EP1171931A1 - Electrical connector apparatus and method - Google Patents
Electrical connector apparatus and methodInfo
- Publication number
- EP1171931A1 EP1171931A1 EP00920210A EP00920210A EP1171931A1 EP 1171931 A1 EP1171931 A1 EP 1171931A1 EP 00920210 A EP00920210 A EP 00920210A EP 00920210 A EP00920210 A EP 00920210A EP 1171931 A1 EP1171931 A1 EP 1171931A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- conductor
- housing
- collar
- electncal
- electrical
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
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
- H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
- H01R4/50—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a cam, wedge, cone or ball also combined with a screw
- H01R4/5033—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a cam, wedge, cone or ball also combined with a screw using wedge or pin penetrating into the end of a wire in axial direction of the wire
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/58—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable
- H01R13/582—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable the cable being clamped between assembled parts of the housing
- H01R13/5825—Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip, for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable the cable being clamped between assembled parts of the housing the means comprising additional parts captured between housing parts and cable
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
- H01R4/24—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands
- H01R4/2404—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having teeth, prongs, pins or needles penetrating the insulation
- H01R4/2412—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having teeth, prongs, pins or needles penetrating the insulation actuated by insulated cams or wedges
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an electrical connector apparatus and method and especially to an elect ⁇ cal connector for coupling to an insulated elect ⁇ cal conductor without st ⁇ ppmg the end of the insulated elect ⁇ cal conductor.
- patent 5,704,814 for an Elect ⁇ cal Connector provides an electrical connector for coupling to an insulated elect ⁇ cal conductor which includes an insulated housing having threaded bores with a tapered portion therein.
- An electrical conductive prong extends into the housing bore for receiving an insulated elect ⁇ cal conductor thereon.
- the compression collar is threadedly attached in the bore and has a bore extending axially therethrough for insertion of a wire into the housing bore and onto a pointed prong extending into the bore. The compression collar compresses into the tapered portion of the bore to grip the elect ⁇ cal conductor extending therethrough.
- P ⁇ or wire connectors can be seen in the following U.S. patents.
- the Chang patent No. 4,013,333 is for a wire connector having two concentric sockets adapted to be assembled one into the other.
- the inner socket has a conductive needle mounted therein for sliding a wire end into each end of the connector.
- a cathode cable assembly is connected to a ball-like cathode member by stripping the end portion of the cable and inserting the end portion into a sleeve which is pressed into an undersized tapered socket and which has a pointed pm therein.
- the U.S. patent to F ⁇ edhelm, No. 4,786,760 has a cable connector for a piezoelectric cable having an insulated cable end which is inserted into a sleeve.
- an elect ⁇ cal connector and a method of connecting an elect ⁇ cal cable to the connector is provided for connecting one or more insulated elect ⁇ cal cords or cables together.
- the insulated cable ends can be inserted into the receptacles on either end and onto a prong of elec t ⁇ cally conductive mate ⁇ al so that the prong is an elect ⁇ cal contact with the wire of an insulated cord end.
- a container of adhesive mate ⁇ al on the end of the receptacle is released from the container to create a physical bond between the cord and the connector to hold the cord within the connector.
- an elect ⁇ cal connector is coupled to an insulated electrical conductor without stripping the end of the insulated conductor. The insulated wire is held with a spring clamp which allows the wire to be released.
- the Komada Patent No. 4,374,458 is for a method of connecting a co-axial cable to a connector having a plurality of connections.
- the Herrmgton Patent No. 916,313 is for a spark plug having a spark plug wire connector on the end thereof.
- the Despard Patent No. 3,097,035 is for another electric cable connector for use between sections of flexible multi-conductor cable as used with portable electric power consuming equipment and a fixed power outlet.
- Polido ⁇ Patent No. 3,633,147 has a connector for underground utility applications.
- the Gutter et al U.S. Patent, No. 4,739,126 is for a panel mount ground termination apparatus for terminating the outer shielding conductor of an elect ⁇ cal cable.
- a cable is passed through a closure member and through a compression member and through a termination member and into the housing to compress a plurality of prongs into the cable.
- Patent, No. 3,744,007 is for a three-piece coaxial cable connector as is the Brush, Jr. et al. U.S. Patent, No. 4,561,179, for a method for elect ⁇ cal connection to the center conductor of an insulated wire.
