Abstract:
A fiberglass sleeved electrical cable assembly is provided, including a plurality of electrical conductors, a fiberglass sleeve carrying the plurality of electrical conductors therein and a connector, with a housing including a first end having an opening with an inner surface to accommodate the fiberglass sleeve and the plurality of electrical conductors, the inner surface having a plurality of pointed projections, each pointed projection having a ramped side extending farther from the inner surface in a direction away from the opening.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an electrical cable assembly, and, more particularly, to a fiberglass sleeved electrical cable assembly.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Electrical cable assemblies are used in a plethora of products and throughout industry to provide electrical interconnection. Electrical cable assemblies typically have at least two connectors to provide removable connections. Conductors which extend from one connector to another are normally constrained in close proximity with other conductors. The constraint of conductors is sometimes accomplished by using a sleeve which not only provides for the routing of the conductors but also provides a shield from mechanical abrasion of the conductors with some other object. The sleeve surrounding the conductors is usually secured at each end by the connector housings, to provide continuous protection to the conductors.  
           [0005]    An electrical cable assembly with a woven fiberglass sleeve typically has a connector which not only terminates the ends of electrical conductors, carried in the fiberglass sleeve, with interconnecting terminals, but also secures the fiberglass sleeve. Such connectors are typically of two piece construction configured to mate together and each piece has angled chisel-like projections to secure the fiberglass sleeve. The angled chisel-like projections have an edge oriented perpendicular with the direction in which the electrical conductors are directed within the connector. The problem with this sort of assembly is that the angled chisel-like projections cause the fiberglass sleeve to fray and disengage from the connector. The disengaged fiberglass sleeve then fails to properly protect the underlying electrical conductors from abrasion. Another problem with this sort of assembly is that the angled chisel-like projections, particularly after the fiberglass sleeve has disengaged from the connector, may pierce the insulation on the electrical conductors potentially causing short circuits.  
           [0006]    One solution to the above problem is to put a protective coating on the ends of each fiberglass sleeve. A coating such as a polymeric material is used to prevent fraying of the fiberglass sleeve. The polymeric material also reduces penetration of the angled chisel-like projections through the fiberglass sleeve. A problem with this solution is that the polymeric material adds material and labor cost to the assembly. Another problem is that the polymeric coating, by reducing the penetration of the angled chisel-like projections, cause extra pressure on the connector assembly which may result in a bowed connector housing.  
           [0007]    What is needed in the art is a connector for a woven fiberglass electrical cable assembly which does not cause fraying of the woven fiberglass cable, thereby obviating the need for a protective coating.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides a fiberglass sleeved cable assembly having a housing with pointed projections which grip and hold a fiberglass sleeve.  
           [0009]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a fiberglass sleeved electrical cable assembly, including a plurality of electrical conductors, a fiberglass sleeve carrying the plurality of electrical conductors therein and a connector, with a housing including a first end having an opening with an inner surface to accommodate the fiberglass sleeve and the plurality of electrical conductors, the inner surface having a plurality of pointed projections, each pointed projection having a ramped side extending farther from the inner surface in a direction away from the opening.  
           [0010]    An advantage of the present invention is that fraying of the fiberglass sleeve is eliminated.  
           [0011]    Another advantage is that no polymeric coating of the fiberglass sleeve is required, thereby reducing material and labor costs.  
           [0012]    Yet another advantage is that insulation of electrical conductors in the connector is not pierced. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fiberglass sleeved electrical cable assembly of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned view of the fiberglass sleeved electrical cable assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a housing portion of the fiberglass sleeved electrical cable assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another housing portion of the fiberglass sleeved electrical cable assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 5A, 5B,  5 C and  5 D depict embodiments of projections of the present invention of FIGS. 1 through 4. 
     
    
       [0019]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a fiberglass sleeved cable assembly, which generally includes electrical conductors  12 , woven fiberglass sleeve  14  and connector housing  16 .  
         [0021]    Electrical conductors  12  are insulated electrical conductors, which are routed through fiberglass sleeve  14  and are terminated on at least one end with a connector terminal  18 . On the end of electrical conductors  12  which are not shown it is anticipated that a similar termination is used, however any electrical termination may be utilized.  
