Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to double tap connectors, with
insulation displacing terminals, such as are used in
telecommunications systems.
Various forms of connectors exist, with various
disadvantages, such as lack of effective guidance of conductors into
a connector; inability to test other than by piercing the conductor
insulation exterior to the connector; need to separately pair-up Tip
and Ring conductors for connection; inadequate sealing against water
ingress; and inability to tap Tip and Ring conductors with a single
connector. Particular disadvantages may pertain to particular
connectors, and other disadvantages may also be present.
Canadian Patent Number 1,162,264, in the name of the
present assignee describes a two part connector, with insulation
displacing terminals, which overcomes at least many of the
aforementioned disadvantages. The connector can be used to make butt
and bridge connections, and also tap a single conductor. The
present invention provides an improvement in this connector in that a
tap connection can be made to each of two conductors, for example to
both Tip and Ring conductors of a conductor pair.
A connector, in accordance with the present invention,
comprises a body and a cap, the cap and body having interlocking
formations. Insulation displacing terminals are retained in the cap
with the conductors being inserted into the body. Forcing the cap
and body into a final assembly condition forms the terminals into
electrical contact with the conductors. The body is provided with
slots extending in from each end for insertion of continuous
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conductors into the outer conductor positions. The ends of two
further conductors are inserted through the front of this connector.
Retainers hold the continuous conductors in the slots while the
further conductors are inserted. Closure of cap and body together
connect each continuous conductor to a related one of the further
conductors. The terminals are in pairs for such connection. A
sealing compound is normally added to tne connector.
The invention will be readily understood by the
following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the two parts of a
connector in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the body of the
connector in Figure 1;
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are front, bottom and end views
respectively of the body of Figure 2;
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are cross-sections on the lines 6-6,
7-7 and 8-8 respectively, of Figure 2;
Figures 9 and 10 are cross-sections on the lines 9-9
and 10-10 respectively, of Figure 3;
Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the cap in Figure l;
Figures 12 and 13 are front and end views in the
direction of arrows A and B respectively of Figure 11;
Figures 14 and 15 are cross-sections on the lines 14-14
and 15-15 respectively of Figure 11;
Figures 16 and 17 are side view and top plan view
respectively of a terminal pair.
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A connector comprises a body and a cap, Figure 1
illustrating a connector in which the body 20 and cap 21
interrelate, the cap fitting inside the body in the example. The cap
holds four terminals 22, in two pairs, the pairs being in parallel
relationship, spaced apart in the front to back direction, with the
terminals in one offset laterally relative to khe other. Two
conductors are shown, a continuous conductor 23 and a further
conductor 24 which has its end inserted into the body.
An internal rib 25 at each end of the body engages with
alternate external projections 26 and 27 at each end of the cap. A
slot 28 is formed in each end of the body, the slots extending intn
outer passages 29 extending through the body, for reception o~
continuous conductors. Two further passages 30 are provided for
further conductors, between the outer passages 29. A central block
31 extends up from the bottom surface of the body. The two central
passages 30 pass through the block to the rear wall, while the block
is open at each end to form parts of the outer passages.
The body 20 is seen in more detail in FigurPs 2 to 10.
The body has a bottom wall or surface 32, end walls 33 and 34, front
wall 35 and rear wall 3~. The central block 31 extends between, and
is integral with, the front and back walls. Slots 37 are formed in
the block 31 and extend down to the passages 29 and 30. The slots 37
accept the terminals 22, the terminals being pushed down into the
slots and into electrical contact with conductors in the passages 29
and 30 when the cap is pushed fully into the body.
Figure 3 illustrates clearly the slots 28 and the outer
passages 29 with which the slots communicate. Passages 30 are also
seen. Also illustrated in Figure 3 are flexible retaining fingers
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which extend at an angle across the slots 28 and hold the continuous
conductors in position in the passages 29. There are, in the
example, three fingers or retainers at each end. Two extend inwards
and upwards from the external surface of the end walls 33 and 34, one
at each end of the slot 28. These are indicated at 40. A single
finger or retainer extends inwards and downwards from the inner
surface of the end wa11s 33 and 34 approximate1y midway along each
slot 28. These are indicated at 41. As seen in Figure 3, the inner
ends of the fingers overlap slightly and have concave end surfaces.