- the Song U.S. Patent No. 4,759,722 is for a plug for coaxial cable while the Gaver, Jr. et al. U.S. Patent No. 5,066,248 is for a manually installable coaxial cable connector.
- the Bielak U.S. Patent No. 5,362,251 is for a solderless coaxial connector plug while the W ⁇ ght
- U.S. patent No. 5,607,320 is for a cable clamp apparatus.
- the present invention relates to an elect ⁇ cal connector and method for coupling an insulated elect ⁇ cal conductor to an electrical connector.
- the subject elect ⁇ cal connector has a conductor housing having at least one bore therein and an electrically conductive prong mounted m the housing bore.
- An electrical conductor g ⁇ ppmg collar is positioned in each conductor housing bore and has associated therewith a corresponding collar dnvmg member.
- An insulated elect ⁇ c conductor is inserted through an elect ⁇ cal fastening cap, through the collar dnvmg member and through the g ⁇ ppmg collar into the housing bore and onto the elect ⁇ cal conductive prong.
- the collar driving member is pushed onto the gripping collar either independently or by the fastening cap to force the g ⁇ ppmg fingers on the gripping collar onto the electrical conductor's insulation.
- the fastening cap is then fastened to the connector housing to secure the elect ⁇ cal conductor to the electrical connector.
- the housing can have a plurality of bores therein each having a g ⁇ ppmg collar attached thereto d ⁇ ven by a single collar driving member having a plurality of openings therethrough for a plurality of elect ⁇ cal conductors.
- a single fastening cap can push the collar driving member to d ⁇ ve each of the gripping collars onto one of the insulated conductors.
- a method of connecting an electrical conductor to an elect ⁇ cal connector in accordance with this embodiment includes selecting an apparatus as set forth and threading one or more elect ⁇ cal conductors through the fastening cap collar driving member and g ⁇ ppmg collars into the connector housing bores and onto the elect ⁇ cal conductive prong in each bore and then pushing the collar dnvmg member onto each gripping collar to dnve each gripping collar into the housing bore and onto an elect ⁇ cal conductor extending therethrough and then fastening the collar driving member to the housing.
- the subject electrical connector has a housing having a bore therein which may also have a center prong protruding into the bore for coupling an insulated electncal conductor thereto.
- the connector has a housing cap having an aperture therethrough sized for an electrical conductor to pass therethrough and an electncal conductor g ⁇ ppmg collar positioned between the housing and housing cap.
- a gnppmg collar for gripping an electrical conductor to the elect ⁇ cal connector is formed from a single generally flat piece of matenal having at least one opening formed therein and having a plurality of gnppmg fingers extending at an angle from the edge of the opening. Each gripping finger has a gnppmg tip portion shaped to grip an elect ⁇ cal conductor for holding the elect ⁇ cal conductor to the elect ⁇ cal connector.
- the elect ⁇ cal connector allows an elect ⁇ cal conductor to be threaded through the housing cap and through the gripping collar opening and into the housing bore so that the cap attached to the housing over the g ⁇ pping collar attaches and locks an electncal conductor to the electrical connector housing.
- the method of making an electncal connector having a gnppmg collar for gnppmg an electrical conductor through the electrical connector includes the selecting of an electncal connector in accordance with the apparatus and forming an elect ⁇ cal conductor gnppmg collar in accordance with the apparatus.
- the gnppmg collar is then positioning between the housing and housing cap so that an electrical connector is made which can have an elect ⁇ cal conductor threaded through the housing cap, through the gripping collar opening, and into the housing bore for locking the elect ⁇ cal conductor to the elect ⁇ cal connector housing with the gnppmg collar.
- the gnppmg collar can be formed with a plurality of openings for simultaneously attaching a plurality of electrical conductors to one electncal connector.
- the subject electrical connector can be utilized for coupling a single wire electncal cable to the terminal of an electrical appliance.
- the connector includes a body portion, a compression collar, and an end cap.
- the body portion has an elongated axis at one end of which is a battery terminal attaching portion and at the other end of which is a cable receiving portion that has a threaded outer surface and an internally positioned electrically conductive prong for penetrating the end of an electrical cable.
