JPS6364035B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a heat recoverable article suitable for making an electrical connection, for example between two electrical conductors, and to a method of making a connection using such an article.

Many articles and methods have been proposed for coating one or more base bodies and/or for joining a plurality of base bodies, for example to make an electrical connection between two conductive base bodies. has been done.
Thus, for example, US Pat. No. 3,243,211 discloses an article having a heat-shrinkable sleeve and a meltable material member disposed within the sleeve. The meltable material can be, for example, a polymeric material or an inorganic meltable material, such as a solder. An electrical connection between two conductive wires can be made, for example, by inserting the conductive wire into a sleeve containing solder and heating the assembly to shrink the sleeve and melt the solder.

Several other specifications also disclose articles having heat-shrinkable sleeves with solder members therein. Thus, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,324,230 describes an electrical connector having a terminal pin (or similar electrical conductor) with a solder member attached to one end of the sleeve. A heat recoverable sleeve is provided which is tightly fitted over the pin by being contracted into tight contact with the pin. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 3,313,772 discloses a heat-shrinkable sleeve with a ring of solder therein and a ground lead, a portion of which is connected to the solder ring and sleeve. is placed between.

Although the aforementioned articles have been found to be extremely useful in a wide variety of applications, there are situations in which these articles are not always satisfactorily applicable. Thus, for example, the connector described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,324,230 is constructed to facilitate connecting another conductor to the terminal pin, and connects the ground conductor to the outer conductor (usually a braided wire) of the coaxial cable. It's not an ideal structure to make things easier. Furthermore,
Although the article referenced above and described in US Pat. No. 3,312,772 is designed for the latter application, there may be situations in which the use of this article may be problematic.

The invention relates to an article having a heat shrinkable sleeve containing solder useful for making a connection between a first conductor, such as a ground conductor, and a second conductor, such as the outer conductor of a coaxial cable; The invention relates respectively to providing connection methods using such articles.

The present invention includes a heat-shrinkable sleeve that is open at least one end, and a solder member eccentrically disposed within the sleeve and held on and/or by the sleeve, the solder being An article is provided which does not extend around the entire inner periphery of any cross-section of the sleeve.

The solder element may have a suitable amount of flux associated therewith as desired or required. In one embodiment of the invention, the solder member is placed in the article before it is placed on the conductors to be bonded, the heat-shrinkable sleeve shrinks and melts the solder (and flux, if present). Preferably, the article is not connected to a conductive member that does not melt at the temperatures at which the article is heated. Preferably, the solder element is actually in contact with the inner surface of the sleeve.

Advantageously, in a cross section in the solder element area of the article of the invention, the area of said solder is small compared to the total area enclosed by the sleeve, the same being true in the longitudinal section of the solder element area of said article. It is preferable to apply this also to directional cross sections. Advantageously, in a cross-section through the solder area of the article, said solder element does not extend across the center of the area surrounded by the sleeve; in such a cross-section, said solder element Preferably, the sleeve does not protrude significantly into the area enclosed by the sleeve. Advantageously, substantially all of the solder is relatively close to the inner surface of the sleeve, and the solder member is an elongated article (e.g. the outer conductor of a coaxial cable) with dimensions slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of the sleeve. Preferably, it is positioned such that it can be inserted into said article. Advantageously, the circumferential limit of solder within the sleeve is small compared to the inner periphery of the sleeve. The solder member is placed on one or more portions of the inner periphery of the sleeve, i.e. on one side of the sleeve.
Advantageously, it is located within one or more segments. Preferably, the solder element is located on one or more portions of the inner surface of the sleeve. Conveniently, at least a portion of said solder element is arranged within a projection on the outer periphery of the sleeve, said projection preferably substantially disappearing when said sleeve recovers freely and the solder melts. The solder element can, if desired, be partially surrounded by the material of the sleeve, with a portion of it protruding preferably only slightly from the inner surface of the sleeve.

The solder member can have any desired shape. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the solder element is arranged such that, in use, the elongate base object (e.g. a ground conductor) is housed within the sleeve, and a portion of the elongate base object is placed in close proximity to the solder element. , at least a portion of the solder member is shaped and positioned such that at least a portion of the solder member is disposed between the portion of the elongate base body and a portion of the sleeve radially outwardly from the portion of the elongate base body. To achieve this, at least a portion of the solder member has a generally C- or U-shaped cross-section,
Advantageously, at least part of the outer surface of the letter is in contact with the inner surface of the sleeve.

The solder element may have two parts spaced apart such that an elongated base object, such as a ground conductor, can be inserted between them. Advantageously, said two parts lie in a common cross-section of said sleeve and are advantageously close to each other but not in any contact within the sleeve. It is thus possible, for example, to place an elongate base object of relatively small diameter between these parts and connect it to an elongate article of larger diameter which is also arranged within said sleeve. The contours of said two parts may be chosen such that said solder member can hold said elongate base object (e.g. a ground conductor) in a substantially fixed position within the sleeve, and if each of said two parts The solder element is partially surrounded by the sleeve material with a portion thereof protruding from the inner surface of the sleeve (in this case, the solder element is said to be "wrapped" around it by the sleeve material). If desired, the conductive wire can be positioned by a protruding portion of the solder member.
The two parts can, for example, be opposing parts of a solder element, at least in part of which has a generally C-shaped or U-shaped cross section. Alternatively, for example, the two parts can be provided by two separate solder members. Instead of being used close to each other, the two separate solder members can also be arranged substantially diametrically opposite each other within the sleeve, and can be spaced apart from each other in other ways. The solder element can also be in the form of a ball, if desired.

