U.S. patent number 3,599,172 [Application Number 04/832,796] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-10 for cable terminal connector, quick-connect.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Bunker-Ramo Corporation. Invention is credited to Jeff Tuchto.
United States Patent |
3,599,172 |
Tuchto |
August 10, 1971 |
CABLE TERMINAL CONNECTOR, QUICK-CONNECT
Abstract
Cable connector in which the individual conductors can be put in
position manually, without special tools, and in response to
fitting one connector member together with a counterpart connector
member, the conductors are automatically connected with
corresponding contacts.
Inventors: |
Tuchto; Jeff (Don Mills,
Ontario, CA) |
Assignee: |
The Bunker-Ramo Corporation
(Oak Brook, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
25262644 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/832,796 |
Filed: |
June 12, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/405 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
24/20 (20130101); H01R 24/28 (20130101); H01R
2107/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
11/11 (20060101); H01R 11/20 (20060101); H01r
011/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/92,95,97--99 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Calvert; Ian A.
Assistant Examiner: McGlynn; Joseph H.
Claims
I claim:
1. A connector member for use with a cable having a plurality of
similar conductors, and adapted for connection with a counterpart
connector member, wherein the connector member, in the connecting
movement, is moved relatively toward the counterpart connector
member, a stripper plate having means for frictionally holding the
conductors individually, in position for movement into electrical
contact engagement with corresponding contacts in the counterpart
connector member, the stripper plate having grooves therein having
entrance openings smaller than the diameter of the conductors, and
large inner portions substantially fully but frictionally receiving
the conductors whereby the conductors can be moved into the grooves
in the directions transverse to their longitudinal direction, the
conductors being held by the stripper plate in an arrangement
whereby the conductors have a plurality of segments, including a
segment transverse to the direction of movement of the connectors
in connecting direction, and also including successive segments
which proceed around corners and thereby increase the friction
holding effect between the stripper plate and the conductors.
2. Connector construction adapted for connecting cables each having
a plurality of similar conductors, a pair of substantially
identical housing members each having an end opening for receiving
a said conductor, and means at the opening for securing the cable
in place, means detachably securing the housing members together in
opposite positions so that connected cables extend from opposite
ends of the secured housing members, a first of the housing members
including means mounting a plurality of contacts extending
transversely toward the other housing member, and connected with
respective ones of the conductors of the corresponding cable, the
second of the housing members including a stripper plate having
conformations for frictionally holding the conductors of the
corresponding cable, the stripper plate having apertures for
receiving the contacts in the first housing member in direction
longitudinally of the contacts in the movement of the housing
members and contents therein transversely toward each other to the
above indicated secured position, and the stripper plate holding
the conductors in such position as to effect contact engagement
therewith by the contacts in the first housing member.
3. Connector construction comprising a stripper plate including a
longitudinal member having a plurality of pairs of grooves, those
grooves of each pair being on opposite sides of the longitudinal
member and relatively offset longitudinally, each groove having an
inner main portion dimensioned for substantially receiving a
conductor, and an entrance opening of lesser transverse dimension
than the conductor whereby the conductor can be forced through the
opening and snapped into the groove, and thereby held in the groove
by friction, the grooves in the longitudinal member being such that
when a conductor is fitted therein, the conductor includes a
plurality of segments, including one transverse to the direction of
movement of the stripper plate toward a counterpart device in a
direction generally parallel with said grooves, the stripper plate
also including an aperture between and parallel with the grooves of
each pair, for receiving contacts therein in the movement of the
stripper plate toward a counterpart device, and the corresponding
transverse segments being thereby electrically engaged by the
contacts.
4. Connector construction according to claim 3 wherein each opening
includes a transverse web therein adjacent its remote end relative
to movement toward the counterpart device, whereby in association
with contacts each having a pair of prongs received in each such
opening, the ends of the prongs extend into the region of the web
and the web is operative for maintaining the prongs in position at
opposite sides of the opening.
5. Connector construction comprising a stripper plate including a
side member having elongated apertures for receiving contacts, and
a plurality of side grooves on each of opposite sides and parallel
with the aperture, the grooves being arranged in pairs with those
in each pair being on opposite sides of the side member and on
opposite sides of one of the apertures, the side member also having
a cross groove interconnecting the grooves of each pair traversing
the corresponding aperture and being deeper at the center than at
the ends, the grooves being adapted for receiving a conductor with
a segment in each of the grooves, and contacts movable into the
apertures and operable in response to movement into the apertures
for contacting the segments of the conductors in the cross grooves
and forcing it into the deep center portion of the cross
groove.
