Status (11)
Cited By (45)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3835444A (en) * | 1972-04-08 | 1974-09-10 | Amp Inc | Slotted plate connector |
US3845236A (en) * | 1973-06-21 | 1974-10-29 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Wire connector |
US3865460A (en) * | 1973-04-30 | 1975-02-11 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Component connector |
US3868161A (en) * | 1973-10-01 | 1975-02-25 | Amp Inc | Electrical component |
US3878603A (en) * | 1972-08-21 | 1975-04-22 | Leo Anker Jensen | Method and apparatus for the solderless splicing of multi-lead cables |
US3890029A (en) * | 1974-02-19 | 1975-06-17 | Thomas & Betts Corp | Partitioned electrical connector |
US3897128A (en) * | 1974-03-25 | 1975-07-29 | Amp Inc | Pre-insulated connecting device for a plurality of wires having insulation displacing features |
US3926498A (en) * | 1972-09-14 | 1975-12-16 | Bunker Ramo | Electrical connector and insulation-piercing contact member |
US3936128A (en) * | 1975-01-31 | 1976-02-03 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Solderless electrical connector for connecting a plurality of insulated wires |
US3950063A (en) * | 1974-10-21 | 1976-04-13 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Connector for looped wire |
US4012102A (en) * | 1976-05-26 | 1977-03-15 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Solderless electrical contact |
US4029384A (en) * | 1975-01-20 | 1977-06-14 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Grounding clip |
US4035052A (en) * | 1973-05-14 | 1977-07-12 | Louis Marrero | Quick connector electrical utility box |
US4046447A (en) * | 1974-11-26 | 1977-09-06 | Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson | Contact device |
FR2393445A1 (fr) * | 1976-09-13 | 1978-12-29 | Bunker Ramo | Dispositif d'interconnexion modulaire a connexions interchangeables |
DE2940226A1 (de) * | 1978-10-11 | 1980-04-24 | Alsthom Cgee | Anschlussklemmenblock |
US4209219A (en) * | 1978-11-22 | 1980-06-24 | Amp Incorporated | Method and apparatus for terminating multi-conductor cable |
US4274198A (en) * | 1978-02-20 | 1981-06-23 | Bunker Ramo Corporation | Self-stripping electrical terminal |
US4284316A (en) * | 1979-10-11 | 1981-08-18 | Cgee Alsthom | Terminal block |
US4306759A (en) * | 1980-01-02 | 1981-12-22 | Norden Alexander | Insulation-cutting connectors and method of making connections |
US4317608A (en) * | 1979-06-29 | 1982-03-02 | Amp Incorporated | Slotted pate terminal for stranded wire |
US4326767A (en) * | 1979-03-12 | 1982-04-27 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Wire cutting electrical connector |
US4340270A (en) * | 1979-01-24 | 1982-07-20 | C. A. Weidmuller Kg | Electrical terminal unit |
US4352538A (en) * | 1980-05-19 | 1982-10-05 | General Motors Corporation | Low profile connector for printed circuit board |
USRE31132E (en) * | 1972-09-14 | 1983-01-25 | Bunker Ramo Corporation | Electrical connector and insulation-piercing contact member |
US4435034A (en) | 1981-10-08 | 1984-03-06 | Northern Telecom Limited | Connectors with insulation-displacing terminals |
US4444448A (en) * | 1980-01-14 | 1984-04-24 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Wire cutting electrical connector |
US4496207A (en) * | 1977-08-12 | 1985-01-29 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Electrical connector with dual position latches |
US4653830A (en) * | 1985-10-23 | 1987-03-31 | Pegram Warren J | Electrical connector and method |
US4684195A (en) * | 1985-12-19 | 1987-08-04 | American Telephone And Telegraph Company, At&T Bell Laboratories | Solderless electrical connector |