The solder element can be held by or on the sleeve in any desired manner. Preferably, at least a portion of the solder element is retained within a protrusion on the outer periphery of the sleeve, said protrusion preferably substantially disappearing when the sleeve retracts and the solder melts. Thus, for example, the sleeve may be provided with a receptacle for the solder element by heating a portion of the sleeve to deform it outwardly and maintaining the deforming force while the portion of the sleeve cools. It is possible. A container formed in this manner has a tendency to force the solder contained within the container toward the inside of the sleeve in an attempt to regain its original shape upon heating. Alternatively, for example, the solder element can be placed close to the inner wall of a heat-shrinkable sleeve, which then partially shrinks under conditions that the solder does not melt. The inner wall thus partially surrounds the solder element and the solder element is held securely within the sleeve. In this case, if necessary, complete recovery of the sleeve is prevented by the mandrel.

In a further embodiment, the sleeve can also have, at least over a part of its length, two longitudinally extending compartments arranged next to each other, in which case one of the compartments (a small one compartment) has a smaller cross-sectional area compared to the other (larger compartment). The solder element, which in this embodiment is preferably in the form of a ball, is preferably held within the small compartment by gripping it by the inner wall of the small compartment. The compartments are in communication with one another, at least in the region of the solder element, preferably over the entire length of the small compartment. In use, an elongated base object, for example a ground conductor, can be inserted into the small compartment, with the elongated base body being guided towards the solder element and, upon contact with the solder element, its end portion being soldered. It can be deflected into position within the large compartment to align with the member. The solder element thus acts both as a stop and as a guide device for the elongated base object.
If an elongate article is placed within the large compartment and heat is applied to shrink the sleeve and melt the solder, at least a portion of the solder will flow into the large compartment to form a connection between the base object and the article. I can do it. The article in which the sleeve has two longitudinally extending compartments can be made in any suitable manner, such as by the use of a mandrel or by moulding.

Of course, it is also possible to use sleeves with two or more layers, in which, for example, a first inner and outer layer cooperate to hold the solder element and As the sleeve contracts and the solder element melts, the sleeve forces the solder element into the desired position, even if it is not already in the desired position. Where the layers of a multi-layer sleeve cooperate to retain the solder element, the solder element can also be retained in protrusions within the outer periphery of the sleeve, if desired, which protrusions are attached to the sleeve. Preferably, the solder material shrinks and substantially disappears when the solder member melts.

In one example of a sleeve having inner and outer layers that cooperatively hold or assist in holding the solder element, the inner layer extends over only a portion of the length of the outer layer. Is possible. In this case said solder element, e.g. a solder ball or solder wire, is disposed within the sleeve adjacent to one end of the inner layer, such that a portion of the solder element is sandwiched between said first inner and outer layer. ing. It should be noted that during installation of such an article, the inner and outer layers can cooperate to "push" the solder element into the desired location. In a second example of such a sleeve, the inner layer can extend over substantially the entire length of the outer layer, and the solder member aligns with the hole in the inner layer and extends between the layers. The solder is held in place through the hole through which solder can be forced out during use. Another example of an inner layer of a sleeve that can cooperate with an outer layer to retain a solder member is an inner layer with an open cross section. Thus, for example, it is possible to use an elastic inner layer with a substantially C-shaped cross-section, in which case the solder element is held between the two arms of said C-shape. Of course, the aforementioned inner layer can be replaced by any other inner part of the sleeve capable of holding solder elements. Alternatively, for example, the solder can be applied to (and thus retained on) the sleeve, for example by means of a sticky flux.

The sleeve in the article of the invention can optionally be provided with a guide device that allows the elongated base object to be accommodated within the sleeve and its radial position determined. In this case, in use, the elongate base object is housed in a guide device, and a portion thereof is configured such that it can be placed in close proximity to at least a portion of the solder member. Thus, in this embodiment, the article according to the invention comprises an eccentrically arranged solder element and a part, preferably an end part, of an elongate base object (for example a conductor, for example a ground conductor) adjacent to the solder element. It has a guide device for fixing it.
Preferably, at least a substantial part of the solder member is located outside the guide device. If one takes a cross-section through a preferred article of the invention in the area of the guide device, it can be said that the wall of the guide device divides the sleeve into two perforated compartments. Of course, it is also possible to provide holes in the wall so that the two compartments communicate with each other over part or all of their length.

Preferably, the guide device is a channel open at both ends, although in some embodiments the channel may be open at only one end, with at least a portion of the guide device being defined by the walls of the sleeve. It is convenient that it has been done. Thus, for example, the guide device may be at least partially defined by a portion of the inner surface of the sleeve and a portion of the surface of an insert arranged within the sleeve.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sleeve has a second outer layer and a second inner layer extending only part of the total length of the outer layer, and the guide device is at least partially It is defined by a portion of the inner surface of the outer layer and a portion of the outer surface of said inner layer. In this case, the sleeve can be said to comprise guide means.

Said guide device preferably has a diaphragm for engaging an elongated base object housed therein, in which case it is possible for said base body to be pushed through said diaphragm, but said base body Preferably, accidental displacement with respect to the article is prevented. If the guide device is at least partially defined by the wall of the sleeve, it is advantageous for the aperture to be formed by a recess in the wall of the sleeve. If a multi-layer sleeve is used, the indentations can be present in the walls of the layers forming part of the sleeve, if desired.

