US2549647A - Conductor and compressible insert connector means therefor - Google Patents

Description

April 17, 1951 w. J. TURENNE CONDUCTOR AND COMPREssIBLE INSERT CONNECTOR MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 22, 194e Invenor: ijredcIZI/renne.

Mew viii/Lys.

Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE CONDUCTOR AND COMPRESSIBLE INSERT CONNECTOR MEANS THEREFOR Wilfred J. Turenne, Fayville, Mass.

Application January 22, 1946, Serial No. 642,595

1 Claim.

My present invention relates to connectors and especially detachable electrical connector means. It aims to provide efficient, simplified and otherwise improved means for the purpose stated.

In the drawing, illustrating one embodiment of the invention by way of example:

Fig. 1 shows in elevation a connector assembly installed;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the joint and connector means of Fig. 1, on a larger scale; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-section as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the example of the drawing the connector means is shown joining conductors of diierent `types and size, designated generally at I and 2.

|That at the left is represented as a iire detector cable such as that of my Patent No. 2,275,873, dated March 10, 1942. It comprises an inner conductor or wire 3, spacer means' of nonconductive material and an outer conductive tubing 1. The other conductor or cable 2 is illustrated as a conventional insulated type comprising a central conductor element or wire 4, a surrounding layer 6 which may be fibre-glass or other material, sometimes incorporating shielding or conductive means such as stranded copper wire, and an insulatng cover 8 such as a saturated fibre-glass or other sleeving.

In forming the joint the conductors are prepared by exposing end portions of the central conductive elements 3 and 4 as indicated at 3', 4', in Fig. 2. The tubing 1 of the conductor I is given a flare as at 1. The other conductor 2, in this case smaller, is inserted through an adapter element comprising a length of tubing I of metal or other supportive material as for example aluminum or an aluminum or other alloy, this tubing being flared at the end adjacent the bared conductor section 4', as at I0'. This tubular adapter I0 and the enclosed conductor 2 are firmly crimped together as at I2, I2. These crimped portions may be applied in the field as by special pliers for the purpose'. The described formations including the flares 1, IIJ and the crimped portions I2, 2 are comprised in theillustrated assembly and serveto strengthen it as a whole and to resist axial forces on the conductors as well as to anchor the conductor 2 in the adapter ID.

The connector means of the invention further comprises a conductive unionshown as a split metallic sleeve I5. This sleeve member I5, herein disposed centrally of thedevice as a whole, is formed of a good electrical conductive material 'end a female threaded portion 3|.

21 and the member 2| together form one of an which desirably also is suiliciently resilient or yieldable to afford the sleeve capacity for reception of diiTerent conductors and for radial compressive surface engagement laterally with the received conductors. Suitable materials include certain copper alloys, which if desired may be silver plated for enhanced electrical contact. The ends of the sleeve I5 preferably are flared substantially as illustrated for ready insertion of the bared ends 3', 4 of the conductor elements 3 and 4 to be joined. The ilared ends of the sleeve as shown are turned on themselves for reinforcement and to aid retention of the sleeve in embedded position in the resilient body, plug or pellet I6 of nonconducting material of rubber or rubber-like composition such as one of the synthetic rubbers as for instance Buna N.

The'resilient body I B, generally cylindrical, is vadapted for reception in like-shaped opposed cavities at the adjacent ends of a pair of tubular connector elements comprising members 2| and Either of these may be placed on either conductor to be joined. The normal free or unstressed diameter of the body or plug-like element I6 is made somewhat less than that of the common receiving cavity in parts 2| and 22, and

the length of element I6 is greater than the which the corresponding flares 1', I0 abut.

The connector member 2| has an enlargement at its inner end presenting an external radial shoulder 25 or like abutment. Rotatable on the member 2| is a sleeve-like coupler 21 with an inturned radial ange 29 adapted to abut the shoulder 25 of member 2| and having at its inner This coupler interengageable pair of main elements for the connector assembly. vThe other element of this pair is the unitary part or member 22 already `referred to, having at its inner'end a male threaded portion 26. Y

The two cooperatively threaded elements 2 I -21 Vand 22 define approximate halves of the connector body as a whole. The male connector element 22 and the female coupler member 21 of the other body element are each provided with a hex or other non-round formation 22a and 21a respectively for application of wrenches or othersuitable tools in making or releasing the connection. These formations, illustrated as hex centrally held in the resilient plug anges, desirably are drilled as at 22h, 2117 for receiving a pin, wire or like means to lock the connector assembly against vibration. When either or both of the coaxial cables or tubular conductors to be joined are of an externally grooved or corrugated nature as herein shown for the outer tubing of conductor space between such tubing and the inner wall of the surrounding connector part 2|, 22 or l0 desirably is lled with a metal-bonding cement as indicated at 35 in association with the tting member 2|, thus securing the cable in and to the latter and also blocking entrance of water or other foreign matter between them.