US4768975A (en) * | 1983-08-26 | 1988-09-06 | General Motors Corporation | Insulation displacement terminal |
EP0182012A3 (en) * | 1984-11-13 | 1989-03-15 | Walter Rose Gmbh & Co. Kg | Device for producing a conductor splice |
US4836803A (en) * | 1986-07-02 | 1989-06-06 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Wire holding device in an electrical connector |
US4891018A (en) * | 1988-06-16 | 1990-01-02 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Solderless electrical connector |
US4981443A (en) * | 1989-12-21 | 1991-01-01 | General Motors Corporation | Diagnostic connector tap |
US5067910A (en) * | 1991-01-17 | 1991-11-26 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Solderless electrical connector |
US5277616A (en) * | 1992-02-07 | 1994-01-11 | Harting Elektronik Gmbh | Electrical connector |
US5415562A (en) * | 1992-09-14 | 1995-05-16 | Yazaki Corporation | Pressure welding connector |
US5691508A (en) * | 1995-07-25 | 1997-11-25 | The Whitaker Corporation | Enclosure for spliced multiconductor cable |
US5746610A (en) * | 1995-07-25 | 1998-05-05 | The Whitaker Corporation | Ground contact for a splice enclosure |
US6755678B2 (en) | 2002-04-22 | 2004-06-29 | Tyco Electronics Corporation | Wire retaining connector block |
US20060030200A1 (en) * | 2004-08-04 | 2006-02-09 | Doorhy Michael V | Wire containment cap |
US20090197455A1 (en) * | 2004-07-20 | 2009-08-06 | Vincenzo Corradi | Device for electrical connection of discontinuous conductors |
US20090265779A1 (en) * | 2008-04-17 | 2009-10-22 | Chih-Wei Hsu | Time-switch device and method for the same |
US10024122B2 (en) * | 2014-02-18 | 2018-07-17 | Athabasca Oil Corporation | Injection of heating cables with a coiled tubing injector |
Families Citing this family (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2286520A1 (fr) * | 1974-09-30 | 1976-04-23 | Reliable Electric Co | Bloc de raccordement notamment pour repartiteur telephonique |
CA1096455A (en) * | 1977-08-12 | 1981-02-24 | Joseph M. Ensminger | Electrical connector with dual position latches |
FR2427030A1 (fr) * | 1978-05-26 | 1979-12-21 | Amp Inc | Boitier de composant electrique |
FR2504315A1 (fr) * | 1981-04-16 | 1982-10-22 | Carpano & Pons | Element de connexion et dispositif de connexion, comportant de tels elements |
GB2110886B (en) * | 1981-12-01 | 1985-12-11 | Bunker Ramo | Electrical connector member |
DE3602812C2 (de) * | 1986-01-30 | 1994-06-30 | Fraunhofer Ges Forschung | Elektrischer Verbinder |
GB2196492B (en) * | 1986-10-02 | 1990-11-14 | Amp Inc | An electrical connector and an electrical terminal |
US5211575A (en) * | 1992-06-23 | 1993-05-18 | Buchanan Construction Products, Inc. | Insulated pigtail device |
CN115596466B (zh) * | 2022-10-18 | 2025-05-06 | 衡水奇佳工程材料有限公司 | 用于软弱围岩隧道的缓冲让压复合支护结构及支护方法 |
-
1971
- 1971-01-04 US US00103687A patent/US3718888A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1971-09-02 CA CA121,989A patent/CA939770A/en not_active Expired
- 1971-12-29 JP JP723728A patent/JPS5311677B1/ja active Pending
- 1971-12-30 SE SE7116902A patent/SE376329B/xx unknown
- 1971-12-30 GB GB6066071A patent/GB1373138A/en not_active Expired
-
1972
- 1972-01-03 IT IT67008/72A patent/IT948792B/it active
- 1972-01-03 FR FR7200070A patent/FR2121237A5/fr not_active Expired
- 1972-01-03 BE BE777646A patent/BE777646A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1972-01-04 CH CH7372A patent/CH536558A/de not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1972-01-04 AR AR230949A patent/AR196066A1/es active
- 1972-01-04 YU YU5/72A patent/YU34343B/xx unknown
