GB2135140A

GB2135140A - Electrical conductor sealing member

Info

Publication number: GB2135140A
Application number: GB08403969A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Werner Lothmann; Leonard John Owen
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1983-02-15
Filing date: 1984-02-15
Publication date: 1984-08-22
Also published as: GB2135140B; GB8403969D0

Abstract

The sealing member, which is for use in providing sealing at the position of entry of electrical conductors into an electrical connector housing comprises a body of resilient material consisting of two parts (1 and 2) which are formed integrally with hinges (3) which enable the two parts to be relatively moved between an open and a closed position. In the closed position of the parts (1 and 2) they define holes (7) for receiving an electrical conductor in sealing relationship. In the open position of the parts (1 and 2) they are so spaced that an electrical terminal terminating a conductor can be passed between the two parts (1 and 2). The parts (1 and 2) can then be closed into sealing relationship with the conductor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical conductor sealing member This invention relates to an electrical conductor sealing member such as is used to provide sealing at the position of entry of electrical conductors into an electrical connector housing.

In EP-A-0072104there is disclosed an electrical connector in which conductors entering a housing do so through holes in a sealing member which is initially uncompressed and such that terminals terminating the conductors can be passed through the holes in the sealing member, and which is then compressed such that the sealing member closely embraces the conductors to provide sealing.

A difficulty sometimes experienced with this known connector is that the terminals can sometimes be damaged as they are passed through the holes in the sealing, and sometimes the sealing member can be damaged by the terminals such that effective sealing is not provided.

In order to overcome such difficulties it has been proposed in British Patent Application No. 82-22786 to pass each terminal through a hole in the sealing by the use of a hollow bobbin in which the terminal is positioned, and which has a tapered closed leading end and a smooth outer surface in orderto avoid damage to the sealing member as the bobbin with the terminal therein is passed through the hole.

However, with the use of such a bobbin there is still the possibility of overstretching of, and thus damage to, the sealing member as the bobbin is passed through a hole therein, and there is thus also a relatively low upper size limit for terminals which can be passed through holes in the sealing member using this technique.

According to this invention an electrical conductor sealing member for use in providing sealing at the position of entry of electrical conductors into an electrical connector housing, comprises a body of resilient material having two parts integrally formed with a plurality of spaced hinge portions formed such that the two parts can be closed together to define between mating surfaces thereof a plurality of holes each to receive an electrical conductor, and can be opened apart about the hinge portions which act to space the two parts such that an electrical terminal terminating a conductor can be passed between the two parts.

Preferably the two parts are elongate and have planar mating surfaces, the hinge portions extending from each part at a position below the level of the mating surface thereof, the width of the hinge portions between the two parts thus determining the spacing between the two parts when opened apart.

Preferably with such a sealing member the hinge portions are triangular in section with the base of the triangle extending between the two parts and the apex of the triangle extending towards the plane of the mating surfaces of the two parts, when the two parts are opened apart with their mating surfaces coplanar With such a sealing member, if the hinge portions have an appreciable length along the two parts, they will serve to locate the two parts relative to each other at all times and ensure reliable sealing.

A sealing member according to this invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of the sealing member in its closed condition; Figure 2 is a side view of the sealing member as in Figure 1 with a part broken away; Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 111 - 111 in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing the sealing member in its open condition; Figure 5 is a plan view of the sealing member in its open condition; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the sealing member in an open condition.

The sealing member shown in the drawings is for use providing sealing about three conductors at their position of entry into an electrical connector housing (not shown), and is a unitary structure moulded from a resilient material such as neoprene, and comprising a body having two elongate parts 1 and 2 integrally formed with a plurality of spaced hinge portions 3 which enable the parts 1 and 2 to adopt a closed position as shown in Figures 1 to 3, ahd to be opened apart to a position as shown in Figures 4 to 6 and beyond this position.

The parts 1 and 2 have planar mating surfaces 4 and 5 which are in contact when the parts are in their closed position, each surface 4 or 5 being formed with three grooves 6 extending across the width thereof and arranged such that when the surfaces 4 and 5 are closed together the grooves 6 together define three through holes 7 each of which, in use of the sealing member, receives an electrical conductor (not shown. The grooves 6 are each formed with a plurality of ribs 12 (best seen in Figure 2) which together form annular ribs in the holes 7 when the parts 1 and 2 are closed together in use, to enhance the sealing against conductors passing through the holes 7.

As best seen in Figure 4 the hinge portions 3 are triangular in section with the base 8 of the triangle extending between the two parts 1 and 2 and being connected to each thereof along a line 9 at a position below the level of the mating surface 4 or 5 thereof, and the apex 10 of the triangle being directed towards the plane of the mating surfaces 4 and 5 of the two parts 1 and 2 when opened apart with their mating surfaces 4 and 5 coplanar, that is beyond the condition shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Thus, when the two parts 1 and 2 are opened apart they become spaced apart by a distance 11 (Figure 5) determined by the width of the base 8 of the hinge portions 3 between the two parts 1 and 2, this distance 11 being a maximum when the mating surfaces 4 and 5 of the parts 1 and 2 are coplanar.

With the sealing member in this condition terminals (not shown) terminating conductors to be received in the holes 7 can easily be passed between the two parts 1 and 2 which can then be closed together about the conductors which will be received in the holes 7.

Further, in view of the shape and disposition of the hinge portions 3, the parts 1 and 2 are correctly located relative to each other at all times, thus making assembly as described easy while it is ensured that reliable sealing about the conductors is obtained.

As clearly shown in the drawings the sealing member is wedge shaped when in the closed condition and for use, with conductors located in the holes 7, will be received in a correspondingly shaped cavity in a connector housing and compressed in the cavity to provide sealing aboutthe periphery of the sealing member as well as about the conductors

Claims

1. An electrical conductor sealing member for use in providing sealing at the position of entry of electrical conductors into an electrical conductor housing, the sealing member comprising a body of resilient material having two parts integrally formed with a plurality of spaced hinged portions formed such that the two parts can be closed together to define between mating surfaces thereof a plurality of holes each to receive an electrical conductor, and can be opened apart about the hinge portions which act to space the two parts such that an electrical terminal terminating a conductor can be passed between the two parts.

2. A sealing member according to claim 1, in which the two parts are elongate and have planar mating surfaces, the hinge portions extending from each part at a position below the level of the mating surface thereof, the width of the hinge portions between the two parts thus determining the spacing between the two parts when opened apart.

3. A sealing member according to claim 1 or 2, in which the hinge portions are triangular in section with the base of the triangle extending between the two parts and the apex of the triangle extending towards the plane of the mating surfaces of the two parts, when the two parts are opened apart with their mating surfaces coplanar.

4. An electrical conductor sealing memberfor use in providing sealing at the position of entry of electrical conductors into an electrical connector housing, substantially as herein-before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.