Electrical connector

• US 5,672,846 A
• Filed: 06/02/1995
• Issued: 09/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Raychem Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Marie-Louise Debbaut, Christian Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau N.
• Application Number:
  US08/459,584
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 174/84 R, 174/76, 174/84 C, 174/87, 174/92, 174/85, 174/88 C, 174/93, 29/855, 29/858, 29/868, 29/749, 29/871, 29/872, 29/862, 524/157, 524/267, 524/491, 524/848
• US Class Current: 174/84.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 17/60 Composite insulating bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/22 End caps, i.e. of insulating or conductive material for covering or maintaining connections between wires entering the cap from the same end
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/70 Insulation of connections end caps H01R4/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/72 using a heat shrinking insulating sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/003 Filling materials, e.g. solid or fluid insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/043 with end caps, e.g. sleeve closed at one end
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/10 protected by boxes, e.g. by distribution, connection or junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/18 protected by sleeves, e.g. for communication cable two-part covers H02G15/10 ; preforms having internal stresses B29C61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/284 for encapsulating mounted components H05K1/185 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and process for splicing electrical wires that are to be exposed to an adverse environment. The apparatus includes a connector, an insulating sleeve adapted to retain the connector, and an encapsulant. The encapsulant, which is disposed within the insulating sleeve, has a cone penetration value of 100 to 350 (10^-1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%.

Claims

1. Apparatus for splicing electrical wires, comprising:

a) an electrical connector which is adapted to receive electrical wires and to be mechanically deformed to electrically connect said electrical wires received therein;

b) an insulating sleeve adapted to surround and retain said connector; and

c) a polysiloxane based encapsulant disposed within at least one of said electrical connector and said insulating sleeve, said encapsulant having a cone penetration value of 100 to 350 (10^-1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%.

2. An article as recited in claim 1 wherein the insulating sleeve is selected from the group consisting of a tubular member having opposing open ends with the electrical connector positioned therein, or an insulating sleeve having one closed end and an open end opposite thereto for receiving said electrical wires.

4. The article as recited in claim 2 wherein the encapsulant has an ultimate elongation of at least 500% and the material is a polysiloxane gel.

3. An article for splicing electrical wires comprising:

(a) an electrical connector which is adapted to receive electrical wires and to be mechanically deformed to electrically connect said electrical wires received therein, said electrical wires selected from the group consisting of;

electrical wires with insulation, electrical wires with the insulation removed, and combinations thereof;

(b) an insulating sleeve adapted to surround and retain said electrical connector; and

(c) an encapsulant disposed and positioned within said insulating sleeve and enveloping said electrical connector, so that said electrical wires received therein penetrate the encapsulant to be environmentally sealed, said encapsulant having been prepared by curing reactive silicones with non-reactive extender silicones to form a solid having a cone penetration value from 150 to 350 (10^-1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%.