Preferably, the article also has a stop for limiting axial entry into the sleeve of a base object housed within the sleeve during use. When the sleeve has or is provided with a guide device, the article also has a stop for limiting the axial entry into the sleeve of an elongate base object housed within the guide device in use. is preferable. The stop is
For example, it can be provided by a portion of the inner wall of the sleeve and/or by a solder member. A suitable shape can be imparted to the sleeve by pre-contracting at least a portion of the sleeve onto a suitably shaped mandrel. Preferably, said stop is positioned such that, when viewed in longitudinal section of the sleeve, said stop is spaced from the end of the guide device, in which case said solder element is connected to said stop and said end of the guide device. however, it does not necessarily have to be axially aligned therewith.

Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a component having a heat shrinkable sleeve with at least one open end. The solder member is eccentrically located within the sleeve away from the open end. Preferably, a guiding device is provided between the open end and the solder element, at least in the sleeve region, for guiding the elongated base object to a point where a portion thereof is adjacent to the solder element. Although the guide device and the solder member can overlap, it is preferred that at least a portion of the solder member is located further from the open end than the guide device. It is not essential that the guide device extends as far as the solder element or the open end. Preferably, a stop is provided determining the axial penetration of said elongate base object into the sleeve, said stop being preferably located further from said open end than the solder element. be. The solder element, when melted, electrically connects the elongate base object through the solder element to an elongate object housed in the sleeve but not in the guide device. It is arranged so that

According to another feature of the invention, a heat-recoverable article has a heat-shrinkable sleeve with two open ends, the sleeve having an elongate electrical conductor held therein. the conductor protrudes from at least one end of the sleeve, at least a portion of the length of the conductor is uninsulated within the sleeve, the conductor is a ground conductor, and the article is within the sleeve. the article is arranged such that in use it can be placed around an elongated base object having an outer dimension slightly less than the inner dimension of the sleeve and extending from opposite ends of the sleeve; a solder member disposed thereon, the solder member being eccentrically located within the sleeve such that it does not extend around the entire inner periphery of any cross-section of the sleeve; A heat recoverable article is provided which features the following features:

The present invention further provides a heat recoverable article having a sleeve having two open ends and a substantially constant cross-section over its length, the sleeve being adjacent to an inner surface thereof. carrying an elongate electrical conductor projecting from at least one end of the sleeve, at least a portion of the conductor within the sleeve being uninsulated, and the article also having a solder member on at least a portion of the uninsulated component. and wherein the solder member is eccentrically disposed within the sleeve and does not extend around the entire inner periphery of any cross-section of the sleeve. provides goods.

It is not essential that the parts outside the sleeve of the conductor are insulated. However, it is advantageous for the conductor to be insulated except for the length within the sleeve where the electrical connection is to be made.

The present invention also provides a heat recoverable article having a heat shrinkable sleeve having an elongated insulated electrical conductor held therein, the conductor being at least one of the sleeves. protruding from one end, at least a portion of the conductive wire is uninsulated within the sleeve, and the article further includes a solder member on at least a portion of the uninsulated portion, the solder member being within the sleeve. The heat-recoverable article is characterized in that the sleeve is eccentrically located and does not extend around the entire inner periphery of any cross-section of the sleeve.

Note that the portion of the wire to which the solder member is attached is not simply the tin-coated portion of the wire. That is, when the term "solder element" is used in reference to an article with a pre-attached elongated conductive wire, in at least one cross-section of the solder-bearing conductor, the amount of solder is pre-coated with tin. Note that the term is intended to mean more than the amount of wax normally present in a coated conductor. The solder material should thus be in sufficient quantity to flow to and wet the base object to which the conductor is connected and to create an electrical connection between the conductor and the base object. Thus, a sufficient amount of solder should be used to make the connection effective. Preferably, in at least one cross-section of the part of the conductor carrying the solder, the thickness of the solder layer on the conductor is at least equal to the radius of the conductor.

The solder elements within the article, including the pre-attached elongated conductive wire, can be co-operated with a suitable flux as desired or necessary;
Said solder element is preferably located within the sleeve in the area of the conductor, into which an elongate base object can be inserted, preferably with an outer dimension slightly smaller than the inner dimension of the sleeve. . Thus, the solder element can be placed in any manner/position described above in this specification, except where clearly unsuitable. Preferably, the solder element is held simply by its engagement with the conductor, and preferably there is no co-operation between the conductor and other elements, such as a sleeve. However, holding and promoting retention by such cooperative action should not be excluded either, and the solder element may be in contact with the sleeve in any case if desired.

The solder member can have any suitable form and can be held on the conductor in any suitable manner. Thus, for example, the solder member may be in the form of a pole or other shape that completely surrounds the cross-section in the portion of the conductor. However, as long as the solder member is firmly fixed to the conductor portion,
It is not necessary to completely surround the partial cross-section of the conductor. If desired, the solder element can be provided simply by wrapping a solder strip in a suitable manner around the conductor, whatever the shape of the solder element, if It is possible to swage it onto the conductor if it is appropriate to do so. If desired or necessary, the solder member can include one or more outwardly extending portions, such as a pair of lugs, to securely anchor it and thus the conductor within the sleeve. It is. During manufacture of the article, the sleeve may be partially recovered and interlocked with one or more such outwardly extending portions.

