GB2272799A

GB2272799A - Cable termination to electrical connectors

Info

Publication number: GB2272799A
Application number: GB9221985A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Hambrook
Original assignee: BUCKLE MICHAEL
Current assignee: BUCKLE MICHAEL
Priority date: 1992-10-20
Filing date: 1992-10-20
Publication date: 1994-05-25
Also published as: GB9221985D0

Abstract

An electrical interconnector for use for example with trailers of motor vehicles, comprises a plurality of current conducting pins 18 each locatable within channels formed in a socket of the interconnector and each formed with a barbed surface 19 capable of making firm engagement with a sheathed conducting wire 3 to make electrical contact therewith. The channels are closed from above by wedge shaped members 14 which are urged into contact with wires placed above the barbed surfaces of the pins to cause the barbs to penetrate the sheaths of the wires. The wedge members are serrated adjacent the wires and plural wedge members are simultaneously forced inwardly by a screw-threaded sleeve 21. A screwed member 4 forces socket portions 5 against the cable 2 clamp it. <IMAGE>

Description

Imorovements in and Relating to Electrical Connectors This invention relates to electrical connectors.

More especially, the invention relates to electrical connectors for use with trailers of motor vehicles which include a plurality of connecting members such as pins and sockets for mechanical engagement with and disengagement from co-operating connectors to make or break electrical connection therewith. A terminal is conventionally associated with each connecting member for converting the member electrically to each of several conductors of an insulated multistrand assembly of such conductors.

Electrical interconnectors are known which comprise co-operating male and female pin and socket members to which a plurality of current conducting wires are connected at terminals by screw threaded conductors which bear against previously bared sections of the wires. Such known interconnectors suffer from the disadvantage that shorting can occur in the presence of water and stray filaments of one or more wires can extend between adjacent terminals of the interconnector to create shorts in the current supply.

The present invention sets out to provide an electrical interconnector which does not suffer from, or at least alleviates, the disadvantages discussed above.

According to the present invention in one aspect, there is provided an electrical interconnector comprising a plurality of current conducting pins each formed with a barbed surface adapted to make firm engagement with a sheathed conducting wire to penetrate the sheath cover and to make electrical contact therewith.

The pins may locate within channels formed in a socket of the interconnector, the channels being closed from above by wedge shaped members which are urged into contact with wire placed above the barbed surfaces of the pins to cause the barbs to penetrate the sheaths of the wires.

The wedge shaped members may be urged into contact with the wires by means of a sleeve formed with an inclined surface which moves over the upper surface of the wedge shaped members to cause them to move downwardly into firm engagement with the wires.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view in section of an electrical interconnector in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a partial section of the interconnector shown in Figure 1 taken along line II-fI of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an exploded view of the electrical interconnector illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and including a connecting socket.

The interconnector illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a socket 1 into and through which a cable 2 comprising a plurality of wires 3 pass. Both the cable itself and the individual wires are enclosed within a sheath of insulating material. The cable 2 is held in place within the socket 1 by an externally threaded cap 4 which locates about the cable and co-operates with internal threading formed on a tubular end section 5 of the socket. Screwing of the cap 4 into the end section 5 forces a bridge 6 of the socket into firm gripping contact with the cable 2.

The end of the socket 1 remote from the cap 4 abuts against one end face of a second socket member 7 which is formed with a multiplicity of through holes 8 through which individual wires 3 of the sheathed cable 2 can pass.

Typically, seven such through holes are provided, one at or towards the centre of the socket 7 and six in an annular array about the socket axis. As will be seen from Figure 1, the socket member 7 is formed with a central tapered section 9 between spaced annular flanges 11, 12.

The tapered section 9 is formed with a plurality of lengthwise extending channels 10. Each hole 8 passes through the flange 11 to communicate with one of the channels 10. The channels 10 are closed by tapered wedge members 14 each of which is formed with an inclined outer face 15 and a serrated lower edge 16. The members 14 are dimensioned to fit snugly within the channels 10 and means are provided to retain, or assist the retention of the members 14 within the channels 10.

The end of the socket member 7 adjacent the flange 12 is formed with a plurality of channels 17 of circular cross-section into which conducting pins 18 locate.

The end of each connector pin 18 which, in use, is positioned within a channel 17 of the socket member 7 is formed with a plurality of barbs 19 or the like capable of penetrating the insulating sheath of a wire 3 positioned in one of the channels 10 of the socket member 7 and trapped between the barbed surface of a pin 18 and the serrated edge of a wedge member 14. The wedge member 14 is urged downwardly into firm contact with the wire 3 by means of an internally threaded sleeve 21 which is screwed onto external threads of the socket 2. The sleeve 21 is formed with an inclined surface 22 which complements the external shaping of the tapered section 9 and cooperates with the wedge members 14 to urge the wires 3 downwardly with sufficient pressure to cause the barbs 19 to penetrate and make electrical contact with the conducting strands of the wires. The socket member 7 has a tubular forward section 23 into which the exposed ends of the pins 15 protrude.

In use, the interconnector described cooperates with a connector 24, of similar construction to that described excepting that it includes a plurality of sockets into which each of the pins 18 locate to enable current to flow between items connected electrically to the interconnector and to the connector.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of electrical inter connectors in accordance with the invention and that qualifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An electrical interconnector comprising a plurality of current conducting pins each locatable within channels formed in a socket and each formed with a barb which, in use, penetrates a sheath of a current carrying wire to make electrical contact therewith with the channels being closed from above by wedge shaped members which are urged into contact with a sheathed wire placed above the barb of a pin to cause the barb to penetrate the sheath of the wire.

2. An interconnector as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the wedge shaped members are urged into contact with the wires by means of a sleeve formed with an inclined surface which moves over the upper surface of the wedge shaped members to cause them to move downwardly into firm engagement with the wires.

3. An electrical interconnector substantially as herein described and as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.