GB2149593A

GB2149593A - Tap-off connector

Info

Publication number: GB2149593A
Application number: GB08428725A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Edwin Walters
Original assignee: Dulmison Pty Ltd
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1983-11-17
Filing date: 1984-11-14
Publication date: 1985-06-12
Also published as: GB8428725D0

Abstract

A tap-off connector comprises two components (1, 2) which are slidably interengagable along the line of conductors to describe two conductor passages (6), the conductors being held permanently within the passages by subsequently crimping the connector onto the conductors. Interengaging slot and tongue (3) prevent separation of the components (1, 2) in a direction perpendicular to the conductors, and curved tongues (4, 5) prevent separation in another such direction. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cable connector BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention This invention relates to connectors of the kind utilised, for example, to mechanically and electrically join a tap-off conductor to an ongoing mains conductor.

2. Description of the prior art One known form of such a connector comprises a more or less H-sectioned, extruded metal strip.

The mains conductor is positioned between the uprights of the H above the cross-bar thereof and the end of the tap-off conductor is positioned between the uprights below the cross-bar. Thereafter the ends of the uprights are bent over to loosely hold the conductors in place, following which.a press tool is applied which plastically deforms the connector to bring it into permanent pressure contact with the two conductors.

Such connectors are frequently used when the mains conductor is an overhead transmission line conductor, in which event the entire operation of making the joint is relatively difficult because of the need to hold both the connector and the tap-off conductor in position until the connector has been sufficiently deformed to at least loosely secure itself to both conductors.

It frequently happens that the tap-off conductor is smaller in cross-section than the mains conductor and, therefore, the number of connectors required to be stocked s as to provide for all combinations of conductor size is considerable. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a connector of the kind under discussion which is more conveniently applied to the conductors than has been the case hitherto. A secondary object is to reduce the number of extruded shapes required to be stocked for a given range of possible conductor sizes.

Summary of the invention The invention consists in an electrical connector comprising two metallic components having two sets of inter-engaging formations able to be engaged by relative movement of the components in an end-to-end direction, one of the sets preventing separation of the components in one direction perpendicular to the end-to-end direction and the other set preventing separation of the components in a second direction perpendicular to both said one direction and said end-to-end direction; said components when fully mutually engaged, defining two, parallel, conductor passages extending in the end-to-end direction.

Description of the drawings By way of example, two embodiments of the above-described invention are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a connector according to the invention showing its true cross-sectional shape.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of another connector according to the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments The connector illustrated by Figure 1 comprises components 1 and 2 being two lengths of identical metallic extrusions. For descriptive convenience the end face of component 2 has been stippled to distinguish it from the end face of component 1.

The two components may be slid endwisely into the engaged situation illustrated in the figure.

When so engaged the two components are prevented from separating in the vertical direction (as seen in the Figure) by means of a first set of interengaging formations, namely, tongues 3 and slots.in the respective components which receive the respective tongues 3. The components are prevented from separating in the horizontal direction by a second set of inter-engaging formations, namely, curved tongues 4 and 5.

The components 1 and 2 define two, parallei, equally sized conductor passages 6. Thus, in use component I may be positioned with a mains conductor homed in, say, that part of the upper passage 6 defined by component 1. Component 2 may be likewise applied to the mains conductor and then slid into engagement with component 1. The end of a tap-off conductor may then be lodged in the lower passage 6, following which the entire connector may be pressed in conventional manner into permanent engagement with the conductors.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated by Figure 2 comprises a component 7 the same in all respects as component 1 of the Figure 1 embodiment and component 8 of which the lower half is the same as the lower half of component 2 of the Figure 1 embodiment, but which has additional metal in its top half so as to define a conductor passage 9, which is appreciably smaller than either passage 6 of the Figure 1 embodiment.

Thus, the two extrusion shapes may be utilised to join two large equally sized conductors (using two of the components 1), one large and one small conductor (using one component 1 and one component 8) or two small diameter conductors (using two of the components 8).