Conveniently, the conductor is also arranged in such a way that an elongate base object having an outer dimension slightly smaller than the inner dimension of the sleeve can be inserted into the sleeve. Preferably, the portion of the conductor within the sleeve extends in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the sleeve, and advantageously the insulated portion of the conductor is within the sleeve and in contact with its inner surface. .
The article can, of course, have two or more elongated conductive wires if desired.

The conductor can be held within the sleeve in any suitable manner. It is not essential that the various components be rigidly fixed with respect to each other, and some relative movement may be allowed, as long as the sleeve and conductor are not separated from each other during normal handling.

Advantageously, the conductor is retained by cooperation between the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of at least one insert arranged within the sleeve. Said insert, preferably in the form of a ring or sleeve, if desired,
In use, the article may be heated to cause the sleeve to contract and not be able to melt at temperatures that would cause the solder member to melt. Advantageously in this case said insert is heat shrinkable, but more preferably said insert is fused during installation of the article to assist in providing an environmental seal to the connection made. It is best to melt at a temperature similar to Advantageously, the conductor is retained by a cooperative action between the sleeve and at least two inserts. Here, at least one insert is disposed between the solder member attachment portion of the conductor and each end of the sleeve. In this case, the solder member is not carried by the extreme end portion of the conductor. If only one insert is used, it is advantageous for the solder element to include one or more outwardly extending portions to ensure its anchoring and thus the anchoring of the conductor sleeve.

Yet another method of retaining a conductor within a sleeve includes partially restoring the sleeve about the conductor. This method may be used in combination with the previously described method and/or any other method in which the conductor is retained by one or more inserts, if desired.

As mentioned above, the conductor is advantageously insulated except for the length of the conductor within the sleeve over which the electrical connection is to be made. Advantageously, the portion of said conductor that takes part in creating the electrical insulation is not the endmost portion and is insulated except for areas adjacent to but not at the end of the conductor. Advantageously, the conductor is provided by radially incising the insulation sheath at a point in the end region of the conductor and incompletely removing a short length of the insulation sheath. Thus, for example, the short length of insulation sheathing can be moved longitudinally over the wire until only a portion of the insulation sheathing extends beyond the end of the wire. If desired, the longitudinally extending portions of the insulation short sections may be cut so that separate lengths of conductor and insulation are abutted. If the conductor is a stranded wire, the short portion of insulation remaining at the extreme end of the conductor serves to keep the stranded wire close together and relatively straight in the stripped portion. If the ends of the conductor are insulated and the conductor is held within the sleeve by a pair of inserts placed on either side of the solder element, each insert is in contact with the insulated portion of the conductor. It is advantageous to have one.

During manufacture, the insulated end portion of the conductor and one end of the sleeve can be brought into contact with a flat surface if desired, thus allowing the uninsulated portion of the conductor to be removed without holding the conductor. It becomes possible to correctly place it in a desired position. This is particularly advantageous if the sleeve is arranged vertically during manufacture.

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a heat shrinkable sleeve having first and second open ends and having an elongated electrical conductor held therein;
The insulated portion of the conductor projects from a first open end of the sleeve, the insulated end of the conductor is within the sleeve, and the insulated end of the conductor and the sleeve first end are in contact with each other. A heat recoverable article is provided in which a portion of the conductive wire therebetween is uninsulated and has a solder member disposed thereon, wherein said conductive wire is preferably connected to said sleeve and said first and second retained within the sleeve by the cooperative action between fusible rings, each of which has an outer surface in contact with an insulated portion of the conductor;
a ring is disposed between the uninsulated portion of the conductor and the first end of the sleeve, and a second ring is disposed between the uninsulated portion of the conductor and the second end of the sleeve. has been done.

The heat-shrinkable sleeve used in accordance with the present invention is a sleeve that shrinks at least in part when heat is applied, and is preferably any material that can be converted into or maintained in a heat-shrinkable form. can have an electrically insulating material. Examples of suitable materials include, for example, U.S. Pat.
No. 3,297,819 and other US patents referenced herein. Crosslinked polymeric materials such as crosslinked polyvinylidene fluoride are particularly suitable. If a sleeve with two or more layers is used, the inner layer need not have the same material as the outer layer. Advantageously, the sleeve has sufficient transparency to allow inspection of the solder connections made therein.

The sleeve can be directly extruded into such a shape or formed from sheet material, which can be heat-shrinkable if desired. In the latter case, the opposite ends of the sheet may be sealed using, for example, peroxide or a contact adhesive (e.g., U.S. Pat.
3,770,556) or thermoplastics and heat-activated crosslinking agents (such as those described in US Pat. Nos. 3,891,490 and 3,927,233 and British Patent No.
1,512,727), the sleeve is suitably joined to form the sleeve. If desired, the opposite ends of the sheets may be provided with devices for providing connections therebetween (see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,455,336, 3,379,218, 3,530,898 and 3,574,313). It's okay.
If the sleeve is formed from a sheet of material, the sheet can be shaped to retain the solder member prior to its formation, if desired. Heat shrinkable properties can be added to the sleeve by any suitable method, if desired.

