High Deformation and Retention Ferrule

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023155336-A1
Application number	US-202117527573-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 16, 2021
Priority date	Nov 16, 2021
Publication date	May 18, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cable assembly comprises a conductive cable including an exposed conductive first section having a first cross-section, and a second section adjacent the first second and having a second cross-section distinct from the first cross-section. A ferrule is positioned over the conductive cable and includes a body defining a seam formed therethrough in an axial direction. The ferrule defines a first body portion deformed into a cross-section corresponding to the first portion of the conductive cable, and a second body portion deformed into a cross-section corresponding to the second portion of the conductive cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of forming a ferrule for use with a cable assembly, comprising:
crimping a first section of the ferrule to a cross-section corresponding to a first cross-section of a first section of the cable assembly; crimping a second section of the ferrule to a cross-section corresponding to a second cross-section of a second section of the cable assembly, distinct from the first cross-section; and closing the ferrule continuously about its circumference and along its length by abutting opposing edges of the ferrule along a longitudinal direction of the ferrule.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in an uncrimped state of the ferrule, the first section and the second section of the ferrule comprise a substantially uniform material thickness.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a thickness of a circumferential wall of the first section is greater than a thickness of a circumferential wall of the second section after the steps of crimping the first and second sections.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the uncrimped ferrule comprises a generally uniform U-shaped cross-section.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first cross-section comprises a generally circular cross-section of a first diameter and the second cross-section comprises a generally circular cross-section of a second diameter, greater than the first diameter.

6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of fitting a conductive cable into an uncrimped ferrule.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first section of the cable includes an exposed conductor.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the second section of the cable includes a cable jacket.

9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the crimped ferrule comprises a single plastically deformed copper sheet.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of closing the ferrule about its circumference includes engaging corresponding recesses and protrusions of each edge along the length of the ferrule.

11 . A cable assembly, comprising:
a conductive cable, including:
a conductive first section having a first cross-section; and
a second section having a second cross-section distinct from the first cross-section; and
a ferrule positioned over the conductive cable and including a body defining:
a seam formed through the body in an axial direction;
a first body portion formed into a cross-section corresponding to the first portion of the conductive cable; and
a second body portion formed into a cross-section corresponding to the second portion of the conductive cable.

12 . The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the seam is defined by continuously abutting, free edges of an annular wall of the body for closing the ferrule continuously about its circumference and along its axial length.

13 . The cable assembly of claim 12 , wherein the abutting edges of the body define opposing protrusions and recesses extending along the axial length of the body, each protrusion being inserted into each corresponding recess with the ferrule.

14 . The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first cross-section comprises a generally circular cross-section of a first diameter and the second cross-section comprises a generally circular cross-section of a second diameter, greater than the first diameter.

15 . The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first cross-section is defined by a plurality of at least partially circular conductive elements, and the second cross-section comprises a generally circular cross-section having a diameter greater than that of any of the at least partially circular conductive elements.

16 . The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second section of the cable includes a cable jacket fitted over at least one internal conductor of the cable.

17 . The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein the ferrule is formed from a single U-shaped body of generally uniform cross-section.

18 . The cable assembly of claim 11 , wherein a third body portion of the ferrule includes an tapering annular profile between the first body portion and the second body portion.

19 . A ferrule for an electrical cable, comprising:
a body defining:
a first section deformed into a cross-section corresponding to a circular conductor of the electrical cable;
a second section deformed into a cross-section corresponding to a circular cross-section of a jacket of the electrical cable, a diameter of the jacket being larger than a diameter of the conductor; and
a seam formed by continuously abutting free edges of the body and formed continuously over a length of the body.

20 . The ferrule of claim 19 , wherein a thickness of a circumferential wall of the first section is greater than a thickness of a circumferential wall of the second section.

Assignees

• TE Connectivity Services Gmbh

Inventors

• Schroll Neil Franklin

Classifications

• H01R4/20 Primary

  using a crimping sleeve {(H01R4/01 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• H01R4/184

  comprising a U-shaped wire-receiving portion · CPC title

• H01R9/0518

  Connection to outer conductor by crimping or by crimping ferrule · CPC title

• H01R43/048 Primary

  Crimping apparatus or processes (H01R43/042 takes precedence) · CPC title