         [0022]    Connector terminal  18  is an electrical terminal which is crimped and/or soldered to a portion of electrical conductor  12  from which the insulation has been removed. Connector terminal  18  is shaped so as to be retained in connector housing  16  when connector housing  16  is assembled.  
         [0023]    Connector housing  16  includes first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  with both housing portions having holes  24 , through which fasteners  26  are installed to secure first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  together. Connector housing  16  secures connector terminals  18  and positions them to allow interconnection with a mating connector. Connector housing  16  engages woven fiberglass sleeve  14  in such a manner as to prevent woven fiberglass sleeve  14  from fraying and/or disengaging from connector housing  16 .  
         [0024]    Now, additionally referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, connector housing  16  includes a first housing portion  20  and a second housing portion  22 . First housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  are complimentary with each other in that first housing portion has recess  28  which accommodates lip  30  of second housing portion  22 . First housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  are made from an electrically nonconductive material, such as thermal injected plastic. Holes  24  in first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  are positioned to align when lip  30  is slid into recess  28 .  
         [0025]    First housing portion  20  includes a plurality of terminal channels  32  and a plurality of pointed projections  34 . Terminal channels  32  serve to position connector terminals  18  and to electrically isolate connector terminals  18  from each other. Second housing portion  22  likewise includes a plurality of pointed projections  34 .  
         [0026]    Pointed projections  34  are positioned, in at least one row, in an area of first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  in which woven fiberglass sleeve  14  is placed during the assembly of connector housing  16 . Pointed projections  34  are integral to first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22 . Pointed projections  34  extend from first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  in such a manner as to engage woven fiberglass sleeve  14 . When first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  are assembled, the spacing between pointed projections  34  of first housing portion  20  and pointed projections  34  of second housing portion  22  allow electrical conductors  12  to pass therebetween. Pointed projections  34  of first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  may impart some compressive force on electrical conductors  12  when connector housing  16  is assembled. When first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  are assembled, thereby forming connector housing  16 , the rows of pointed projections  34  are substantially parallel with each other.  
         [0027]    Now, additionally referring to FIGS. 5A through 5D, there are depicted details of pointed projections  34 . Pointed projections  34  include a rear ramp side  36 , a front side  38 , two adjacent sides  40  and a top portion  42 . Pointed projections  34  may be described as pyramid shaped, cone shaped, triangular shaped or the like, coming to a point or chisel point with the edge of the chisel running substantially parallel to the direction in which electrical conductors  12  are arranged in connector housing  16 .  
         [0028]    Rear ramp side  36  faces the end of first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  from which woven fiberglass sleeve  14  enters connector housing  16 . Rear ramp side  36  ascends from first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  as an inclined plane ending at top portion  42 . Alternatively, rear ramp side  36  may be shaped in a curved manner becoming generally tangential to adjacent sides  40 .  
         [0029]    Front side  38  is substantially perpendicular to the surface of first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  as depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Alternatively, front side  38  may form an angle with first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  as depicted in FIGS. 5C and 5D.  
         [0030]    Adjacent sides  40  are substantially planar in nature forming an obtuse angle with first housing portion  20  and second housing portion  22  as depicted in FIGS. 5A, 5B,  5 C and  5 D. Adjacent sides  40  meet at top portion  42  thereby forming a point or an edge. Alternatively, adjacent sides  40  may be of any shape including curved yet meet and thereby form a point or an edge.  
         [0031]    Top portion  42  is substantially parallel with the base of projection  34  as depicted in FIGS. 5B and 5D. Top portion  42  may be an edge having a small flat or rounded surface. When top portion  42  is embodied as an edge the edge is directed parallel to a direction in which electrical conductors  12  are arranged in connector housing  16 . Alternatively, top portion  42  may be formed as a point as depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5C.  
         [0032]    Fiberglass sleeved cable assembly  10  may be manufactured from the aforementioned components. Electrical conductors  12  are connected to connector terminals  18  and inserted into fiberglass sleeve  14 . An end of fiberglass sleeve  14  containing electrical conductors  12  is inserted into an opening of connector housing  16 , directing connector terminals  18  into terminal channels  32 . Connector housing  16  is oriented such that pointed projections  34  grip fiberglass sleeve  14 , thereby constraining the movement of fiberglass sleeve  14  relative to connector housing  16 .  
         [0033]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.