If the sleeve has multiple layers, the adhesive can be disposed between these layers as desired (eg, in the form of continuous or discontinuous layers). However, the presence of adhesive is not essential. If the sleeve has inner and outer layers, the inner layer preferably does not substantially melt at temperatures at which the article is heated during use, causing the sleeve to shrink and melt the solder. The inner and outer layers are heat shrinkable. However, if desired, the inner layer may be meltable in use at a temperature at which the article is heated, the sleeve contracts, and the solder melts; in one embodiment, one meltable inner layer is , when the sleeve has one guide device, it may be integrally formed with a meltable material member disposed between the guide device and one end of the sleeve; If not, it may be integrally formed with a meltable material member disposed between the solder member and the open end of the sleeve. In this case, the meltable material extends around the entire inner periphery of the cross-section of the sleeve and is in contact with the inner surface of the outer layer. The outer surface of the inner layer is in contact with the inner surface of the outer layer except in the area of the guide device (if present) and/or with another layer that may or may not be continuous on the inner surface. Preferably, they are in contact. If desired, the second outer layer may be integral with the first outer layer (if present) and/or the second inner layer may be integral with the first inner layer (if present). It may be one with the other (assuming that it exists). Thus, a single outer layer and a single inner layer can serve both to hold or facilitate holding the solder element and to provide a guiding device, if desired.

The heat-shrinkable sleeve can have any desired shape. One method by which the desired shape can be imparted involves partially restoring the sleeve around one or more suitably shaped mandrels. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the sleeve is elastically deformable in cross section and has an inner surface of a different shape than the outer surface of the elongated object to which the article is to be attached; During deformation, the sleeve is adapted to easily accommodate an elongated object and to grip the object when the deforming force is removed. If said elongated object is a cable with a substantially circular cross-section, advantageously the inside of said part of the sleeve has a non-circular cross-section, with two long sides and two short sides. Preferably, it has sides (these do not necessarily have to be straight). Preferably, said portion of the sleeve has a substantially rectangular cross-section, and in this embodiment the solder element may cooperate with one or both of the short sides of said rectangle, if desired. I can do it. During installation, it is possible to apply slight pressure to the sides of such a sleeve of non-circular or other suitable cross-section to cause the sleeve to have a suitable cross-section. In this case, the pressure is released, for example, after the cable has been inserted into the sleeve and the sides of the sleeve have gripped it in place.

The sleeve may be open at one or both ends, and if desired, a meltable material (such as a meltable polymeric material) or other sealing material may be inserted between the solder member and each open end. It can be placed between. If the sleeve includes a meltable insert, this insert can provide the meltable substance. the meltable material acts as a "weir" for the solder member, preventing solder from flowing out of the open end of the sleeve during installation of the article;
and/or promote environmental sealing at the ends of the sleeve. The sleeve thus forces the fusible material into intimate contact with the conductor contained within the open end of the sleeve, providing a reliable seal. Alternatively, if a suitable amount of fusible material is provided, the sleeve and fusible material cooperate to provide a seal even at an open end that does not contain a base object in use. make.

If the sleeve is provided with a fusible material member or one or more other inserts therein, the fusible material or other inserts may be suitable, for example to allow the sleeve to partially recover on the inserts. It is possible to fix it in the sleeve and tighten it therein in this manner.

The present invention also provides a method for electrically connecting first and second electrical conductors, the method comprising the steps of: arranging said conductors within an article according to the invention; applying heat so that the sleeve shrinks and the solder melts to form a connection between the conductors. Preferably, a portion of each conductive wire is placed in alignment with the solder.

If the article has or is provided with a guide device, the invention also provides a method of electrically connecting first and second electrical conductors, the method comprising: storing said first conductor in a guide device of such article in close proximity to a soldering member and placing said second conductor within a sleeve in any order or substantially simultaneously; and heating to cause shrinkage of the sleeve and flow of solder to create an electrical connection between the conductors. Preferably said portion of the first conductor is an end portion.

When the solder member has two parts spaced apart from each other, the first conductive wire connects these two parts.
Advantageously, it is arranged between two parts and, if desired, contacts and is held by these parts. Said two parts can act as a stationary device for said first conductor if desired. The first conducting wire may be, for example, a ground conducting wire, and the second conducting wire may be, for example, a braided wire of a coaxial cable.

The present invention also provides a method of forming an electrical connection, the method comprising the steps of: placing an article according to the invention having a pre-installed elongated conductive wire with a solder member on a base object; applying heat to cause the solder member to shrink and melt so that an electrical connection is made between the electrical conductor and the base object. Preferably,
The base object is an outer conductor of a coaxial cable.

Articles according to the invention can be easily manufactured without the use of complex tools. Furthermore, the solder elements are arranged eccentrically within the sleeve and are held by and/or on the sleeve, so that the base objects to be connected are placed in the sleeve such that they are in close proximity to the solder elements. It is possible to insert the sleeve and, upon heating, force the molten solder directly radially inward and into contact with at least one, preferably both, of the base bodies. If the solder element has two parts in close proximity to each other, the solder element serves as an additional fixing device for one of the basic objects.
and can also optionally act as a retention device.

Articles according to the invention having eccentrically positioned solder members can be used to provide localized solder joints. It is thus possible to apply the solder to the point where it is desired to make a connection without using excess solder which may be present in undesired locations after melting. For example, if a ground conductor is connected to the outer conductor of a coaxial cable, by using the article of the present invention, there will be substantially equal amounts of solder on the ground conductor and the outer conductor in the final assembly. Existing results are obtained. Furthermore, since only the amount of solder required to form the joint needs to be melted, less heat is required, thus reducing the risk of overheating the sleeve, for example. It is thus possible, if desired, to use a higher melting point solder than would be possible if, for example, a complete ring of solder were used.

