CN1145699A - Wire retainer - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention discloses a clamp for supporting a stranded module of a long-distance communication cable. It has a main body (5), typically the size of a comb, with a series of raised teeth (15) spaced along opposite edges of the clamp. The spacing of these teeth corresponds to the spacing between the contactors on the stranded module and the slots for holding the electrical wires. The teeth (15) are spaced and shaped to hold and secure the wires connected to the base (10) of the stranded module, which is positioned between rows of teeth on the main body (5).

Description

wire locator

Background of the invention

1. Field to which the present invention belongs

The present invention relates to the splicing of communication cables, and more particularly to a wire positioning device for positioning the individual wires of a multi-strand communication cable at spaced apart predetermined locations on the base member of a standard spliced connector. This standard spliced connector technology is known from U.S. Patent No. 3,708,779 assigned to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company by D.J. Enright et al.

2. Description of prior art

The art of standard splice connectors is known from US Patent Nos. 3,708,779 and 3,945,705 assigned to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Corporation. In the communications industry, cables of multiple pairs of wires are twisted together to feed the pairs into a communications network. This is typically accomplished by using a wire splicing clamp as described in US Patent No. 3,713,214. This is a jig that requires a considerable amount of space to splice, and the jig is heavy, it is mounted at the splice location, and is usually adjustable to set the jig at a height suitable for the technician to splice. The clamp is used to accommodate the base of spliced modules and is provided with a wire locator along each side of the clamp for seating and clamping in a pre-spliced or pre-connected location above the module base. Such space and convenience are not often available, and sometimes if there is a clamp, the splicing has to be done at a location where there is not enough loose wire to allow use of the splicing clamp.

The present invention supports a modular base as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,945,705, splices the pairs of wires in a jig, and holds the wires until the splice body is placed over the pairs of wires and aligned with the support. The contacts within the module body are electrically bonded. When a cover is placed over the main body, forcing the wires of the second pair of wires into contact positions, the second pair of wires can be plugged into the clamp of the present invention and placed between the base The first set of wires on the wire pair is combined to complete the splicing. This completes the splicing and the clamp can then be removed from the wire and module.

The purpose of the clamp is to act as a bracket to support the spliced module base in a fixed position on a surface; to fix the wire pairs to be spliced in the spaced channels placed across the base to bridge the contact points and connect the gaps, and to The splice module body is placed on top and makes electrical contact with a number of wires.

Technical scheme of the present invention

The present invention provides a method of supporting the base of a telecommunication wire splicing module and provides wire supports on each of two opposed longitudinal side edges for securing parallel spaced positions above the base or body of the module of wires.

The clamp of the present invention generally has a body part the size of a comb, on which a series of raised teeth are formed, the teeth are arranged at a distance along each edge of the opposite edges of the body part, and it is connected with the contacts and the splicing die. The spacing of the wire placement slots of the parts is consistent. Each tooth is crowned in a form that enables a wire to be inserted between the teeth, but restricts its movement between the teeth. A slot is formed between the edges of the body member and a post is formed at the end of the slot to receive the end of the base and secure the base against longitudinal movement relative to the body member.

The clamp of the present invention includes an elongated insulative body member adapted to receive the base member of a splice module and the isolated wires of a multi-conductor cable. The body member has an upper surface and a lower surface with first and second edges on the upper surface. A number of spaced teeth are formed along each edge and protrude from the upper surface, the teeth having spaces to guide and separate pairs of wires and to receive one wire of each pair between the teeth spaces thereof. On the free end faces of the teeth there are crowns to limit the displacement of the wires arranged between the teeth. Alternatively, protrusions or posts may be formed on the upper surface, positioned adjacent the ends of the body member. A rib extends longitudinally along the body member on the upper surface to form a groove for positioning a hinged module base on the upper surface, the tail end of which is secured to the post.

In operation, the base of a splicing module may be disposed on the upper surface of the body part, the separated individual wires of the communication cable may be placed across the body part, and placed in the teeth along opposite side edges. space so that it lies flat in the wire-receiving groove formed by hinged module bases. A module body can then be placed over the base to bring the wires into electrical contact with the contact elements held there.

The clamp may have extended ends that support the magnetic collets from the underside so that when splicing, the clamp can be easily attached to a box (box), on a stand or at the entrance of a building.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a top view of the clamp of the present invention and the base of the hinged module diagrammatically shown above the clamp;

Fig. 2 is the end view of fixture of the present invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial side view of teeth spaced along the edge of the body part for securing electrical wires;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the teeth.