- the compression collar is sized to fit over an elect ⁇ cal conductor and has gripping fingers for engaging the surface of an electrical conductor.
- the end cap has an opening through which a cable can be inserted and includes threads on the inner surface for mating with the threads on the body portion.
- an electncal conductor is inserted through the opening m the end cap and through the compression collar and impinged onto the conductive prong of the body portion. Then the end cap is threaded onto the body portion, engaging the compression collar and forcing the gnppmg fingers of the compression collar into engagement with the surface of the electncal conductor and thereby forcing the electncal conductor into tight engagement with the conductive prong of the connector.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector connected to a plurality of conductors in accordance with the present invention.
- Figure 2 is a exploded perspective view of the connector in accordance with claim 1.
- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through the electncal connector of Figures 1 and 2 with the electncal conductors not yet connected.
- Figure 4 is a sectional view of the electrical connector of Figures 1 and 2 having the conductor attached to the connector.
- Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a connector in accordance with the present invention.
- Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of Figure 5 from the opposite end.
- Figure 7 is a perspective view of the connector of Figures 5 and 6 having a plurality of conductors attached thereto.
- Figure 8 is a sectional view of another embodiment of an electrical connector m accordance with the present invention.
- Figure 9 is a side elevation of the elect ⁇ cal connector of Figure 8 and the process of having elect ⁇ cal conductors attached thereto.
- Figure 10 is a sectional view of the electncal connector of Figures 8 and 9 having a pair of electncal conductors being attached thereto.
- Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of an electncal connector in accordance with the present invention
- Figure 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an elect ⁇ cal connector gnppmg collar m accordance with the present invention
- Figure 13 is a sectional view of an electrical conductor inserted into an electrical connector
- Figure 14 is a sectional view m accordance with Figure 3 having the electncal conductor attached to the electrical connector;
- Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of an electrical connector m accordance with the present invention.
- Figure 16 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a gripping collar for the electrical connector
- Figure 17 is a sectional view of a portion of an electncal connector having an electrical conductor inserted thereinto;
- Figure 18 is a sectional view in accordance with Figure 17 having the electncal conductor attached to the electrical connector.
- Figure 19 is an exploded sectional view of a battery terminal m accordance with the present invention.
- Figure 20 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a battery terminal in accordance with the present invention.
- Figure 21 is an exploded sectional view of a battery cable having battery terminal connectors attached thereto in accordance with the present invention.
- Figure 22 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a battery terminal in accordance with the present invention.
- each housing 11 having a plurality of electrical contacts 12 extending from one end thereof.
- the other end of the housing has a plurality of bores 13 extending thereinto with each bore having a conducting g ⁇ pping collar 14 inserted into the bore 13.
- Each collar 14 is split and has a plurality of gripping fingers 15 extending from one end thereof which are outwardly splayed and each gnppmg finger has a gripping tip 16 or edge 16.
- the housing 11 may have a first annular groove 17 and needs a second annular groove 18 therearound along with an edge 20 defining the reduced attaching portion 21 of the housing 11.
- a combined fastening cap and collar pushing member 22 has a fastening cap or side wall portion 23 and a collar pushing member of closure ring 24 with a plurality of apertures 25 therethrough. Each of the apertures 25 is positioned to align with one of the housing bores 13.
- the cap portion 23 is divided into a plurality of fastening arms 26 each having at least a first fastening snap ledge or nng 27 and may have a second snap ledge or ring 28 thereon.
- the connector 10, as seen in Figure 1 has a plurality of insulated electrical conductors 30 attached thereto and extending through the collar pushing portion 24 apertures 25, although the embodiment may be scaled except for a single insulated electrical conductor.
- the electrical connector 10 will have the conductor gnppmg collars 14 barrel portion 31 inserted into each bore 13 with the cap 22 being attached to the housing 11 by the arms 26 first fastening snap ledge 27 pushed into the first annular groove 17, as shown in Figure 3.
- the tip 27 has an angled surface 33 while the fastening snap ledge 28 has an angled surface 34 thereon.
- the insulated electrical conductors 30 have each been inserted through the apertures 25 through a collar 14 into the bore 13 and impaled onto electncal conductive contact prongs or pms 35.
