CA2162416A1 - Heat-shrink crimping device and method - Google Patents

Heat-shrink crimping device and method

Info

Publication number
CA2162416A1
CA2162416A1 CA002162416A CA2162416A CA2162416A1 CA 2162416 A1 CA2162416 A1 CA 2162416A1 CA 002162416 A CA002162416 A CA 002162416A CA 2162416 A CA2162416 A CA 2162416A CA 2162416 A1 CA2162416 A1 CA 2162416A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
tube
conductors
wires
heat
hollow tube
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002162416A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Greg E. Blonder
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AT&T Corp
Original Assignee
AT&T Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AT&T Corp filed Critical AT&T Corp
Publication of CA2162416A1 publication Critical patent/CA2162416A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/70Insulation of connections
    • H01R4/72Insulation of connections using a heat shrinking insulating sleeve
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/70Insulation of connections
    • H01R4/72Insulation of connections using a heat shrinking insulating sleeve
    • H01R4/726Making a non-soldered electrical connection simultaneously with the heat shrinking

Abstract

In order to establish a low-electrical resistance between two wires, a heat-shrinkable hollow tube is prepared. Three or more small-diameter conductors are attached to the inner surface of the hollow tube, such as by means of an epoxy adhesive. These conductors run parallel to the axis of the tube along its entire length (L). Each of the two wires is inserted into an opposite end of thetube. The tube is then heated to a sufficient temperature, such that when it cools it collapses and grasps both of the wires firmly, whereby the resulting electrical conductance between them (aided by the conductors) is enhanced.

Description

Heat-Shrink Crimping Device and Method Field of Invention This invention relates to devices using heat-shrinkable tubes for establishing low-electrical-resistance connections between wires, and to 5 methods for establishing such connections.

Background of Invention In order to establish low electrical-resistance connections (i.e., good electrical connection, high electrical conductance) between wires, the prior arthas taught a variety of devices and methods. For example, one well-known 10 method involves using a crimping tool for mechanically crimping together a pair of wires at room temperature . This method, however, is difficult to perform in an environment where physical access to the wires with the crimping tool is not easy, such as in tight spaces ("close quarters") of relatively small electronic devices. For another example, soldering the wires together requires heating 15 them while their ends are overlapping each other. This heating typically requires a temperature of at least approximately 360F (= 1 82C). Such a temperature can damage not only devices to which the wires are already connected at their other ends (because of the thermal conductance of the wires) but also devices that are present nearby.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a device and a method for connecting a pair of wires together that mitigates some or all of the problems of prior art.

Summary Of Invention In a specific embodiment this invention involves a heat-shrinkable hollow tube having an inner surface to which is attached at least one, preferably at least three, conductors. The tube is typically cylindrical in shape. Each of the 5 conductors advantageously runs substantially parallel to the axis of the tube,typically along substantially the entire length of the tube. Each of two wires to be connected together is inserted into an opposite (open) end of the tube, whereby the (near) ends of the wires within the tube either abut or nearly abut each other, or overlap each other. The heat-shrinkable hollow tube is then heated to a 10 surriciel,lly high temperature whereby, on cooling, the inner diameter of the tube is reduced and hence the tube forces the conductors to grasp the two wires firmly. In this way, (even if the wires do not overlap) the wires make good electrical connection with each other via the conductors. Alternatively, if the wires overlap, they make good electrical connection with each other not only 15 through the conductors but also directly. Also, both of the wires can be inserted into the same open end of the hollow tube -- in which case advantageously the other end of the heat-shrinkable tube is closed (i"slead of being open) and contains a metallic plug thereat connecting the conductors together and hence connecting the wires together (via the conductors and the plug) with a lower 20 electrical resistance.

The fact that each conductor advantageously runs substantially parallel to the axis of the tube enables multiple points of contact between the conductor and the wires, whereby electrical resistance between the wires via the conductoris reduced.

21$2~1~
In another specific embodiment, the invention involves the heat-shrinkable hollow tube itself with one of more conductors attached to its inner surface.
Advantageously the conductors run substantially parallel to the axis of the tube.
The tube, together with the conductors thus attached, can then be cut into 5 smaller pieces. Each wire of a separate pair of wires is inserted into opposite ends of one these pieces, foll~wod by heating as described above.

Brief Description Of the Drawing FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a heat-shrink crimping device for connecting a pair of wires together, in accordance with a specific embodiment of10 the invention; and FIG. 2 shows a perspective view, partly cut away and partly in cross section, of a pair of wires that have been connected together in the device shown in FIG 1, in accordance with a specific embodiment of the invention.

Only for the sake of clarity none of the drawings is to any scale.

