WO1998005094A1

WO1998005094A1 - Connector cover wire retainer

Info

Publication number: WO1998005094A1
Application number: PCT/IB1997/000897
Authority: WO
Inventors: James David Hutchinson; Robert Bruce Verrall
Original assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
Priority date: 1996-07-31
Filing date: 1997-07-18
Publication date: 1998-02-05
Also published as: GB2331876A; GB9901932D0; GB9616098D0; AU3355597A

Abstract

A wire retaining cover (2) is provided with teeth (34) for provisionally holding wires (3) of a communications cable for termination to a splicing module (5). The wire cover (2) comprises first cutouts (48) for access of test probes for testing the splicing connection. The cover base wall comprises further slots (50) for receiving cutting blades therethrough to cut off wires of a section to be spliced.

Description

CONNECTOR COVER WIRE RETAINER

This invention relates to a wire retaining cover for positioning individual wires from a multi-stranded cable in a pre-determined position for connection to a splicing connector.

A wire retainer is described in U.S. patent 5,370,558. As described therein, such wire retainer is suitable for supporting a module base of modular splice connectors for communications cables whereby the retainer enables positioning of individual wires of the cable over a base member and subsequently placing a splicing connector thereover, positioning further wires to be spliced to the first wires over the splicing connector, subsequently positioning a cover thereover and pressing the base, splicing connector and cover all together. The splicing connector is provided with insulation displacing contacts, into which the wires are forced during the pressing of the base, connector and cover together. Thus, splice connection between the first and the second wires is made. The connector body may also comprise IDC contacts on one side and plugging contacts on the other side for plugging to a complementary connector.

In certain applications, splicing modules are used to repair a section of telecommunications cable during operation (i.e. without interrupting any lines) . To effect this, the splicing connector is terminated to the telecommunications cable on one side and on the other side to ends of a new cable. The new cable is therefore a tap off the existing cable. The other end of the new cable is also tapped to the telecommunications cable such that the new cable bridges over the length of cable to be replaced. The section of cable to be replaced is then cut off.

Prior to cutting the section of cable, however, it would be advantageous to test the splice section to ensure that the wire arrangement and interconnections are correct and that the spliced section is fully functioning.

During removal of the section of cable, wires are -4 -

rows 15,17 is substantially orthogonal to the wire direction W.

The cover 2 comprises a base wall 20 extending in the direction of the rows R from a first end 22 to a second end 24 and bounded by lateral edges 26,28 substantially parallel to the row direction R. The cover has an outer face 30 and an inner face 32 for receiving the wires 3 thereacross and facing the module 5. A plurality of teeth 34 are integrally attached to the base wall 20 along the lateral edges 26,28, and extending to free ends 36 at a certain height above the base wall inner face 32. The teeth 34 extend substantially orthogonally to the base 20. Two rows 38,40 of the teeth 34 are therefore provided. Adjacent teeth 34 are separated by a gap G adapted to receive a wire 3 therein, whereby the free end 36 of the teeth 34 have widened portions 40 that are separated from adjacent widened portions by a gap T that is less than the diameter of the wires 3. A funnel shaped lead portion for guiding the wires into the gap T is provided between the tip 36 and widened portion 40. The teeth 34 are resiliently biased apart during passage of a wire into the gap G, the widened portion 40 therefore serving to provisionally hold the wires in the gaps G as shown in Figure l. The cover base 20 is further provided with a central wire guide wall 44 that comprises U-shaped wire receiving indents 46 aligned with opposed gaps G between teeth of opposing rows 38,40 for guiding and positioning the wires 3 across the base 20. The central wall 44 extends in the direction of the rows R and is substantially centrally positioned between opposed rows 38,40 of teeth 34.

The base wall 20 further comprises first cutouts 48 that are parallel with the wire receiving channels defined by the gap G and central wall wire receiving channels 46. The cutouts 48 provide access for a test probe from the outside of the cover to the IDC contact blades 13 of a splicing module which is terminated to the wires 3 positioned in the cover 2. Further slots 50 are also reduces parts and assembly operations.

Further advantageous aspects and features of the invention will be apparent either from the following description or from the claims. Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Figures , whereby;

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a wire retaining cover according to this invention, with individual wires positioned thereacross;

Figures 2 and 3 are isometric views of a wire retaining cover according to this invention (without wires placed thereacross) about to receive a splicing module;

Figure 4 is a side view of the wire retaining cover and module of Figures 2 and 3 ;

Figure 5 is an end view of the cover and module of Figures 2 and 3 ;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of a splicing module terminated to some wires, where one end of the wires have been cut-off; and

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the cover.

Referring to the Figures, particularly Figures 1 and 2 , a wire retaining cover 2 is for separating and positioning individual wires 3 of a multi-conductor communications cable for connection to a connector module 5. The module 5 comprises an insulative housing 7 having a first wire receiving side 9 and second wire receiving side 11, and a plurality of contacts 13 extending through the housing and projecting beyond the opposed sides 9 and 11. The contacts 13 are provided as insulation displacing contact (IDC) blades that cut through the outer insulating layer of the wires 3 for connection to the inner conducting cores thereof. In order to have a more compact arrangement, in particular the spacing of adjacent wires 3, adjacent IDC contacts 13 are off-set in a direction W parallel to the wires 3 (when connected to the module) . Two rows 15,17 of IDC contacts are thereby provided, the rows being parallel to each other. The direction R of the -6-

shown) can then be positioned over the wires of the second cable and the connector module face 11. A clamping tool is then used to apply pressure on the other cover toward the wire retaining cover base wall 20 such that the wires of the first and second cables are terminated to the IDC contacts 13 on respective sides 9,11 of the splicing module 5.