From the foregoing in connection with the drawing it will be evident that the respective connector halves or body elements 2|-21 and 22 are placed on the conductors to be joined and the bared ends of the central wires or conductors proper 3', 4 are inserted into the sleeve I5 I6. The threaded portions of the members 22 and 21 are interengaged. In completing the coupling operation the opposed body elements are forced together by rotatably turning up the coupler 21 onto the connector part 22. By reason of the separable coupler 2`| turnable on and relative to the connector part 2| and also relative to the opposed connector part 22, there need be little or no relative turning movement as between either of the connector parts 2| and 22 and any contacting surface of the joined conductors or of the'v resilient body i6. Thus undesirable twisting stress on the conductors proper is avoided, such as might tend to disturb the electrical connection.

In the described coupling operation the resilient body or plug IB is compressed, the unstressed volume of this body as previously noted being somewhat more than the nal receiving space for it in the adjustable connector parts 2| and 22. The pressure thus built up acts in all directions within the resilient material and tends to force it into any available space at the juncture of the connector parts 2|, 22 and about the terminals of the split sleeve I5. At the same time the compressive pressure transmitted to the sleeve in which the conductor ends are inserted insures intimate surface contact as between thev sleeve and the inserted conductor ends, promoting a good electrical connectionl Simultaneously the compressive forcing of the rubberous material of the body I6 into the joint between the connector parts 2|, 22, also between the ared adapter sleeve l and the connector part 22, as well as at the corresponding joint between the ared conductor tubing 'I and the connector part 2| efiects a tight seal for excluding water, oil or other foreign matter.

The connector means of the invention is applicable for the joining of cables and conductors of numerous different types, sizes and structures, including for example radio-frequency cables, the joined electrical conductor cables being identical or otherwise. In some instances the joined axial elements either in addition to or alternatively to their electrical conductive function may be in the nature of duid-bearing conduits or conductors.

Among the numerous advantages of the present invention are the capacity for rapid attachment of the connector assembly in the tight and positive manner as described in connection with the drawing, and in such fashion that-excellent electrical contact is assured together with ample insulation resistance at the joint, the connection being at the same time impervious to entrance of foreign matter. The cooperative parts of the connector device specially avail of the conned mass of resilient insulative material so as automatically to stress it in making up the connection and thereby provide an eifective external seal and internal closure. The improved connector means additionally is simple in structure and light in weight yet rugged in service, and is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof as herein illustrated and described, its scope being pointed out in the following claim.

Iy claim:

For electrically and mechanically joining electric cables which have bared conductors projecting centrally from dare-ended outer metal tubingf, a.. connector assembly comprising a longitudinally split sleeve of yieldable conducting material. receiving such conductors at its opposite ends, a cylindrical rubberous mass encompassing the sleeve and of a length making endwise abuttive Contact with and partial entrance into the iiare. ends oi cables when the central conductors thereof are iitted into said sleeve, opposed cylindrical connectorl body members having each a@ cable-receivingv bore and having mating recesses dening a cavity contactively enclosing and conning. the rubberousmass, said cavity including end walls engaging the ares of the tubing endsopposite the abuttive contact thereof with said mass intheinstalled position of the assembly, one of said body members being externally threaded, and a sleeve-like coupler having threaded engagement with said threaded body member and having longitudinal' a-buttive engagement with theother body member so as to draw together and abuttively interconnect said members, saidl rubberous mass in the free unstressed state being oversized with respect to said cavity: so that it isK subjected to both lengthwise and radial compressive stress in and by said members upon such interconnection thereof, thereby sealingv the joint in all directions and simultaneously insulating and compressing the sleeve and promoting the electrical union thereof with the received conductor ends.

WLFREDy J. TURENNE.

REFERENCES CITED TheY following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 965,684 Bierce et al July 26, 1910 1,975,885 Wellman Oct. 9, 1934 2,087,920 Mascuch July 27, 1937 2,177,5081 Abbott Oct. 24 1939 2,291,434, Hollopeter et'al. July 8, 1942 2,318;822 Wantzl May 1l, 1943 2,379,942 Webber; July 10, 1945 2,397,735 Greib` Apr. 2, 1946 2,404,682 Baker July 23, 1946 2,443,654 Else et al June 22, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 471,536 England n Sept. 6, 1937 693,052., Germany, June 6, 1940

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