U.S. patent number 3,611,263 [Application Number 04/833,024] was granted by the patent office on 1971-10-05 for clip connector terminal for insulated conductors.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Krone Kommanditgesellschaft. Invention is credited to Horst Hahn, Heinz Krone, Joachim Rott, Lothar Zerrenner.
United States Patent |
3,611,263 |
Krone , et al. |
October 5, 1971 |
CLIP CONNECTOR TERMINAL FOR INSULATED CONDUCTORS
Abstract
The terminal element of a clip connector for insulated
conductors includes a centrally positioned, upstanding, sharp-edged
contact blade surrounded by a resilient wire yoke, each leg of
which forms with an adjacent edge of said blade a clamping gap into
which a conductor is forced by a pusher slide which, in turn, locks
in place on said terminal element. As the conductor is forced into
said clamping gap, the insulation of the conductor is penetrated by
metal parts forming said clamping gap. An electric contact of
permanent pressure is established.
Inventors: |
Krone; Heinz (Berlin,
DT), Rott; Joachim (Berlin, DT), Hahn;
Horst (Berlin, DT), Zerrenner; Lothar (Berlin,
DT) |
Assignee: |
Krone Kommanditgesellschaft
(Berlin, DT)
|
Family
ID: |
5698509 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/833,024 |
Filed: |
June 13, 1969 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
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|
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Jun 14, 1968 [DT] |
|
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P 17 65 584.4 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/395;
439/402 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
43/015 (20130101); H01R 4/2416 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
4/24 (20060101); H01R 43/01 (20060101); Ho1r
009/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/97-99 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGlynn; Joseph H.
Claims
We claim:
1. A clip connector for insulated conductors comprising
A. a terminal element having
1. an insulating support,
2. a bladelike contact element held in said insulating support and
extending outwardly therefrom; said contact element including
opposed sharpened edge portions,
3. a resilient yoke held in said insulating support and surrounding
said contact element substantially in the plane thereof; said
resilient yoke having two legs each extending adjacent a sharpened
edge portion; each leg with the adjacent edge portion defining a
clamping gap each having a width smaller than the diameter of the
conductor wire of said insulated conductor and
B. a pusher slide cooperating with said terminal element and
adapted to force a conductor into each clamping gap and adapted to
assume a closed position on said terminal element about said
resilient yoke.
2. A clip connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said contact
element is tapered beyond said two clamping gaps in a direction
away from said insulating support.
3. A clip connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said contact
element has an integral anchoring part extending into said
insulating support and having openings adapted to receive the free
end of the legs of said yoke.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a clamp-type connector to establish an
electric connection between one or two insulated conductors on the
one hand and a terminal element on the other hand.
In known electric clip connectors the insulated wire is positioned
in slotted parts (clamping gaps) of the terminal element and, by a
pusher member or the like, usually forming part of the connector,
they are pressed into the slot. Further, clip connectors are known
in which the terminal element has two spaced slots into each of
which a conductor is pressed. Designs of this type are in general
too voluminous for particular applications and their capability to
ensure a secure contact, which depends on the design of the slots
in the terminal element, is limited.
A satisfactory clamping connection performed by clip connectors
depends on the magnitude of the area of contact between the
terminal element and the metal wire and a continuous contact
pressure exerted on the wire conductor by the clamping parts.
It was found that in known slotted terminal elements the aforenoted
contact pressure weakens after a certain period of use since metal
fatigue, appearing in most leaflike terminal elements, affects the
resilient properties of the clamping parts. Thus, as the contact
pressure decreases, the contact resistance (which is the measure of
a reliable contact) increases. As a result, clip connectors of this
type are regarded as only conditionally secure for a longer period
of use.
Further, significant decrease in the contact pressure may appear in
known clip connectors where two conductors are disposed in a
superimposed manner in the same slot of the terminal element and,
for some reason, the lower wire has to be replaced. In such a case
the clamping connection of the upper wire has also to be loosened.
It is apparent that when the clip is closed anew, the contact
pressure in the slot will be smaller than that obtained upon the
first closing operation.
OBJECT, SUMMARY AND ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved electrical
clip connector of the aforenoted type wherein the terminal element
is of reduced volume, is simple to manufacture and provides a
permanent contact pressure even in case where two conductor wires
are clamped by the clip and the latter has to be opened and closed
anew for replacing the wires.
Briefly stated, according to the invention, at least one side of
two clamping gaps provided in the terminal element of the clip
connector is formed of a leg of a resilient wire yoke and the other
side of each of said clamping gaps is formed either by a
sharp-edged contact element or again by a leg of a resilient wire
yoke. A conductor is forced into each clamping gap by a pusher
slide which subsequently locks in place and reinforces, as well as
stabilizes, the contact pressure exerted on the conductor.
The principal advantage of the aforeoutlined structure is the
provision of a permanent contact pressure of the springing wire
yoke legs exerted on the conductors engaged in separate clamping
gaps.
The invention will be better understood, as well as further objects
and advantages will become more apparent, from the ensuing detailed
specification of two exemplary embodiments of the invention taken
in conjunction with the drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention
in an open position;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same embodiment shown in a
closed position and clamping a sole conductor;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the same embodiment shown in a
closed position and clamping two conductors;
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the same embodiment in a
closed position showing two clamped conductors in section;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line v-- v of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line VI-- VI of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of one part of the first
embodiment in a closed position, showing two clamped conductors in
section;
FIG. 8 is a sectional front elevational view of a second embodiment
of the invention in a closed position, clamping two conductors;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view along line IX-- IX of FIG. 8; and
FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of one part of the second
embodiment in an open position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT
Turning now to FIG. 1, there is provided an upstanding central
leaflike contact element 1 surrounded, in a substantially coplanar
manner, by a resilient wire yoke 2. Both are securely held by their
respective lower portions in an insulating support 3.