The article of the invention not only has a localized solder element, but also has a guiding device for positioning an elongate base object, such as a ground conductor, in the correct position relative to the solder element. It is ensured that the base body is placed in the most advantageous position for efficient brazing, sometimes especially when the article includes a stop for limiting the axial movement of said elongated base body. be done.
Furthermore, after the sleeve has shrunk, the guide device is adapted to grip an elongate base object, such as a ground conductor, to firmly position and relieve strain (particularly when this is formed between the inner and outer heat shrinkable layers of the sleeve). is operable. If the sleeve has more than one layer of material (e.g. for defining the guide device and/or holding the solder elements), the inner layer may e.g. Additional protection may be provided, and the cable sheathing may otherwise be adversely affected by the heat applied to induce contraction of the sleeve.

As previously mentioned, at least a portion of the sleeve itself can be configured to grip an elongate object, such as a cable, with which a connection is being made. At least a portion of such a sleeve can be configured such that it deforms during installation and grips a cable or other object once the deforming force is removed. The fact that the sleeve grips an elongate object ensures that the sleeve remains in a preferred orientation with respect to the elongate object (and preferably remains so during thermal recovery of the sleeve), and/or Alternatively, for example, device means are provided for ensuring that another object or member is in the correct position with respect to the elongate object and/or with respect to the insert in the sleeve. Thus, in articles of the invention in which at least a portion of the sleeve has a substantially rectangular cross-section, said sleeve has an elongated shape placed within it before (and preferably also during) recovery. The fact that the object is grippable ensures that the solder member will be in a preferred orientation with respect to said elongate object, if desired. Furthermore, a sleeve portion spaced apart from said elongate object prior to recovery cooperates with an outer surface of said elongate object to place a further base object in a desired position, e.g. with respect to said elongate object and/or with respect to a solder member. It is possible to define one or more compartments for emplacement. The fact that the sleeve and the elongate object contact each other at the point where the sleeve grips the cable also causes the molten solder to remain in the desired position during recovery of the article, if the solder element is properly positioned. results that promote this.

The aforementioned advantages of the article with eccentrically arranged solder elements are of course also included in the advantages of the article according to the invention with a pre-attached elongated conductor with solder elements. Moreover, since the latter article has pre-installed conductors and solder elements, the operation of connecting the ground conductor to the outer conductor of a coaxial cable, for example, involves simply inserting the outer conductor into the article and heating it. This can be done by The article can thus be easily installed by an automated process. Furthermore, the amount of solder suitable for a particular application can be selected during the manufacture of the sleeve, and the fact that the solder element is on the conductor and placed eccentrically within the sleeve prevents melting. It is possible to obtain extremely well localized solder joints without using excess solder which may subsequently be present in the desired position.

The facts described above in connection with a component having a solder element eccentrically arranged in a heat-shrinkable sleeve are the situation in the case of the device described in US Pat. No. 3,312,772, which includes a complete solder ring, for example. This is in contrast to In the case of such devices, relatively large pieces of solder can be used if enough solder is to be in the desired location (i.e. at the point where the connection is to be made between the ground conductor and the outer conductor). A ring and therefore a relatively thick sleeve is practically required and thus a significant amount of heat must be applied to ensure complete shrinkage of the sleeve and melting of the solder, with the potential for overheating. It is known that this occurs. It has also been found that the solder ring described in US Pat. No. 3,312,772 requires a greater amount of solder to connect the ground conductor to the outer conductor. This is undesirable in that it not only wastes solder, but also allows the solder to reach a point in the finished connection where it is undesirable to be present.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an article, generally designated 1, having a heat-shrinkable sleeve 2 and a partially recovered portion of the sleeve inserted into the sleeve 2. It has a pair of balls 3, 3 of retained solder (and flux, if desired). Each of the solder balls 3 is partially enclosed by the sleeve material, with a portion protruding from the inner part of the sleeve. As best seen in FIG. 2, the solder balls (designated 3a, 3a in the figure) are arranged so that a conductive wire, such as a ground conductor, can be placed between them. The solder ball can act as a positioning and holding device for the conductor. The solder balls are spaced apart from both ends of the sleeve.

The article shown in FIG. 1 includes an elongated raised portion 4 formed by partial recovery of the sleeve around the mandrel, which portion extends from one open end of the sleeve to the solder balls 3,3. It serves to guide the conductor toward the solder ball. For some applications an article containing two solder balls is advantageous, while for other applications one solder ball is sufficient, and FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view containing only one solder ball 5. It shows. Here, the solder balls 5 are positioned within the heat-shrinkable sleeve 6 by the neck portion 7 of the sleeve 6. If desired, the solder receptacle in FIG. 3 may be made large enough to accommodate one of the conductors to be connected.

FIG. 4 shows the use of an article according to the invention for connecting a ground conductor to a coaxial cable braid. The article of FIG. 4 is designated generally by the numeral 8 and is similar to the article of FIG. 1, having a heat-shrinkable sleeve 9 of electrically insulating material and two solder balls. There is. Here, only one of the two balls is indicated by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. The article 8 also has two rings 11 and 12 of meltable polymeric material, each ring 11 and 12 being placed between the solder ball and the open end of the sleeve 9.

