Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
L3~i;
'i'ITLF.
CONTACT DEVICE FOR A ~IULTICONDUCTOR CABLE
BAC~GROUND_OF THE INVENTIOW
The invention relates to a cont~Lct de~tice
for a multiconduc~or ca~le comprising a terminal
support and a terminal cover o insulating material.
The terminal support contains recesses in wh.ch
terminals are located. Terminals at the side of the
terminal cover comprise bifurcated insulatlon
piercing con~acts. Insulated electrical conductors
of multiconductor cable are passed throush the
contact cover to the bifurcated in~ulation piercing
con~ac ts .
Said contact device is known from the DutCh
lS Patent Application 76G3231, laid open to public
inspection, In this known device the insulated
electrical conductors are passed through separate
bores in ~he terminal cover, after which the ends are
pressed between the tineso~ the bi~urcated insulation
piercing contacts, located in ~he terminal support.
The lower surface of the terminal cover comprises
recesses for acco~oda~ing the bifurcated insulation
piercing contacts, whereas trans-~ersely to each
recess a deep yroove is m~de for accammodatlng the
bent end of the electr ical conductor pressed between
the tines of the insul,7tion piercing contact. Upon
assembling this contacf device each conductor ~irst
has to be bent rectangularly at its end to be
connected, after which this bent portion i5 pressed
between ~he tines of the corresponding insulation
piercing contact . The free end of the electrical
conductor is passed thrcugh cocrespondin~ bores in
the terminal cover, w~ich cover then is slid over the
core piercing contacts and lowered on the terminal
support upcn pulling the ends of the conductors
extend-ing out of the bores.
'- Al~ .~ ~ .q ~3 q ~
- Using a rnultitudc o~ conductors to assemble
suc;~ a contact device is time-consuming. This
contact device does not lend itself to autcmatic
assembly processes. IF one of the connectors has to
S be repaired o~ replaced, the terminal cover has to be
removed, the conductor has to be repla~ed and the
terminal cover has to be pos i t ioned aga in . As a
matter of course ~he remaining conductors may be
damaged or torn apart in this repairing process.
S~I~R~f OF~ /~NTION
The above disadvailtages are avoided in the
contact device oE the present invention which is
characteri~ed in tha~ the insulated electrical
conductors contacting the terminals have been bent in
15 a U-s;.ape over a part of their length and are
supported. The base portion of the U-shaped bent
conductor is pushed into the slit between the ~ines
of the bifurcated core piercing contact in order to
achieve electrical contact with the terminal.
The use of a supported, U-shaped bent
conductor portion provides a means of contacting the
conductor with the bifurcated insulatiGn piercin~
contact without pass ng the conductor separately
through a terminal cover. This can be achieved
25 simply by pressing the conduc~or do~n between the
tines of the bifurcated insulation piercing contact
through an openin~ or recess. The U-shape o~fers a
good strain ~elief, which can be improved by
additional pressing means. Repair or replacement of
30 the conductors can ~e done very easily since these
conductors need not be passed separately through ~he
terminal cover.
In a prererred embodiment of the contac~
device of the present invention the cover contains
35 recesses for accommodating and supporting the
~ 3 ~
U-shaped bent conductoc portions. These recesses are
located such that all U-shaped ben~ conductor
portions are posi~ioned in parallel plane~. The
cove. also contains channels Eor the bifurcated core
pie;cing contacts. These channels emerge into ~he
recesses for ~he U-shaped bent conduc~or portions.
Pre~era~ly the recesses in the terminal
cover for the U-shaped bent conductor portions extend
from the upper surfa~e almost ~o the lower surface cf
the terminal cover. The channels ~or the bifurcated
core piercing contacts consist of slots extendiny
transversely to the longitudinal direction of the
recesses fc. the U-shaped bent connector portions.
In an assembled con~ac~ device a bifurcated
insulation piercing contact in a slot is squeezed
until within the recess. In the recess both sides of
the bifurcated insul~tion piercing contact are
sufficientl~ spaced from the walls of the recess so
that there is room for pushing between the tines o~
this bifurcated insulation piecing contact a portion
of an insulated electrical conductor which was
passing lengthwise over the recess on the upper
sur~ace of the terminal cover.
