GB2084811A

GB2084811A - Electrical connecting cable

Info

Publication number: GB2084811A
Application number: GB8126718A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Sartorius AG
Current assignee: Sartorius AG
Priority date: 1980-10-04
Filing date: 1981-09-03
Publication date: 1982-04-15
Also published as: FR2491671A1; JPS5792705A; DE3037561A1; FR2491671B3

Abstract

A connecting cable for electrical devices comprises a plurality of wires (3) which form flat cable ends (1) and which can be brought, all together, into connection with connector strips (2) contacting the wire ends. The sections of wire situated between the flat cable ends (1) are arranged in strands (3') which are separated from one another and which form a round intermediate portion of the cable, the strands being loosely surrounded in common by a flexible, tubular casing (4). Each strand may comprise one or more wires. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical connecting cable The present invention relates to an electrical connecting cable for connecting electrical devices.

In electronic equipment technology, flat cables have become commonplace in view of their ability to allow an inexpensive and a problem-free connection to connector strips.

Flat cables are also used for connecting electronic devices to the power supply or for connecting devices together. It has, however, been found that the sometimes very wide flat cables are too inflexible in the transverse direction, so that the ease of operating such devices decreases even with slight changes in position of the devices at the point of installation. Because of the inflexibility in transverse direction, a change in direction of the flat cable can be effected only by kinking or folding. This is annoying and interferes with the handling of the devices. The folding of flat cables within the devices itself is quite acceptable, as the Cables are not visible outside the devices.In the case of connecting cables which lead from a device to the mains terminals or from one device to another, the necessary kinking and folding of the cables to enable optimum positioning of the devices at the points of installation or of the devices relative to each other not only makes handling of the devices difficult but also spoils their external appearance.

It is, of course, possible in principle to use a multi-strand round cable for such connection purposes. In this case, the individual wires of the basic cable are identified by colour, so that a unique association with the connecting points is possible. The connection of a plurality of individual wires to the connecting points of a connector strip is, however, tedious and costly in labour and of course gives rise to possible sources of error.

There is accordingly a need for a connecting cable which on the one hand embodies the advantages of a multi-strand flat cable in the sense of a rapid, problem-free and functionally reliable connection with connector strips, but on the other hand exhibits the high flexibility in any direction which is the property of round cables.

According to the present invention there is provided an electrical connecting cable having generally flat end portions and an intermediate portion of generally circular cross-section and comprising a plurality of electrically separate conductor wires which are arranged in the intermediate portion in discrete strands loosely enclosed by a flexible tubular casing and the ends of which at each said end portion are conjoined for connection in common to a respective strip-shaped conductor.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic perspective view of an electrical connecting cable which can be connected at both ends with connector strips.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a connecting cable which either consists of a commercially available, multi-strand flat cable which is subsequently split between the flat cable ends 1, so that the sections of the wires 3 between the ends 1 form strands 3', or else is manufactured in this form at the outset. Since connecting cables of this type are used in standard or standardized lengths, this is a question of rational manufacture.

The strands 3' may be divided up, according to the total width of the flat cable, to consist of individual wires, double wires or multiple wires, but in general they are so divided up that the sections of the wires between the flat cable ends 1 consists of strands separated from one another. These separated strands are arranged as a round cable and are loosely surrounded in common by a flexible, tubular casing 4. As a result of the fact that the strands 3' are loosely surrounded by the casing 4, a high degree of flexibility of the cable is achieved.

The flat cable ends 1 are connected with connector plug strips 2, individual coded contacts 6 of which are electrically connected with the associated wires stripped by so-called cold soldering.

At the end of the casing 4 uppermost in the drawing, an integrally formed abutment 5 serves for engagement with a tension-relieving clamp (not shown), which is, for example, a portion of an enclosure into which the connecting cable is introduced. the illustrated lower end of the casing 4 terminates in, for example, a flat funnel-shaped finishing extension 4' which is adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the flat cable end 1. This extension 4' also possesses an integrally formed abutment 5 for engagement with a tension-relieving clamp. The casing 4 is formed from, for example, silicone rubber.

