GB2211674A

GB2211674A - Ferrule and method for terminating a flexible coaxial cable

Info

Publication number: GB2211674A
Application number: GB8815835A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger S Kauffman
Original assignee: WL Gore and Associates Inc
Current assignee: WL Gore and Associates Inc
Priority date: 1987-10-23
Filing date: 1988-07-04
Publication date: 1989-07-05
Also published as: EP0313186A2; AU1461788A; NO883172L; DK577888A; NO883172D0; GB8815835D0; FI884829A; JPH01130485A; PT88112A; FI884829A0; EP0313186A3; DK577888D0

Description

3318 E1ECTRICAJ CONNECTORS. 675 The present invention relates to

electrical connectors.

Illuminated street furniture is frequently subject to damage by vehicles. When, for example, an illuminated traffic bollard is ripped from its mounting platform, electrical wiring such as the cabling connecting the lamps within the bollard to a terminal in the platform on which the bollard is mounted, is subjected to tension to such an extent that it breaks and leaves bare wires exposed. Such bare wires form a hazard to the public which is parzicularly dangerous in wet conditions. if the fuse serving the terminal does not rupture at the time of damage it will generally rupture in rainy conditions arising later.

Under such circumstances the replacement of a bollard requires addizional personnel in the form of an electrician. This tends to increase the cost of replacement and may additionally add to the delay in replacement since two people have to be co ordinated on to the same work site instead of one.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved electrical connector.

According to the present invention there is provided an electrical connector comprising a baseplate supporting a socket, a cover mounted on the baseplate and biased into a position in which it closes the socket and a plug terminating a cable and engageable with the socket, the mating surfaces of the socket and plug being such that when the cable or plug is subject to tension the plug readily disengages the socket to prevent the cable from rupturing.

According to the present invention there is 3318 2 further -Provided an electrical connector comprising a basePlate supporting a socket, a cover mounted on the basemlat-e and biased to close the socket and a plug terminatin- a cable and engageable with the socket, the ma-.-.i.ng surfaces of the plug and socket being of such ina%erial to enable 'he plug to readily disengage the socket when the cable is subjected to sudden tension.

Electrical connectors embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic d7wj4.-,.gs in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view o_f a bollard on a traffic island; 31-Lgure 2 is a perspective view of a -t-ra-^f-c bollard after being dislodged -Prom 'he island by vehicle impact; Figure 3 is a persDec-,,ive view of the electrical connector electrically connecting the bollard to the power supply; Figure 4 is a fragmentary exploded view of t-he connector of Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 1 a traffic bollard 2 is mechanically mounted on a traffic island 4 by means of, for example, nuts and bolts (not shown). located centrally of the traffic island 4, below the bollard 2, is a metal mounting plate 6 rigidly secured to the island 4 by means of nuts and bolts.

The.plate 6 covers a recess in 'he traffic island which accomodates the terminal end of a Dower supply cable. The plate 6 supports a socket 14 into which a plug 12, connected to the bollard lighting can be plugged. The plate 6 also supports a snap shut cover 8 to close and seal the socket 14 when the plug is not present.

3318 3 In operation when a vehicle strikes the bollard 2 and dislodges it from the island 4, (see Figure 2).'U-he cable or plug suppor---U linking t-he plug to the bollard will be placed under tension and the plug will be sharply pulIed from the socke As soon as the plug has cleared the socket, the sna-o shut cover closes to protect t-he socket.

The plug and cable can -'U-',.ien be recovered hopefully in an undamaged state.

The plug 12 and socket 14 as shown more clearly in Figure 3 are located on opposite sides of the mounting plate 6. The socket 20 is encased in a rubber booz 21 which provides a wa+.e--,roo1- seal for the socket---on the underside of the --,ate' Tnstead -he socke---U can be encapsula-ved in an electrically _I staIle uot-t-ing com-ound. The cover 8 is -oivolua-!-, k_ - y suDDorted on a bracket 18 and is urged by a coiled spring 20 against the plug 12 so that as soon as t-he plug is withdrawn -Uhe cover 8 snaps shut.

The component par-us are more clearly shown in Figure 4. The plate 6 has a central opening 22 of rectangular shape and is surrounded by a raised sealing member 16.

he end 14a of the socket 14 which is arranged mate with the plug 12 is located centrally of t-he omening. The end 14a has at leas-, two corners chamfered to render t-he plug '12 more easily d-isengagea:o.-]'-e from the socket 14. The plug 12 has three pins not shown) encircled by a skirt port-ion 12a which is arranged to fit around the socket portion 14a when the plug and socket are engaged to render the connection substantially watertight.

The sealing member 16 has two functions, it provides a seall between t-he cover 8 and t-he plat-e 6 3 -151 18 4 when t-he cover 8 is closed and it provides a form of dyke around the opening to prevent any rainwater lying on the plate 6 from f'lowing into the L opening 22.

The U-shaped bracket 18 which pivolvally supports the cover is welded or otherwise secured to the plate 6. In a modification the plate 16 and bracket 18 are integrally formed of moulded plastics mat- e r i al.

It will be appreciated that- the material of and/or the relative profiles of the mating surfaces of t-he plug and socket must be such when t-he plug or the cable to which -uhe plug is at---Uached is sub-ect to sudden t-ension, the plug disengages the socket in preference to the cable becomming ruptured.

In addition the socket and plug should 'form a watertight seal.

Preferably the plug and socket are made of resilient or elastic material (eg moulded rubber) to ease separation.

In the particular construction shown in t-he drawings t-he plug and socket are generally of rectangular cross-section with t-wo corners chamfered to ease the release of the plug -from the socket.

Instead the mating surfaces of the plug and socket may be conical.

In a modification the plug housing or support is secured to the bollard 2 by means of a chain which is of shorter length than the cable. In the event of an accident the chain places t-he plug housing under tension which then pulls the plug from the socket.

6 7318

Claims

CIAIMS

1. An electrical connector comprising a baseplate supporting a socket, a cover mounted on the base Dlate and biased into a mosition in which it Closes the socket and a plug v - engageable with the socket, the mating surfaces of the socket and plug being such that when -Whe cable or the plug is subject to tension the plug readily disengages the socket to prevent the cable from rupturing.

2. An electrical connector according to Claim 1 wherein the mating surfaces of the socket and the Dlug are of rectangular cross-section with at least two corners chamfered.

3. An electrical connector acco--,-R-ng to Claim 1 or to C11aim 2 including a rib surrounding the opening in the plate in which the socket is located to impede the ingress of water into the opening.

4. An electrical connector according to Claim 3 wherein said rib forms a seal with the cover when closed.

5. An electrical connector wherein that part of the socket which is located on the other side of the plate relative to the plug is encased in a watertight sealing body.

6. An electrical connector according to Claim 1 wherein the mating surfaces of the plug and socket are conical.

7. An electrical connector according to any preceding claim wherein said baseplate is of metal and said plug and socket are of elastic or resilient material.

8. An electrical connector comprising a baseplate supporting a socket, a cover mounted on the base plate and biased to close the socket and a plug 6 terminating a cable and engageable with the socket-, the mating surfaces of the plug and socket being of such material to -enable the plug to readily disengage the socket when the cable is subject-ed to suddlen tension.

9. An electrical connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. An item of illuminable street furniture incorporating an electrical connector according to any preceding claim.

11. An item according to Clalm 10 com-Drising a A_ fc bollard.

"ra-L Published 1989 at The Patent Mce, State House. 66.71 High Holburri,LonIcr, . WC1R 4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The PatentOffice. Sales Branch. St Mary Cray. Orpington. Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1187