1. An electrical connector comprising two metallic components having two sets of inter-engaging formations able to be engaged by relative movement of the components in their end-to-end direction, one of the sets preventing separation of the components in one direction perpendicular to the end-to-end direction and the other set preventing separation of the components in a second direction perpendicular to both said one direction and said end-to-end direction; said components, when fully mutually engaged defining two, paraliel, conductor passages extending in the end-to-end direction.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cable connector BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention This invention relates to connectors of the kind utilised, for example, to mechanically and electrically join a tap-off conductor to an ongoing mains conductor. 2. Description of the prior art One known form of such a connector comprises a more or less H-sectioned, extruded metal strip. The mains conductor is positioned between the uprights of the H above the cross-bar thereof and the end of the tap-off conductor is positioned between the uprights below the cross-bar. Thereafter the ends of the uprights are bent over to loosely hold the conductors in place, following which.a press tool is applied which plastically deforms the connector to bring it into permanent pressure contact with the two conductors. Such connectors are frequently used when the mains conductor is an overhead transmission line conductor, in which event the entire operation of making the joint is relatively difficult because of the need to hold both the connector and the tap-off conductor in position until the connector has been sufficiently deformed to at least loosely secure itself to both conductors. It frequently happens that the tap-off conductor is smaller in cross-section than the mains conductor and, therefore, the number of connectors required to be stocked s as to provide for all combinations of conductor size is considerable. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a connector of the kind under discussion which is more conveniently applied to the conductors than has been the case hitherto. A secondary object is to reduce the number of extruded shapes required to be stocked for a given range of possible conductor sizes. Summary of the invention The invention consists in an electrical connector comprising two metallic components having two sets of inter-engaging formations able to be engaged by relative movement of the components in an end-to-end direction, one of the sets preventing separation of the components in one direction perpendicular to the end-to-end direction and the other set preventing separation of the components in a second direction perpendicular to both said one direction and said end-to-end direction; said components when fully mutually engaged, defining two, parallel, conductor passages extending in the end-to-end direction. Description of the drawings By way of example, two embodiments of the above-described invention are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is an isometric view of a connector according to the invention showing its true cross-sectional shape. Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of another connector according to the invention. Description of the preferred embodiments The connector illustrated by Figure 1 comprises components 1 and 2 being two lengths of identical metallic extrusions. For descriptive convenience the end face of component 2 has been stippled to distinguish it from the end face of component 1. The two components may be slid endwisely into the engaged situation illustrated in the figure. When so engaged the two components are prevented from separating in the vertical direction (as seen in the Figure) by means of a first set of interengaging formations, namely, tongues 3 and slots.in the respective components which receive the respective tongues 3. The components are prevented from separating in the horizontal direction by a second set of inter-engaging formations, namely, curved tongues 4 and 5. The components 1 and 2 define two, parallei, equally sized conductor passages 6. Thus, in use component I may be positioned with a mains conductor homed in, say, that part of the upper passage 6 defined by component 1. Component 2 may be likewise applied to the mains conductor and then slid into engagement with component 1. The end of a tap-off conductor may then be lodged in the lower passage 6, following which the entire connector may be pressed in conventional manner into permanent engagement with the conductors. The embodiment of the invention illustrated by Figure 2 comprises a component 7 the same in all respects as component 1 of the Figure 1 embodiment and component 8 of which the lower half is the same as the lower half of component 2 of the Figure 1 embodiment, but which has additional metal in its top half so as to define a conductor passage 9, which is appreciably smaller than either passage 6 of the Figure 1 embodiment. Thus, the two extrusion shapes may be utilised to join two large equally sized conductors (using two of the components 1), one large and one small conductor (using one component 1 and one component 8) or two small diameter conductors (using two of the components 8). CLAIMS

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said one of the sets of inter-engaging formations comprises a pair of arcuate tongues, one of said pair projecting from each of said components and each being adapted to partially encompass an outer peripheral surface of the respective other component, and wherein said other set of inter-engaging formations comprises a pair of straight tongues, one of said pair projecting from each of said components, intermediate said one set of inter-engaging formations, and receivable within respective slots.

3. An electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said components are substantially identical.

4. An electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2 wherein one of said components includes a wall, such that when said components are engaged, one of said conductor passages is smaller than the other.

5. An electrical connector substantially as herein described with reference to figure 1 or figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.