Abstract: Method for establishing a connection between an electrical connecting element for a motor vehicle on-board network and a cable of the motor vehicle on-board network in which the cable (2) is provided with a metallic stranded conductor (4), firstly the metallic stranded conductor is mechanically compacted in such a way that a flat area is formed, whereby during the compacting, a material bond is formed between strands of the stranded conductor (4), and subsequently, the connecting element is connected to the flat region in a material bond.

Abstract: An electric tool is provided with a second switch that is actuated in order for the tool to be used. The second switch is on a second handle that is grasped by the operator with a different hand than the hand that actuates the main trigger switch. Communication between the second switch and the tool occurs with a wireless signal indicating that the second switch has been actuated.

Abstract: A method for operating a hydraulically actuated work tool having a work jaw is provided. Once an increase in force applied as a result of a hydraulic pressure has been reached, the work process does not require any further force or a maximum permissible hydraulic pressure has been reached. The hydraulic pressure is applied by a pump piston that travels through a pump path and a return path in each pump cycle. The hydraulic pressure is recorded over a time for a change from a pressure increase range to a pressure-maintaining range corresponding substantially to a specific pressure value from the pump path into the return path. At the end of a pump cycle, if the reached pressure-maintaining range exceeds a predefined pressure-maintaining range, an indication is concluded that the tool needs to be checked for a break in the work jaw.

Abstract: A multi-station rotating terminal crimping machine head is provided, the multi-station rotating terminal crimping machine head includes a machine table, a supporting device, a punching head, a rotating seat, a plurality of station seats, a first driving motor, and a first right-angle speed reducer. The supporting device is fixedly disposed on the machine table. The punching head is disposed on the supporting device. The rotating seat is rotatably disposed on the machine table. The plurality of the station seats are disposed on the rotating seat and rotate along with the rotating seat. The first driving motor and the first right-angle speed reducer are disposed on the machine table.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an electric cable (2), according to which the cable (2) is successively processed in processing modules (41, 43) that are independent from one another. According to the invention, at least one sheath clamp (10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.4), which is independent from the plug connectors (22) that are to be mounted on the cable (2) during manufacturing, is attached to a cable sheath (9) of the cable (2) in a non-positive fit at a defined axial position along the longitudinal axis (L) of the cable (2). Alternatively or in addition, the cable (2) is attached to a cable carrier (4), wherein the cable carrier (4) comprises at least one stop element (44) which is arranged at a defined axial position along the longitudinal axis (L) of the cable (2).

Abstract: A rail bond tool for installation and removal of a rail bond to and from a web of a track rail having: a socket adapted to removably and matingly fit about a rail bond head and a rail bond terminal of the rail bond, the socket interior having: an upper cylindrical wall portion, a lower cylindrical wall having a larger diameter than the upper cylindrical wall portion, and an intermediate frustoconical wall portion, an opening at a distal end of the socket adjacent the rail bond tool, the upper cylindrical wall portion, the intermediate frustoconical wall portion, and the lower cylindrical wall adapted to removably and matingly receive the rail bond head, a socket exterior wall, and a slot extending from the opening through the lower cylindrical wall and the intermediate frustoconical wall to the socket exterior wall portion, the slot adapted to removably receive the rail bond terminal.

Abstract: An assembly system includes a positioning unit adapted to clamp and position a cable, a supply unit adapted to supply a connector, and an insertion unit adapted to insert an end of the cable into the connector by moving the connector. The supply unit includes a conveyor belt having a side to which ends of a plurality of connectors in a row of connectors are connected, a cutting device configured to cut each connector of the row of connectors from the conveyor belt, and a conveyor configured to move the conveyor belt, so as to move the connectors individually to the cutting device.

Abstract: A crimping cassette for a crimping device of a cable processing apparatus includes a crimping tool having stationary and movable tool parts configured to act together in a crimping operation of the crimping device. The crimping cassette further includes a holding device having at least two claws for attaching to a mounting part in a mounting area of the claws, the mounting part being directly or indirectly fixed to the stationary tool part. The holding device has a locked closed position in which the claws are firmly clamped to the mounting part; an unlocked closed position in which the claws loosely grip the mounting part for allowing an adjustment movement of the stationary tool part within a spatially limited adjustment range; and an open position in which the claws release the mounting part such that the stationary tool part is separable from the holding device.