The finger can readily deflect, fingers 40 downwards and fingers 41
upwards, to permit pushing of conductors into the slots 28, past the
fingers and into the passages 29. Once the conductors are in the
passages, the fingers move back into their original positions and
retain the conductors in the passages.
A cap 21 for use with the body 20, is illustrated in
detail in Figures 11 to 15. The cap is of hollow, box-like form,
having front and back walls 45 and 46, end walls 47 and a top surface
or web 48. Both the front and rear walls are of a reduced height for
a major part of their length. On the end walls are the external
projections 26 and 27. The single, central projection 26 is near the
lower edge of each end wall, and is of tapered form extending upward
and outward. The protrusions 27 are spaced apart towards the front
and rear walls and one closer to the top surface.
On the inner side of the top surface or web 48 and
extending laterally are two ribs 49 spaced a short distance in from
the front and back walls 45 and 46. A further rib 50 is positioned
between the ribs 49 to define two channels 51 and 52. These channels
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are interconnected at their ends by grooves 53. Slots 54 extend in
from each end of the central rib 50, and a further slot 55 is formed
in the center of the rib 50.
Fingers 16 and 17 illustrate an insulation displacing
terminal as used in the connector, and as illustrated in dotted
outline in Figure 1. The terminals 22 are formed in pairs. Each
terminal comprises two opposed cantilevered beams or legs 60
extending from a base 61. Each leg has its outer surface extending
first upward and inward from the base and then upward and outward,
forming a neck at the injunction. These terminals are more fully
described in U.S. Patent Number 4,310,212.
At the lower edge of each end of the base a triangular
portion 62 is bent out of the plane of the base 61, to form a sprag.
A pair of terminals is inserted into each of the channels 51 and 52.
The terminals are inserted with one pair butting at one end on one
end wall and with the other pair butting at the other end against the
other end wall. This causes the terminals to be offset relative to
each other. The cap 21 is of molded plastic material and on
insertion of the terminals the sprags 62 dig into the plastic and
retain the terminals in the channels.
The cap and body are normally assembled in two stages.
After insertion of terminals into a cap, the cap is assembled to a
body. Initially the cap is pushed into the body, open end of the cap
entering the body. The protrusions 27 on the cap are pushed past the
ribs 25 on the body, the ribs 25 then residing between protrusions 27
and protrusions 26. The terminals will have their ends remote from
the base 61 positioned in the slots 37 in the body but clear of the
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passages 29 and 30. The Cdp and body are thus held together in an
open or non-connecting condition. This is normally how connectors
would be supplied to users.
For use, conductors are inserted. Thus, for a double
tap, on a Tip and Ring pair of continuous conductors, the Tip
conductor is pushed in at one end through a slot 28 into a passage
29, then the Ring conductor is pushed in at -the other end through
slot 28 into the other passage 29. Then ends of two conductors are
pushed one into each of passages 30. The cap is then pushed fully
home, as by a plier type tool. The terminals 22 displace insulation
on the conductors and connect one continuous conductor to one ended
conductor. If desired only a single tap need be made, and in this
case the continuous conductor is pushed into one of the passages 29
and a conductor end pushed into the passage 30 which is adjacent to
the other passage 29.
Sealing compound can be provided and is normally
injected into the body prior to the assembly of cap and body.
The connector is extremely simple and economical. It
enables a tap to be made to each conductor of a Tip and Ring pair
without cutting the conductors. The body, with a lateral slot each
end communicating with a through passage provides for easy insertion
of the conductors, which are then retained by spring fingers. Once
in position the body and conductors will not separate, leaving both
hands of the installer free. A pair of conductors are then prepared
and pushed into the passages 30. The conductors are pushed in until
they are felt to butt against the back wall. The cap is then fully
closed to make the electrical connections. Sealing compound prevents
ingress of dirt and moisture and prevents corrosion.
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Test ports can be provided for making contact by a
probe with the terminals. Test ports in the bottom wall of the body
are indicated at 65, in Figures 2, 7 and 8. Alternatively test ports
can be provided in the cap.
The body can be provided with laterally extending
flanges 66 which act to support the connector in a crimping tool,
leaving the bottom surface or wall of the body unobscured, to permit
observation of the positions of conductors in the connector during
crimping.