- Each electrical conductor 30 has an outer insulation 36 surrounding a conductor 37. The insulation has not been stripped on the conductors 30 since they are being pushed onto the prongs 35.
- each prong 35 having a pointed tip 38.
- the collars 14 gripping fingers 15 are splayed so that the conductor 30 can be inserted therethrough.
- the fastening cap 26 along with the collar pushing portion 24 is forced against the ends 40 of the gnppmg fingers of the conductor gripping collars 14.
- the gripping collars 14 are each driven into their respective bores 13 forcing the fingers 15 to be driven onto each conductor 30 with the gnppmg tips 16 being driven into the insulation 36 of the elect ⁇ cal conductor 30.
- the tips 16 can be dnven all the way through the insulation to make contact with the elect ⁇ cal conductor 37 or can be d ⁇ ven to compress onto the insulation 36.
- the electrical connector advantageously allows the electncal connector to be set up as illustrated in Figure 3 ready for a plurality of conductors 30 to be inserted into the connector for attachment thereto.
- the cap and collar pushing member 22 can then be driven from the first position, shown m Figure 3, to the second position, shown in Figure 4, to attach all of the conductors 30 simultaneously with elect ⁇ cal contact with the prongs
- the electrical connector 40 has a housing 41 having a plurality of electrical contacts 42 extending from one end thereof and has an externally threaded portion 43 therearound.
- the housing has a plurality of bores 44 extending thereinto each having a conductor gripping collar 45 positioned therein which collar is the same as that illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 and each collar having a plurality of fingers 46 with gripping tips 47.
- the collar pushing member 48 is a separate component having a plurality of bores 50 extending therethrough and aligned with the bores 44 of the housing 41.
- the collar pushing member 48 has an annular flange 51 extending around one end thereof.
- the fastening cap, or side wall, 52 has an open passageway 53 therethrough with a plurality of internal threads 54 at one end thereof and an internal ledge 55 located theremside sized to fit over the collar pushing member, or closure nng 48, with the flange 51 being engaged by the ledge 55.
- the fastening cap 52 is threaded onto the threads 43 of the housing 41 over the collar pushing member 48.
- the aperture in the collar pushing member, or closure nng 48 are sized for a conductor 56 to past through but two small for the gnppmg fingers 46 of the conductor gnppmg collars 45 to fit into.
- the fastening cap 52 can be partially threaded onto the housing 41 over the collar pushing member 48 which is positioned against each of the conductor gnppmg collars 45.
- the conductors 56 can then be slid through the apertures 50 of the collar pushing member 48 and through the conductor gripping collars 45 into the bores 44 which may have the prong 35 of Figures 1 through 4 extending into each bore.
- the collar pushing member 48 is pushed against the ends of each conductor either independently or by threading gripping collar 45 to d ⁇ ve the fingers 46 into each conductor to lock the conductors 56 to the electncal connector 40 without having to strip the ends of the conductors 56 and without having to connect each separate conductor to the electrical connector.
- the fastening cap 52 can be tightened onto the housing by hand or with ordinary tools, such as a pair of pliers.
- FIG. 8 through 10 another embodiment 60 of an elect ⁇ cal connector m accordance with the present invention is illustrated having a connector for two conductors 61 and 62.
- Connector 60 has a connector body 63 having a collar 64 inserted in each end.
- Each collar has a tubular portion 65 with a plurality of fingers 66 which have also been split and splayed similar to the conductor gripping collars 14 of Figure 2 or 45 of Figure 5.
- Each collar finger 66 has a gripping tip or edge 67 and may have a locking edge 68 on the tip of each finger 66.
- the connector housing 63 can have a conductive center portion 70 with a prong or pm 71 extending into a bore 72 on one end and a prong or pin 73 extending into a bore 74 on the other end thereof.
- Each conductor 61 and 62 has a central conductive portion 75 with an outer insulation 76,
- the collar pushing member or collar ring 77 is placed on each conductor 61 and 62, as seen m Figure 10, and then the conductor inserted through the collar 64 into the bore 72 and impaled onto the electncal conducive prong 71 to make electrical contact between the elect ⁇ cal conductor 75 and the prongs 71 and 73.
