WO1992021164A1

WO1992021164A1 - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: WO1992021164A1
Application number: PCT/GB1992/000812
Authority: WO
Inventors: David John Hollick
Original assignee: B & H (Nottm) Limited
Priority date: 1991-05-14
Filing date: 1992-05-05
Publication date: 1992-11-26
Also published as: GB2256096A; GB9209606D0; AU1657592A; GB9110363D0

Abstract

An electrical connector suitable for use with electrical conductors (10a) having a cross-section in the form of a sector comprises a support (1) with a bore (5) to receive an end of the conductor (10a) and means for securing the conductor (10a) within the bore (5). The bore (5) has first and second pairs of planar internal surfaces (7, 8) corresponding in angular disposition to the angle between the radial surfaces of two different forms of conductor (10a), such that, in use, one of said first and second pairs of surfaces (7, 8) abuts the radial surfaces of the conductor (10a).

Description

Title: Electrical Connector

This invention relates to an electrical connector, in particula to an electrical connector for use with electrical cable containing solid conductors.

Cable connectors are used frequently in the electrical field, e in telecommunications, for electrically connecting an terminating lengths of cables together. Conventional connectors typically comprise a generally cylindrical body with blind o through bores in each end. Cables to be connected are inserted into the bores and secured by means of bolts extending throug apertures in the wall of the cylindrical body.

The cables to be connected are most commonly of circular cross- section and connectors for such cables therefore have blind bores which are also of generally circular cros's-section.

Some forms of cable, however, contain certain solid (as opposed to twisted) conductors which do not have a circular cross- section. A 3-core cable may, for example, comprise three solid conductors each with a cross-section in the form of a sector of approximately 120° arc. Similarly a 4-core cable may comprise four solid conductors each with a cross-section in the form of a sector of approximately 90° arc. For use with cables of this form, connectors are required which have correspondingly shaped bores, ie with a cross-section in the form of a 90° sector or a 120° sector. Conventional connectors must therefore be manufactured in several forms to suit the form of cable with which the connector is to be used.

There has now been devised a connector which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above-mentioned disadvantage.

According to the invention there is provided an electrical connector suitable for use with an electrical conductor having a cross-section in the form of a sector of less than 180° arc. which connector comprises a support with a bore to receive an end of the conductor and means for securing the conductor within the bore, wherein the bore has first and second pairs of planar internal surfaces corresponding in angular disposition to the angle between the radial surfaces of two different forms of conductor, such that, in use, one of said first and second pairs of surfaces abuts the radial surfaces of the conductor.

The connector according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it can be used for connecting cables having various different forms, notably cables having a circular cross- section and those with cross-sections in the form of 90° or 120° sectors.

By "a cross-section in the form of a sector" is meant a cross- section in the form of a plane figure contained by two radii and the arc of a circle or ellipse intercepted by the radii. It will be appreciated, however, that the precise geometrical form of the cross-section may not be crucial. The two radii may, for example, be intercepted by a straight line, ie the cross-section may be triangular.

It is particularly preferred for the first pair of internal surfaces to be disposed at an angle of approximately 120° and the second pair at approximately 90°. This enables 3-core or 4-core cable of the form described above to be connected securely and with good electrical contact.

The means for securing the conductor within the bore preferably comprises one or more bolts located in bores in the wall of the support. The bores are preferably located generally opposite to the planar internal surfaces of the bore such that, in use, the securing bolts(s) urge the planar surfaces of the conductor against the corresponding planar internal surfaces of the bore.

Most preferably, the 90° and 120° surfaces are arranged symmetrically about and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the securing bolts, with the 90° surfaces being between the 120° surfaces.

Preferably, to further facilitate good electrical contact, the planar internal surfaces of the bore are provided with projections, eg pointed ridges or teeth, to puncture any non¬ conducting deposits, eg of metal oxides, on the surface of the conductor.

Apart from the inventive modification to the bore, the connector may be of generally conventional construction. The support may, for example, be in the form of a generally cylindrical body having a blind bore to receive the conductor. Alternatively, the connector may have the form described in co-pending International Patent Application No PCT/GB91/02231.