Upon assembling the con~act device of the
present invention, first the terminal cover is
lowered on the terminal sUp?ort containing the
inserted terminals. The bifurc~ted insula~ion
piercing contacts are first received by the slots in
the terminal cover. The contacts thereafter emerge
at the upper surface of the cover within a recess.
~ext the electrical c~nductors are placed on the
upper surface of the terminal co~er in the
longitudinal direction across the recesses.
Thereafter these conductors can be pressed
successively and separatel~, but also simultaneously
in~o the recess bet~een the tines o tbe bifurcated
insulation piercing contacts. This can be executed
with separate tooling formed as a flat strip-shaped
anvil, w~ich can press the portion oE ~ cond~lctor
stretching across the recess in w this recess until
in the slit between the two tines. The insulation is
cut by the shar~ edges of the tines and the core is
brought into contact with these sharp edges. Also
the pressin~ action on the conductors can be executed
simultaneously for all conductors by means of the
cable support. This support consists o a plate
having a lower surface resting upon the insulated
electrical conductors which in turn rest upon the
upper surface of the terminal cover. In this lower
surf~ce paraLlel grooves adjacent to each other are
formed for at least partly receiving the electrical
conductors. Conductor pushing means are located in
the grooves of the cable support, opposite to a
rece~s in the terminal cover. Said conductor pushing
means each consist of a ~inger or a strip por~ion
stretching in the direction to the terminal cover,
the largest width of which extends transversely to
the plane of the bifurcated insulation piercing
contact located in the recess. The length and
position of each strip portion is chosen such, that
uyon lowering the cable suppor. on the terminal cover
each strip portion can be conducted into the slit
betwee~ the tines of the bifurcated insulation
piercing contact. ~pon lowering the cable support on
the terminal cover simultaneously all conductors are
pressed between the tines of the terminal.
Preferably a clamp is used in order to keep the cable
support in position. This clamp may be buiLt in, for
instance, or form a part of the usual dust cover for
the contact device.
35~
The contact device o~ the present invention
is particularly sultable ~or automatically operating
assembling means. In case a conductor has ~o be
repaired or replace~ only one conduc tor needs to !~e
handled. t~lith the except ion of the cable support all
remaining ~ortions sf the contact device can remain
in position. The contact between each core and
corresponding bif~lr-ated insula tion piercin~ con tact
is maintained, e-~en ~Jhen the cable support is
remove~. Bending each con~]uctor several times for
pushing it into the recess of the sover and between
the tines of the insula~ion piercing contact results
in a U-sha~ed bend in the conductor, wnich by its
position in the terminal cover gives a strain
relief. This strain relief can be improved by
lowering the cable support, which is clampe~ on the
upper surface of the ':erminal cover. The lower
surface of ~he cable support an~ the upper surface of
the terminal cover may comprise parallel grooves
20 adjacent to each other or at least p2rtly receiving
the electrical conductors.
In contact devices for multiconductor cables
there is a tendency to an ever increasing density of
the connections, i.e., an ever increasing number o~
25 connectors and terminals per contact device.
~ncreasing the density in the above mentioned known
contact devices also increases the assembly and
repai; proble.~s. The usual dimensioning of such
contact devices, in which the di~tance between the
30 center lines of the recesses is for instance equal to
2 . 54 mm (O .1 inch) and the number of recesses
positioned behind each other in one row is three.
This cons.itutes a li~it for the number of terminals
to be used in one contact device. The length also
35 has to be within cer~ain dimensions, particularly iE
` ~gL6~3~
s
all conductocs have ~o be supplied from one side to
the contact device as is customary with flat ca~le.
~n the known devices it is custom~ry to introduce the
conductors erom above or from different opposite
S si~es to the up2er sur ace of the ~erminal support.
Thls problem is solved llkewise by the
contact de~ice of the present invention, which is
characterize~ in having one ro~/ o~ recesses
positioned behind one another in the terminal
iO support. ~erminals in the terminal support have
different distances bet~e2n tle center line of the
terminal and the slit between t'ne tines of the
bifurcated insulating piercing contact. Termina;s
having an offset between the slit and their center
l; line are m-ltually turned with respect to each other
180
In case of three recesses, one behind each
other, in one row a central terminal can be used, the
slit of which coincides with the center line of this
~erminal, whereas the outer terminals ha-Je slits
offset with respect to its center line and are
rotatçd 180 with respQct to one another. With the
above mantioned dimensioning in this case three
~onductors can be supplied from one side o~ the
25 contact device to tne up~er surface of the terminal
cove r .