- the collar pushing member 77 which can be made of a resilient mate ⁇ al, is then driven from one or both ends with a phers-hke tool 78, as illustrated in Figure 9.
- the collar pushing member 77 As the collar pushing member 77 is dnven on each conductor 61 and 62, it dnves against the ends of the collars 64 to d ⁇ ve the collars further into the bore 72 forcing the gnppmg tips 67 into the conductors 61 and 62 to grip the conductors, as shown in Figure 8.
- the fingers 66 and gnppmg tips 67 may be manually squeezed onto the conductors before the pushing member 7 is dnven against, if included, the collars 64.
- the fastening tip 68 As the collars 64 are d ⁇ ven into the bore 72, the fastening tip 68, if included, is d ⁇ ven into an annular groove 80, as shown m Figure 8, to thereby lock each collar in place withm the housing 63.
- an exploded view of an electrical connector 110 in Figure 11 has an electrical connector housing 111 having electrical contacts 112 extending from one end thereof and external threads 113 formed thereon.
- a housing cap 114 has an aperture 115 therethrough and has a plurality of internal threads 116 formed therein.
- a ledge 117 is formed in the cap 114.
- Conductor gripping collars 120 are mounted in the wall 118 of the housing 111 and each has an opening with a plurality of fingers 121 extending at an angle from the edge of an opening. Each finger 121 has a tip portion 122 positioned at an angle to the finger, such that the pointed tip 122 can be driven into an elect ⁇ cal conductor.
- a compression ring or member 123 has a plurality of openings 124 sized for the passage of individual elect ⁇ cal conductors therethrough and has an annular flange 125 for engaging the annular ledge 117 of the cap 114 when the cap is slid thereover and the internal threads 116 of the cap are attached to the external threads 113 of the housing 111.
- the cap 114 can be loosely attached to the connector housing 111 and electncal conductor inserted through the opening 115 in the cap 114 and through the compression nng 123 and through the gnpmg collar 120 and into the housing 111. The cap 114 can then be tightened to force the tips 122 of the fingers 121 into the conductor.
- Figure 12 shows the gripping collar 120 in greater detail. It is formed of a single flat piece of mate ⁇ al 127 having an aperture 128 therethrough with a pair of angled fingers 112 extending at an angle from the edge of the opening 128. Each finger 121 has a finger tip portion 122 and, although it need not in this case, the finger tip 122 is shown with a pair of pointed gnppmg teeth 133 and 134.
- the collar 120 can be made of a single flat piece of mate ⁇ al which has been stamped with a cutting die to form the opening 128 and the fingers 121 from the same piece of material in a single operation. This allows for the manufacture of a simple and inexpensive g ⁇ ppmg collar.
- an electrical conductor 135 having a conductor 136 and an insulating cover 137, and has been inserted through the compression ring 123 and through the electncal conductor gnppmg collar 120 into a bore 141 of the housing 111.
- the housing 111 has an electrical conductive prong 142 extending axially into the bore 141.
- the connector housing 111 also has a recessed area 143 for receiving the gnppmg collar 120 therein.
- the electncal conductor 135 has been inserted through the aperture 124 in the compression nng and through the g ⁇ ppmg collar 120 into the bore 141 and pushed onto the conductive prong
- Figure 11 functions in the same manner as illustrates in Figures 12, 13 and 14 and desc ⁇ bed above except that a plurality of conductors can be threaded through the opening 115 in the cap 114 and through individual openings 124 in the compression nng 123 and through the gnppmg collar 120.
- the compression ring 123 can then compress all of the fingers 121 of the collars 120 simultaneously by tightening the cap 114 onto the housing 111 over the compression ring 123.
- the teeth 133 of the fingers 121 make contact with the connector 136, either the connector housing must be of electncal insulating matenal or electncal insulation provided between the gnppmg collar 120 and housing 111.
- FIG. 15 another embodiment of an elect ⁇ cal connector 150 is shown in an exploded view having a housing 151 having a plurality of electncal contacts 152 extending from one end thereof and having external threads 153 therearound.
- the housing cap 154 has a passageway 157 therethrough along with a ledge 156 therein and internal threads 155 for threaded attachment to the threads 153 of the housing 150.