15 Detailed Description Turning to FIG. 1, a heat-shrink crimping device 10 includes a hollow tube 11 in the form of a hollow circular cylinder made of a heat-shrinkable material.The tube 11 need not be circular, but can be elliptical, oval, square, rectangular, or other shapes -- or it can have different ones of these shapes at various 20 locations along the length L of the device 10. In other words, any long hollow tube of heat shrinkable material will do for the tube 11. At any rate, the tube 11 has an inner surface 1 1.1. Four exemplary conductors 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, and ~_ ~4~ 2162gl6 12.4 (hereinafter, "12.1 - 12.4") are attached to this inner surface 11.1 of thehollow tube 11. The cross section of each of the conductors 12.1 - 12.4 typically is a solid circular cylinder. Typically an epoxy adhesive is used for this attachment purpose: the epoxy is applied to the inner surface 11.1 and is 5 partially set to a tacky state, and the conductors 12.1 - 12.4 are inserted into the tube 11 and are adhered to its inner surface 11.1. Alternatively, the allach~el~l is achieved by heating either the conductors 12.1 - 12.4 or the hollow tube 11, or both, to a temperature sufficient for direct adherence of the conductors 12.1 -12.4 to the heat-shrinkable material of the inner surface 11.1 of the hollow tube 11 while the conductors 12.1 - 12.4 are contacting the inner surface 11.1 of thetube 11 and are being held in place by a metal or ceramic mandrel.

Advantageously each of these four conductors runs substantially parallel to the axis of the hollow tube 11. Also, each of the conductors 12.1 - 12.4 typically runs along substantially the entire length L of the tube 11. Wires 13 15 and 14 (FIG. 2) are to be joined together after their being inserted into opposite open ends of the tube 11, as described in greater detail below.

Advantageously each of the four conductors 12.1,12.2, 12.3, and 12.4 is made of copper, tin, or gold. The diameter of each of these conductors 12.1 -12.4 advantageously is less than approximately one-third the inner diameter of 20 the hollow tube 11 (i.e., the diameter of the inner surface 11.1). Thus there is at least enough empty space between opposing conductor pairs -- namely between opposing conductor pair 12.1 and 12.3, and between conductor pair 12.2 and 12.4 -- for the insertion therein of the wires 13 and 14.

~5~ 2162~1G

In order to enable the wires 13 and 14 to have a low-resistance connection, they are inserted into opposite open ends of the tube 11 with the (near) end surfaces 13.5 and 14.5 of these wires 13 and 14, respectively, eitherin close proximity with each other (FIG. 2), abutting each other (not shown), or5 overlapping each other (not shown). After insertion of the wires 13 and 14 into the tube 11 as aforementioned, the tube 11 is heated to a temperature T
sufficient to cause the heat-shrink material of this tube 11 to shrink after cooling to such an extent that after cooling the heat-shrink material forces the conductors 12.1,12.2,12.3, and 12.4 to collapse and thus to grasp the wires 13 10 and 14. Advantageously the grasping is with surficiel)t compressive force to enable the conductors to break through at least some of any insulating ",aterialthat may be present on the surfaces of the wires 13 and 14. In this way, a low-electrical-resistance connection is established between the wires 13 and 14 via the conductors 12.1,12.2, 12.3, and 12.4. It is enough, of course, that both of 15 the wires 13 and 14 establish low-resistance connections with only one, but each with the same one, of these conductors. For example, the heat-shrink material of the tube 11 is essentially a Teflon- or a vinyl-based material, and the temperature T is approximately 150F (=66C).

Although the invention has been described in detail in terms of a specific 20 embodiment, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Prior to inserting the wires 13 and 14 into the tube 11,the length of this tube together with the conductors 12.1 - 12.4 can be considerably longer than the length L, typically at least approximately three times as long as L, and the tube together with the conductors can be cut into one or '~ -6- 2152~16 more pieces, each having a length approximately equal to L, when it is decided how long a length L is desired for each of the piece(s) to accommodate the demands of the task(s) at hand. Also, instead of four conductors 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, there can be more than four or as few as one, but preferably at least 5 three.

One or both of the wires 13, 14 can be coated with an insulator layer (not shown) in regions outside the tube 11. Also, the two wires can be inserted into one and the same end of the tube. In such a case, the other end of the heat-shrinkable tube advantageously is closed, instead of being open, and contains 10 an electrically conductive metallic plug at the closed end At least three (substantially parallel) conductors extend over a separate peripheral portion ofthe plug. Thereby each of the conductors spaces apart a separate peripheral portion of the plug from a separate portion of the inner cylindrical surface of the hollow tube at its closed end. In this way, each of the conductors contacts at 15 least one of the wires and connect the two wires together via the plug, thereby providing a lower resistance connection between the two wires via these conductors and the plug.

