Ignition Terminal

Abstract

The disclosure relates to ignition terminals of the type used in aircraft, the terminals being of the plug and socket type and being detachable. The termination is crimpable and locks into its counterpart magneto, spark plug or the like to provide proper termination.

Description

This invention relates generally to ignition terminals of the type used in aircraft and, more particularly, to a plug- and socket-type aircraft magnetotermination. Terminals for use in ignitions are well known in the art, it always being desirable to obtain and provide such terminals which are of superior quality, either productwise, costwise or both relative to prior art devices. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an ignition terminal which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and is readily crimped into place by means of a proper crimping tool with a minimum amount of effort.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a detachable connector for use as a magnetotermination or a spark plug termination which is easier to produce relative to prior art terminations, easier to secure to a wire and relatively inexpensive.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a termination which is crimpable and capable of locking into its counterpart magnetospark plug and has the above-mentioned beneficial properties.

The above objects and still further objects of this invention will immediately become apparent to those skilled in the art after consideration of the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention which are provided by way of example and not by way of limitation wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a terminal and partial sectional view showing a magnetoplate and sealing grommet in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the terminal of FIG. 1 crimped to a shielded ignition wire;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the crimped terminal of FIG. 2 inserted and locked into a magnetoplate;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention for use in conjunction with a spark plug;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 with the latching ears in the locked position; and

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 with the latching ears in the unlocked position.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 and particularly the terminal, the terminal includes an outer contact 2, preferably made of brass, which is crimped to the center conductor 4 of a wire 6 by crimping at the finger extension 8 to crimp the center conductor 4 therein. A perforated outer contact 10 having latching ears 12 thereon is provided and is placed over the insulation 20 of the wire 6 and under the braid 14 thereof. A crimp ferrule 16, preferably of brass, is placed over the braid 14 and under the outer insulation 16 of the wire 6.

In assembled condition, the contacts 2 and 10 are insulated from each other by the portion 18 of the insulation 20. The wire 6, with the parts thereof shown in FIG. 1 in assembled condition, are then crimped together by crimping at the region of the perforated section of the contact 10, the crimp ferrule 16 being positioned over that perforated section. In this manner, the contact 2 is secured to the inner wire 4 by means of a crimp at the finger 8 and the remainder of the terminal is secured to the braid 14 by means of the crimping action which takes place over the crimped ferrule 16 which crimps the braid 14 between the ferrule 16 and the perforated position of the contact 10. The final crimped terminal is shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now again to FIG. 1, there is shown a magnetoplate 22 and a grommet 24. The magnetoplate 22 is cast from a metal, preferably aluminum and has a series of passageways 26 formed transversely through embossments 28. The passageways 26 have a series of lead in grooves 30 on one side thereof by which the terminal of FIG. 2 is oriented and inserted and a second series of grooves 32 on the other side of the passageways 26 by which a terminal, such as that of FIG. 2, is locked and removed. The terminal of FIG. 2 is inserted by aligning the latching ears 12 with the lead in grooves 30 and inserting the terminal through the passageway 26, the ears finally coming to rest in the slots 32 and being locked therein as shown more clearly in FIG. 3.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 3, the crimped terminal of FIG. 2 is shown terminated in rubber boots 34 of the grommet 24 and passing through the magnetoplate 22 and locked therein. The crimped terminal is inserted into the passageway 26 to the point where the latching ear projections 12 thereon snap into place behind the ledge 36 which is positioned between the grooves 30 and 32. Center contact 2 and a finger 8 thereon simultaneously bottom in the cavity 38 in the sealing grommet 24 so that the finger 8 projects outwardly from the grommet 24. The termination may be removed from the magnetoplate 22 by providing a one-quarter or 90.degree. turn to the wire 6 and terminal thereon and subsequently pulling the terminal outwardly from the plate 22. This is provided by causing the latching ears 12 on the contact 10 to be rotated onto the ledge 36 by the quarter turn, the subsequent outward force on the wire and/or terminal causing the latching ears to ride along the ledge 36 between the grooves 32 and 30 and pass directly out from the magnetoplate 22. The rotation of the latching ears 12 onto the ledge 36 causes the ears to become depressed inwardly due to the resiliency thereof to provide the above-described action.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6 there is shown a second embodiment in the present invention which includes a contact to the outwardly extending finger 8 thereon and a spring 40 for mating with a spark plug or the like. Also included are the wire 6 as in FIG. 1, the wire including a spark plug boot 42 positioned over the contact 2 with the finger 8 passing through an aperture at one end thereof to the wire portion 18 being positioned within the boot 42. A contact 10 with latching ears 12 is also provided as in the embodiment of FIG. 1. There is also provided a crimping sleeve 44 which is positioned over the braid 14 and extends over the outer insulation 20, the arrangement being the same as described hereinbelow with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2. A further aluminum spark plug adapter 46 having a threaded region 48 is provided to be positioned over the contact 10 as described in FIG. 4. A spark plug 50 is threaded into the threaded region 48 and causes contact to be made between the spark plug and spring 40. The embodiment of FIGS. 4 through 6 is more readily adaptable for use in conjunction with spark plugs, particularly for aircraft.