THE D ~IN~S
. The invention will now be further explained
tJith reference to the drawings, in ~hich:
3~ FIG. 1 shows a side elevation or an example
o~ a terminal of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows the termiinal according to
FIG. 1 in si-le elevation rotated over 90 with
cespect to the side elevation oE FIG. l;
,5
3~ii
FIG. 3 sho~s an example o~ a modified
terminal for the contact de~Jice of the presen~
in~ention also rotated over 90 with respec~ ~o the
side elevation of FIG. l;
FIG. 4 s!lo~s a top view o. the terminal of
FIG, 2;
FI5. 5 sho.~s a top view of the terminal of
FIG. 3;
FIr.. 6 shows an embodiment of a contact
lQ device of the presen~ invention in e~ploded view;
FIG. 7 shows a tcp view of the terminal
cover o~ tlle contact device o~ FI5. 2 with insulated
electri~al conductors lald upon the cover;
. FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show cross sections of the
1~ asse~bled contact device of FIG. 7 across the
~es~ec t ive th ree termina ls pos i tioned beh ind each
other in one row;
FIGS. 11, 12 ar.d 13 show contact devices
acoording to the pres~nt invention and a r.umber of
20 possibilities for appl.ying electrical conductors;
F~G. 14 shows a contact device of the
present invention in which a dust cover is used.
DESCRIPTI¢N_OF THE INVENTION
Each terminal consists OL ~n upper
25 portion 1, 2n intermediate po~tion 2 ~nd a lower
portion 3. The terminal may consist of a U-shaped
bent elect;ically conducting sheet. The t~o parallel
sides or this bent sheet are elonqated above and
below and connected with one another by me~ns of the
30 connection s~rip 4 in the inter~lediate ?ortion 2.
The elongated u~per portions constitute the
bi~urcated insulation pie~cing contacts, each
consisting of a p~ir of upstanding tines 5 and 6
respectively, separated from one anoth~r by a slit
35 7. ~he edges of the tines 5 and 6 defining the slit
3~
7 are sharpened such that upon pressing an insulated
conductor ~rom above into the slit 7 the insulation
will be cut and the sharp edges Q~ the slit 7 will
dig into the core o~ the electrical conductor. This
results in an extremely reliable contact between the
core and the terminal.
FIGS. 1, 4 and S show in the upper portion
two parallel bi~urc~ ted insulation piercing
contacts. For each terminal one or more bifurcated
insulation piercins contacts can be used, however, in
the present invention usually two biEurcated
insulation piercing contac~s are used. FIGS. 6, 12
and 13 show as an e~ampie one bifurcated insulation
piercing contact ~er terminal. In FIG~ l two
15 insulation piercing contacts per terminal are used.
The connection strip 4 o~ the intermediate
portion 2 is offset to the right over a predetermined
distance with respect to the right-hand edge oE the
side surfaces, so that a shoulder or support base 3
20 is obtained. Upon positioning a terminal in the
~erminal support 10 this shoulder will come to rest
on a cam in the recesses 11 of the terminal support
10. At the opposite edge of the intermediate portion
2 a sharp~protruding barb 9 i5 formed, which upon
~S positionin~ in the recess 11 wilL dig in the material
of the side o~ the opening, 50 that ~he terminal
cannot be drawn or ~all out of the recess.
The lower portion 3 of each terminal
comprises two contact terminals 12, 13 approaching
- 30 each other for connectin~ a ~urther conductor. ~hese
contac~ terminals as a matter of course need not be
embodied as shown and also may ~orm part o~ the
intermedL2te portion
The difference between the terminaLs of
35 ~IGS. 2, 4 and FIGS~ 3, 5 respecti-~e'y is that the
bifurcatccl core piercing contacts in the te~minal of
FIGS. 2 and 4 are displaced ~ith respect to the
center line oE the intermedi~te p~rtion 2. The slit
7 in FIG. ~ is situated to the left ,with respect to
the center line over a d is tance de termined b~ the
dia~.eter of the used electrical conductors. Upon
positionin~ these terminals i~ the termlnal support
10 one pair of each set s turned over 180, so that
the bifurc~ted insulation piercing contacts are
displaced to the left or to the right with respect to
the longitudinal direction of each row of recesses
ll. By using a further terrninal, the biEurca~ed
insulation piercing ccntacts of whicn are not
displaced with respect to the centec line, as shown
in FIGS. 3 and 5, a hig'ne~ connection density can be
obtained in ~he present in~ention.