Claims (5)

1. A method of establishing a low electrical resistance between first and second wires comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a heat-shrinkable hollow tube on whose inner surface is attached at least one conductor, the hollow tube having a length L and at least one open end and an axis, the conductor running substantially parallel to the axis;

(b) inserting the first wire into the at least one open end and the second wire into the at least one open end or into another open end of the tube;
and (c) heating the heat-shrinkable hollow tube to a sufficiently high temperature whereby, on cooling, the inner diameter of the tube is reduced and the tube forces at least one of the conductors to grasp at least one of the two wires firmly.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to step (a), the step of providing a longer heat-shrinkable hollow tube with one or more longer conductors attached to its inner surface, both the longer tube and the longer conductors having lengths that are at least approximately three times as large as L, and cutting off a piece having the length L from the longer tube together with the conductors located on the inner surface.
3. The method of claim 2 in which at least three conductors are attached to the inner surface of the hollow tube, said at least three conductors running substantially parallel to the axis of the tube.
4. A device for establishing a low electrical resistance between at least two wires comprising a heat-shrinkable hollow tube on whose inner surface is attached at least one conductor running substantially parallel to the axis of the tube, the tube having at least one open end and an axis.
5. The device of claim 4 in which the tube has a closed end and only one open end, the tube containing an electrically conducting plug at the closed end and containing at least three conductors, each of the conductors being attached to the inner surface of the tube and extending to and spacing apart a separate peripheral portion of the plug from the inner surface of the hollow tube, each of the three conductors running substantially parallel to the axis of the tube.
CA002162416A 1994-12-23 1995-11-08 Heat-shrink crimping device and method Abandoned CA2162416A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/363,152 US5574258A (en) 1994-12-23 1994-12-23 Heat-shrink crimping device and method
US363,152 1994-12-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2162416A1 true CA2162416A1 (en) 1996-06-24

Family

ID=23429035

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002162416A Abandoned CA2162416A1 (en) 1994-12-23 1995-11-08 Heat-shrink crimping device and method

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5574258A (en)
EP (1) EP0718916B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH08236249A (en)
KR (1) KR960027061A (en)
CA (1) CA2162416A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69525229T2 (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6478606B1 (en) * 2000-01-11 2002-11-12 Mcnerney Gerald Twist-on connector with a heat-shrinkable skirt
GB0307715D0 (en) * 2003-04-03 2003-05-07 Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc Guide wire structure for insertion into an internal space
TWI343677B (en) 2007-10-11 2011-06-11 Ks Terminals Inc Terminal connector with easy entry and manufacturing method thereof
TWI348796B (en) 2007-10-31 2011-09-11 Ks Terminals Inc Wire connector with easy entry, manufacturing method thereof
JP5125910B2 (en) * 2008-09-06 2013-01-23 住友電気工業株式会社 Connection member, method for forming the same, connection structure, and method for forming the same

Family Cites Families (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1540034B2 (en) * 1965-01-29 1971-09-02 Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH, 6000 Frankfurt TENSILE CONNECTION OF SEMI-INSULATED LADDERS
US3320355A (en) * 1965-09-07 1967-05-16 Aylwin R Booker Heat shrinkable connector for electrical wire
US3294941A (en) * 1965-10-21 1966-12-27 Robert D Mullen Heat-responsive electric cable formed of heat shrinkable material
US4151364A (en) * 1976-09-29 1979-04-24 Ellis J Scott Electrical connectors and methods of connecting electrical conductors
US4287386A (en) * 1979-07-27 1981-09-01 Steven Scahill End seal for conduits
ATE59737T1 (en) * 1984-04-13 1991-01-15 Raychem Pontoise Sa DEVICE FOR MAKING SOLDER JOINTS.
DE3568918D1 (en) * 1985-01-16 1989-04-20 Rose Walter Gmbh & Co Kg Cable sleeve provided with a cross-sectionally cross-shaped device for supporting cable ends entering cable sleeves
US4963698A (en) * 1985-05-02 1990-10-16 Raychem Corporation Cable sealing
US4883925A (en) * 1988-05-02 1989-11-28 Graf Albert C Sealed solder connector assembly and method of use
FR2670613B1 (en) * 1990-12-18 1994-07-22 Silec Liaisons Elec HEAT SHRINK SLEEVE WITH CONDUCTIVE LAYER.
US5221815A (en) * 1991-07-26 1993-06-22 Raychem Corporation Heat recoverable soldering device
US5210376A (en) * 1991-10-25 1993-05-11 Imperial Underground Sprinkler Co. Sealed electrical connection device and method
GB9221393D0 (en) * 1992-10-12 1992-11-25 Raychem Sa Nv Electrical connector
US5418332A (en) * 1993-06-01 1995-05-23 Moncrieff; J. Peter Electrical cable using combination of high resistivity and low resistivity materials as conductors

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0718916B1 (en) 2002-01-30
US5574258A (en) 1996-11-12
KR960027061A (en) 1996-07-22
EP0718916A1 (en) 1996-06-26
DE69525229T2 (en) 2002-08-22
JPH08236249A (en) 1996-09-13
DE69525229D1 (en) 2002-03-14

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Discontinued