[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical highway cable connector for making
electrical connection to a conductor in a length of insulated highway cable, preferably
at a point intermediate the ends of the length of highway cable.
[0002] In GB-A-1514423 there is disclosed an electrical connector for making electrical
connection to conductors in a length of insulated cable, comprising a pair of hingedly
connected members which are moveable relative to one another between open and closed
positions, electrically conductive cutting or penetrating means comprising at least
two V-shaped members arranged to receive respective insulated conductors of a multi-conductor
cable, mounted on one of said members, said members being formed to receive the cable
with the members, in the open position, to present the cable to said cutting or penetrating
means and to press the cable against said cutting or penetrating means when the members
are moved to the closed position whereby on closing the members said means cuts or
penetrates through the insulation of the cable to make contact with the conductors,
the other of said members having an abutment means arranged to bear on the conductors
and press the conductors into the V-shaped members on closing the members, whereby
the insulation of the conductors is displaced by the V-shaped members to make electrical
contact between the V-shaped members and the conductors
[0003] According to this invention such a connector is characterised in that resiliently
deformable seals are mounted on each of the members so as to co-operate with one another
and, on closing the members, make a moisture tight seal between the members and around
the conductors of the cable to prevent ingress of moisture to the connections between
the V-shaped members and the conductors, the members being formed to locate the seals
mounted thereon and to apply additional squeezing pressure on the seals, on closing
the connector, immediately adjacent the conductors of the cable.
[0004] The connector of this invention has the advantage that it provides effective sealing
completely about the connections between the conductors and the V-shaped members,
thus serving to maintain the inregrity of the connections.
[0005] This invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings
in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a highway cable connector embodying the invention;
and
Figures 2 and 3 are detailed cross-sectional views of part of the connector of Figure
1.
[0006] The connector to be described is for making electrical connection to the wires of
a twisted pair highway cable and comprises a pair of hinged members 30 and 31, the
member 30 being formed with two transverse grooves 32 and 33 substantially parallel
to the axis of the hinge 34 between the members 30 and 31. The grooves 32 and 33 are
sized tc receive the individual wires of a twisted pair cable. It will be appreciated
that the twisted pair is untwisted for a short length to enable the wires to be located
in respective grooves 32 and 33 and extend out either side of the member 30 through
slots 35 raised side flanges 36 formed upstanding from the member 30.
[0007] Metallic V-shaped members 37 and 38 are positioned one aligned with each of grooves
32 and 33 to receive a respective wire of the highway cable. The V-shaped members
37 and 38 are spaced apart along the gooves 32 and 33 as illustrated in the drawing.
The member 30 is formed in the region of the grooves 32 and 33 and the V-shaped members
37 and 38 with locating blocks 39 to 43. The member 31 of the connector is formed
on the underside as shown in the drawing with two pairs of pressure blocks 44 and
45 positioned to correspond with respective V-shaped members 37 and 38, so that on
pivoting the member 31 to close the connector, the pairs of blocks 44 and 45 engage
respective wires of the cable on both sides of the V-shaped members to force the wires
down into the V's of the members. The V-shaped members 37 and 38 are formed with opposed
inwardly directed edges which displace the insulation cover of the wires as the wires
are pressed down towards the bases of the Vs. The base of the V of each member is
sized to be just smaller than the diameter of the conductor in each wire of the highway
cable, so that when each wire is fully pressed down into the respective V-shaped member,
the insulating cover is completely displaced and connection is made by the V-shaped
member to the conductor of the wire. In practice, the opposed inwardly directed edges
of the V's of the members 37 and 38 need not be sharp in the sense of being razor
edged. Indeed excessively sharp members would tend to cut right through the metal
conductors of the wires. Thus, the inwardly directed edges of the V's may have a substantially
flat profile, almost parallel or slightly angled relative to the wire engaged by the
V-shaped member, The profile of the edge may be similar to that of the edge of one
blade of a pair of scissors.
[0008] It is desirable to form a seal completely around the region where the insulation
of the wires of the highway cable is being cut into by the V-shaped members 37 and
38. To this end, a shallow rectangular cross-section groove 46 is formed completely
encompassing the V-shaped member 37 and 38. The groove is formed as a square in the
illustrated example. A square shaped seal member 47 is secured in the groove 46. The
seal 47 is conveniently of a spongy material and is arranged to have a natural, undistorted
thickness so that the seal 47 extends just above the level of the groove 46. The seal
47 co-operates with a corresponding square seal member 48 located on the member 31.
Thus, when the member 31 is rotated to close the connector, the seals 47 and 48 engage
each and are compressed to make moisture proof seals completely around the connection
region and in particular around the wires of the highway cable located in the grooves
32 and 33.
[0009] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the sealing arrangement in more detail. As can be seen,
the material of the members 30 and 31 inmediately under the spongy seal members 47
and 48 is profiled to enhance the sealing effect and to acconmodate material of the
seals 47 and 48 displaced by the presence of the wires 49 and 50. Thus, enlarged portions
51 and 52 are formed to accommodate seal material displaced by the wires 49 and 50
and raised portions 53 and 54 are formed imnediately adjacent the enlarged portions
51 to ensure extra compression of the seal material around the wires.
[0010] In the connector shown in the drawings provision is made in a housing region 55 which
is closed by the member 31, to accommodate, for example, patches of insulating material
for use in repairing the damaged insulation of the highway cable when the connector
is disconnected and removed from the highway cable. The housing area 55 may also accommodate
spare fuses for use in the connector.
1. An electrical highway cable connector for making electrical connection to conductors
in a length of insulated highway cable, comprising a pair of hingedly connected members
(30, 31) which are moveable relative to one another between open and closed positions,
electrically conductive cutting or penetrating means (37, 38) comprising at least
two V-shaped members (37, 38) arranged to receive respective insulated conductors
of a multiconductor cable, mounted on one (30) of said members, said membes (30, 31)
being formed to receive the cable with the members (30, 31) in the open position,
to present the cable to said cutting or penetrating means (37, 38) and to press the
cable against said cutting or penetrating means (37, 38) when the members (30, 31)
are moved to the closed position whereby on closing the members (30, 31) said means
(37, 38) cuts or penetrates through the insulation of the cable to make contact with
the conductors, the other (31) of said members having an abutment (44, 45) means arranged
to bear on the conductors and press the conductors into the V-shaped members (37,
38) on closing the members (30, 31) whereby the insulation of the conductors is displaced
by the V-shaped members (37, 38) to make electrical contact between the V-shaped members
(37, 38) and the conductors, characterised in that resiliently deformable seals (47,
48) are mounted on each of the members (30, 31) so as to co-operate with one another
and, on closing the members (30, 31), make a moisture tight seal between the members
(30, 31) and around the conductors of the cable to prevent ingress of moisture to
the connections between the V-shaped members (37, 38) and the conductors, the members
(30, 31) being formed to locate the seals mounted thereon and to apply additional
squeezing pressure (53) on the seals (47,.48), on closing the connector, immediately
adjacent the conductors of the cable.
2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said seals (47, 48) are
located in grooves (46) in each of the members (30, 31) each seal (47, 48) having
an undistorted thickness such that the seal (47, 48) extends out of the groove (46).
3. A connector as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that each of the said grooves
(46) is formed with enlarged portions (51, 52 to accommodate seal material displaced
by the conductors of the cable.
4. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, or Claim 3, characterised in that said
additional squeezing pressure is provided by raised portions (53) on each of the members
(30, 31).