The shape of the in termed ia te port ion 2 is
so adapted to the shape of the recesses 11, that the
terminal fits closely in these recesses. In FIG. 6
20 these recesses are shown h~ving rectangular cross
sections. In this case the cross sectlon o~ the
interme~iate portion 2 will be likewise rectangularO
This can be seen in FI~. 6.
FI~. 6 shows the component portions o~ a
25 contact device of the present invention in an
exploded view. The device consis~s of the ~erminal
support 10, tle terminal cover 14 and the cable
support 15. The co.~ponent portions 10 t 14 an~ l~ are
drawn above one another, such tha. upon lowering each
30 portion will take the neces-ary mutual position.
Between the cable suppor~ 15 and the terminal cover
14 an electrical insulated conductor to be connected
is shown having an insulating sheeth 17 and a core 18.
The ter~inal support 10 ccnsists of a
35 pl~stic block having three rows of equi-spaced square
35i
or rectangular recesses 11 in this shown ~rnbodiment.
The pitch between these recesses, which means the
distance between the center lines of the recesses 11
which are placed behind each o~her and next to each
S other is as usual in tllis kind of contact devices
2.54 mm or 0~100 inch. This meas~re is mainly
standarized and is used in the U.S.A. and in Europe.
Between the recesses 11 lands 19 are formed, having
equal wi2th, as lon~ as the recesses 11 are o~ a
1~ rectangular cross section. The upper sur~aces of
these lands function as suPpor~ Eor the terminals as
shown in FIG. 1, where the shoulders 20 re~t upon the
upper side of the lands 19 be~ween ~he recesses 11.
Terminals according to FIGS. 2 and 3 are
positione~ in the middle row of the shown recesses,
which row is parallel to the direction of grooves 21
in the terminal cover 14. In the centec opening a
terminal according to FIG. 3 is introduced, whereas
at both sides hereof terminals accordin~ to F~G. 2
are turned 180 with respect to each other. Upon
introducing these terminals in che recesses 11 the
barbs 9 dig in the material of the walls bet~een the
re~esses, so th~t the terminals are kept ~irmly in
position. The recesses in FIG. 6 are of square cross
25 section, however, the invention is not restricted to
this cross section. The cross section likewise can
be circular or alliptical, in which case as a matter
of course the intermed;ate portions 2 of the
terminals have to be adapted to this modified cross
30 sec~ion, such that the terminals cannot rotate in the
recesses about their center lines.
In F~G. 6 the terminal cover 14 is shown
partly in cross section above ~he terminal support 10.
The cover i4 i5 provided at the upper side
35 with parallel grooves 21 having sucn cross section
3~
11
that the round outer surface of each conductor i5
suppo.ted over a p~rt o the periphery. Three
paralleL grooves 21 are positionct3 within the
distance between two recesses lli seen ~ransversel~
to the direction of the geoove~.
A recess 22 emerges into eacn grcove 21. A
channel or slot 23 emerges in the lower end of the
re~^ess ~2. Slot 23 emerges also in the lower surface
of the termin~l cover 1~1. In FIG. 6 upon iowe~ing
the terminal covec 1~ on ~he `terminal support 10 ~he
slot 23 receives the bifurcated insulation piercing
contact which for~s par. of the terminal positioned
at the mo'st right side in a recess of the terminal
support 10. The recess 22 is of such depth that the
l; upper parts o~ the two tines 5 and 6 togetller with
slit 7 i~between are received in the recess 22,
su~ficiently high in order ~o obtain a good contact
between core 18 oE conductor 16 after pushing down a
conductor portion in the recess 22 and between the
'O tines S and 6. In FI(~. 6 the recess 22 is of angular
sha~e at the bottom. Hotlever, this bottom can also
be rounded.
Upo~ asse~bling the contact device of the
present invention, first the ter~inals are ~ositioned
~5 in a manner shown in the recesses ll of th~ terminal
support lQ. In FIG. 6 three of the recesses are
~illed only, but it will be ob-~ious that the
inven~ion is not restricted ~o tllia shown example.