At this point, a testing apparatus with probes inserted through the cover cutouts 48 can test the functioning of the splice by making contact with the IDC blades 13. The assembly can then be positioned in a tool with cutting blades that are inserted through the cutting slots 50 of the cover for removing the section of conductors 3 to be spliced. The cover 2 may then be removed from the splicing module 5 (which is now terminated to conductors on either side and a cover part) if desired, by peeling the cover off the assembly. The cover is made of a sufficiently flexible material to allow bending of the base wall 20, during which the free ends 36 of the teeth 34 spread apart to allow the cover to be removed from the wires positioned in the gaps G. A further cover member (not shown) may then positioned over the module face 9 that was previously covered by the cover. A module and/or the cover can be provided with pre-mounted sealing gel such that when the cover is mounted to the splicing module 5 a fully sealed interconnection between communications cable is achieved, and the cut ends of the wires are positioned within the connector. In many circumstances it would however be more advantageous not to replace the wire retaining cover for a more cost-effective assembly.

The base wall of the cover is further provided with IDC stuffer projections 56,58 aligned with the wire receiving channels for stuffing the wire into the IDC slots 13 of the splicing module. As shown in Figure 7, a blade receiving gap B is positioned between protrusions 56 and 58 for receiving the IDC blades 13 therebetween. A conducting wire 3 being stuffed into the IDC blades 13 is provided in the base member 20 in alignment with the wires 3 and respective wire channels. The slots 50 extend transversely to wires 3 received in the channel (i.e. in the direction of the rows R) , and are for receiving cutting blades of a tool therethrough for cutting the wires 3 once they are terminated to the splicing module 5. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the cutouts 48 and 50 form a L-shape and are separated, but it is also possible to join these cutouts depending on the positioning of the IDC contacts and the position at which cutting of wires is desired. The blade slots 50 in the wire retainer 2 are aligned with slots 51 positioned on a cut-off side of the IDC blades 13 in the splicing module 5, to enable cutting blades to fully traverse the wires 3. The cover is provided with many little hooks or latch arms 61 alongside the rows of teeth 38,40 that latch onto shoulders provided in corresponding cavities 63 of the connector module 5, for latching the cover to the module.

A sequence of terminating wires 3 to a splicing module 5 could thus occur as follows. Initially, wires are inserted between the teeth 34 as shown in Figure 1. A connector module 5 is then positioned between the rows 38,40 of teeth over the inner face 32 of the base 20. Extensions 52 of the central wall 44 can be provided to locate in corresponding holes in the connector module 5 for guiding and positioning thereof with respect to the cover. It is not necessary at this stage to depress the connector module 5 toward the base wall 20 for termination of the wires to the IDC contacts 13 , although this could be done at this stage. The conducting wires 3 positioned over the base 20 of the cover could for example belong to a first communications cable which requires replacement of a section thereof. Conductors of a second communications cable that replaces the section of the first cable can then be positioned between the teeth 34 over the splicing module 5 which could comprise further IDC contacts extending from an opposing face 11 to the face 9 which faces the cover base wall 20. Another cover member (not -8-

C AIMS

1. A wire retaining cover for separating and positioning wire conductors (3) for connection to a connector module (5) , the cover comprising a base wall (20) having an outer side (30) and an inner side (32) , and teeth (34) upstanding therefrom beyond the inner side and arranged in at least one row (38,40) along an edge (26,28) of the base wall for receiving the wires (3) in gaps (G) between adjacent teeth, the teeth serving to guide and position the wires across the cover base wall (20) for connection to the connector module (5) , characterized in that the base wall comprises cutouts (48) for enabling access of a probe from the outer side to the inner side to contacts of the connector module when terminated to the wires positioned across the cover.

2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the base wall (20) comprises further blade slots (50) extending therethrough and disposed transversely to the direction (W) of the wires (3) assembled to the cover in gaps (G) between the teeth (34) , the blade slots for receiving cutting blades therethrough to cut the wires.

3. The cover of any one of the preceding claims wherein the base wall is provided with a central wall (44) projecting up from the inner side (32) and comprising grooves (46) for receiving, positioning, and guiding the wires (3) received in the gaps (G) between teeth (34).

4. The cover of claim 3 wherein the central wall is substantially centrally positioned between two rows (38,40) of the teeth (34).

5. The cover of claim 3 or 4 wherein the central wall (44) comprises extensions (52) for reception in corresponding holes of the connector module (5) when assembled thereto, for locating the connector module with thus supported on either side of the blade during stuffing.

Claims

respect to the cover.

6. The cover of any one of the preceding claims wherein the base wall is provided with stuffer extensions (56,58) , having an IDC blade receiving slot (B) , for stuffing the wires (3) into IDC contacts (13) of the connector module (5) when assembled to the cover.