Abstract: The method of providing an improved soldered electrical connection includes the step of providing a ring over an electrical wire and a terminal which are to be soldered together, and then compressing the ring to form a mechanical connection between the wire and the terminal prior to soldering. The mechanical connection holds the wire for a substantial length against the terminal and prevents movement during the soldering thereby insuring against a cold solder joint. Preferably, the ring is divided with the free ends preferably being offset to provide ease in sliding past each other. Preferably, a specially designed tool is utilized to compress the ring, the tool being provided with specially designed grooves in its jaws for holding the ring on end.

Abstract: A surface mount electrical connector for use on printed circuit boards including plug and receptacle connectors is disclosed for use with parallel and perpendicular printed circuit boards. Box and pin terminals are positioned in rows adjacent a ground bus. The connectors are attached to the boards by posts on the ground bus. The terminals are insertable in cavities in the connector housings and can be retained in a partially inserted position. Mounting the connector housing on the printed circuit board independently inserts the terminals fully into housing cavities with compliant solder tails on each terminal being in contact with conductive pads on the boards despite deformities or warpage of the boards.

Abstract: A contact terminal has a termination section at one end thereof including a spaced pair of axially-extending slots within each of which a respective one of a pair of conductor wires is held in interference fit for weld termination such as by laser welding. The terminal can be a ground terminal for the pair of ground conductors of a tri-lead cable. The terminal is stamped from a metal blank and its termination section is formed by bending upwardly side portions thereof to create parallel vertical side walls, and bending back along the termination section a tab portion of selected width having parallel vertical side surfaces. The slots are defined by the side surfaces of the bent back tab portion and the respective side walls.

Abstract: An outlet terminal connector for electrical circuitry contained within a hermetically sealed housing. The connector includes a tubular shell having a threaded end portion composed of steel for releasably engaging a threaded mating cable connector and a base end portion composed of a different metal suitable for welding to the material of the housing. The connector shell is fabricated as a unitary assembly from a two layer explosively bonded laminate, one layer of which comprises steel and the other layer of which comprises the material of the connector base end portion.

Abstract: A heat activatable sealing piston comprising a cylinder of polymeric material radially expandable on application of heat. The piston can be incorporated into thermal actuators of various types. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing piston is used in an electrical connector, together with a gas generating means to force solder between an electrical conductor inserted into the connector and the walls of the tubular connector.

Abstract: An electrical plug connector comprises a dielectric contact-carrying member having signal contact members secured to one side of the contact-carrying member at spaced intervals therealong. A ground contact member is secured to the other of the contact carrying member with contact sections of the signal contact members and the ground contact member extending from a front end of the contact-carrying member. Conductor-connecting sections of the signal and ground contact members extending along the contact-carrying member. Signal conductors and ground conductors of electrical cables are electrically connected respectively to the conductor-connecting sections of the signal contact members and the ground contact member. A dielectric housing member is secured onto the contact-carrying member and part of the electrical cables so that the contact members from their contact sections to their conductor-connecting sections are covered.

Abstract: The outer conducting sleeve of a coaxial cable connector is soldered to a housing wall or metal plate, the sleeve being butt-mounted to the plate. The plate has a raised edge surrounding the opening, and a ring of solder is placed between the raised edge and the inner surface of the sleeve before the sleeve is butted against the plate, and the solder is subsequently melted. Indentations in the plate, under the end wall of the sleeve, permit solder to flow outward so as to wet the outer surface of the sleeve to form a continuous joint.