- the collar compression nng 158 has a plurality of openings 160 passing therethrough and an annular flange 161 therearound for compressing onto the elect ⁇ cal conductor gripping collar 166 mounted in the wall 162 of the housing 151.
- the electrical connector 150, housing 151, housing cap 154, and collar compressing member 158 are all the same as illustrated in Figure 11.
- the g ⁇ pping collars 166 however has a plurality of fingers each with a blunted end for compressing against an elect ⁇ cal conductor passing therethrough without penetrating the electncal conductor's insulation.
- an elect ⁇ cal conductor gripping collar 166 is formed for gnppmg a single electncal conductor withm an electrical connector gripping collar 166.
- a plurality of fingers 164 extend from one edge 163 of the gnppmg collar 166 and each finger has a curved or blunted end 165.
- the connector of Figures 17 and 18 shows the collar compression nng 158 in which the aperture 160 therethrough is sized for the electrical conductor 135 to pass therethrough.
- the elect ⁇ cal conductor 135 has the conductor 136 having an insulator 137 therearound and has been inserted through the opening 160 of the collar compression nng 150 through the gnppmg collar 166 and into the bore 176 of the housing 151.
- the conductor 135 is pushed onto the elect ⁇ cally conductive pointed prong 177 extending axially into the bore 176 to make electncal contact with the conductor 136 without having to trim the insulation 137 from the conductor.
- the gripping collar 166 is received in a recessed area 175 of the housing 151.
- the opening 160 m the compression nng 158 is of a larger diameter so as to engage the sides and not the end of the fingers 164 and the fingers 164 of the gripping collar 166 are laying adjacent the electncal conductor 135 until the compression ring 150 is tightened against the sides to drive the fingers 164 against the insulation 137 of the conductor 135.
- the fingers 164 thereby gnp the conductor 135 without penetrating the insulation 137. Since the gripping collar 166 is not used to make or enhance an elect ⁇ cal connection, it can be formed of any material desired, either elect ⁇ cally conductive or non- conductive, and can be made of a polymer as well as a conductive metal without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
- Collar 166 would normally be made from a single flat piece of material which is stamped to form the opening 175 therethrough while shaping and driving the fingers 164, as shown in Figure 16. However, it should be clear that a polymer gnppmg member can be formed in a plastic mold but in either case, the gnppmg collar 166 can be formed m a one step operation.
- the method of making an electncal connector having a g ⁇ pping collar for gnppmg an electrical conductor to the electrical connector in accordance with Figure 11 through 14 or Figures 15 through 18 includes the step of selecting an electrical connector having a housing having one or more bores therein and a housing cap having an aperture therethrough sized for an elect ⁇ cal conductor to pass therethrough and then forming an elect ⁇ cal conductor gnppmg collar for a single elect ⁇ cal conductor or for a plurality of elect ⁇ cal conductors from a generally flat piece of material having one or more openings therein and a plurality of gripping fingers extending from the edge of each opening and formed from a generally flat piece of mate ⁇ al.
- Each of the g ⁇ ppmg fingers are formed with a gripping tip portion shaped to grip the electrical conductor, either through penetration or non-penetration into the electncal conductor insulation, for holding the electncal conductor to an electncal connector.
- the electncal conductor g ⁇ ppmg collar is positioned between electrical conductor housing and housing cap and may have a compressed collar member positioned between the cap and the gnppmg collar in the case of a gripping collar with a plurality of openings therethrough for a plurality of conductors.
- the single or multiple conductors are threaded through the housing cap and through the gripping collar and into a bore of the electrical connector housing and onto an electrical connecting prong mounted in the bore.
- a collar compressing member can be inserted between the connector housing cap and the connector for compressing a plurality of gripping fingers onto a plurality of conductors inserted through a single conductor gnppmg collar.
- an electncal connector 210 having a connector body 211 with a battery terminal connecting portion 212 with an opening 213 which slips over the post of a battery terminal and allows the connector arm portions 214 to be pressed together to attach the body 211 to a battery terminal post.
- the terminal connector body 211 is generally made of an electncally conductive matenal, such as lead, and the body 211 has a bore 215 with internal threads 216 and a conductive prong 217 attached to or integral with the body 211 and extending axially into the bore 215.
- the terminal connector of Figure 19 has a locking end cap 218 with external threads 220 and having an opening 221 sized to receive a battery cable 222 therethrough.