6. Connector construction according to claim 5 and including a pair
of such side members spaced apart to form a central longitudinal
space therebetween and interconnected by end elements, whereby to
enable a cable having a plurality of similar conductors to be
positioned along said space and the conductors to be projected into
and through said space and into the grooves of both the side
members.
7. A connector member for a cable comprising a stripper plate, a
housing removably enclosing the stripper plate, the housing having
an opening with means for securing therein a cable having a
plurality of similar conductors with the conductors extending into
and exposed in the interior of the housing, the stripper plate
including a pair of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced
side members, each side member having a plurality of pairs of
grooves, the grooves of each pair being on opposite sides of the
corresponding side member and extending transverse to the
longitudinal direction of the side members, each groove including a
main portion dimensioned for substantially gripping a conductor and
an entrance opening extending longitudinally the full length of the
groove of less transverse dimension than the conductor adapted to
forcibly receive the conductor through the entrance opening and
snappingly receive the conductor in the main portion of the groove,
and each side member having means for supporting segments of the
conductors in position transverse to the longitudinal direction of
the grooves for contacting engagement with electrical contacts in
connecting the connector member with a counterpart connector member
in movement parallel with said grooves.
8. A connector member according to claim 7 in conjunction with the
counterpart connector, and comprising an assembly including said
housing, a block fitted to the stripper plate, the block having a
plurality of contacts individual to the conductors, and positioned
for electrically cooperating therewith upon movement of the
connector members together in a connecting operation, and the
housing including elements secured together in clamping effect for
securing said block and stripper plate together in effective
cooperation between the conductors and contacts.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention resides in the field of cables having a relatively
large number of conductors, and in connecting such a cable in a
connector. The invention is adapted particularly to telephone
cables but of course is not limited thereto. Previously such a
cable was connected to a connector member in the factory, and as a
consequence the cables were put out by the factory in certain
predetermined lengths, such as 4-foot, 6-foot, 8-foot lengths etc.,
with connecter members attached thereto. However many situations in
the field are encountered where certain lengths, as those
mentioned, were not applicable, and it would be impracticable to
carry a greater and full range of lengths to meet all conditions,
and therefore it was often necessary to make compromises that were
not always in the direction of efficiency.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A broad object of the invention is to provide a novel cable
connector operative for overcoming the disadvantages referred to
above.
Another object is to provide a connector which can be applied to a
cable, of the character indicated above, in a manual operation, and
without special tools, whereby to facilitate application of the
connector to the cable in the field.
Another object is to provide a connector of the character just
referred to, of special construction enabling the individual
conductors of the cable to be manually snapped into place in the
connector member, and held there by friction, and so held in the
subsequent operation of connecting that connector member with a
counterpart connector member wherein the conductors are
automatically connected with corresponding contacts.
An additional object is to provide a connector of the kind just
previously referred to wherein the individual conductors are
frictionally held throughout long segments of the conductors,
whereby the conductors are frictionally held in position against
displacement, and further wherein the terminal portions of the
conductors include segments disposed transverse to the direction of
relative movement of the connector members in the connecting
operation, whereby to effectively produce electrical connection
between the conductors and corresponding contacts.
A still further object is to produce a connector of the foregoing
general character in which the conductors and contacts are brought
into and contained in an effective seal, such as an environmental
seal.
A further and more specific object is to provide a cable connector
of the foregoing general character having a novel construction
including a stripper plate which can be removed from the connector
construction and held in the hand for convenience and facility in
connecting the conductors of the cables therewith, the stripper
plate thereupon being easily incorporated in the assembly and the
connector members easily brought into interconnected relation.
DISCLOSURE OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a connector embodying the features of
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled connector, but
partially in section;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the stripper plate and cable, isolated
from the assembly, and showing the arrangement of the conductors as
applied to the stripper plate;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view oriented according to line
7-7 of FIG. 1 but showing the end cap in position with relation to
housing.
Referring in detail to the drawings FIG. 1 shows the connector in
exploded view, all of the individual parts being separated, while
FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of the assembled connector.