~e~t the terminal cover 1~ i5 lowerea on the upper
30 surface of the termin 1 support 10 upon which all
bifurca~ed insulation pie cing contacts will slip
into the corresponding slots 23.
Next conductor- 16 are laid in the groo~es
21, which conductors 1~ in al~y case ila~e to extend
35 over the recesses 22, in Whl'Ch 2C both sides
1~
su~ficient length r~mains in order to comple~ely fill
the recess 22 with the U-shaped bent portion of this
conductor 16 upon pressing in the recess. See also
FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. A~ter applying all necessary
conductors the ca~le suppor~ 15 is pressed on the
upper surface of the terminal cover 14. The cable
support 15 also is provided with paeallel grooves 24,
~hich together with grooves 21 in the terminal coYer
14 will pinch in the eLectrical conduc~or 16. In
10 each groove 2~ of the cable suppor t 15 a str iplike
anvil 25 is rormed. Tlli~ anvil is made of the same
materials as the cable support 15. Upon lowering the
ca'~l~ sup~or. 15 on the termin21 cov~r 14 eacn anvil
25 is conducted into a corres?onding r~cess 22. The
lS front of the anvil 25 forms a roun2ed hollow
cylindrical support surface 26 for the insulting
sheeth 17 o~ conductor 16. In the middle each anvil
comprises an opening 27, having sucn wid~h that the
two re;naining pads at both sides of the opening 27
will.take a position at both sides of ~he slit 7 in
tl~e bifurcate3 insulation piercing contact. I
conductor 16 is ~laced on the groove 21 oE tne
t~rminal cover, which conduccor ~6 runs over the
recess 22, this part of the conductor 16 on top of
recess 22 .~ill be pressed d~wnwardly and between the
tines S and 6 of the bifurcated insulation piercing
contac. upon lowering t'ne cable suppor. 15 on the
terminal cover 1~, so that the core 18 is introduced
in the slit 7 after cutting insulation 17 by tines 5
30 and 6. This r~suLts in an excellent electrical
contact between the core 18 and the terminal.
The above show~, that upon lowerin~ the
cable support 15 on cover L4 all conductors 16 in
grooves 21 n~rlv simultaneously wilL be br~usht into
35 contact ~ith the co~responding bi~urcated insulation
12
13
piercing contact. For pressing a multitude of
conductors in the recesses 22 a particular pressing
means for the cable support 15 will be necessary.
However, the conductors also can be pressed separately
in each of the corresponding recesses 22 and between
the tines 5 and 6 by a suitable tooling, the end
surface of which is formed as the shown anvil 25.
Apart from the U-shaped portion of the
conductor located in the recess 22 the cable support
15 together with the anvil 25, if used, gives an
additional strain relief for conductors 16~
Instead of the permanently present cable
support 15 and anvils 25, the conductors also may be
pressed simultaneously by means of a correspondingly
shaped tooling in the recesses 22 and slit 7 of
the bifurcated insulation piercing contacts. This
particular tooling should be provided with anvils 25
in accordance with the number of recesses in which
conductors have to be connected. After applying the
conductors this particular tooling can be replaced
by cable support 15, from which the anvils 25 can be
omitted.
The terminal support 10 comprising the
terminals, the terminal cover 14 lowered on the
terminal support 10 and the cable support 15 with
conductor 16 placed inbetween can be covered by
a dust cover which also may provide additional
pressing force between the three plastic parts 10~
14 and 15. This dust cover may be provided with a
clamp.
FIG. 7 shows a top view of the terminal
cover 14, after introducing the different conductors
16 between the tines of the bifurcated insulation
piercing contacts. As distinct from the embodiment
of FIG. 6, in the embodiment of FIG. 7 each terminal
14
is provided with two bifurcated insulation piercing
contacts. In the top ~iew of FIG. 7 these are shown
in interrupted lin-~s. FIG. 7 also shows that theee
conducto~s 1~ can be located between th~ usual
distance of 2.5~ m~ between the recesses 11.
FI5S. 8, 9 and 10 respectively show cross
sections of terminal cover 14 and terminal support 10
having terminals located in the recesses 11 of the
terminal suppor~ 15, wnich terminals are prc~ided
with the bifurcated lnsulation piercing contacts.