- the cable 222 may be without or with an insulated cover 223 over an electncal cable conductor 224, as illustrated.
- a compression collar 225 has a plurality of tapered gnppmg fingers 226 and is sized to permit the cable 222 to pass therethrough.
- the cable 222 is inserted through the cap 218, through the gnppmg collar 225, and into the bore 215 where it is dnven upon the electncal conductive prongs 217.
- the cap 218 has a tapered internal surface 227 which dnves against the tapered gripping fingers 226 of the compression collar 225 as the cap 218 is threaded onto the threads 216 of the body 211.
- This connector makes for a rapid connection of a battery cable to a battery terminal connector and allows for the rapid exchange of the terminal connector should the terminal connector become corroded.
- a cable connector 230 for connecting two cables together end-to-end and includes a center cable body 231 having external threads 232 and 233 thereon and an electncally conductive prong 234 on one end of an electncally conductive prong 235 on the other end thereof.
- a pair of gnppmg collars 236 and 237 each has a plurality of gnppmg fingers 238 having pointed tips 240 for dnving into the insulation on a piece of cable 241 or 242 placed through the gnppmg terminals 236 and 237.
- the cutting edges 240 will cut through the insulation on the cables 241 and 242 to grip the electrical conductor mside the insulation as well as hold the cable to the central body portion 231.
- Locking caps 243 and 244 each have internal threads 245 which can be slid over the cable 241 and 242 Cable 241 can be passed through the g ⁇ ppmg collar 236 and pushed against the conductive prong 234 to make for an electncally conductive connection. The fingers 238 can then be compressed to compress the cutting edges 240 into the cable 241. The cap 243 has its threads 245 attached to the threads 232 to lock one end of the cable 241 to the connector body 231. Similarly, the cable 242 is passed through the locking cap 244, through the gripping collar 237 and d ⁇ ven onto the electrical conductive prong 235. The collar 237 can then be clamped onto the cable 242 and the cap 244 threadedly attached to the body 231 to connect two electncal conductive cables together.
- a battery cable 250 has terminals on both ends.
- the terminal connector 251 at the one end of the cable 250 is for attaching to a battery terminal post and the electncal connector 252 on the other end of the cable 250 is used for attaching grounding cable to the automotive chassis or to an electrical conductor in the electrical system of a car.
- the battery cable 250 has an insulation 254 and an elect ⁇ cal conductor 255 therein.
- the electrical connector 252 may be made of an electrical conductive material having a body 256 with an aperture 257 therethrough for attaching to the chassis of an automobile of the like.
- An internal bore 258 has internal threads 260 therein and an electrically conductive prong 261 protruding axially into the bore 258.
- a cable locking cap 262 has external threads 263 which mate with the internal threads 260 of the body portion 256.
- a g ⁇ pping collar 264 has a plurality of angled gnppmg fingers 265 and has a generally cylindrical body 266 extending through the bore 267 and passing through the cap 262.
- a flanged area of 268 holds the g ⁇ pping collar 264 along one end 270 of the cap 262 while a flared flange 271 extends over the edge 272 of the cap 262. Holding the gnppmg collar 264 to the cap 262 in this manner allows the gnppmg collar to rotate withm the cap 262 withm the bore 267.
- the cable 253 is inserted through the gnppmg collar 264 m cap 262 and is impaled on the prong 261.
- the cap 262 is then threadedly connected with the body 256.
- the battery terminal connector 251 has a battery terminal opening 273 and has a bolt 274 and a nut 275 for drawing the arms 276 together in the same manner as a conventional battery terminal.
- a cable connector 280 for connecting to the end of an electrically conductive cable 281 includes a connector body 282 having an attaching aperture 283 and external threads 284.
- the body 282 also includes a plurality of gripping fingers 285 attached thereto and extending from one end thereof which defines a cylmdncal cavity 287 surrounding an electrically conductive prong 286 extends therefrom into a bore 287.
- a locking cap 288 has internal threads which mate with the threads 284 and has a bore 290 extending therethrough.
- the cap 288 also has a wrench gripping surface 291 thereon.