Cited By (57)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3835444A (en) * | 1972-04-08 | 1974-09-10 | Amp Inc | Slotted plate connector |
US3878603A (en) * | 1972-08-21 | 1975-04-22 | Leo Anker Jensen | Method and apparatus for the solderless splicing of multi-lead cables |
US3926498A (en) * | 1972-09-14 | 1975-12-16 | Bunker Ramo | Electrical connector and insulation-piercing contact member |
USRE31132E (en) * | 1972-09-14 | 1983-01-25 | Bunker Ramo Corporation | Electrical connector and insulation-piercing contact member |
US3865460A (en) * | 1973-04-30 | 1975-02-11 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Component connector |
US4035052A (en) * | 1973-05-14 | 1977-07-12 | Louis Marrero | Quick connector electrical utility box |
US3845236A (en) * | 1973-06-21 | 1974-10-29 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Wire connector |
JPS5082583A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * | 1973-10-01 | 1975-07-04 | ||
DE2443476A1 (de) * | 1973-10-01 | 1975-04-10 | Amp Inc | Elektrisches verbindungsstueck |
US3868161A (en) * | 1973-10-01 | 1975-02-25 | Amp Inc | Electrical component |
US3890029A (en) * | 1974-02-19 | 1975-06-17 | Thomas & Betts Corp | Partitioned electrical connector |
US3897128A (en) * | 1974-03-25 | 1975-07-29 | Amp Inc | Pre-insulated connecting device for a plurality of wires having insulation displacing features |
US3950063A (en) * | 1974-10-21 | 1976-04-13 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Connector for looped wire |
US4046447A (en) * | 1974-11-26 | 1977-09-06 | Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson | Contact device |
US4029384A (en) * | 1975-01-20 | 1977-06-14 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Grounding clip |
US3936128A (en) * | 1975-01-31 | 1976-02-03 | Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated | Solderless electrical connector for connecting a plurality of insulated wires |
US4012102A (en) * | 1976-05-26 | 1977-03-15 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Solderless electrical contact |
FR2353145A1 (fr) * | 1976-05-26 | 1977-12-23 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Cosse electrique sans soudure et procede pour sa fabrication |
FR2393445A1 (fr) * | 1976-09-13 | 1978-12-29 | Bunker Ramo | Dispositif d'interconnexion modulaire a connexions interchangeables |
US4496207A (en) * | 1977-08-12 | 1985-01-29 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Electrical connector with dual position latches |
US4274198A (en) * | 1978-02-20 | 1981-06-23 | Bunker Ramo Corporation | Self-stripping electrical terminal |
DE2940226A1 (de) * | 1978-10-11 | 1980-04-24 | Alsthom Cgee | Anschlussklemmenblock |
FR2438923A1 (fr) * | 1978-10-11 | 1980-05-09 | Alsthom Cgee | Bloc de raccordement |
US4209219A (en) * | 1978-11-22 | 1980-06-24 | Amp Incorporated | Method and apparatus for terminating multi-conductor cable |
US4340270A (en) * | 1979-01-24 | 1982-07-20 | C. A. Weidmuller Kg | Electrical terminal unit |
US4326767A (en) * | 1979-03-12 | 1982-04-27 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Wire cutting electrical connector |
US4317608A (en) * | 1979-06-29 | 1982-03-02 | Amp Incorporated | Slotted pate terminal for stranded wire |
US4284316A (en) * | 1979-10-11 | 1981-08-18 | Cgee Alsthom | Terminal block |
US4306759A (en) * | 1980-01-02 | 1981-12-22 | Norden Alexander | Insulation-cutting connectors and method of making connections |
US4444448A (en) * | 1980-01-14 | 1984-04-24 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Wire cutting electrical connector |
US4352538A (en) * | 1980-05-19 | 1982-10-05 | General Motors Corporation | Low profile connector for printed circuit board |