As shown in FIG. 4, a stripped end portion 14 of an insulated ground conductor 13 can be placed between the two solder balls in close proximity to both solders (and as desired). (e.g., can be held in place and held in place by the solder) and can also be located over the entire length of the exposed braid 16 of the coaxial cable, designated generally by the numeral 15. Note that the cable has an article fixed thereon, and the length of exposed insulation material is 17.
and an exposed center conductor length 18, with said length of center conductor 18 and a portion of insulation 17 extending out from the end of sleeve 9. The ground conductor and coaxial cable can be inserted into the article sequentially or substantially simultaneously. When the ground conductor and coaxial cable are arranged as shown in FIG. 4, heat may be applied such that the sleeve 9 contracts and the solder balls and fusible rings 11 and 12 melt. A soldered connection is thus obtained between the braided wire and the earth conductor, and a seal is formed between the sleeve 9 and the cable insulation 17 and the cable insulation sheath 19 and the insulation sheath of the earth conductor 13.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an article according to the invention in which the sleeve, generally designated 20, has a substantially rectangular cross-section and is elastically deformable. Pressure may be applied to the short side of such a sleeve during installation of the sleeve so that the sleeve occupies a substantially circular cross-section. Thus, for example, cables of circular cross section can be easily inserted into the interior. Upon release of the pressure, the sleeve substantially returns to its original shape so that the long side of the sleeve grips the cable and holds it in place. Due to the fact that the sleeve grips the cable (or other object),
If desired, a quantity of solder within the sleeve occupies a specific relative position with respect to the cable or other object and is isolated from said object prior to recovery;
A sleeve portion cooperating with the surface of the object defines one or more compartments for positioning another object, e.g. a ground conductor, in a desired position with respect to e.g. a cable and/or a solder. It becomes possible to make it happen. The fact that the cable and sleeve contact each other when the sleeve grips the cable can also help maintain molten solder in the desired position during recovery of the part.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 6 and 7, the sleeve 20 has an outer layer 21 and an inner layer 22. The inner layer 22 extends approximately half the length of the outer layer 21 from one end 23 of the outer layer. The end portions of the inner layer on the short sides of the sleeve and a portion of the outer layer in the central region of the sleeve cooperate to hold a ball 24 of solder (and flux, if desired). Here, a portion of each solder ball 24 is positioned between and retained by the inner and outer layers of the sleeve. The outer layer 21 projects outwardly in the area of the solder balls, and the inner layer 22 projects inwardly. The device of FIGS. 5 to 7 also has two rings 11 and 12 of meltable polymeric material, arranged similarly to rings 11 and 12 of FIG. It performs a similar action.

FIG. 7 shows a method for connecting stripped end portions 14 of two insulated ground conductors 13 to exposed braided 16 lengths of coaxial cable 15 similar to that shown in FIG. Figure 5 illustrates the use of the articles of Figures 5 and 6; Each end portion is positioned proximate a respective solder ball 24. The ground conductor and coaxial cable can be inserted into the article in any order or substantially simultaneously. When the ground conductor and coaxial cable are placed in place as shown in FIG. 7, heat can be applied to the sleeve 20 to cause it to contract and to melt the solder balls 24 and the meltable rings 11 and 12. An electrical connection is made between the braided wire and the ground conductor, and the sleeve 20 is connected to the cable insulator 17.
and sealed against the cable insulation sheath 19 and the insulation sheath of the ground conductor 13. The molten solder is forced out between the inner and outer layers of the sleeve upon contraction of the sleeve, and the inner layer 22 can also act as an additional protective layer for the cable insulation, for example. Without such protection, the insulator could be adversely affected by the heat applied to cause sleeve recovery and solder melting.

An article such as that shown in FIGS. 5-7 includes a tubular member having a substantially circular cross-section which is intended to form the inner and outer layers of the sleeve, and a tubular member having a substantially rectangular cross-section about a vertical mandrel having a substantially rectangular cross-section. a solder ball is placed between the two tubular members near one end of the inner member (layer), and the assembly is then heated at a temperature that does not cause melting of the solder to bond the tubular member. It can be made by shrinking the mandrel and gripping the mandrel and solder. Here, the degree of shrinkage is such that the composite sleeve thus formed is still heat shrinkable. Although it is not mandatory,
An adhesive material can be provided between the inner and outer layers, for example as an inner coating on the outer tubular member or as an outer coating on the inner tubular member.

FIG. 8 is generally similar to FIG. 6, except that a pair of solder (and flux, if desired) balls 25 are provided on each short side of the cross section of the sleeve 20. The point is that there is. Each solder pair 25 can act as a positioning and retention device for a conductor, such as a ground conductor. Thus, for example, a conductor can be housed in an opening of substantially triangular cross section defined by two solder balls and the outer wall of the inner layer. It is advantageous to use two solder balls when more solder is required, for example when using thicker conductors. of course,
1 on one of the short sides of the substantially rectangular cross section.
It is also possible to provide one solder ball and the other solder ball.

FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of an article according to the invention in which the sleeve 25a has an outer layer 26 and an inner layer 27 of substantially C-shaped cross-section, with solder balls 28 (and the desired Araba flux) is C
It is placed between the arms of the figure.

The article shown in cross section in Figure 10 does not include an inner layer. Instead, solder ball 2
9 is a heat shrinkable sleeve 3 through adhesive flux.
It is attached to the inside wall of 0.

