Terminal for an electrical connector

Abstract

A terminal for an electrical connector comprises a pin having a channel for receiving an electrical conductor cable. A screw threaded into the pin secures the electrical cable in the channel by applying pressure to the cable by rotation of the screw. A pressure transfer element is positioned between the screw and the channel for applying pressure from the screw to the cable in the channel to secure the cable in the opening. The pressure transfer element is mounted in such a manner as to allow movement of the element towards the cable but to prevent rotary movement of the element relative to the said channel to prevent distortion of the cable.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A terminal for an electrical connector, the terminal comprising: 
       a terminal body, a screw and a pressure transfer element;  
       wherein the terminal body defines a conductor opening therein for receiving an electrical conductor, a screw opening extending into the terminal body to the conductor opening and an open trough-shaped cavity transverse to the conductor opening, the trough-shaped cavity extending right through a portion of the terminal body from one side thereof to an opposite side thereof via the screw opening;  
       wherein the screw is threaded into the screw opening of the terminal body for securing the electrical conductor in the opening by applying pressure to the electrical conductor by rotation of the screw, and  
       wherein the pressure transfer element is a generally flat pressure transfer element positioned in the trough-shaped cavity between the screw and the conductor opening, the pressure transfer element being movable in the cavity towards the conductor opening for applying pressure from the screw to an electrical conductor in the conductor opening to secure the electrical conductor in the opening.  
     
     
       2. A terminal according to  claim 1  in which the pressure transfer element has a first side for contacting an electrical conductor in the said conductor opening in the terminal body, and an opposite side for contacting the screw, the first side having a protruding portion for contacting the electrical conductor in the conductor opening, and the opposite side having a U-shaped valley therein into which the screw protrudes. 
     
     
       3. A terminal according to  claim 1  in which the conductor opening comprises a channel of circular cross-section, and the pressure transfer element has a convex curved surface on its side remote from the screw, positioned opposite an interior surface of the channel, for securing an electrical conductor in the channel by gripping the electrical conductor between the curved surface of the pressure transfer element and the interior surface of the channel. 
     
     
       4. A terminal according to  claim 3  in which the convex curved surface has a part circular cross-section of radius less than the radius of the cross-section of the channel. 
     
     
       5. A terminal according to  claim 1  in which the pressure transfer element is mounted in such a manner as to allow movement of the pressure transfer element towards the said conductor opening but to prevent rotary movement of the pressure transfer element relative to the conductor opening. 
     
     
       6. A terminal according to  claim 1  in which the contact area of the pressure transfer element available in use for contacting an electrical conductor in the conductor opening is greater than the contact area of the screw without the pressure transfer element. 
     
     
       7. A terminal according to  claim 2  in which the conductor opening comprises a channel of circular cross-section, and the pressure transfer element has a convex curved surface on its side remote from the screw, positioned opposite an interior surface of the channel, for securing an electrical conductor in the channel by gripping the electrical conductor between the curved surface of the pressure transfer element and the interior surface of the channel. 
     
     
       8. A terminal according to  claim 7  in which the convex curved surface has a part circular cross-section of radius less than the radius of the cross-section of the channel. 
     
     
       9. A terminal according to  claim 8  in which the pressure transfer element is mounted in such a manner as to allow movement of the pressure transfer element towards the conductor opening but to prevent rotary movement of the pressure transfer element relative to the conductor opening. 
     
     
       10. A terminal according to  claim 9  in which the contact area of the pressure transfer element available in use for contacting an electrical conductor in the conductor opening is greater than the contact area of the screw without the pressure transfer element. 
     
     
       11. An electrical plug including at least one terminal according to  claim 10 , in which the terminal comprises a pin protruding from the plug at one end of the pin, the pin having the said conductor opening at the other end of the pin. 
     
     
       12. A terminal according to  claim 1  in which the contact area of the pressure transfer element available in use for contacting an electrical conductor in the conductor opening is greater than the contact area of the screw without the pressure transfer element. 
     
     
       13. An electrical plug including at least one terminal according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       14. An electrical plug according to  claim 13 , in which the terminal comprises a pin protruding from the plug at one end of the pin, the pin having the conductor opening for an electrical conductor at the other end of the pin.