Description of the preferred embodiment

The jig as shown and described is suitable for assisting in the splicing of 25 pairs of wires in a communication cable. This value is the standard of the US telecommunications industry; however, it is clear that the arrangement according to the invention is applicable to other cable standards.

The clamp, indicated generally at 4, includes a locator body portion 5 having an upper surface 6 and an extending planar portion of a lower surface 7 . A groove is formed on the upper surface, as described below, for placing the hinged module base 10, and the module base 10 is relatively straight to the groove by aligning with the alignment standard post 11 on the main body 5, And the post 11 on the main body 5 matches with the end opening of the module base.

The body part 5 is flexible and has a first edge and a second edge on the upper surface 6 . A plurality of spaced teeth 15 form a long row along each edge and project from the upper surface 6 . The teeth 15 are provided with gaps for placing electric wires between the teeth. The standard wire gauge for the US telecommunications industry is between 22 and 28. The teeth 15 have crowns capable of restricting displacement of electric wires inserted between the teeth 15 . The teeth 15 may be formed with alternately shaped crowns as shown in Figures 3 and 4, to assist the separation of separate wires from and into the spaces between the teeth. As shown, the teeth have a first set of crowns 18 with rounded or dome-shaped ends, between the teeth 15 there are crowns 19 alternately arranged, the crowns 19 have sharp points and are raised above the level of the crowns 18 . The tooth tips assist in separating the wires in the wire pair. The gaps between the teeth 15 correspond to the gaps of the partitions 20 arranged along the side edges of the base 10 . Together with the center post on the base, it forms a slot for placing the wires.

The shape of the tooth crown can have various shapes, and these shapes will not damage the insulating coating on the electric wire when inserting and removing the electric wire between the teeth, and these shapes can not depart from the purpose of the present invention simultaneously, but still in the accompanying drawings The tooth crown is better. As shown in Figure 4, the tooth 18 extends to about 7.6mm (0.3 inches) above the upper surface 6, and it has a circular free end surface defined by the upper surface 30 with a radiused arc, with a radius of 1.8mm (0.04 inches). Inch), the free end face is connected with the flat sides 31 and 32, forming an angle of 60 degrees with each other. Sides 31 and 32 are joined by a generally vertically disposed surface 33 having a dimension of 0.25 mm (0.010 inches) spaced 0.5 mm (0.020 inches) from an opposing surface 35 on tooth 19 . Surfaces 33 and 35 define the closest surfaces between teeth 18 and 19 . Surface 33 adjoins falling edge 34 forming an angle of 30 degrees with the perpendicular to surface 6 . The teeth 19 have a height of 9.8mm (0.385 inches) from the lower surface 7 to the terminal end. There is a rounded upper free end surface where the side edges 36 descend and the side edges form an angle of 60 degrees to each other. The lower end surface is connected to surface 35, and then surface 35 is connected to surface 37 at 65.9 mm (0.233 inches) above the upper surface and 77.442 mm (0.293 inches) above the lower surface, and surface 37 is 30 to the vertical line of upper surface 6. degree angle. The arrangement of the surfaces 31, 32, 36 and 34, 37 is such that the wires in the cable can be inserted and removed to a certain extent if harmful impurities affect the insulating material surrounding the conductors of the wires. The opposing surfaces of gusset member 16, discussed later, are spaced 1.55 to 1.42 mm (0.061-0.056 inches) apart. The height of the teeth (between the crown and the upper surface of the main body part) is sufficient to accommodate at least one pair of wires, so that the first wire supported laterally on the base can be placed between the teeth 15, and the second wire can then be inserted into the laterally positioned On the main body of the U.S. patent hinged module such as No. 3,945,705. We hereby incorporate this patent by reference. In some field operations only one row of teeth 15 will be used to hold the wire, in other operations the wire will be inserted between the teeth on both sides of the clamp 4 . The upper surface portion 36 of the crown 19 is typically colour-coded to aid in the splicing operation according to conventional practice. As further shown in Figure 2, the teeth 15 are pivotable from the actual edge of the body part and are supported by gussets molded from the upper surface of the body part. Element 16 is also used to expand the slot or wire passage adjacent the edge to straighten the passage of the individual wires. The body part is made with grooved side edges along the lower surface to secure it to a stable surface if lateral movement must be limited.

