US3721940A

US3721940A - Connector for multi-conductor tape cable

Info

Publication number: US3721940A
Application number: US00180801A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Michel; Le Roy Fairbairn; J Cook
Original assignee: Bendix Corp
Current assignee: Amphenol Corp
Priority date: 1971-09-15
Filing date: 1971-09-15
Publication date: 1973-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-20
Also published as: JPS5434916B2; DE2241986A1; CA968433A; GB1396528A; IT967498B; FR2153954A5; JPS4837683A

Abstract

An electrical connector for making solderless contact between two flat multiple-conductor electrical cables. The connector includes a plurality of ring shaped electrical conductors mounted on a shaft within the connector housing. The ring shaped electrical conductors are arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors in the tape cable and when the tape cables are inserted into the housing they connect each of the conductors of the first cable in electrical circuit relationship to the electrical conductors of the second cable. In one embodiment, the shaft is rotatable so that should an oxide build up between the ring contacts and the electrical conductors of the tape cable, the electrical contacts may be rotated in contact with the tape conductors to clean the surface of oxide and reduce the resistivity between the contacting surfaces.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 11 1 3,721,940

Michel et al. 51March 20, 1973 54] CONNECTOR FOR MULTI- 2,229,585 1 1941 Osenberg ..200/166 PC CONDUCTOR TAPE CABLE 3,651,287 3/1972 Rubenstein ..200/ 166 PC 75 Inventors: Donald E. Michel; LeRoy w. Fairbairn; James E. Cook, all of Sidney,

Assignee: The Bendix Corporation, Southfield,

' Mich.

Filed: Sept. 15, 1971 Appl. No.: 180,801

Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Terrell P. Lewis Attorney-Raymond J. Eifler et a1.

[57 ABSTRACT An electrical connector for making solderless contact between two flat multiple-conductor electrical cables. The connector includes a plurality of ring shaped electrical conductors mounted on a shaft within the connector housing. The ring shaped electrical conductors are arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors in the tape cable and when the tape cables are inserted into the housing they connect each of the conductors of the first cable in electrical circuit relationship to the electrical conductors of the second cable. In one embodiment, the shaft is rotatable'so that should an oxide build up between the ring contacts and the electrical conductors of the tape cable, the electrical contactsmay be rotated in contact with the tape conductors to clean the surface of oxide and reduce the resistivity between the contacting surfaces.

16 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHARZO I973 SHEEI 10F 2 FIGURE I DONALD E. M\CHEL LEROY w. FAIRBAIRN JAMES W. COOK INVENTOR.

A TORNEY PAIENTEDHARZOIQH 721,940

SHEET 2 UF 2 DONALD E. MICHEL LEROY W. FAIRBAIRN JAMES W. COOK INVENTOR.

FIGURE 2 BY A TORNEY CONNECTOR FOR MULTI-CONDUCTOR TAPE CABLE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to an electrical connector for connecting two or more tape cables in electrical circuit relationship. The invention is also related to an improved tape cable connector that provides means for surfaces of the connector that occurs with time.

Solderless connection to multi-conductor flat cables is well known in the art and descriptions of solderless connections between flat tape cables can be found in U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,089,114 and 3,088, 090 to J. C. Cole et al. entitled Electrical Connector and US. Pat. No. 3,004,237 to J. C. Cole et al. entitled Electrical Connector for Multi-Conductor Cables. These prior art patents include complicated assemblies that have complex electrical contacts for completing electrical circuits between two cables, and in one instance, require a male and female portion, each of which is attached to a different tape cable and a connecting portion to connect the male and female portion together. Other prior art tape connectors include sharp pointed contacts that are forced through the insulation and the conductors of the tape cable, stressing the metal and providing permanent electrical contact. In all types of tape cables, there are generally large numbers of very small conductors present and it is important that exact alignment of the conductors be achieved so that each connector will make contact only with its corresponding wire and without undue distortion. Alignment is generally achieved by means of spaced apertures in the connector bodies that contain corresponding contacts. Characteristic of most prior art devices are complicated electrical contacts in the form of ramps and/or fingers made of s pringy material which maintained subs'tantial restorative resilience when fully engaged with the cable or other connector. By restorative resilience is meant the tendency to restore, to at least an appreciable degree, the original unbent shape of the part. These types of electrical contacts or fingers are expensive to make and difficult to assembly into the connec- SUMMARY or THE INVENTION This invention provides a simply constructed electrical tape connector with the capability of rotating the electrical contacts therein to reduce the resistivity between the connector contacts and the conductors of the cable as a result of oxidation therebetween.

