Multi-conductor cable connector

• US 4,580,865 A
• Filed: 05/15/1984
• Issued: 04/08/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts Corporation (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Fryberger, Charles T.
• Primary Examiner(s): DESMOND, EUGENE
• Application Number:
  US06/610,357
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 339/103 R, 339/103 M, 339/103 B, 339/141, 339/89 R, 339/89 M, 339/90 R, 339/8 R, 339/8 P
• US Class Current: 439/277
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5205 Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet H01R13/5221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/56 Means for preventing chafing or fracture of flexible leads at outlet from coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/59 Threaded ferrule or bolt operating in a direction parallel to the cable or wire
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/20 Coupling parts carrying sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable

Abstract

An electrical connector for terminating a multi-conductor electrical cable. The connector includes a body portion having a central opening therethrough. A retainer is rotatably secured to said body and an insert is rotatably supported in said retainer. The retainer includes terminating means for supporting the terminated ends of the multi-conductor cable. The terminated conductors are rotatable with respect to the body upon rotation of the cable jacket.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for terminating an electrical cable having a plurality of wires extending therein, said connector comprising:

a body having a cable accommodating end, a wire egressing end and a central bore therethrough;

means supported on said body for providing connection to an electrical device;

a support member rotatably supported in said central bore of said body adjacent said wire egressing end;

terminating means for accommodating said wires for connection to said electrical device, said terminating means being rotatably supported in said support member for rotation independent of said rotation of said support member in said body; and

sealing means for sealably accommodating said cable in said body.

2. A connector of claim 1 wherein said body is elongate and said central bore extends axially therethrough.

3. A connector of claim 2 wherein said connection means comprises a body gland rotatably supported at said wire egressing end of said body, said body gland including means for providing securement of said body to said electrical device.

4. A connector of claim 2 wherein said support member includes a central opening therethrough, said central opening being co-axial with the central bore of said body.

5. A connector of claim 2 wherein said terminating means is supported in said central opening of said support member.

6. A connector of claim 5 wherein said terminating means comprises an insert having a plurality of channels therethrough, each of said channels corresponding to one of said plural wires, said channels extending in axial alignment with said central opening of said support member.

7. A connector of claim 6 further including contact terminals for terminating each of said wires of said cable, said terminals adapted for receipt in said channels of said insert.

8. A connector of claim 7 wherein said sealing means comprises:

a screw threaded cable gland attachable to the cable accommodating end of said body; and

a sealing bushing disposed between said cable gland and said body for frictional engagement with said cable.

9. An electrical termination device for electrical cable having an outer insulative jacket and a plurality of individually insulated conductors extending therethrough, said termination device comprising:

an elongate hollow cylindrical body having a jacket accommodating end and a conductor egressing end;

a body gland rotatably secured to said body at said conductor egressing end, said body gland including means thereon for connecting said device to an electrical apparatus;

sealing means for providing sealed engagement of said cable to said body; and

conductor receiving means rotatably supported in said body for providing free rotation of said cable in said body, said receiving means including;

(a) a retainer rotatably supported in said body adjacent said conductor egressing end; and

(b) an insert rotatably supported in said retainer, said insert including terminating means for supporting the ends of said conductors for rotation in said body upon rotation of said cable jacket relative to said body.

10. A connector of claim 9 wherein said sealing means includes a cable gland screw attachable to the jacket accommodating end of said body;

and a sealing bushing for frictionally surrounding said cable jacket and being positionally confined between said cable gland and said body, the screw attachment of said cable gland causing rotation of said sealing bushing in said body in turn causing said rotation of cable jacket relative to said body.

11. A connector of claim 10 wherein said retainer includes crimped end extents for captivating said insert therein.

12. A connector of claim 11 wherein said insert includes polarized mounting means for providing proper alignment of said insert.