GB1571720A

GB1571720A - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: GB1571720A
Application number: GB25595/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1977-06-18
Filing date: 1977-06-18
Publication date: 1980-07-16
Also published as: ES236728Y; FR2394902B3; ES236728U; JPS549890U; IT7822028V0; AR214930A1; MX143799A; DE7818113U1; CA1086388A; BR7803630A; JPS5811019Y2; IT7822028U1; FR2394902A1

Description

(54) ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR (71) We, AMP INCORPORATED, a a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey, United States of America, of Eisenhower Boulevard, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to an electrical connector for use in providing tap connections to insulated electrical conductors, for example electrical power cables.

There is a need in the electrical power supply industry for an electrical connector by which a tap wire can be connected to an insulated electrical conductor simply, safely, and without having to cut, or strip any insulation from, the conductor. The connector should also seal the connection to the conductor against the ingress of moisture, and should permit easy disconnection of the tap wire when required.

According to this invention an electrical connector for use in providing a tap connection to an insulated electrical conductor, comprises first and second housing parts formed of electrically insulating material and adapted and arranged to be secured together about an insulated electrical conductor, one housing part carrying an electrically conduc tive member providing a plurality of teeth adapted and arranged to pierce the insulation of the conductor and establish electrical connection to the conductive core of the conductor when the housing parts are secured together about the conductor, the conductive member also providing a socket to receive an end of an electrically conductive tap wire thereby to connect the tap wire to the conductive member in readily releasable manner; and one housing part having deformable portions adapted and arranged to engage deforming surfaces on the other housing part as the two housing parts are secured together about an insulated electrical conductor, thereby to be deformed to embrace the insulation of the conductor at two spaced locations on opposite sides of the conductive member thereby to seal the connection between the conductive member and the conductor.

Preferably the first housing part both carries the conductive member and has the deformable portions which are in the form of two spaced pairs of arms arranged for the conductor to be received between the arms of each pair, the deforming surfaces on the second housing part being adapted to wrap the arms about the insulation of the conductor.

With such a connector the second housing part can carrying a member providing a plurality of teeth adapted and arranged to pierce the conductor as the two housing parts are secured together about the conductor thereby to wedge the conductive core of the conductor against the connection teeth of the conductive member carried by the first housing part, such an arrangement being desirable when the conductive core ob the conductor is stranded.

The connection teeth of the conductive member carried by the first housing part are preferably in two spaced rows each extending longitudinally ob a conductor to be connected to the connector, and this conductive member has a row of wedging teeth as provided on the member carried by the second housing part, between the two rows of connection teeth.

The two housing parts can be secured together by means of bolts engaging in aligned holes in the two housing parts, there being one or more bolts on each side of a conductor connected to the connector.

An electrical connector according to this invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view od the connector and an insulated electrical conductor and two tap wires to be connecked thereby; Figure 2 is a part section through a sealing location of the assembled connector; and Figure 3 is a part section through the conductor connection location of the assembled connector.

The connector to be described is for use in connecting one or two tap wires 1 to an insulated electrical conductor 2 both the tap wires I and the conductor 2 having stranded conductive cores 3 and 4, respectively, covered with insulation 5 and 6, respectively.

The connector comprises first and second housing parts 7 and 8 formed of electrically insulating material and adapted and arranged to be secured together about the conductor 2, the first housing part 7 carrying an electrically conductive member 9 providing a plurality of teeth 10 adapted and arranged to pierce the insulation 6 of the conductor 2 and establish electrical connection to the conductive core 4 of the conductor 2 when the housing parts 7 and 8 are secured together about the conductor 2. The conductive member 9 also provides two sockets 11 each to receive a bared end of one of the tap wires 1 thereby to connect the tap wire 1 to the conductive member 9 in readily releasable manner by means of a grub screw 12.

Each grub screw 12 (only one shown) is accessible through a hole in the first housing part 7, which hole can be closed by means of a plug 13 after connection of the tap wire 1. The socket portions 11 of the conductive member 9 are eaclosed by annular portions of the housing part 7, which portions can be seen in Figure 1.

