EP0238316A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiconductor connector and method for terminating insulated electrical conductors
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 1987-03-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A connector (10) for terminating and clamping insulated conductors (14) comprises a housing (30) having a front end (32) with an opening (34) and a rear cable receiving end (36) with an opening (38), and an internal passageway (40) extending between the openings (34, 38). A plurality of terminals (50) are mounted in housing (30) around its periphery for inward movement from a first carrier-receiving position (seen in Fig. 3 a ) to a second terminated position (seen in Fig. 4) terminating one of the conductors. A conductor carrier (12) is telescopically received in the passageway (40), the carrier (12) having an external conductor-receiving surface (20) with a cylindrical surface portion adjacent the terminals (50) and a portion (26) tapered towards its rear end, the conductors (14) being received in grooves (18) in the surface (20). The passageway (40) has a configuration complementary to the carrier (12) with the front opening (34) larger than the rear opening (38), whereby the carrier (12) is receivable into the passageway (40) through the front opening (34) of the housing (30) after the conductors (14) have been received in the grooves (18) and the conductors are terminated to the terminals (50) when the terminals are moved to their terminated positions. The conductors (14) are clamped between the housing tapered portion (44) (Fig. 3) and the carrier tapered outer surface portion (26) to provide strain relief for the conductors (14).
Inventors
- 👤 Helen Dechelette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:20
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R24/00; H01R24/60; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/59; H01R12/65; H01R12/67; H01R12/675; H01R13/00; H01R13/58; H01R13/64; H01R2107/00; H01R4/00; H01R4/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A connector for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors, comprising a housing having a front mating end with an opening therein and a rear cable receiving end with an opening therein, and an internal passageway extending between the openings, a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing around the periphery thereof, each having an internally extending conductor engaging portion and an external mating contact portion, the terminals being moveable between a first carrier-receiving position and a second terminated position wherein the conductor engaging portions extend into the passageway, a conductor carrier telescopically received in the passageway, the carrier having an external conductor-receiving surface adjacent the terminals, tapered toward the rear end, and having means for receiving and aligning the conductors with the conductor engaging portions of respective terminals, and the passageway having a configuration complementary to the carrier with the front opening being larger than the rear opening, whereby the carrier is receivable into the passageway through the front opening of the housing after the wires having been received on the surface thereof, and the conductors are terminated the terminals when the terminals are moved to their terminated positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A connector for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors, comprising a housing having a front mating end with an opening therein and a rear cable receiving end with an opening therein, and an internal passageway extending between the openings, a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing around the periphery thereof, each having an internally extending conductor engaging portion and an external mating contact portion, the terminals being moveable between a first carrier-receiving position and a second terminated position wherein the conductor engaging portions extend into the passageway, a conductor carrier telescopically received in the passageway, the carrier having an external conductor-receiving surface adjacent the terminals, tapered toward the rear end, and having means for receiving and aligning the conductors with the conductor engaging portions of respective terminals, and the passageway having a configuration complementary to the carrier with the front opening being larger than the rear opening, whereby the carrier is receivable into the passageway through the front opening of the housing after the wires having been received on the surface thereof, and the conductors are terminated the terminals when the terminals are moved to their terminated positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier and said passageway are dimensioned so that, when said carrier is inserted in said housing, said wires are pressed against said rear housing end by said carrier to provide strain relief therefor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said carrier has a front end opposite said rear end, with keying means at the front end providing predetermined rotational alignment of said plug connector with a mating receptacle connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A connector as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said carrier has a cone-like configuration for mounting a plurality of radially-extending terminals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said keying means is aligned with the axis of said cone-like carrier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein said keying means comprises a protrusion extending from the larger end of said cone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A connector as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said keying means comprises a recess extending into said carrier from the larger end thereof.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
229 words
A method of assembling a connector for terminating a plurality of insualted conductors, the connector including a housing having a front mating end with an opening therein and a rear cable receiving end with an opening therein, and an internal passageway extending between the openings, a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing around the periphery thereof, each having an internally extending conductor engaging portion and an external mating contact portion, the terminals being moveable between a first carrier-receiving position and a second terminated position wherein the conductor engaging portions extend into the passageway, and a conductor carrier telescopically received in the passageway, the carrier having an external conductor-receiving surface adjacent the terminals and tapered toward the rear end, with means for receiving and aligning the conductors with the conductor engaging portions of respective terminals, and the passageway having a configuration complementary to the carrier with the front opening being larger than the rear opening, characterized by the steps of inserting free ends of the conductor cable through the second housing end so that the conductor free ends extend beyond the first mating housing end, engaging the conductors with the external carrier surface, inserting the carrier and the conductors into the housing mating ends while maintaining engagement between the carrier and the conductors, and moving the terminals toward the carrier to their second terminated positions, to terminate respective wires.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
229 words
A method of assembling a connector for terminating a plurality of insualted conductors, the connector including a housing having a front mating end with an opening therein and a rear cable receiving end with an opening therein, and an internal passageway extending between the openings, a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing around the periphery thereof, each having an internally extending conductor engaging portion and an external mating contact portion, the terminals being moveable between a first carrier-receiving position and a second terminated position wherein the conductor engaging portions extend into the passageway, and a conductor carrier telescopically received in the passageway, the carrier having an external conductor-receiving surface adjacent the terminals and tapered toward the rear end, with means for receiving and aligning the conductors with the conductor engaging portions of respective terminals, and the passageway having a configuration complementary to the carrier with the front opening being larger than the rear opening, characterized by the steps of inserting free ends of the conductor cable through the second housing end so that the conductor free ends extend beyond the first mating housing end, engaging the conductors with the external carrier surface, inserting the carrier and the conductors into the housing mating ends while maintaining engagement between the carrier and the conductors, and moving the terminals toward the carrier to their second terminated positions, to terminate respective wires.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of inserting said carrier in said passageway includes the step of pressing said conductors against said rear housing end with said carrier, thereby relieving strain on said conductors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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