The invention is an electrical connector for tape ca bles that is characterized by a plurality of ring shaped electrical conductors mounted in the electrical connector to provide the interconnecting link between the conductors of the tape cable. In one embodiment of the invention, the electrical connector for connecting a first tape cable to a second tape cable comprises; a

ring-shaped electrical conductors mounted on the shaft, the conductors electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship to I reducing the increased resistivity between the contact m ba e having an axis and means for mounting the second tape cable transverse the second base axis; and means for mounting the first and second bases on the housing so that the axis of each of the bases is generally parallel to the axis of the housing and so that each of the conductors of the first cable is in contact with one of the ring-shaped conductors mounted on the shaft and each of the conductors of the second cable is in contact with one of the ring conductors whereby each of the conductors of the first cable is in electrical circuit relationship with one of the conductors of the second cable. An additional feature that may be added to the above connector is that the shaft may be rotatable so that by periodically rotatingthe shaft, the rings in contact with the electrical conductors of the tape cable are friction cleaned thereby eliminating any build-up of oxide that may have occurred over a period of time. This reduces the increased resistivity between the contacts and conductors that accompanies oxidation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved type of electrical connector for connecting together two or more tape cables.

. It is another object of this invention to eliminate the necessity of having complicated electrical contacts by replacing them with ring type contacts.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a tapeconnector'with a means for periodically moving the contacts therein while the connector is assembled to clean the contacts and thereby reduce any increased electrical resistivity due to oxidation of the contact surfaces. 7

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a tape connector that has a capability of receiving tape cables from any direction and/or angle and connecting them together.

A further object of this invention'lies in the provision of a connector of the type which is quickly and easily operated, which is rugged and compact, and which adds but comparatively little to the weight of the assembly in which it is used.

It is also another object of this invention to provide BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one preferred embodiment of an electrical connector incorporating the principles of this invention.

FIG. 2'is a second preferred'embodiment of an electrical connector that incorporates the principles of this invention and illustrates the additional feature of a rotatable contact assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates portions of flattened or ribboned

type cables

41, 42 which are joined together by the illustrative embodiment of the connector. Each of the

tape cables

41, 42 have a plurality of thin ribbon-like conductor strips 43 which are sealed in spaced parallel relationship between upper and lower electrical insulating layers of material bonded to each other to form an insulating body 44. The illustrative cable shown may, for example, be one manufactured by the Tape Cable Company, Rochester, NY. The conductors 43 are generally made of thin copper strips and the body 44 is generally made of clear, transparent, thermal plastic material such as a polyester resin. Electrical circuit boards can also be connected together in this manner. The electrical con- A poses. This is exemplified by FIG. 1 which illustrates an electrical connector which includes a housing 10, a shaft 20, contacts 30, and identical base plates 1. Depending on the design of the housing assembly, spacing plates 50 may be required. The purpose of these spacing plates 50 is to gauge the amount of the ring contact 30 which extends above a certain plane. Also, the spacing plates 50 may serve to space the ring conductors 30 on the shaft 20 in the instance where they are not fixedly mounted on the shaft 20.

The center housing 10 includes a cavity 11 which is adapted to receive the shaft 20 with the conducting rings 30 mounted on theshaft 20 and the spacing plate 50. Holes 3 in the housinglt) are to provide a passage for afastening means such as the nut 5 and bolt 6 shown in the drawings.