The posts 11 are on the upper surface and asymmetrically adjoin the end faces of the grooves on the upper surface of the body part 5 . A rib or, as shown, a pair of spaced apart ribs 25 form opposing continuous surfaces, the ribs extending longitudinally of the body part 5 on the upper surface 6 to form a channel for receiving the base of the module. The ribs 25 are spaced to accommodate the base, and the end openings 22 of the base 10 are positioned adjacent the post 11 to align the base to limit longitudinal movement of the base 10 once it is seated in the groove. The distance of the slots formed by the ribs 25 is 8.1 mm (0.34 inches) from the outer edge of the teeth on one side of the base and 6.7 mm (0.264 inches) from the opposite edge. This distance provides room for the wires to move from the module body down to the position between the teeth 15 .

Fixtures are best measured by a D70 (13,500PSTmin) of ASTM test method 93MP and a multiaxial impact velocity of 40NM (352 hours/lb) according to ASTM method D3763 Polymer composition with flexural strength. A preferred material is a polycarbonate. Examples include Lexan 141R from General Electric, Pittsfield, MA, Miles Nakrolon 2805 from Miles Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, and Dow Caliber 301.10 from Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI. The flexibility of the clamp allows the body part 5 to be bent or peeled from the hinged module or base 10 . The resistance of the teeth to the wire moving between the teeth can be further reduced by increasing the spacing between the surfaces 33 and 35.

In operation, the base 10 of a hinged module may be fixed on the upper surface of the main body part 5, the wires of the isolated communication cables are placed transversely through the main body part 5 and lowered between the teeth 15 and on the back side. Between the connecting plates 16 on the edge, lay in the wire placement groove formed by the base 10 of the spliced module. The module body can then be placed on the base 10 to bring the wires into electrical contact with the supported contact elements provided there.

The crimping action of the main body relative to the base of the module can be accomplished simply with a pair of pliers (not shown) or by pressing down with the thumb of the technique (if possible) to secure the wire to the base and attach it to the base of the module. Electrical contact is made with the excluded insulated contact portion of the electrical contactor supported in the body. At that point, a second set of wires can be placed over the body and pressurized between the crowns of the teeth 15 to hold the wires in place until a cover is placed over the body to force the wires into contact with The other end of the component makes an electrical connection that excludes insulation.

We have described the invention by way of illustration of an embodiment, it being understood that the height of the teeth along one side, the height of the post, the length of the body part, the clearance of the teeth and the shape of the crown can be varied to suit the spliced connection base of the device.

Claims (9)

1. A device for separating and arranging individual wires of a multi-conductor cable in fixed connection with a base element of a spliced connector, comprising: An elongated insulating body part (5) suitable for receiving the base element (10) of a spliced connector and the isolated wires in a multi-conductor cable, said body part (5) having an upper surface (6) and a lower surface (7 ), having first and second edges on said upper surface (6), means (25) forming a groove along the upper surface (6) of said body part (5) for receiving said base element (10), at the end of the means there are marks for aligning said base element Column 11, and A plurality of teeth (15) spaced along at least one edge of the body part, the teeth 15 having crowns (18, 19) to support wire insertion between the teeth to locate and limit displacement. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said groove-forming means comprise a pair of ribs (25) extending in longitudinal direction on the upper surface (6) of the body part (5). 3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, the post (11) is arranged at a position adjacent to the end of the groove, and the positional relationship with the edge of the main body part (5) is asymmetrical, so that Align the base element (10) on the body part (10). 4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the teeth (15) are arranged along each edge of the body part (5), comprising gapped teeth (15) with alternating shapes (18, 19) at the free end faces ) is used to accommodate the wires embedded therein and limit the displacement of the wires between the teeth (15). 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that, said post (11) is arranged at a position adjacent to the end of the groove, and the positional relationship with the edge of the main body part (5) is asymmetrical, so that Align the base element (10) on the body part (5). 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said groove-forming means comprise a pair of ribs (25) extending in longitudinal direction on the upper surface (6) of the body part (5). 7. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the alternately deformed tooth (15) is formed by a tooth with a rounded free end surface (18) and a free end surface ( The teeth of 19) are formed at a distance of about 0.5 mm between their closest faces (33, 35). 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that each tooth (15) has a gap between the descending surface (31, 32, 36) and the lead-in tooth (15) terminating at the closest surface (33, 35) and extended surfaces (34, 37) between the proximal surfaces (33, 35) and between the upper surface (6) of the body part (5). 9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the body part (5) and the teeth (15) are made of a flexible polymeric material.

Images