The support may be provided with means for securement to an electrical terminal, eg an apertured flange which may be bolted to the terminal. Alternatively, the connector may be in a form suitable for securing two conductors together, eg a cylindrical support having a through bore or a blind bore at each end. As a further alternative, two conductors may be connected to one using a connector having two bores at one end and one at the other. In this case, the bores are preferably blind and the blind ends of the bores at one end are preferably spaced from the blind end of the bore at the other end. This enables the end of a conductor damaged by "spiking" at the point at which the cable is to be branched to be trimmed.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of electrical connector according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the connector of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view along the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a view along the direction of the arrow B in Figure 1 with various forms of conductor inserted into the connector.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a connector according to the invention, and

Figure 6 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a connector according to the invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, a connector for connecting an electrical conductor to a terminal comprises a generally cylindrical support 1 provided at one end with an integral flange 2. The upper surface of the cylindrical support 1 is provided with two threaded apertures 3 which receive bolts (not shown) . The flange 2 has an aperture 4 by means of which the connector may be clamped (eg by a bolt) to an electrical terminal.

As can be seen most clearly from Figure 4, the support 1 has a blind bore 5 into which the end of an electrical conductor may be inserted.

The bore 5 has a part-cylindrical upper surface 6, a pair of first planar surfaces 7 and a pair of second planar surfaces 8. The first planar surfaces 7 are disposed at approximately 120° to each other and the second planar surfaces at approximately 90°. Pointed ridges 9 extend along both pairs of surfaces 7,8, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bore 5.

In use, the end of an electrical conductor is inserted into the bore 5 and secured by tightening of the bolts (shown by dashed lines in Figure 4)

s shown in Figure 4a a conductor 10a having a cross-section in the form of a sector of 90° arc (as from a 4-core cable) i secured between the bolts and the second planar surfaces 8.

Figure 4b shows a conductor 10b from a 3-core cable secure between the bolts and the first planar surfaces 7.

A conductor 10c of circular cross-section may be secured betwee the bolts and the ridges 9 at the junction of first and secon planar surfaces 7, 8 (Figure 4c).

In all cases, any surface deposits on the conductor 10 are penetrated by the ridges 9.

Figure 5 shows a connector for connecting two conductors, the connector having a blind bore at each end, each bore having the same form as that in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 6 shows a connector with two blind bores at one end and one at the other, for joining two conductors to one, the blind ends of the bores at one end being spaced from that of the blind bore at the other end, as shown by the dashed lines.

Claims

1. An electrical connector suitable for use with an electrical conductor (10a,10b,10c) having a cross-section in the form of a sector of less than 180° arc, which connector comprises a support (1) with a bore (5) to receive an end of the conductor and means for securing the conductor within the bore (5) , wherein the bore (5) has first and second pairs of planar internal surfaces (7,8) corresponding in angular disposition to the angle between the radial surfaces of two different forms of conductor (10a,10b,10c) , such that, in use, one of said first and second pairs of surfaces (7,8) abuts the radial surfaces of the conductor.

2. An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first pair of internal surfaces (7) are disposed at an angle of approximately 120° and the second pair (8) at approximately 90°.

3. An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the means for securing the conductor within the bore (5) comprises one or more bolts located in threaded bores in the wall of the support (1) .

4. An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the first and second pairs of surfaces (7,8) are arranged symmetrically about and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the securing bolts, the second pair of surfaces (8) being between the first pair of surfaces (7) .

5. An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the threaded bores are located generally opposite to the first and second pairs of planar internal surfaces (7,8), such that, in use, the securing bolts(s) urge the radial surfaces of the conductor (10a,10b,10c) against the corresponding planar internal surfaces (7,8) of the bore (5) .

6. An electrical connector as claimed in anv one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second pairs of plana internal surfaces (7,8) of the bore (5) are provided wit projections (9) to puncture any non-conducting deposits on th surface of the conductor.

7. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of th preceding claims, wherein the support (1) is in the form of generally cylindrical body having a blind bore (5) to receive th end of the conductor.

8. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of th preceding claims, wherein the support is provided with means fo securement to an electrical terminal.

9. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, in the form of a cylindrical support having a through bore or a blind bore at each end.

10. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, in the form of a support with two blind bores at one end and one at the other.

11. An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the bores are blind and the blind ends of the bores at one end are spaced from the blind end of the bore at the other end.