Each of the spacing plates 50 are identical and contain a plurality of slots 51 that are arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors 43 in the tape cable 41. In this embodiment, the spacing plates 50 serve to properly arrange the conducting rings 30 on the shaft 20 and provide thecorrect distance that the conducting rings 30 should extend above the central housing 10. 1

Each base 1 includes a groove 2 and pegs 4 for locating and properly orienting the tape cable 41 so that when the base 1 is mounted on the housing 10 by nut 5 and bolt 6, the electrical conductors 43 are in contact with the electrical contacts 30.

In use, the central portions of the electrical connector come in an assembled for, i.e., the conducting rings 30 are mounted on the shaft 20, and the shaft and the spacing plates 50 mounted in the central housing cavity] 1. The electrical connector, therefore, comes in three main pieces, the two bases 1 and the central assembly.

To connect one tape cable 41 to a second tape cable 42, all that is necessary is that each of the tape cables have their conductors 43 bared and placed in the groove 2 of the base plate 1. Although the end of the

tape cable

41, 42 isvshown, the connector can be used to connect together two tape cables along any portion of the cable merely by scraping away the insulating material and locating the tape cable in the groove 2'of the base 1. The pegs 4 in the base I serve as additional alignment guides and in some instances may be arranged to be a key to accept only certain tape cables and reject other tape cables. Once the conductors 43 of each of the

cables

41 and 42 are bared, and the cables are located in the bases, the central assembly which includes the central housing 10 and the ring conductors 30 is positioned between the two bases 1. The bolt 6 is then inserted through the holes 3 in each portion of the assembly to properly align the ring contacts 30 with the cable conductors 43. The nut 5 is then tightened down on the bolt 6 locking the assembly together and pressing the conducting rings 30 in contact with the conductors 43 of the

tape cables

41 and 42. Essential to the proper operation of this connector is the fact that the conducting rings 30 be arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors 43 in the tape cable and that when the tape cables are placed in the connector, the electrical conducting rings 30 properly mate with each of their corresponding conductors 43. In this embodiment, this is accomplished by the spacers 50, the

groove 2 and the holes 3. Alternately, the spacers 50 could be eliminated by mounting the rings 30 on the shaft 20 in their proper spaced relationship and then utilizing the holes 3 in the assembly or any other type arrangement that keys the bases 1 to the central housing 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the electrical connector that includes the added feature of a rotatable ring assembly that is mounted in a central housing 10 comprised of two identical-parts. In this embodiment the conducting rings 30 are mounted on the shaft 20 in the same spaced relationship as the conductors 43 in the

tape cable

41 and 42. The shaft 20 includes a cylindrical portion 21 at both ends thereof. At

the end of each cylindrical portion 21 there is a slot 23 for receiving a tool, such as a screwdriver, so that the shaft 20 and the rings 30 mounted thereon may be rotated by placing a screwdriver in 'the slot 23 and rotating the screwdriver. I g The housing 10 is comprised of each of which include a plurality of grooves 11 arranged in the same spaced relationship as the rings30 on the shaft 20 and the conductors 43 in the tape 41.

two identical pieces The

tape cables

41 and 42 of this embodiment are located in the bases 1 in the same manner as the tape cables are located in the base plates 1 of FIG. 1.

Once the

tape cables

41 and 42 have been properly bared and located in the bases 1, the connector assembled together and the nut 5 and bolt 6 are placed through the holes 3 and locked together, the two

tape cables

41 and 42 are then connected in electrical circuit relationship. To assure uniform pressure distribution, another nut and bolt is placed through the holes on the opposite end of the connector.

Once assembled, the connector can be mounted on a panel or rack and left to perform its function for many years. As time passes, oxidation of the surface of the conductors 43 and conducting ring 30 may occur which increases the resistance across the contacting surfaces. This certainly is disadvantageous in electrical systems where any loss of signal is a problem. However, the deterioration of the signal strength may be reduced and/or eliminated by periodic maintenance to the connection between the cables. In prior art tape cable connectors this was accomplished by dissassembling the connector and cleaning the conducting surfaces of both the connector contacts and/or replacing the connector and/or trimming down and baring new portions of the conductors in the tape cables. However, in this second preferred embodiment, preventative maintenance may be performed merely by placing a screwdriver in the slot 23 and rotating the screwdriver one or more times. This rotating action will cause the rings 30 which are in pressure contact with the conductors 43 to rub against the conductor surface thereby cleaning the contacts 30 and, the conductor surface 43. In this regard, the outer surface of the conducting rings 30 may be made slightly abrasive so that in addition to being good conductors, they also will have a greater ability to scrape foreign matter from the copper conductors 43 of the

