Electrical connector apparatus and method

摘要

The subject invention relates to an electrical connector for coupling to an insulated electrical conductor or a coaxial cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The subject connector can have a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. The subject connector can also have an electrically conductive pin mounted in the housing with one end protruding axially into the housing bore. A second end of the conductive pin can extend in an opposite direction within a second housing bore. The electrically conductive center pin can have a hollow portion extending thereinto from the protruding end and can have an annular sharpened edge on the protruding end. One or more slits can extend along the side of the center pin from the protruding end to form a plurality of center pin segments. Inserting an insulating electrical conductor into the housing bore and into engagement with the hollow center pin drives the center pin into the insulation of the electrical conductor and around the electrical conductor's inner conductor. A segmented center pin can allow the plurality of segments to expand where necessary in order to accommodate various sizes of electrical conductors. One or more conductive arms can be electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and have pointed ends sized for piercing the outer insulation of the insulated electrical conductor. A closure member can be used for forcing and/or securing engagement of the pointed ends of the conductive arms through the outer insulation. For embodiments for use with coaxial cable, the conductive arms are insulated from the electrical conductive pin and the conductive arms are insulated from the electrical conductive pin and the pointed ends of the conductive arms can be shaped relative to one another to pierce the conductive sheath without contacting the center conductor.