Abstract: A glazing panel which comprises an electrical connector with a tail to avoid a wicking effect. The glazing panel is particularly suitable for a vehicle glazing comprising an electrically conductive connector connected to electrically conductive structure such as a heat-able coating or an antenna.

Abstract: A terminal crimping machine includes a machine body and a cable diameter fitting mechanism. The machine body includes an installation portion, an adjustment member and a driven member. The driven member is driven by the adjustment member and includes a driven alignment portion. The cable diameter fitting mechanism includes an assembly portion corresponding to the driven alignment portion. The driven member is driven by the adjustment member to move with the adjustment of the adjustment member, and the driven alignment portion moves along with the driven member. The cable diameter fitting mechanism is installed on the installation portion, and the assembly portion is assembled corresponding to the driven alignment portion during the installation process. Accordingly, the terminal crimping machine can achieve the effect of simple and convenient operation.

Abstract: A crimping machine having a multiplicity of magazines for contact elements which are transportable to a transfer position via a conveyor device. A component to be crimped is then brought from the transfer position into a crimping position by means of a transport device. This transport device is assigned to all of the storage arrangements.

Abstract: Provided is a grounding terminal comprising a terminal fitting including a crimp portion, and a fastened portion that is provided on the front lower side of the crimp portion and is to be connected to a grounding surface using a fastening member, the terminal fitting being provided with a stepped portion between the crimp portion and the fastened portion. A covering layer is configured to be formed on the grounding terminal by thermally shrinking a heat-shrinkable tube including, on its inner circumferential portion, a water sealing agent to be used to cover at least the crimp portion of the terminal fitting and seal the electric wire from water. A water sealing agent is configured to be distributed up to the front side with respect to the covering layer as viewed from above, and a hanging-down length d of a water sealing agent is within the range of the stepped portion.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant terminal material has a substrate made of copper or a copper alloy and a film layered on the substrate. The film has a planned core wire contact part with which a core wire of an electric wire is in contact when the material is formed to a terminal and a planned contact part. The film formed in the planned core wire contact part has a tin layer made of tin or tin alloy and a metallic zinc layer formed on the tin layer; the film formed in the planned contact part has a tin layer made of tin or tin alloy but does not have a metallic zinc layer. A corrosion-resistant terminal uses the corrosion-resistant terminal material described herein.

Abstract: An electric wire with a terminal includes: an electric wire; and a crimp terminal including a terminal connection part on a front side and an electric wire connection part on a rear side, the terminal connection part configured to be electrically connected to a counterpart terminal, the electric wire connection part being wound around and crimped onto the electric wire, in which a bent part is formed on a bottom face of the electric wire connection part, the bent part being bent toward a side for causing a rear end of the bottom face to be closer to a center axis of the electric wire connection part.

Abstract: To provide a connection structure that can be crimped and connected in a desired crimping shape to the electric wire tip portion of an insulated wire without causing the deformation into an unintended crimping shape of the crimping portion of a crimp terminal. When crimping a conductor crimping portion (30a) of crimp terminal (10) to an electric wire tip portion (200a) of insulated wire (200), outer peripheral contact portions (613, 613) of a lower blade (61) of a crimping device (60A) and an outer peripheral contact portion (623) of an upper blade (62) are point-contacted to an outer periphery of a conductor crimping portion (30a) in a perpendicular cross section in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction X and to a crimping direction Z so as to be left-right symmetrical with respect to a reference plane formed by the longitudinal direction (x) and the crimping direction (Z).

Abstract: A crimp terminal included in a wire harness includes an electrical connecting portion, a conductor caulking portion, and a coat caulking portion. The conductor caulking portion includes a first base to which the electrical connecting portion is joined at one side in an axial direction and to which the coat caulking portion is joined at the other side, and a pair of first barrel pieces that extend from the first base and wrap the conductor of the wire between the first base and the pair of first barrel pieces and caulked. The pair of first barrel pieces include bell-mouth portions at end portions close to the coat caulking portion. The first base has a first protrusion at a position facing base ends of the bell-mouth portions across the conductor, having a recessed portion on the conductor side and protruding away from the conductor, and extending in a crossing direction.

Abstract: A splice fixture for holding and crimping a plurality of power pins to a conductor of a submersible pump cable for an electrical connection in a well head. The splice fixture permits the use of standard crimping pliers to crimp the ends of a heavy gauge multi-conductor cables typically used for electric submersible pump (ESP) cables to the power pin for connection to an electrical power source external to the well head.