tape cables

41 and 42.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made to the invention as set forth in the appended claims, and, in some cases, certain features of the invention may be used to advantage without corresponding use of other features. For example, the conductors mounted on the shaft within the connector housing could be shaped. This type of contact would have four contact surfaces that would be capable of connecting together tape cables located in adjacent and/or parallel planes. Further, the conducting rings could be molded directly into the housing eliminating the need for a shaft or mounting means other than the housing. Also, the invention may be used to connect together, in any combination, tape cables, printed circuit boards, and other parallel spaced conductors. Accordingly, it is intended that the illustrative and descriptive materials herein be used to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the scope thereof.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector for connecting a first tape cable having a plurality of spaced electrical conductors to a similar second tape cable, the electrical connector comprising:

a housing having a cavity and an axis;

a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing cavity along said housing axis;

a plurality of ring-shaped electrical conductors mounted on said rotatable shaft, said conductors electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship to each other as said conductors of said tape cable whereby said rings mounted on said rotatable shaft are rotatable;

a first base having an axis and means for mounting said first tape cable transverse said first base axis;

a second base having an axis and means for mounting said second tap'e cable transverse said second base axis; and

means for mounting said first and second bases on said housing so that the axis of each of said bases is generally parallel to the axis of said housing and so that each of said conductors of said first cable is in contact with one of said ring conductors mounted on said shaft and each of said conductors of said second cable is in contact with one of said ring conductors whereby each of said conductors of said first cable is in electrical circuit relationship with one of the conductors of said second cable.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said cables to be connected is in the form of a flat insulating tape having a plurality of generally parallel spaced conductors therein, the respective conductors of each of the cables being bared at one end thereof.

3. An electrical connector for connecting a plurality of multi-conductor cables in predetermined circuit relationship, said connector comprising:

a housing having a cavity therein and a plurality of openings each adapted to receive one of said multi-conductor cables;

a plurality of ring-shaped electrical conductors; and

means for rotatably mounting said ring-shaped electrical conductors in said housing cavity so that said conducting rings are electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors of said cable, said rings mounted to be in communication with each of said openings in said housing so that when one of said cables is inserted into one of said housing openings, said cable has each of its conductors in contact with one of said conducting rings whereby when a plurality of cables are inserted into said housing openings each of said cables are connected in predetermined electrical circuit relationship.

4. The combination as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said cables to be connected is in the form of a flat insulating tape having a plurality of generally parallel spaced conductors therein, the respective conductors of each of the cables being bared at one end thereof.

5. An electrical connector for connecting a first tape cable to a second tape cable, each of said cables to be connected is in the form of a flat insulating tape having a plurality of generally parallel spaced conductors therein, the respective conductors of each of the cables being bared at one portion ofthe cable, th'eelectrical connector comprising:

a housing having a cavity therein;

a plurality of ring-shaped electrical conductors;

means for rotatably mounted said ring-shaped electrical conductors in said housing cavity so that said conducting rings are electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors of said tape cable; means for demountably attaching and positioning said bared portion of said first tape cable to said housing so that each of said conducting strips of said first cable is in contact with one of said conducting rings; and

means for demountably attaching and positioning said bared portion of said second tape cable to said housing so that each of said conducting strips of said second cable is in contact with one of said conducting rings whereby the first tape cable is connected in electrical circuit relationship with the second tape cable.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said means for demountably attaching said first and second tape cable comprises:

a first base having a groove therein for receiving the bared portion of said first tape cable;

a second base'having a groove therein for receiving the bared portion of said second tape cable; and

means for mounting said first and second bases on said housing so that each of said conducting strips of said first cable is in contact with one of said conducting rings and each of said conducting strips of said second cable is in contact with one of said conducting rings.