The housing part 7 has deformable por tions which are in the form of two spaced pairs of arms 14 arranged for the conductor 2 to be received between the arms 14 of each pair, and which are also adapted and ar ranged to engage deforming surfaces 15 (Figure 2) on the second housing part 8 as the two housing parts 7 and 8 are secured together about the conductor 2, thereby to be deformed to embrace the insulation 6 of the conductor 2 at two spaced locations at opposite ends of the conductive member 9 thereby to seal the connection between the conductive member 9 and the conductor 2, as shown in Figure 2.

The second housing part 8 carries a mem ber 16 providing a plurality of teeth 17 ad apted and arranged to pierce the conductor 2 as the two housing parts 7 and 8 are secured together about the conductor 2, thereby to wedge the conductive core 4 of the conductor 2 against the connection teeth 10 of the con ductive member 9 carried by the first housing parts 7.

The connection teeth 10 of the conductive member 9 carried by the first housing part 7 are in two spaced rows each extending longi tudinally of the conductor 2, and the con ductive member 9 has a row of wedging teeth 18 as provided on the member 16 carried by the second housing part 8, between the row rows of connection teeth 10.

The two housing parts can be secured togather by means of bolts 19 engaging in aligned holes 20 and 21 in the two housing parts 7 and 8, there being one bolt 19 on each side of the conductor 2 when connected to the connector.

To enhance the seals provided by the arms 14, both the inner and outer surfaces of the arms 14 and the co-operating deforming surfaces 15 of the housing part 8 can be coated with grease 22 as shown in Figure 2.

Although in the embodiment described above the connector is capable of connecting two tap wires, it will be appreciated that the connector can otherwise be adapted to connect only one, or more than two, tap wires by appropriate design of the number and location of the socket parts 11 of the conductive member 9.

A particular advantage of the connector of this invention is that a single size of connector formed basically of only two parts to be assembled on location, can be used with a relatively wide range of conductor sizes since the arms 14 in effect serve as stuffing members such that their free ends meet or even overlap for the smallest conductor size, but need not meet in order to provide adequate sealing, particularly when grease is used, for the largest conductor size.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An electrical connector for use in providing a tap connection to an insulated electrical conductor, comprising first and second housing parts formed of electrically insulating material and adapted and arranged to be secured together about an insulated electrical conductor, one housing part carrying an electrically conductive member providing a plurality of teeth adapted and arranged to pierce the insulation of the conductor and establish electrical connection to the conductive core of the conductor when the housing parts are secured together about the conductor, the conductive member also providing a socket to receive an end of an electrically conductive tap wire thereby to connect the tap wire to the conductive member in readily releasable manner; and one housing part having deformable portions adapted and arranged to engage deforming surfaces on the other housing part as the two housing parts are secured together about an insulated electrical conductor, thereby to be deformed to embrace the insulation of the conductor at two spaced locations on opposite sides of the conductive member thereby to seal the connection between the conductive member and the conductor.

Z. An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 1, in which the first housing part both carries the conductive member and has the deformable portions which are in the form of two spaced pairs ob arms arranged for the conductor to be received between the arms of each pair, the deforming surfaces on the second housing part being adapted to wrap

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

Claims

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

in connecting one or two tap wires 1 to an insulated electrical conductor 2 both the tap wires I and the conductor 2 having stranded conductive cores 3 and 4, respectively, covered with insulation 5 and 6, respectively.

The connector comprises first and second housing parts 7 and 8 formed of electrically insulating material and adapted and arranged to be secured together about the conductor 2, the first housing part 7 carrying an electrically conductive member 9 providing a plurality of teeth 10 adapted and arranged to pierce the insulation 6 of the conductor 2 and establish electrical connection to the conductive core 4 of the conductor 2 when the housing parts 7 and 8 are secured together about the conductor 2. The conductive member 9 also provides two sockets 11 each to receive a bared end of one of the tap wires 1 thereby to connect the tap wire 1 to the conductive member 9 in readily releasable manner by means of a grub screw 12.

