Tracer Wire Connector With Insulation-Piercing Sealed Cradles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tracer wire connectors fail to effectively interconnect multiple tracer wires buried underground, making it difficult to maintain an electrically conductive path and locate non-conductive underground objects such as pipes and cables.
Innovation Solution
A tracer wire connector design featuring a base with cradles and a cover that includes insulation piercing members, allowing for secure electrical connection and water-resistant sealing of tracer wires, enabling the interconnection of multiple tracer wires and maintaining a conductive path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing tracer wire connectors are used, then the structure is simple, but they fail to effectively interconnect multiple tracer wires and maintain an electrically conductive path
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into distinct functional segments: a base portion with cradles for wire positioning, a cover portion with insulation piercing members for electrical contact, and sealing members for environmental protection. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively while maintaining overall reliability of the electrical interconnection.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation piercing members are positioned within the cavity of the cover, and the cradles are received within the cover when attached to the base. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional elements to be integrated in a compact structure, improving electrical connection reliability without excessive increase in overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If existing tracer wire connectors are used, then manufacturing is simple, but they fail to provide water-resistant sealing and durable electrical connection
Solution Approach 1:
The cradles are pre-formed with specific geometries to position tracer wires correctly before the cover is attached. The insulation piercing members are pre-positioned within the cover cavity to ensure proper alignment with the wires. This preliminary positioning action ensures reliable electrical connection and water-resistant sealing without requiring complex assembly procedures during manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector combines different materials with complementary properties: the base and cover provide structural integrity, the insulation piercing members provide electrical conductivity, and the sealing members provide water-resistant properties. This composite material approach enables the connector to simultaneously achieve durable electrical connection and water-resistant sealing while remaining manufacturable.
3Measurement precision
If multiple tracer wires need to be interconnected, then detection accuracy of non-conductive objects improves, but maintaining a continuous conductive path becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed to accommodate multiple tracer wires simultaneously through multiple cradles and corresponding insulation piercing members. This multi-functional capability allows a single connector to maintain continuous electrical conductive paths for multiple wires, enabling accurate detection of non-conductive underground objects without requiring separate connectors for each wire, thus simplifying the overall system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The connector ensures reliable electrical interconnection and water-resistant sealing, facilitating the location of non-conductive underground objects by maintaining a continuous conductive path between tracer wires, enhancing detection accuracy and durability.
Implementation Method 1
The at least two insulation piercing members are electrically conductive and electrically coupled to each other... A first of the at least two insulation piercing members is aligned with the first cradle when the cover is attached to the base, and a second of the at least two insulation piercing members is aligned with the second cradle when the cover is attached to the base
Data Source
AI summary
Trace wire connectors that include a cover that can be attached to a base and used to electrically interconnect two or more tracer wires without having to remove insulation from the tracer wires. The cover has multiple portals that permit one or more tracer wires to pass into an inner cavity of the cover. The base has multiple cradles on which tracer wires passing into the cavity can rest. The cover can be oriented relative to the base for use with a through tracer wire and a dead-end tracer wire, or for use with multiple dead-end tracer wires.