Method of prefabricating an electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector utilizing a crimpable ferrule with an electrical insulation sleeve thereover, and a transparent outer sleeve surrounding the ferrule and insulation sleeve, with the transparent outer sleeve formed of coextruded, multi-layer material with at least one layer being oriented and heat-shrinkable, and with the inner layer being a heat-activatable adhesive. A portion of the outer sleeve is preshrunk to aid in the use thereof. The electrical connector in accordance with this invention is produced by placing a crimpable ferrule having an insulation sleeve thereon upon a first support, with the outer sleeve upon a second support, with both vertically oriented and coaxially arranged, and with the support for the outer sleeve at a lower elevation than the outer support. The arrangement is passed through a heating zone to partially shrink a portion of the outer sleeve about the insulating sleeve, and to activate an inner adhesive layer on said outer sleeve into adhesion with the insulating sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for prefabricating an electrical connector, comprising the steps of: placing a crimpable ferrule having an insulation sleeve thereon upon a first support in a vertical orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of said ferrule and said insulation sleeve;   placing an outer sleeve coaxially about said ferrule and insulation sleeve upon a second support, said second support being at a lower elevation than said first support, said outer sleeve formed of a coextruded, multilayer material with at least one layer thereof being oriented and heat-shrinkable, and with the inner layer thereof being a heat-activable adhesive;   passing said first and second supports horizontally through a heating zone .[.to shrink only a portion of said outer sleeve into adhesion with said insulation sleeve..]..Iadd.; and directing jets of heated air within said heating zone toward said first and second supports and outer sleeve to shrink only a portion of said outer sleeve adjacent said insulation sleeve uniformly into adhesion with said insulation sleeve so that shrinkage occurs only in the central area and not in other areas. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. The process according to claim 1 wherein said step of passing comprises rotating said first and second supports. .[.3. The process according to claim 1 wherein said step of passing comprises directing jets of heated air toward said first and second supports, and further includes a blocking of said heated air in areas where heat shrinkage is not to occur on said 
     
     
        outer sleeve..]. 4. The process according to claim 1 wherein an exposed electrical connector is in electrical communication with said ferrule, and wherein said exposed electrical connection is unsurrounded by said outer sleeve, said exposed electrical connector being supported above said first support during the first mentioned step of placing.