The connector includes a top hood 10 and a bottom hood 12,
identical but oppositely arranged. The connector also includes a
stripper plate 14, a retaining flange 16, a retaining plate 18, a
contact housing 20, contacts 22, a retaining shell 24 and a pair of
cable support brackets 26, 28 which also may be identical.
These figures also show cable ends 30, individually identified 30 a
and 30 b, each cable having a plurality of similar conductors 31,
identified 31 a, 31 b in the respective cables. Each hood 10, 12
includes a split collar extension 32 at one end for clamping the
associated cable, and a flange extension 34 at the other end. In
the sidewalls of each hood, adjacent the split collar extension are
inwardly struck loops 36 for association with the brackets 26, 28
as will be referred to again hereinbelow.
The stripper plate 14, forming a principal component of the present
invention, is of insulation material, such as a thermoplastic
material and is preferably in the form of a block having a pair of
laterally spaced longitudinally extending side members 38 forming a
slot 39, and interconnected at the ends by linking elements 40.
Each of the side members 38 is provided with a plurality of grooves
42 extending in the direction of the thickness of the stripper
plate, the thickness being substantial. The grooves are formed in
opposite sides of each side member 38 and arranged correspondingly
in pairs, those of each pair being disposed on lines 41, such as 41
a, 41 b, 41 c, etc., arranged diagonally relative to the
longitudinal direction of the block. The grooves are key hole shape
in cross section, as shown best in FIG. 4, each having a narrow
opening 44 and an inner portion 46 substantially cylindrical,
approximating the diameter of the individual conductors 31 but
slightly smaller, for frictionally holding those conductors as
referred to again hereinbelow. The grooves 42 are interconnected by
cross grooves 48 (FIG. 3) on the bottom surface of the stripper
plate, the upper surface shown in FIG. 1 being the top surface.
These cross grooves 48 preferably extend more deeply from the
bottom surface of the stripper plate and need not be of keyhole
shape but may be of uniform width throughout their depth.
Associated with each pair of grooves 42 is an aperture or contact
hole 50 also disposed diagonally and substantially perpendicular to
the line 41 interconnecting the associated grooves. These apertures
extend through the stripper plate from top to bottom and each
includes a transverse rib or web 52 extending from the top side
(FIG. 1) downwardly to a position short of the bottom side, as
shown in FIG. 5. These apertures at the bottom may diverge slightly
in downward direction.
In attaching the cable to the connector, the outer insulation of
the cable is removed an appropriate length but it is not necessary
to remove any of the insulation from the individual conductors. The
cable is placed on the stripper plate, over the slot 39 as
indicated in FIG. 3 and the individual conductors 31 are applied to
the stripper plate, which is done manually and without any tools,
by individually handling the conductors, --the end of each one is
inserted down through the slot 39 and then grasped by the fingers
at the bottom and pulled outwardly across the corresponding side
member 38 and upwardly to a position in which the terminal end of
the conductor is adjacent the top surface of the stripper plate.
Those segments of the conductor overlying the side surfaces of the
side member 38 are snapped into the two grooves 42 of a pair, i.e.,
it is forced through the narrow openings 44 which are narrower than
the diameter of the conductor and pushed into the large portions
46. As indicated above, the large portions 46 may be slightly
smaller in diameter than the conductors, and to accommodate this
situation, the insulation on the individual conductors may extend
slightly out through the narrow opening 44. The conductor is thus
held by friction in place throughout the full length of the two
grooves 42 of the pair, and this holding effect is enhanced by the
substantial right angle turns in the conductor across the bottom of
the stripper plate.
All of the conductors of the cable are then put into position in
the same manner, the stripper plate having a number of pairs of
grooves corresponding to the number of conductors in the cable with
which it is designed for use. In the present instance there are 50
pairs of grooves, 25 in each side member 38, and 50 individual
conductors in the cable.
The conductors thus applied to the stripper plate are arranged for
electrical contact engagement with corresponding contacts 22. The
contacts 22 are of known kind, and preferably are of silver. Each
contact includes a main shank portion 54 and forked elements 56,
with a shoulder element 58 therebetween. The contacts 22 are
mounted in the contact housing 20 in association with the retaining
plate 18. The latter has a plurality of apertures 60 corresponding
and aligned with the apertures 50 in the stripper plate 14. The
retaining plate 18 is provided with a surrounding ledge or shoulder
62 for use in clamping it in position in the assembly. The contact
housing 20 includes apertures 64 corresponding in number and
position with the apertures 60 and 50. The contact housing 20
preferably has a narrow bottom portion 66 and a wider and longer
upper portion 68 forming a continuous downwardly facing shoulder 70
through which the apertures 64 open.