7. An electrical connector for connecting a first tape cable having a plurality of spaced electrical conductors to a similar second tape cable, the electrical connector comprising:

a housing having a cavity and an axis;

a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing cavity along said housing axis;

a plurality of electrical contacts mounted on said shaft so that portions of each contact extend from different portions of said shaft, said contacts electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship to each other as said conductor of said tape cable;

a second base having an axis and means for mounting said second tape cable transverse said second base axis; and

means for mounting said first and second bases on said housing so that the axis of each of said bases is generally parallel to the axis of said housing and so that each of said conductors of said first cable is in contact with one portion of said contacts mounted on said shaft and each of said conductors of said second cable is in contact with another portion of said contacts mounted on said shaft whereby each of the conductors of said first cable is in electrical circuit relationship with one of the conductors of said second cable.

8. The combination as recited in claim 7 wherein said contacts are ring shaped.

9. An electrical connector for connecting a plurality of multi-conductor cables in predetermined circuit relationship, said connector comprising:

a housing having a cavity therein and a plurality of 6 openings each adapted to receive one of said multi-conductor cables;

a plurality of electrical contacts; and

means for mounting said electrical contacts on a rotatable shaft in said housing cavity so that said contacts are electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors of said cable, said contacts mounted to be in communication'with each of said openings in said housing so that when one of said cables is inserted into one of said housing openings, said cable has each of its conductors in contact with one of said contacts whereby when a plurality of cables are inserted into said housing openings each of said cables are connected in predetermined electrical circuit relationship.

10. In combination with an electrical connector of the type having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged within the connector in a predetermined spaced relationship adapted to connect in electrical circuit relationship the conductors of two multi-conductor electrical cables having their conductors in the same spaced relationship as the connector contacts by contact between the conductors of the cable and the connector contacts, wherein the improvement comprises:

means for rotating said contacts within the connector while they are in contact with the electrical conductors of the cable to cause the surfaces in contact with the contacts to cleanse themselves thereby maintaining the electrical resistance through the surfaces at a minimum.

11. The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein said multi-conductor cables are tape cables and wherein said means for moving said contacts comprises a shaft rotatably mounted within the connector and having mounted thereon said plurality of electrical contacts, said shaft havingat least one end which communicates with the outside of said connector for receiving a means for rotating said shaft.

12. An electrical connector for connecting a first plurality of spaced electrical conductors to a second plurality of similarly spaced electrical conductors, the electrical connector comprising:

a housing having a cavity and an axis;

along said housing axis;

a plurality of electrical contacts mounted on said shaft so that a portion of each contact extends from different portions of said shaft, said contacts electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship to each other as said first plurality of electrical conductors;

a first base having an axis and means for mounting said first plurality of electrical conductors transverse said first base axis;

a second base having an axis and means for mounting said second plurality of electrical conductors transverse said second base axis; and

means for mounting said first and second bases on said housing so that the axis of each of said bases is generally parallel to the axis of said housing and so that each of said first plurality of conductors is in contact with one portion of said contacts mounted on said shaft and each of said second plurality of conductors is in contact with another portion of said contacts mounted on said shaft whereby each of the first plurality of conductors of said first cable is in electrical circuit relationship with one of the conductors of said second cable.

13. "The combination as recited in claim 12 wherein said electrical contacts are ring shaped.

14. In combination with an electrical connector of the type having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged within the connector in a predetermined spaced relationship adapted to connect in electrical circuit relationship the terminal conductors of at least two electrical circuits, each having their terminal conductors in the same spaced relationship as the connector contacts, by contact between the terminal conductors of the two circuits and the connector contacts, wherein the improvement comprises:

means for rotating said contacts within the connector while they are in contact with the electrical conductors of the circuits to cause the terminal conductors in contact with the contacts to cleanse themselves thereby maintaining the electrical resistance through the surfaces at a minimum.

