Abstract: An identification device adapted for attachment to an insulated electrical conductor includes a pair of generally-rectangular marking plates having planar first longitudinal horizontal surfaces. A plurality of laterally-spaced resilient tension members connect together corresponding side portions of the marking plates, thereby to bias the marking plates toward a normally closed condition in which the marking plate first surfaces are in contiguous engagement. The marking plates are separable against the biasing force of the tension members toward an open condition for receiving longitudinally between the plates and the tension members the free end of a conductor. Upon release, the marking plates are displaced toward a clamping condition in parallel spaced longitudinally-arranged contiguous engagement with diametrically opposed circumferential surfaces of the conductor. The marking plates are pivoted to the open condition about a pivot axis defined by chamfered end surfaces of the plates.

Abstract: A pliers-type insulation stripping tool includes a pair of blade holders that are removably connected with the pull rod that longitudinally displaces the blades relative to the handle shell when a severed length of insulation is stripped from the insulated conductor. A resilient ejector arrangement in provided for ejecting from the handle shell the length of stripped insulation. In order to permit use of the insulation stripping tool with insulated conductors of various sizes and diameters, a blade depth adjusting device is provided for adjusting the distance between at least one of the blade holders and the associated clamping jaw.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a preassembly frame to which the ends of a number of high-voltage transmission lines are connected, whereupon the preassembly frame is mounted in an open-ended chamber contained in a connector housing. The frame includes a first end wall having openings that receive intermediate portions of the transmission lines, which first end wall carries a grounding plate having projections for engaging exposed portions of braided shielding layers of the transmission lines. The free ends of the transmission lines are provided with contact members that are supported by insulation sleeves in wall openings contained in a second end wall of the preassembly frame. A coding arrangement prevents the connector assembly from being connected to an unauthorized companion electrical device.

Abstract: A connector arrangement connects the flat conductors that extend upwardly from a horizontal photovoltaic cell panel with the insulated conductors of a cable via the circuits of a printed circuit board, respectively. A flat conductor support member is adhesively secured to the upper surface of the horizontal photovoltaic cell panel and includes upwardly extending bridge portions having flat upper edges about which are reversely bent the upper free ends of the flat conductors. A hollow sectional connector housing includes a lower body section containing a bottom opening that receives the flat conductor support member when the lower body section is seated on the panel upper surface. Bifurcated resilient contacts mounted on the lower section have first portions that engage the bent flat conductor ends, respectively, and second portions that engage the circuits on a replaceable printed circuit board carried by the removable upper cover section of the housing.

Abstract: An electrical pin or socket terminal includes a vertical tubular body portion, and a spring clip portion connected with the upper end of the body portion. The spring clip portion includes two opposed electrical contacts at least one of which is resiliently biased toward the other. A separating arrangement is operable between a separated condition retaining the contacts in separated spaced relation for longitudinally receiving therebetween a conductor bare end, and a released condition in which the contacts are released for resilient electrical engagement with diametrically opposed surfaces of the conductor bare end. In one embodiment, the spring clip portion includes a pair of parallel spaced struts the upper ends of which are reversely bent toward each other. In another embodiment, a leaf spring electrical contact biases the bare conductor end against a stationary electrical contact.

Abstract: An identification marker for an insulated electrical conductor includes a horizontal generally-rectangular rigid support plate having first and second end portions, and an upper surface on which is arranged a conductor support for supporting a conductor transversely of the support plate. A resilient generally-flexible clamping lever is pivotally connected at one end with one end of the support plate for displacement from an open released position toward a clamping position in which a clamping pad on an intermediate portion of the lever engages the circumferential surface of the conductor, thereby to clamp the conductor against the conductor support. A locking arrangement serves to lock the free end of the clamping lever to the support plate. The clamping lever includes a plurality of angularly arranged sections such that the effective length of the lever varies in accordance with the diametric size of the conductor supported on the support plate.