Abstract: A contact for an electrical plug connector comprises a plug portion and a contact spring. The plug portion has an opening receiving a pin contact in an insertion direction. The contact spring is connected by at least one spring arm base to the plug portion and extends from the at least one spring arm base toward the opening in a direction opposite the insertion direction. The contact spring exerts a contact force on the pin contact perpendicular to the insertion direction.

Abstract: A high-frequency electric wire is provided with a conductor which formed by compressing multiple wire strands, each of which is obtained by coating an outside of a wire rod made of insulating resin with a metal layer, and a sheath provided on the conductor. Each of the wire strands of the conductor is compressed in such a way that a deformation ratio of the wire strand exceeds 0% and is 20% or less. The compression is performed, for example, during bundling and sheathing of the multiple wire strands.

Abstract: A connection terminal includes: a terminal connection portion to be connected with a mating terminal; a wire connection portion including a pair of crimping pieces crimped to an exposed conductor and insulation sheath of a wire; an anticorrosion material provided to cover the exposed conductor and insulation sheath exposed on an outside of the wire connection portion and cover a gap provided in a portion where edges of the respective crimping pieces face and come into contact with each other; and an anticorrosion material holding portion provided in the portion where the edges of the respective crimping pieces face and come into contact with each other.

Abstract: A terminal crimping device includes crimp tooling including an anvil and a ram movable toward the anvil. A crimp zone is defined between the anvil and the ram that receives a wire and a terminal configured to be crimped to the wire by the crimp tooling. An ultrasonic transducer assembly is held by at least one of the anvil and the ram. The ultrasonic transducer assembly is ultrasonically coupled to the terminal and is ultrasonically isolated from the crimp tooling. The ultrasonic transducer assembly may directly engage the terminal. The terminal crimping device may include an isolation member ultrasonically isolating the ultrasonic transducer assembly from the crimp tooling.

Abstract: A crimping apparatus includes a ram having crimp tooling for crimping a terminal to a wire during a crimp stroke and a force sensor detecting a crimp force during the crimp stroke. The crimping apparatus also includes a controller that monitors the crimp quality of a crimp based on a frequency profile of the crimp. Optionally, the controller may create the frequency profile based on a force profile using a frequency transform algorithm. The frequency transform algorithm may be a Fast Fourier Transform algorithm.

Abstract: A wire holding device includes a seal holding member provided with an insertion hole into which an electric wire is inserted and which is provided with an opening, the seal holding member being configured to be housed in an attachment hole formed on an attachment target, an outer periphery sealing member for sealing a gap between an inner surface of the attachment target inside the attachment hole and the seal holding member, an inner periphery sealing member for sealing a gap between the electric wire and the seal holding member, and a wire holder aligned with the seal holding member along the electric wire. The seal holding member and the wire holder are relatively movable in a circumferential direction of the electric wire. The opening has such a diameter as to allow an end face of the inner periphery sealing member to be seen through the opening.

Abstract: A water proof press contact terminal includes a base portion, a pair of first press contact pieces, a pair of second press contact pieces, and a covering member. The first press contact pieces are provided at both sides of a front part of the base portion. The second press contact pieces are provided at both sides of a rear part of the base portion, press contact a sheath of a wire. The covering member is provided on the base portion. A core wire of the wire is inserted into the covering member so as to be covered in a waterproof manner, and is press contacted by the first press contact pieces together with the covering member.

Abstract: A crimping terminal fitting has a wire barrel (21) to be crimped and connected to core strands (31) of a wire (30). The wire barrel (21) has a base plate (23) continuously extending from a ground terminal (11) in a longitudinal direction. Two core crimping pieces (25) extend from the opposite sides of the base plate (23). A thinned portion (27) is formed at least at a leading end of each core crimping piece (25) and is thinner than the base plate (23).

Abstract: A stab for use in a plug-in assembly includes a stab piece and a lug. The stab piece includes one or more contact arms configured to engage a bus bar, and a base portion coupled to the one or more contact arms. The base portion is configured to be coupled to a stab shaft for rotating the stab about a rotational axis to transition the stab from a retracted position to an extended position. The lug is coupled to the stab piece and configured to receive wire for transmitting power from the bus bar to an electrical component. The lug is configured to be deformed around the wire to hold the wire when a crimping force is applied to the lug.