The retaining plate 18 is fitted on the contact housing 20 and the
two together into the retaining shell 24, the latter having an
inwardly turned flange 72 against which the shoulder 70 engages,
the flange being of lesser depth than the shoulders (transversely
FIG. 2) whereby to provide clearance for the lower ends of the
contacts 22. THe retaining flange 16 is fitted over the retaining
plate 18, the retaining flange 16 having an upper inturned flange
74 which engages the shoulder 62. The contacts 22 are then put in
place by inserting them through the aligned apertures 60, 64, the
shank portions 54 thereof being exposed downwardly beyond the
shoulder 70 and the conductors 30 b are connected thereto in a
suitable manner such as indicated in FIG. 2.
This subassembly is then fitted into the lower hood 12 while the
stripper plate 14 with the cable 30 a secured thereto is fitted in
the upper hood 10. The angle-shape cable support brackets 26, 28
are put in place, each having a longitudinal flange 76 and a
transverse flange 78, the latter having side prongs 80 which are
fitted into the loops 36 in the sidewalls of the hoods (FIG. 7).
The split collar extensions 32 may now be secured as by screws
82.
The full assembly may now be effected by fitting together the top
part which includes the mounted stripper plate 14 in the top hood
10 together with the lower counterpart including the bottom hood 12
with the subassembly referred to mounted therein. The two main
parts are then secured together as by locking screws 86 extending
through the flange extensions 34 on the hoods and corresponding
flange elements on the other members, namely, flanges 76 on the
brackets 26, 28, flanges 88 on the retaining shell 24 and flanges
90 on the retaining flange 16, these locking screws being threaded
into related rivet nuts 92.
In assembling the parts together as thus described, the apertures
50 in the stripper plate 14 are of course aligned with the
apertures 60 in the retaining plate 18 and thereby with the
contacts 22 and pursuant to the operation of clamping the various
components together as by turning the locking screws 86, the
stripper plate 14 is forcibly moved into operative connection with
the subassembly referred to (24, 20, 18, 16) and the forked prongs
56 move into the apertures 50 and the segments of the conductors
disposed in the cross grooves 48 (FIG. 3) are moved down into the
space between those prongs, the prongs cutting through the
insulation on the conductors and establishing firm and effective
electrical contact engagement between the contacts and the
conductors.
The attachment of the connector to a cable requires no unusual
skill, and no special tools are required, the entire connecting
operation can be performed with the use of a screwdriver as the
only necessary tool. The conductors can be applied to and secured
to the stripper plate 14 in a simple manual operation i.e., the use
of the fingers in manipulating the end portions of the conductors
and snapping them into the grooves. Making the final electrical
contact engagement is done by forcing the various components of the
whole connector together as by turning up the locking screws 86 by
a screwdriver.
Each rib or web 52 (FIG. 5) is positioned for entrance into the
slot between the forked prongs 56 of the contact, in the full
mounted position of the latter, thereby rigidifying the position of
the contact in the aperture. The rib 52 extends downwardly only
sufficiently to project between the terminal elements of the
prongs. The divergent shape at the bottom of the apertures guide
the contact prongs into the apertures and the main part limit load
deflection on the prongs, the design increasing the pressure on the
conductor wires and providing gas tight contact joints and improved
solid state junction.
The present invention makes it practical to apply connectors to the
conductors in the field by eliminating previous operations, such as
soldering, which would be entirely impractical in the field.
Accordingly a workman can cut a cable to any length according to
the particular installation and apply a connector thereto in a
simple operation consisting only of a manual operation and
including a simple tool such as a screwdriver. It will be
understood that the construction can be incorporated in both
counterparts of the complete connector.
The construction provides an environmental seal, the contacts cut
through the insulation and establish effective engagement with the
copper of the conductors and maintain contact despite any corrosion
that may develop. Standard wire wrap may be used on the conductors.
The stripper plate 14 may be sufficiently small so that it can be
drawn through the conduit with the cable. There is no possibility
of the conductors being forced out of the contacts. The conductors
can be removed from and reapplied to the contacts numerous times
without overstressing or causing plastic deformation in the
conductor wires or contacts, or in any way impairing a solid state
joint.
* * * * *