Each grub screw 12 (only one shown) is accessible through a hole in the first housing part 7, which hole can be closed by means of a plug 13 after connection of the tap wire

1. The socket portions 11 of the conductive member 9 are eaclosed by annular portions of the housing part 7, which portions can be seen in Figure 1.

The housing part 7 has deformable por tions which are in the form of two spaced pairs of arms 14 arranged for the conductor 2 to be received between the arms 14 of each pair, and which are also adapted and ar ranged to engage deforming surfaces 15 (Figure 2) on the second housing part 8 as the two housing parts 7 and 8 are secured together about the conductor 2, thereby to be deformed to embrace the insulation 6 of the conductor 2 at two spaced locations at opposite ends of the conductive member 9 thereby to seal the connection between the conductive member 9 and the conductor 2, as shown in Figure 2.

The second housing part 8 carries a mem ber 16 providing a plurality of teeth 17 ad apted and arranged to pierce the conductor 2 as the two housing parts 7 and 8 are secured together about the conductor 2, thereby to wedge the conductive core 4 of the conductor 2 against the connection teeth 10 of the con ductive member 9 carried by the first housing parts 7.

The connection teeth 10 of the conductive member 9 carried by the first housing part 7 are in two spaced rows each extending longi tudinally of the conductor 2, and the con ductive member 9 has a row of wedging teeth 18 as provided on the member 16 carried by the second housing part 8, between the row rows of connection teeth 10.

The two housing parts can be secured togather by means of bolts 19 engaging in aligned holes 20 and 21 in the two housing parts 7 and 8, there being one bolt 19 on each side of the conductor 2 when connected to the connector.

To enhance the seals provided by the arms 14, both the inner and outer surfaces of the arms 14 and the co-operating deforming surfaces 15 of the housing part 8 can be coated with grease 22 as shown in Figure 2.

Although in the embodiment described above the connector is capable of connecting two tap wires, it will be appreciated that the connector can otherwise be adapted to connect only one, or more than two, tap wires by appropriate design of the number and location of the socket parts 11 of the conductive member 9.

A particular advantage of the connector of this invention is that a single size of connector formed basically of only two parts to be assembled on location, can be used with a relatively wide range of conductor sizes since the arms 14 in effect serve as stuffing members such that their free ends meet or even overlap for the smallest conductor size, but need not meet in order to provide adequate sealing, particularly when grease is used, for the largest conductor size.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An electrical connector for use in providing a tap connection to an insulated electrical conductor, comprising first and second housing parts formed of electrically insulating material and adapted and arranged to be secured together about an insulated electrical conductor, one housing part carrying an electrically conductive member providing a plurality of teeth adapted and arranged to pierce the insulation of the conductor and establish electrical connection to the conductive core of the conductor when the housing parts are secured together about the conductor, the conductive member also providing a socket to receive an end of an electrically conductive tap wire thereby to connect the tap wire to the conductive member in readily releasable manner; and one housing part having deformable portions adapted and arranged to engage deforming surfaces on the other housing part as the two housing parts are secured together about an insulated electrical conductor, thereby to be deformed to embrace the insulation of the conductor at two spaced locations on opposite sides of the conductive member thereby to seal the connection between the conductive member and the conductor.

Z. An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 1, in which the first housing part both carries the conductive member and has the deformable portions which are in the form of two spaced pairs ob arms arranged for the conductor to be received between the arms of each pair, the deforming surfaces on the second housing part being adapted to wrap

the arms about the insulation of the conductor.

3. An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 2, in which the second housing part carries a member providing a plurality of teeth adapted and arranged to pierce the conductor as the two housing parts are secured together about the conductor thereby to wedge the conductive core of the conductor against the connection teeth of the conductive member carried by the first housing part.

4. An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 3, in which the connection teeth of the conductive member carried by the first housing part are in two spaced rows each extending longitudinally of a conductor to be connected to the connector, and this conductive member has a row of wedging teeth as provided on the member carried by the second housing part, between the two rows of connection teeth.

5. A conductor as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the two housing parts are secured together by means of bolts engaging in aligned holes in the two housing parts, there being one or more bolts on each side of a conductor when connected to the connector.

6. An electrical connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.