US4435034A (en) | 1981-10-08 | 1984-03-06 | Northern Telecom Limited | Connectors with insulation-displacing terminals |
US4768975A (en) * | 1983-08-26 | 1988-09-06 | General Motors Corporation | Insulation displacement terminal |
EP0182012A3 (en) * | 1984-11-13 | 1989-03-15 | Walter Rose Gmbh & Co. Kg | Device for producing a conductor splice |
US4653830A (en) * | 1985-10-23 | 1987-03-31 | Pegram Warren J | Electrical connector and method |
US4684195A (en) * | 1985-12-19 | 1987-08-04 | American Telephone And Telegraph Company, At&T Bell Laboratories | Solderless electrical connector |
US4836803A (en) * | 1986-07-02 | 1989-06-06 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Wire holding device in an electrical connector |
US4891018A (en) * | 1988-06-16 | 1990-01-02 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Solderless electrical connector |
US4981443A (en) * | 1989-12-21 | 1991-01-01 | General Motors Corporation | Diagnostic connector tap |
US5067910A (en) * | 1991-01-17 | 1991-11-26 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Solderless electrical connector |
US5277616A (en) * | 1992-02-07 | 1994-01-11 | Harting Elektronik Gmbh | Electrical connector |
EP0554810A3 (en) * | 1992-02-07 | 1996-04-24 | Harting Elektronik Gmbh | Electrical connector |
US5415562A (en) * | 1992-09-14 | 1995-05-16 | Yazaki Corporation | Pressure welding connector |
US5691508A (en) * | 1995-07-25 | 1997-11-25 | The Whitaker Corporation | Enclosure for spliced multiconductor cable |
US5746610A (en) * | 1995-07-25 | 1998-05-05 | The Whitaker Corporation | Ground contact for a splice enclosure |
US6755678B2 (en) | 2002-04-22 | 2004-06-29 | Tyco Electronics Corporation | Wire retaining connector block |
US20090197455A1 (en) * | 2004-07-20 | 2009-08-06 | Vincenzo Corradi | Device for electrical connection of discontinuous conductors |
US7731521B2 (en) * | 2004-07-20 | 2010-06-08 | Italgenio S.R.L. | Device for electrical connection of discontinuous conductors |
US8216002B2 (en) | 2004-08-04 | 2012-07-10 | Panduit Corp. | Wire containment cap |
US20090068878A1 (en) * | 2004-08-04 | 2009-03-12 | Panduit Corp. | Wire containment cap |
US7731542B2 (en) | 2004-08-04 | 2010-06-08 | Panduit Corp. | Wire containment cap |
US7452245B2 (en) | 2004-08-04 | 2008-11-18 | Panduit Corp. | Wire containment cap |
US20060030200A1 (en) * | 2004-08-04 | 2006-02-09 | Doorhy Michael V | Wire containment cap |
US20090265779A1 (en) * | 2008-04-17 | 2009-10-22 | Chih-Wei Hsu | Time-switch device and method for the same |
US10024122B2 (en) * | 2014-02-18 | 2018-07-17 | Athabasca Oil Corporation | Injection of heating cables with a coiled tubing injector |
US11053754B2 (en) | 2014-02-18 | 2021-07-06 | Athabasca Oil Corporation | Cable-based heater and method of assembly |
US11486208B2 (en) | 2014-02-18 | 2022-11-01 | Athabasca Oil Corporation | Assembly for supporting cables in deployed tubing |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB1373138A (en) | 1974-11-06 |
AU3746871A (en) | 1973-07-26 |
DE2165906B2 (de) | 1976-11-18 |
SE376329B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) | 1975-05-12 |
YU34343B (en) | 1979-04-30 |
CA939770A (en) | 1974-01-08 |
AR196066A1 (es) | 1973-11-30 |
BE777646A (fr) | 1972-05-02 |
FR2121237A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) | 1972-08-18 |
YU572A (en) | 1978-10-31 |
JPS5311677B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) | 1978-04-24 |
IT948792B (it) | 1973-06-11 |
DE2165906A1 (de) | 1972-07-20 |
CH536558A (de) | 1973-04-30 |
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