Abstract: A medical lead may be fabricated using an electrode fixture ((130A)-(130D)) configured to facilitate circumferential and axial alignment between electrodes of the lead. In one example, a method includes positioning an electrode fixture around at least one conductor of a plurality of conductors (122) for a medical lead, wherein the electrode fixture at least partially retains an electrode assembly. The method also includes electrically coupling a portion of the at least one conductor with at least a portion of the electrode assembly at an attachment area defined by the electrode assembly when the electrode assembly is at least partially retained by the electrode fixture.

Abstract: A terminal retainer for a modular wiring system includes a first retainer component made of an electrically insulating material, an internal post protruding from an inner surface of the first retainer component, a terminal made of an electrically conductive material and adapted to be electrically joined to an electrical wire, the terminal having a hole for mounting the terminal on the post, and a second retainer component also made of the electrically insulating material, the second retainer component being adapted to attach to the first retainer component to form the terminal retainer.

Abstract: A wire cable configured to be attached to a wire cable terminal. An uninsulated end of the wire cable is formed into a nugget having a shape that generally defines a rectangular cuboid or rectangular prism. The nugget includes one face that defines a longitudinal concavity, indentation, or channel, which is oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wire cable. The nugget may be formed by ultrasonically welding the wire strands together. The concavity reduces the occurrence of fracturing the nugget when it is attached to the terminal by wire crimping wings. The wire cable may be formed of aluminum-based material. An apparatus for forming an end of a wire cable into a nugget shape having a longitudinal concavity and a method of attaching a wire cable having an end formed into a nugget shape having a longitudinal concavity to a terminal is also presented.

Abstract: A terminal crimping device includes crimp tooling including an anvil and a ram movable toward the anvil with a crimp zone being defined between the anvil and the ram configured to receive a wire and a terminal configured to be crimped to the wire by the crimp tooling. An ultrasonic transducer is coupled to at least one of the anvil and the ram that receives acoustic signals sent through the wire and terminal. A crimp quality module receives signals from the ultrasonic transducer. The crimp quality module determines a crimp height of the terminal based on the acoustic signal received by the ultrasonic transducer. Optionally, the crimp height may be determined based upon a transmission time of the acoustic signal from a transmitting transducer to a receiving transducer. The crimp height may be determined based upon a speed of sound transmission coefficient of the terminal and the wire.

Abstract: There is provided a method for crimping a crimping terminal to a wire. The crimping terminal includes a conductor crimping part configured to crimp a conductor part of the wire. A thermoplastic resin layer is formed on an area of an inner surface of the conductor crimping part so as to define a contact area on which the thermoplastic resin layer is not formed. The conductor crimping part, on which the thermoplastic resin layer is formed, is crimped to the conductor part so that the contact area comes in contact with the conductor part. The conductor crimping part crimped to the conductor part is heated at a temperature at which the thermoplastic resin layer is melted. The contact area is surrounded by the thermoplastic resin layer so as to be sealed after the heating.

Abstract: A crimp terminal includes; a crimping portion and a cover covering the conductor portion, the crimping portion is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape in cross section and has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The conductor portion is inserted into the first end portion in a longitudinal direction, and the second end is sealed. The second end portion at the opposite side is sealed by welding. The crimping portion, in which the exposed conductor portion is crimped, further includes a locking section locking the exposed conductor portion. A length between the first end portion into which the conductor portion is inserted and a portion, of the locking section, that is the closest to the first end portion is larger than a length of the exposed conductor portion of the insulated wire.

Abstract: A method and a press for crimping metal terminals onto electric cables, wherein the metal terminal is retained in the centered crimping position, during the entire crimping process. To this end, the press of the invention comprises a crimping assembly (3) provided with means of controlling the knife (7) for the conductor (18) of the electric cable (19) independently or separately from the remaining knives (8,9), respectively for crimping the insulation (20) of said cable (19) and for detaching the carrier strip (21) supporting the metal terminal (17). By comparison with the known art, the method and the press of the invention offer the advantage of ensuring that the metal terminal is kept centered in the correct position for crimping, without undergoing unwanted displacement during the process of attaching to it the conductor and the insulation of the electric cable.