Abstract: A connector arrangement includes a flat conductor component having a flat engagement portion, a conductive bus bar component having a flat engagement portion, and a conductive contact screw connecting the conductor and bus bar flat engagement portions in contiguous surface-to-surface electrical engagement. The contact screw has a pointed tip and is axially displaceable from a retracted position normal to and spaced from the flat conductor and bus bar engagement portions toward a connected position in which a pointed end of the screw penetrates or extends through openings in the bus bar and flat conductor engagement portions, and into a bore contained in a housing support surface. The housing support surface supports the flat engagement portions in either a horizontal orientation or a slightly inclined orientation relative to the horizontal upper surface of electrical panel component to which the flat conductor is connected and upon which the housing is mounted.

Abstract: An insulation stripping tool for flat cables includes a clamping device adapted to be clamped to a flat cable and to provide a linear guide edge for guiding a knife holder to accurately sever the outer insulation sheath of the cable in a transverse direction. Upon removal of the clamping device from the cable, the knife holder is inserted into a chamber contained in the clamping device with the knife edge protruding from the chamber, whereupon a curved side of the flat cable is inserted within first guide grooves contained in the clamping device, and the clamping device is displaced circumferentially of the cable to sever the curved cable side transversely of the cable. The curved cable side is then inserted into a second pair of grooves contained in the clamping device, and the knife holder is displaced longitudinally to sever the insulation sheath longitudinally of the cable.

Abstract: A connector assembly for printed circuit board terminal blocks and the like includes a housing having spaced side and end walls defining a chamber, and a first connector component mounted in the chamber adjacent an access opening contained in the housing walls. A second connector component external of the housing is displaceable between an engaged position in electrical engagement with the first connector component, and a disengaged position disengaged from the first component. A separating lever pivotally connected with the second connector component includes a cam arrangement that cooperates with the housing side walls to displace the second connector component from the engaged position toward the disengaged position relative to the first connector component. A locking arrangement may be provided for locking together the connector components in the electrically engaged condition.

Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting the flat conductors of a photovoltaic panel with an electrical component, such as a diode, printed circuit or the like, includes a conductor support body having a base portion adapted for connection with the photovoltaic panel, and a bridge portion carrying a plurality of flat seats with edges around which the free ends of the flat conductors are bent, respectively. A bus bar is provided for each flat conductor, each bus bar including a pair of resilient contacts arranged for engagement with the portion of the associated conductor that is bent around the conductor seat. A protective housing encloses the bus bars and at least the bridge portion of the support body, which housing contains openings for receiving output cables the ends of which are connected with the bus bars.

Abstract: A plug-in connector arrangement includes a terminal block containing a chamber in which are mounted a horizontal bus bar having a transverse wall, and a resilient contact having a fixed horizontal leg portion, an intermediate portion bent upwardly from the first leg portion, and an outwardly biased second leg portion reversely bent back above the first leg portion. The second leg portion contains a clamping end portion that extends through a conductor opening contained in the first leg portion. The clamping portion includes at least two discrete clamping surfaces so arranged that when a bare conductor is inserted into the conductor opening, the conductor circumferential surface is selectively engaged by one or more of the clamping surfaces in accordance with the diametrical size of the conductor. The conductor is biased by the clamping portion toward electrical engagement with the bus bar transverse wall.

Abstract: A connector block arrangement includes a first connector block housing having a row of first contacts, a second connector block housing having a row of second contacts in engagement with the first contacts when the connector block housings are in a connected condition, a conductive jumper device having a base portion and a plurality of resilient fingers normally connecting together a group of the second contacts, and an electrically-insulated code device carried by one of the housings for selectively disengaging from the jumper device at least one of the contacts of the second contact group. The code device has a planar generally comb-like configuration including a base portion arranged in an opening contained in either one of the connector block housings, and at least one code bar portion operable to separate a resilient finger of the jumper device from the corresponding contact to be disengaged.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a quick-fastening locking arrangement for locking together a plug member and a socket member, including a locking peg connected with one of the plug and socket members, and a cylindrical locking cam connected with the other member, which locking cam is pivotable through a relatively small angle between locked and unlocked positions relative to the locking peg. The cylindrical locking cam is mounted at one end of the plug member adjacent the socket member for rotation about a transverse axis relative to the collinear axis of the plug and socket members. In one embodiment, the socket member is mounted in an opening contained in a mounting wall to which the locking peg is fastened. In a second embodiment, the locking peg is fastened directly to the socket member.