Though the invention has been described with respect to the specific preferred embodiments thereof, many variations and modifications thereof will immediately become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the prior art to include all such variations and modifications.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. An electrical connector for a wire having an inner conductor and a braid surrounding said conductor and an insulating material positioned between said braid and said conductor, said connector comprising: a first outer contact including an outwardly extending finger for connection to said inner conductor, a second outer contact positioned around said insulation material and spaced from said first contact, said second contact extending at one end thereof beneath said braid, a sleeve positioned over said braid to secure said braid against said second contact, said second contact including outwardly extending ears spaced therearound, plate means having a passageway therethrough, said passageway including a plurality of grooves for alignment with said ears, and a raised ledge portion between said grooves.

2. An electrical connector for a wire having an inner conductor and a braid surrounding said conductor and an insulating material positioned between said braid and said conductor, said connector comprising: a first outer contact including an outwardly extending finger crimped to said inner conductor, a second outer contact positioned over said insulation material and spaced from said first contact, said second contact extending at one end thereof beneath said braid, a sleeve positioned over said braid and crimping together said braid and said second contact, said second contact including outwardly extending ears spaced therearound, plate means having a passageway therethrough, said passageway including a plurality of grooves for alignment with said ears, and a raised ledge portion between said grooves.

3. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1, and further including: a grommet having an aperture therein aligned with said passageway, said first contact extending into said aperture, and said finger protruding from said grommet.

4. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 2, and further including: a grommet having an aperture therein aligned with said passageway, said first contact extending into said aperture and said finger extending beyond said grommet.

5. An electrical connector for a wire having an inner conductor and a braid surrounding said conductor and an insulating material positioned between said braid and said conductor, said connector comprising: a first outer contact including an outwardly extending finger for connection to said inner conductor, a second outer contact positioned over said insulating material and spaced from said first contact, said second outer contact extending at one end thereof beneath said braid, a sleeve positioned over said braid to secure said braid against said second contact, said second contact including outwardly extending ears spaced therearound, and a boot received over said first outer contact, said boot having an aperture at one end thereof, and said finger protruding from said aperture.

6. An electrical connector for a wire having an inner conductor and a braid surrounding said conductor and an insulating material positioned between said braid and said conductor, said connector comprising: a first outer contact including an outwardly extending finger crimped to said inner conductor, a second outer contact positioned around said insulating material, spaced from said first contact, said second contact extending at one end thereof beneath said braid, a sleeve positioned over said braid and crimping together said braid and said second contact, said second contact including outwardly extending ears spaced therearound, and a boot provided over said first contact, said boot having an aperture at one end thereof, said finger extending from said aperture.

7. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 5, and further including: plate means having a passageway therethrough, said passageway provided with a plurality of grooves for alignment with said ears, and a raised ledge portion between said grooves.

8. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 6, and further including: plate means having a passageway therethrough, said passageway having a plurality of grooves for alignment with said ears, and a raised ledge portion between said grooves.

9. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 7, and further including: spring contact means connected to said finger.

10. An electrical connector as set forth in claim 8, and further including: spring contact means connected to said finger.