The opposed edges of the contact element 1 above the insulating
support 3 are sharpened and comprise a first portion 1h, ih',
respectively, which extend parallel to the legs of the wire yoke 2.
The upper part 1c of the contact element 1 is tapered; there the
sharpened second edge portions 1a and ib converge at an acute angle
and terminate in a rounded head portion 1d.
As best seen in FIG. 7, the lower portion of the contact element 1
comprises a rectangular anchoring part 1e and an adjoining contact
strip 1g, both embedded in insulating support 3. As seen in FIG. 5,
the anchoring part 1e of the contact member 1 is slightly offset
with respect to its portions projecting beyond the insulating
support 3 and, in its spaced openings 1f, receives a bent free end
portion 2a of each leg of the yoke 2. The contact element 1 is a
unitary stamped member preferably made of a copper alloy having
good electrical conducting properties.
In order to establish the clamping connection according to the
invention, insulated conductors 5 and 5' are introduced through the
wire yoke 2 and are positioned in the relatively wide spaces a and
b, defined on the outside by a leg portion of the wire yoke 2 and,
on the inside, by respective edges 1a, 1b of the contact element 1.
Instead of two conductors, a sole conductor 5 may be threaded
through the wire yoke 2 and positioned in one of the spaces a or b
as illustrated in FIG. 1. The spaces a and b, respectively,
continue as much narrower clamping gaps a' and b' (FIGS. 4 and 7),
defined on the outside by a leg portion of the wire yoke 2 and, on
the inside, by respective sharp edges 1h and 1h' of the contact
element 1.
As the successive step in establishing a clamping connection
according to the invention, a removable pusher slide 4, forming
part of the clip connector, is inserted on the precedingly
described terminal element by causing the upper portion of both
legs of yoke 2 to be engaged by the internal longitudinal channels
4a and 4b (FIGS. 1 and 6) of pusher slide 4.
Thereupon the pusher slide 4 is moved downwardly, forcing the
conductors 5, 5' from spaces a and b into clamping gaps a' and b',
the width of each is smaller than the diameter of the wire
conductor 5a.
As the conductors 5 and 5' are pressed into the slots a' and b',
the insulation of the conductors is, on the inside, progressively
cut through by the edges 1a and 1b of the contact element 1 due to
the slanted arrangement of said edges. On the outside, the
insulation of the conductors is first pressed against the
contacting portions of the wire yoke 2 and then pushed aside,
baring the conductor wire. When the conductors 5, 5' assume the
position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in the slot a' and b', the sharp
edges 1h, 1h' of the contact element 1 have penetrated into the
stripped conductor wires 5a, 5a' while, at their respective
diametrically opposed outer side, the respective legs of circular
cross section of the resilient yoke 2 are pressed into the wire,
thus exerting a permanent contact pressure on the conductors.
Preferably, the wire yoke 2 is made of spring steel or similar
material.
The pusher slide 4, when in its lowermost position (FIGS. 2-5),
partially surrounds with its channels 4a and 4b (FIG. 6) the
respective legs of the yoke 2 on their outside. This immobilizes
the legs of the yoke 2 by depriving them of the possibility of
outwardly directed deformation. The pusher slide 4 thus serves as a
fixation member for the established clamping connection; it secures
and even increases the contact pressure exerted by the resilient
wire yoke 2 on the conductors 5, 5'.
The pusher slide 4 is provided at its inner portion with a
projecting tab 4c (FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5) which, in the closed
terminal position of the pusher slide, snaps below the connecting
portion 2b of the wire yoke 2, thus securely locking the pusher
slide in place in its closed position.
The leading end of pusher slide 4 is provided with arcuate recesses
4e which, when the pusher slide is in its closed position, form
substantially circular openings with complemental arcuate recesses
3a of insulating support 3. The insulated conductor, in front of
and behind the electric clamping contact, is securely held in said
circular openings in order to isolate from the clamping locations
any external stresses to which the conductors 5, 5' may be
exposed.
It is seen from FIG. 3, showing two conductors 5 and 5' clamped
into the clip connector, that these conductors are held entirely
independent from one another. Thus, if only one of the conductors
is to be replaced, such an operation in no manner affects the
adjacently disposed conductor since the latter remains clamped in
its respective clamping gap a' or b'.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND EMBODIMENT
Turning now to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 8-10, there are
provided two clamping contacts, one formed of a yoke 6, the other
formed of a yoke 6', both made of a material similar to that of
yoke 2 of the first embodiment. The yokes 6, 6' are securely held
by their lower portions in an insulating support 3', only
schematically shown.
In this embodiment, insulated conductors 7, 7' are introduced into
eyes c and d of the respective yokes 6, 6'. Then the conductors 7,
7' are forced downward into the respective clamping gap c' formed
by parallel legs 6a and 6b of yoke 6 and into clamping gap d'
formed by parallel legs 6c and 6d of yoke 6' by pusher slide 4 in a
manner similar to that described in connection with the first
embodiment. During this operation the wire insulation is pushed
aside and the legs 6a, 6b and 6c, 6d of circular section press
against the respective bared conductor wire 7a and 7a' (FIG. 9).
Similarly to the first embodiment, a permanent contact pressure
results.
As it may be seen from FIG. 9, the pusher slide 4, by means of its
internal longitudinal channels 4a and 4b, is in sliding engagement
with the two outermost legs 6a and 6c of yokes 6 and 6',
respectively.
As it is apparent from FIG. 8, the pusher slide 4 is locked in
place in its closed position by means of tab 4c in a manner
identical to that of the first embodiment.
* * * * *