FIG. 8 sho~.s a cross section over the central row in
FIG. 7. FIG. 9 S'lOtJ~ a cross section over the upper
row and FIG. 10 a c~oss section over the lo~er row,
se~n in tle surEace of the dra~ing o~ FIG. 7.
FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 clearly show that the
bifurcated insulation piercing contacts Oe the center
row coincide with the center line of the terminal
whereas the ~i~urcated insulation piercing contacts
of the ou~er rows in F~GS. 9 and 10 are displaced
` with respect ~o the center line. ~his shows that
three bif~rcated insulation piercing contacts
positioned in one ~ow behind each other each can be
brought into contact with a separate conductor 16~
In this manner .hree conductors can be guided to the
25 exterior of the contact at one side hereof. These
three conductors use the space of one pitch between
two recesses 11 in the terminal support 10.
FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 also show how the
terminals rest with the shoulders 20 and 8 on the
30 cecesses 11 of the terminal sup~ort. The barbs`9
form an additional safety ~eans for the terminals.
FIGS. Ll, 12 and 13 show modified
embodiments for applying the conductors 16. In the
embodiment of FI5. 11 ~ir~t t~e conductors 16 are
35 ap?lied and connected, a~ter ~hich these conductors
14
are cut simuitaneously at an edge of the conkact
device. See reference number 28. In this em~odiment
the conductors approach the contact device at the
upper surface of the terminal ccver 1~.
As shown in FIG. 11 t~Yo biEurca ted
insulation piercing cont~cts per ~erminal are used.
In the embodiment of FI~. 12 the conductors
1~ approac~ from above. Here likewise all conductors
are cut simultaneously a~ 28~ In the embodiment of
FIG. 13 the conductors also approach ~rom above~ but
are cut in a surface of the grooves 21~ where the
bent portions of the conductors 16 leave the recesses
22 .
In case one s ingle conductor has to be
re~aired or replaced separately, the cable support 15
need only be lift~d, a~ter ~hich the conductor to ~e
repaired can be removed by pulling out of recess 22
and out of the biEurcated insula~ion piercing
contact. Thereafter, a new conductor can be applied
and connected, after which the cable suppot 15 can
be low~red on the terminal cover again.
.The embodiments of FIGS. 11 and 1~ are
pre.erred above the embodiment of FIG. 13, because
alL conductors 16 in the embodiments of ~I~S. 11 and
25 12 can be cut in one cutting operating, in J~hich the
cutti~g surfaces are in line with the side of the
contact device. Also upon this cutting operation all
conductors 16 are supported, at least in the
embodiment of FIG. 11.
In the contact device of FIG. 14 a dust
cover is used, consisting of two halves 29. These
halves 29 are pressed together and grip around the
terminal support 10, terminal cover 14 and cable
support 15 and keep these parts clamped together.
35 Conductors 2~ are guided out through the shown pip~,
16
also consisting of two halves 30. As a matter of
course the number of conductors is not restricted to
three as shown.
The embodiment to be practiced depends on
the particular circumstances.
The contact device of the present invention
can be used with cables of different design. In
case of flat cables each conductor or wire needs
firstly to be separated. The core 17 can be solid,
but also may be a stranded type.
The configuration and dimension of the
contact device of the present invention is adapted
to a DIN 41612 connector system. However, there
is enough design freedom within the scope of the
present invention to produce connectors with
different dimensional sizes and numbers of positions
or recesses in one or more rows.
Also it is self-evident, that the invention
is not restricted to a contact device having only
three recesses placed behind each other in one row.
The invention can be used throughout where space
limitations exist caused by high density of
connections, conductors and terminals. In the
present invention -these problems are solved by
moving the separate conductors from a flat surface
downwardly in the shape of a U, below the upper
surface of the ~erminal cover 14 and pressing the
conductors in the lower portion of the recess
between the tines of the bifurcated insulation
piercing contacts. Between these adjoining
bifurcated insulation piercing contacts sufficient
insulation exists by turning these bifurcated
insulation piercing contacts of the different
terminals with respect to the center line of the
terminals over 180. This likewise facilitates
the repair of separate conductors.
16
3~
17
I t is s~ lf ev iden t tha t the i nven t ion is no t
limited to the shown embodim~n ts, and that
modific~-ions and additions are poc.sible wi~hout
leaving the scop~ of the present inventior~.
.
1~
0
17
