mprovements in Terminals and Connections for Electric Cables and like Conductors.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4.h Dec., 1893-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
mprovements in Terminals and Connections for Electric Cables and
like Conductors.
I, ROBERT FREDERICK HALL, of Ferndale," Church Road, Moseley, near the
City of Birmingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement;
-
This invention has relation to terminals or connections either for securing
the ends of electric cables or current-conducting wires to various electrical
articles and instruments, or for connecting together the ends of two. cable or
wire lengths, and the object of my said invention is to provide a simple and
inexpensive form of terminal or attachment which when applied to the stripped
end of a cable, admits of a sound mechanical and electrical connection between
it and the wire.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents an elevation of one form
of terminal or cable attachment fitting made according to one form of my
invention and showing the same separately, or before it is applied to the end
of a cable.
Figure 2 represents an end view of the said terminal, and Figure 3 a cross
section of the same upon the dotted line. Figure 1. Figure 3 is an edge
view.
Figure 4 shows a
longitudinal vertical section of the said terminal upon
the dotted line ¹, Figure 1.
Figure 5 is an elevation and Figure 6 a longitudinal sectional view showing
the terminal or attachment introduced onto the exposed or stripped end of a
cable but before the connection is made permanent.
Figure 7 is a similar longitudinal section to that of Figure 6, but showing the
5 connection completed.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the said
Figures 1 to 7.
This form of the terminal comprises an attachment plate a, provided at one
end with an eye b, for the reception of a binding or clamping screw for con-
0necting the said terminal to the article or instrument to which the cable dis
applied, whilst the plate has formed within it, a tubular grip-socket or skeletor
receptacle c, consisting of a series of knuckles or semi-circular bridge-lik
parts c, separated by intervening clearances &, on the one side of the plate
and a similar series of alternate knuckles, and gaps e, on the other side
35 but
so arranged that the knuckles on each side come opposite to or correspon
with the knuckles on the other side. The said opposite knuckles thereby com
prehend a tubular receptacle of sufficient size internally to admit of the end
of the cable, (which is exposed or stripped of its insulation for a suitab
distance) being readily inserted therein. By now closing or pinching togethe
40 (by means of a hammer or by pliers or other tools) the sets of knuckles on t
opposite side of the plate, respectively force the portions of the cables adjace

page_text: to them outwardly into the opposite alternating clearances and thereby compel
the said cable end to assume a zig-zag or undulating shape, as represented in
Figure 7, which will ensure the same being gripped in such a manner as to
effectually prevent it from working loose or being withdrawn and will at the. the
same time make a sound mechanical and electrical connection between the cable
and its terminal.
These terminals may be easily and cheaply produced from sheet copper or
other suitable metal, by press tools, and if necessary, they may be coated with
tin to facilitate the soldering in of the cable after it has been inserted and
gripped as before described.
The same principle of gripping may be applied to connections or attachments
for securing together lengths of cable wire. Such a device is represented in
Figure 8, and is provided throughout its length with a tubular receptacle formed
by opposite knuckles with alternating clearances and the naked ends of the
two cable lengths to be connected are respectively introduced into the opposite
open ends of the said receptacle and there secured by closing down the
knuckles in like manner as previously described in regard to terminals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
First: A terminal for electric cables, comprising an attachment plate having
upon the opposite sides, a series of knuckles or semi-circular bridges, alter-
nating with clearances, with the knuckles upon the one side coming opposite
the clearances on the other side, thus forming a tubular receptacle or socket
into which the naked end of a cable is inserted and then gripped by closing
down the said knuckles substantially as herein described and also as set forth
in Figures 1 to 7, of the accompanying drawings.
Secondly: A connection for securing together lengths of electric cable, con-
sisting of a plate or strip of metal having upon the opposite sides, a series of
knuckles or semi-circular bridges, alternating with clearances, arranged to
form an open-ended receptacle or socket into which the naked ends of the
cable lengths to be connected are inserted and there secured or gripped by the
closing of the knuckles, substantially as herein described and also as set forth
in Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd low of Donamba 1900
ROBERT FREDERICK HALL,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.