1. An electrical connecting cable having generally flat end portions and an intermediate portion of generally circular cross-section and comprising a plurality of electrically separate conductor wires which are arranged in the intermediate portion in discrete strands loosely enclosed by a flexible tubular casing and the ends of which at each said portion are conjoined for connection in common to a respective strip-shaped connector.

2. A cable as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the strands each comprise a respective single one of the wires.

3. A cable as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least some of the strands

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Electrical connecting cable The present invention relates to an electrical connecting cable for connecting electrical devices. In electronic equipment technology, flat cables have become commonplace in view of their ability to allow an inexpensive and a problem-free connection to connector strips. Flat cables are also used for connecting electronic devices to the power supply or for connecting devices together. It has, however, been found that the sometimes very wide flat cables are too inflexible in the transverse direction, so that the ease of operating such devices decreases even with slight changes in position of the devices at the point of installation. Because of the inflexibility in transverse direction, a change in direction of the flat cable can be effected only by kinking or folding. This is annoying and interferes with the handling of the devices. The folding of flat cables within the devices itself is quite acceptable, as the Cables are not visible outside the devices.In the case of connecting cables which lead from a device to the mains terminals or from one device to another, the necessary kinking and folding of the cables to enable optimum positioning of the devices at the points of installation or of the devices relative to each other not only makes handling of the devices difficult but also spoils their external appearance. It is, of course, possible in principle to use a multi-strand round cable for such connection purposes. In this case, the individual wires of the basic cable are identified by colour, so that a unique association with the connecting points is possible. The connection of a plurality of individual wires to the connecting points of a connector strip is, however, tedious and costly in labour and of course gives rise to possible sources of error. There is accordingly a need for a connecting cable which on the one hand embodies the advantages of a multi-strand flat cable in the sense of a rapid, problem-free and functionally reliable connection with connector strips, but on the other hand exhibits the high flexibility in any direction which is the property of round cables. According to the present invention there is provided an electrical connecting cable having generally flat end portions and an intermediate portion of generally circular cross-section and comprising a plurality of electrically separate conductor wires which are arranged in the intermediate portion in discrete strands loosely enclosed by a flexible tubular casing and the ends of which at each said end portion are conjoined for connection in common to a respective strip-shaped conductor. An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic perspective view of an electrical connecting cable which can be connected at both ends with connector strips. Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a connecting cable which either consists of a commercially available, multi-strand flat cable which is subsequently split between the flat cable ends 1, so that the sections of the wires 3 between the ends 1 form strands 3', or else is manufactured in this form at the outset. Since connecting cables of this type are used in standard or standardized lengths, this is a question of rational manufacture. The strands 3' may be divided up, according to the total width of the flat cable, to consist of individual wires, double wires or multiple wires, but in general they are so divided up that the sections of the wires between the flat cable ends 1 consists of strands separated from one another. These separated strands are arranged as a round cable and are loosely surrounded in common by a flexible, tubular casing 4. As a result of the fact that the strands 3' are loosely surrounded by the casing 4, a high degree of flexibility of the cable is achieved. The flat cable ends 1 are connected with connector plug strips 2, individual coded contacts 6 of which are electrically connected with the associated wires stripped by so-called cold soldering. At the end of the casing 4 uppermost in the drawing, an integrally formed abutment 5 serves for engagement with a tension-relieving clamp (not shown), which is, for example, a portion of an enclosure into which the connecting cable is introduced. the illustrated lower end of the casing 4 terminates in, for example, a flat funnel-shaped finishing extension 4' which is adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the flat cable end 1. This extension 4' also possesses an integrally formed abutment 5 for engagement with a tension-relieving clamp. The casing 4 is formed from, for example, silicone rubber. CLAIMS

3. A cable as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein at least some of the strands each comprise a respective pair of the wires.

4. A cable as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discrete strands are formed by splitting and separating conjoined strands along predetermined separation zones.

5. A cable as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing is provided at at least one end of said cable intermediate portion with a flattened extension having a shape substantially conforming to that of at least part of the associated one of said cable end portions.

6. A cable as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the casing is provided in an end region thereof with an integrally formed abutment for engagement with tension-relieving clamping means.

7. An electrical connecting cable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.