Abstract: A wiring module that can be installed in an electrical junction box and can receive a removable electrical outlet module, a removable electrical switch module, or other types of electrical functional modules. The wiring module and the removable electrical outlet and switch modules may include connectors having a mechanical portion and an electrical portion. The electrical connector portions may be configured so as not to be exposed to user contact when the mechanical connector portions are at least partially engaged.

Abstract: A connector for use in a cable assembly is described. The connector has a tab or socket having a long tang portion. The tang portion of the connector may be bent with respect to the tab or socket portion and the tang portion captivate between a cable and a cable termination. The cable termination may be a crimpable lug or a clamp having a crimpable portion. When formed into a cable termination assembly and connected where the cable is connected in a current-carrying application, the connector provides a quick disconnect capability for a smaller gauge sensing wire attached to a complementary tab or socket.

Abstract: A terminal crimping machine includes an applicator having a movable ram and an anvil. The anvil is located in a crimping zone and configured to receive a terminal thereon. The ram has crimp tooling that is configured to crimp the terminal on the anvil to a wire during a crimp stroke of the ram. An image acquisition device is positioned to acquire at least one image of the crimping zone. A display device is configured to display the at least one acquired image.

Abstract: A method is provided for crimping an electrical terminal to an electrical wire having electrical conductors. The method includes positioning the electrical wire and the electrical terminal between opposing crimp tooling members of a crimp tool. The method also includes pressing a crimp barrel of the electrical terminal against the electrical conductors of the electrical wire using the crimp tooling members such that the electrical conductors are mechanically and electrically connected to the crimp barrel. The crimp barrel is pressed against the electrical conductors such that at least some contact portions of metallic surfaces of at least some of the electrical conductors melt and form hot weld bonds with one or more contact portions of the metallic surface of one or more adjacent electrical conductors.

Abstract: There is provided a method of connecting electric wires in which connecting strength is improved, and at the same time, dispersion of the connecting strength can be depressed. The method of connecting electric wires includes a step for removing coatings of a plurality of electric wires 51 thereby to expose conductors 52, a step for holding at least two places of a plurality of the electric wires 51, a step for twisting the conductors together while keeping a distance between the two holding places constant, and a step for welding the conductors by ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: The present invention aims to maximally reduce a projecting width of a projecting part formed on a terminal when the terminal is crimped to an exposed core part of an end part of a wire. To achieve this aim, a method for producing a terminal-equipped wire in which a crimping portion of a terminal is crimped to an exposed core part of an end part of a wire includes a) a step of arranging the exposed core part in the crimping portion, b) a step of sandwiching a part of the crimping portion between a lower die surface of a lower die and an upper die surface of an upper die and crimping the part of the crimping portion to the exposed core part, and c) a step of pressing an end part of the crimping portion protruding from the upper die surface from above.

Abstract: In a holding portion of a contact fitting, in a state before crimping of core wires, the thickness of a first distal end portion and the thickness of a second distal end portion are both 70% or less of the thickness of the bottom portion. The thicknesses are both smaller than the diameter of core wires of a lead wire to be crimped. The first distal end portion and the second distal end portion are formed by compression processing. Using the holding portion, a first side portion and a second side portion are curved such that they face the bottom portion, and the plurality of core wires are surrounded and crimped with the bottom portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion.

Abstract: Wire positioning devices (1) for positioning an electrical wire (2) in a processing device, include a wire guide (4) for receiving the electrical wire (2) and a lowering device (5), movable vertically in relation to a first longitudinal axis (45) of the wire (2) received in the wire guide (4). The lowering device (5) has a press piece (6), spring-loaded via at least one spring element (15), and is provided so as to be contacted against the wire guide (4), the spring element (15) being arranged in a tube (16). Also disclosed are methods for lowering thin wires (2) and for positioning them in an oscillation-damped manner, wherein a wire positioning device (1) or a processing device are employed.

Abstract: An electrical contact includes a contact body having a mating portion and a barrel portion configured for receiving an electrical conductor. The barrel portion includes a wall defining a bore having a closed end and open end, and the bore includes a core receiver portion for receiving the core of an electrical conductor and a plug receiver portion adjacent the closed end of the bore. A hole is formed in the barrel portion proximate the closed end of the bore and extending into the plug receiver portion of the bore through the wall. A plug has a body portion configured to be inserted into the bore and to engage the plug receiver portion of the bore. The plug is disposed in the end of the plug receiver portion and is further configured to seal the plug receiving portion of the bore and the hole from the rest of the bore.