15. An electrical connector for connecting in predetermined circuit relationship at least two electrical circuits, each having a plurality of terminal conductors arranged in the same spaced relationship, said connector comprising:

a housing having a cavity therein and a plurality of openings each adapted to receive the terminal conductors of one of said circuits;

a plurality of ring-shaped electrical conductors; and

means for rotatably mounted said ring-shaped electrical conductors in said housing cavity so that said conducting rings are electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship as the terminal conductors of said circuits, said rings mounted to be in communication with each of said openings in said housing so that when the terminal conductors of one of said circuits are inserted into one of said housing openings, said circuit has each of its conductors in contact with one of said conducting rings whereby when the terminal conductors of said other circuit are inserted into said housing openings each of said circuits are connected in predetermined electrical circuit relationship.

16. The combination as recited in claim 15 wherein at least one of said circuits to be connected includes a substrate comprised of a flat insulating material having a plurality of generally parallel spaced electrical conductors arranged along one end of said substrate.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for connecting a first tape cable having a plurality of spaced electrical conductors to a similar second tape cable, the electrical connector comprising: a housing having a cavity and an axis; a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing cavity along said housing axis; a plurality of ring-shaped electrical conductors mounted on said rotatable shaft, said conductors electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship to each other as said conductors of said tape cable whereby said rings mounted on said rotatable shaft are rotatable; a first base having an axis and means for mounting said first tape cable transverse said first base axis; a second base having an axis and means for mounting said second tape cable transverse said second base axis; and means for mounting said first and second bases on said housing so that the axis of each of said bases is generally parallel to the axis of said housing and so that each of said conductors of said first cable is in contact with one of said ring conductors mounted on said shaft and each of said conductors of said second cable is in contact with one of said ring conductors whereby each of said conductors of said first cable is in electrical circuit relationship with one of the conductors of said second cable.

3. An electrical connector for connecting a plurality of multi-conductor cables in predetermined circuit relationship, said connector comprising: a housing having a cavity therein and a plurality of openings each adapted to receive one of said multi-conductor cables; a plurality of ring-shaped electrical conductors; and means for rotatably mounting said ring-shaped electrical conductors in said housing cavity so that said conducting rings are electrically isolaTed from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors of said cable, said rings mounted to be in communication with each of said openings in said housing so that when one of said cables is inserted into one of said housing openings, said cable has each of its conductors in contact with one of said conducting rings whereby when a plurality of cables are inserted into said housing openings each of said cables are connected in predetermined electrical circuit relationship.

5. An electrical connector for connecting a first tape cable to a second tape cable, each of said cables to be connected is in the form of a flat insulating tape having a plurality of generally parallel spaced conductors therein, the respective conductors of each of the cables being bared at one portion of the cable, the electrical connector comprising: a housing having a cavity therein; a plurality of ring-shaped electrical conductors; means for rotatably mounted said ring-shaped electrical conductors in said housing cavity so that said conducting rings are electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors of said tape cable; means for demountably attaching and positioning said bared portion of said first tape cable to said housing so that each of said conducting strips of said first cable is in contact with one of said conducting rings; and means for demountably attaching and positioning said bared portion of said second tape cable to said housing so that each of said conducting strips of said second cable is in contact with one of said conducting rings whereby the first tape cable is connected in electrical circuit relationship with the second tape cable.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said means for demountably attaching said first and second tape cable comprises: a first base having a groove therein for receiving the bared portion of said first tape cable; a second base having a groove therein for receiving the bared portion of said second tape cable; and means for mounting said first and second bases on said housing so that each of said conducting strips of said first cable is in contact with one of said conducting rings and each of said conducting strips of said second cable is in contact with one of said conducting rings.

7. An electrical connector for connecting a first tape cable having a plurality of spaced electrical conductors to a similar second tape cable, the electrical connector comprising: a housing having a cavity and an axis; a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing cavity along said housing axis; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted on said shaft so that portions of each contact extend from different portions of said shaft, said contacts electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship to each other as said conductor of said tape cable; a first base having an axis and means for mounting said first tape cable transverse said first base axis; a second base having an axis and means for mounting said second tape cable transverse said second base axis; and means for mounting said first and second bases on said housing so that the axis of each of said bases is generally parallel to the axis of said housing and so that each of said conductors of said first cable is in contact with one portion of said contacts mounted on said shaft and each of said conductors of said second cable is in contact with another portion of said contacts mounted on said shaft whereby each of the conductors of said first cable is in electrical circuit relationship with one of the conductors of said second cable.