- the cable 281 is passed through the bore 290 within the cap 288 and pass through the gripping fingers 285 and into the cylindrical cavity 287 where it is impaled on the conductive prong 286. Tightening the cap 288 onto the threads 284 of the body 282 then compresses the fingers 285 onto the cable 281 passing therethrough to grip the cable 281 and hold it to the terminal body 282 while providing an electrical contact between the prong 286 and the cable 281.
- the cable 281 may have outer insulation 292 with an internal electrically conductive cable 293 or can be bare cable 293 as desired.
- an electrical connector and a method of attaching an electrical conductor to an electrical connector have been provided which allow one or more conductors to be attached to an electrical connector in a simplified and rapid manner.
- an electrical connector has been provided which is especially adapted for attaching a battery cable to a battery cable terminal connector and which advantageously allows the cable to be connected and disconnected for replacement thereof as desired and which allows for the rapid assemble of a battery cable to any length desired without having to premake the cables in a wide variety of lengths.
Landscapes
- Connections By Means Of Piercing Elements, Nuts, Or Screws (AREA)
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
- Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (7)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/289,905 US6126491A (en) | 1996-05-14 | 1999-04-13 | Electrical connector apparatus and method |
US289905 | 1999-04-13 | ||
US303197 | 1999-04-30 | ||
US09/303,197 US6244892B1 (en) | 1996-05-14 | 1999-04-30 | Electrical connector apparatus and method |
US09/330,381 US6848934B1 (en) | 1996-05-14 | 1999-06-11 | Battery terminal |
US330381 | 1999-06-11 | ||
PCT/US2000/009280 WO2000062374A1 (en) | 1999-04-13 | 2000-04-07 | Electrical connector apparatus and method |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1171931A1 true EP1171931A1 (en) | 2002-01-16 |
EP1171931B1 EP1171931B1 (en) | 2004-08-25 |
Family
ID=27403939
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP00920210A Expired - Lifetime EP1171931B1 (en) | 1999-04-13 | 2000-04-07 | Electrical connector apparatus and method |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1171931B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE274757T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU4078800A (en) |
DE (1) | DE60013267D1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000062374A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2365586A1 (en) * | 2010-03-12 | 2011-09-14 | PHOENIX CONTACT GmbH & Co. KG | Cable connector, in particular multi-terminal cable connector |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE10230367B4 (en) * | 2002-07-05 | 2004-07-29 | Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics Gmbh | Contact with spring clip |
DE10257088B4 (en) * | 2002-12-05 | 2011-07-07 | Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics GmbH, 74080 | Contact with a contact part and a conductor fixing part as well as clamping connection |
DE10323616A1 (en) * | 2003-01-23 | 2004-08-12 | Hirschmann Electronics Gmbh & Co. Kg | Rapid connection plug or socket connector in clamping jaws technology has contact partner with region in form of clamping jaws for accommodating stripped end of line of especially multi-strand cable |
DE102006029075B4 (en) * | 2005-07-05 | 2016-12-22 | Harting Electric Gmbh & Co. Kg | Connection device for stranded conductors |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5573423A (en) * | 1995-01-18 | 1996-11-12 | Lin; Kuang-Ts'an | Innovative distribution cable mounting device |
US5704814A (en) * | 1996-05-14 | 1998-01-06 | Centerpin Technology, Inc. | Electrical connector |
US5775934A (en) * | 1996-05-15 | 1998-07-07 | Centerpin Technology, Inc. | Coaxial cable connector |
-
2000
- 2000-04-07 EP EP00920210A patent/EP1171931B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-04-07 DE DE60013267T patent/DE60013267D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-04-07 AT AT00920210T patent/ATE274757T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-04-07 AU AU40788/00A patent/AU4078800A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-04-07 WO PCT/US2000/009280 patent/WO2000062374A1/en active IP Right Grant
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO0062374A1 * |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2365586A1 (en) * | 2010-03-12 | 2011-09-14 | PHOENIX CONTACT GmbH & Co. KG | Cable connector, in particular multi-terminal cable connector |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ATE274757T1 (en) | 2004-09-15 |
AU4078800A (en) | 2000-11-14 |
WO2000062374A1 (en) | 2000-10-19 |
DE60013267D1 (en) | 2004-09-30 |
EP1171931B1 (en) | 2004-08-25 |
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