Abstract: A method to electrically and mechanically connect at least one wire conductor to a terminal includes the steps of cutting and stripping a portion of an insulation outer layer along an end section of the at least one wire conductor to expose a lead of the at least one wire conductor. A further step includes applying a bonding process to the exposed lead to break down oxides disposed on the lead. A further step in the method is crimping the lead having the applied bonding process to the terminal to form a crimp connection connecting the at least one wire conductor to the terminal.

Abstract: In a structure of connection of a connector terminal 10 connected to an electric wire whose core wire is covered with a outer cover, the connector terminal has a barrel portion for crimping the end of the electric wire and an electric connection portion electrically connected to a mating terminal. The outer cover of the electric wire is cut and separated in the vicinity of the end portion of the electric wire and displaced to expose the core wire. The separated portion of the outer cover displaced toward the end portion of the electric wire, an exposed portion of the core wire, and a portion of the electric wire covered with the outer cover are crimped to the barrel portion of the connector terminal.

Abstract: An object is to obtain a stable electric connection resistance under a mild crimping condition. The present invention is a terminal connector 12 that includes a crimp portion 30 to be crimped to an electric wire. The crimp portion 30 includes a base material, an aluminum layer or an aluminum alloy layer a surface on the base material, and a hard layer on a surface of the aluminum layer or the aluminum alloy layer. The hard layer is harder than the base material. The present invention may be an electric wire with a terminal connector 10 that includes the above terminal connector 12 and a covered electric wire 40 that includes a core wire 42 made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The crimp portion 30 of the terminal connector 12 is crimped to the core wire 42.

Abstract: After melted enamel coating is discharged, a fusion process of electrical wire-to-wire connection is carried out inside a crimping connector. In the conductor connection method based on the fusion process, a plurality of enamel-coated conductor wires are inserted in the crimping connector prior to the start of the fusion process. Further, a temporary crimping process that provides the crimping connector a temporary crimping by mechanical pressurizing means is also performed. Addition of force at both end parts or either end part of the cross-section orthogonal to the axis of the above crimping connector may cause expansion, which needs to be suppressed with external force. At the same time, the cross-sectional areas corresponding to both end parts or either end part should preferably be as small as possible. The temporary crimping is applied to the crimping connector for this purpose.

Abstract: The invention provides a terminal chain so that a terminal can be connected with a signal conductor only by being press-formed by dies. A rectangular piece (12) is jointed to an end part extending in the longitudinal direction of a carrier (11). The rectangular piece (12) is placed in dies (40, 50) for press-forming. A signal conductor W1 exposed at one end of a wire W is placed on the rectangular piece (12). The rectangular piece (12) is press-formed by the dies (40, 50) to enclose the signal conductor W1. A terminal (20) which is connected with the signal conductor W1 is formed. The contacting position of the carrier (11) and the terminal (20) is disconnected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the transition resistance in an electrical connection, in particular a pressure connection, between two contact elements. With repeated mechanical or thermal loads, such connections, in particular connections having a small cross-section or comprising soft material, have a transition resistance which increases over time. According to the invention, the transition resistance is improved by there being applied to at least one contact face of a contact element a chemically reducing substance which activates the contact face and consequently increases the conductivity and the cold welding density.

Abstract: A method of electrically conductively connecting a stranded conductor, which has a plurality of wires containing aluminum, to an electrical contact element, by means of which any oxide layers which may surround the wires are destroyed, and by means of which a component consisting of metal is fastened to the conductor by crimping. The stranded conductor is electrically conductively connected at its end to the contact point provided on the contact element while destroying the oxide layers, and the structural component integrally connected to the contact element and acting as a mechanical holding element is crimped around the stranded conductor at a distance from the contact point.

Abstract: A method for forming a cochlear electrode array with a plurality of electrodes which are spaced so as to stimulate sites within a cochlea includes shaping a sheet of electrically conductive material to form a support structure and a plurality of electrodes, in which the electrodes are tethered to the support structure at the spacing of the cochlear electrode array. A cochlear lead includes a flexible body that has frictional characteristics that vary about its circumference. A cochlear lead includes a flexible body with a first region and a second region with different surface textures. This generates differential sliding forces during insertion of the cochlear lead which influence a motion of the cochlear lead during insertion. The cochlear lead having an electrode array with varying stiffness along its length is also provided.