8. The combination as rEcited in claim 7 wherein said contacts are ring shaped.

9. An electrical connector for connecting a plurality of multi-conductor cables in predetermined circuit relationship, said connector comprising: a housing having a cavity therein and a plurality of openings each adapted to receive one of said multi-conductor cables; a plurality of electrical contacts; and means for mounting said electrical contacts on a rotatable shaft in said housing cavity so that said contacts are electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship as the conductors of said cable, said contacts mounted to be in communication with each of said openings in said housing so that when one of said cables is inserted into one of said housing openings, said cable has each of its conductors in contact with one of said contacts whereby when a plurality of cables are inserted into said housing openings each of said cables are connected in predetermined electrical circuit relationship.

10. In combination with an electrical connector of the type having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged within the connector in a predetermined spaced relationship adapted to connect in electrical circuit relationship the conductors of two multi-conductor electrical cables having their conductors in the same spaced relationship as the connector contacts by contact between the conductors of the cable and the connector contacts, wherein the improvement comprises: means for rotating said contacts within the connector while they are in contact with the electrical conductors of the cable to cause the surfaces in contact with the contacts to cleanse themselves thereby maintaining the electrical resistance through the surfaces at a minimum.

11. The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein said multi-conductor cables are tape cables and wherein said means for moving said contacts comprises a shaft rotatably mounted within the connector and having mounted thereon said plurality of electrical contacts, said shaft having at least one end which communicates with the outside of said connector for receiving a means for rotating said shaft.

12. An electrical connector for connecting a first plurality of spaced electrical conductors to a second plurality of similarly spaced electrical conductors, the electrical connector comprising: a housing having a cavity and an axis; a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing cavity along said housing axis; a plurality of electrical contacts mounted on said shaft so that a portion of each contact extends from different portions of said shaft, said contacts electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship to each other as said first plurality of electrical conductors; a first base having an axis and means for mounting said first plurality of electrical conductors transverse said first base axis; a second base having an axis and means for mounting said second plurality of electrical conductors transverse said second base axis; and means for mounting said first and second bases on said housing so that the axis of each of said bases is generally parallel to the axis of said housing and so that each of said first plurality of conductors is in contact with one portion of said contacts mounted on said shaft and each of said second plurality of conductors is in contact with another portion of said contacts mounted on said shaft whereby each of the first plurality of conductors of said first cable is in electrical circuit relationship with one of the conductors of said second cable.

13. The combination as recited in claim 12 wherein said electrical contacts are ring shaped.

14. In combination with an electrical connector of the type having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged within the connector in a predetermined spaced relationship adapted to connect in electrical circuit relationship the terminal conductors of at least two electrical circuits, each having their termiNal conductors in the same spaced relationship as the connector contacts, by contact between the terminal conductors of the two circuits and the connector contacts, wherein the improvement comprises: means for rotating said contacts within the connector while they are in contact with the electrical conductors of the circuits to cause the terminal conductors in contact with the contacts to cleanse themselves thereby maintaining the electrical resistance through the surfaces at a minimum.

15. An electrical connector for connecting in predetermined circuit relationship at least two electrical circuits, each having a plurality of terminal conductors arranged in the same spaced relationship, said connector comprising: a housing having a cavity therein and a plurality of openings each adapted to receive the terminal conductors of one of said circuits; a plurality of ring-shaped electrical conductors; and means for rotatably mounted said ring-shaped electrical conductors in said housing cavity so that said conducting rings are electrically isolated from each other and arranged in the same spaced relationship as the terminal conductors of said circuits, said rings mounted to be in communication with each of said openings in said housing so that when the terminal conductors of one of said circuits are inserted into one of said housing openings, said circuit has each of its conductors in contact with one of said conducting rings whereby when the terminal conductors of said other circuit are inserted into said housing openings each of said circuits are connected in predetermined electrical circuit relationship.