The article shown in FIGS. 11-13 has a heat-shrinkable sleeve 31 having a solder strip (and flux strip, if desired) 32 therein generally C-shaped in cross-section. Eccentrically prepared. The outer surface of the C-shape engages a portion of the inner surface of the sleeve 31, which portion is previously partially contracted into intimate contact with the solder strip 32. In this embodiment the solder is therefore held only by the sleeve 31.

The article of FIGS. 11-13 also has a guide channel 33 in which, for example, a ground conductor can be housed and placed, so that the end of said ground conductor can be placed near the solder strip 32 and It can be placed in the direction of the strip.
The guide channel is defined by an inner surface 34 of sleeve 31 and an outer surface 35 of an inner sleeve 36 positioned within sleeve 31. It can thus be said that sleeve 31 forms the outer layer and sleeve 36 the inner layer, respectively, of a multilayer sleeve. The inner sleeve 36 is in contact with the outer sleeve 31 except in the area of the guide channel 33 . The guide channel 33 has an internal constriction formed by a recess 37 in the sleeve 31, which grips, for example, the insulating coating of the ground conductor housed in the guide channel 33.

As can be seen from the accompanying figures, when an elongated object, such as a ground conductor (not shown), is housed within the guide channel 33, the end portion of the object is placed between the "arms" of the C-shaped solder strip. I can do it. The shape of the sleeve 31 is such that a portion 38 of its inner surface provides a stop member for limiting the axial penetration length of, for example, a ground conductor into the sleeve. When the ground conductor is thus placed and heat is applied to cause the sleeve 31 to contract and melt the solder, the molten solder is forced radially inwardly by the sleeve and comes into contact with the end portion of the ground conductor and , comes into contact with a second object (for example a braided coaxial cable), which can be previously introduced into the sleeve.

A ring (or layer) 39 and 40 of meltable polymeric material is provided in each end region of the sleeve 31, the ring 40 being provided between the guide device and the open end adjacent thereto. There is. The polymeric material provides a seal to objects placed within the sleeve after installation of the sleeve.

Sleeve 31 (and associated fusible layer 39)
One end portion 41 has a generally rectangular cross-section, so that it is capable of gripping a base object, such as a cable, to which an article is to be attached, said article being able to be attached to said heated object. It is possible to reliably hold it in the desired position during the steps.

The article shown in FIG. 14 differs from the articles shown in FIGS. 11-13 primarily in the amount of solder and the manner in which the solder is retained within sleeve 31. The solder in the article shown in FIG. 14 is in the form of a wire 42 having a substantially circular cross-section, each of which has an end portion 43 and 44 extending axially and interfacing with the inner surface of sleeve 31. It is held in cooperation with the outer surface of 45 located within sleeve 31. Sleeve 31 can thus be said to form the outer layer of a multi-layer sleeve, and sleeve 45 can be said to form the inner layer of the multi-layer sleeve. The central portion 46 of the solder wire 42 lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane containing the end portions 43 and 44 of the wire such that the entire solder is present when viewed in a cross-section of the article including the central portion. It is generally U-shaped, and the curved portion of the U-shape is in contact with the inside of the sleeve 31. The sleeve 31 is partially pre-shrunk around the central portion 46 of the wire to help hold the wire in the desired position within the sleeve. In the article of FIG. 14, the sleeve 45 holds the solder and, together with the sleeve 31, serves to define a guide channel for, for example, a ground conductor.

In the modification example (not shown) of the article shown in FIG. 14, the central portion of the solder wire may lie in the same plane as the end portions of the wire.
In this embodiment, the central part of the wire can act as an axial stop for the first base body.

FIG. 15 shows an article according to the invention whose end view is shown in FIG. 16, in which the sleeve has two longitudinally extending compartments arranged next to each other. The article also has a ground conductor inserted therein.

The article of FIG. 15 has a sleeve designated generally by the numeral 50, the sleeve having two
It has two compartments 51 and 52. The cross section of the compartment 51 is smaller than the cross section of the compartment 52.
In the article shown in FIG. 15, compartment 51 extends longitudinally from one open end 53 of compartment 52
The two compartments communicate with each other via an opening 54a (see FIG. 16) extending longitudinally over the entire length of the compartment 51. A solder ball 55 is positioned within the compartment 51 and is gripped by the wall of the compartment 51 near the end 54 of the compartment 51 remote from the open end 53 of the compartment 52.

When using the article shown in FIG. 15, the uninsulated end portion 56 of the insulated conductor, generally designated 57, is inserted into the open end of the compartment 51 and the conductor 57 is connected to the end thereof. The portion 56 can be pressed along the compartment 51 until it contacts the solder ball 55 and is deflected downward (as shown in FIG. 15) and positioned below the solder ball 55 in the compartment 52. The width of opening 54a is preferably selected so that the insulated portion of conductive wire 57 cannot easily pass through opening 54a. When a base object, such as the outer conductor of a coaxial cable (not shown in FIG. 15), is inserted into the large compartment 52 and heated, a reliable connection is established between the base body and the end portion 56. A solder connection member is obtained. At this time, the molten solder flows through the opening 54a, and the small compartment 51 is filled with the conductive wire 5.
Contract tightly around 7. In the method described above, the small compartment 51 acts as a guiding device, and the solder ball 55 also acts to guide the end portion 56 of the conductor into the desired position.

Referring to FIG. 17, heat shrinkable sleeve 61 has open ends 62 and 63. An insulated conductor, indicated generally at 64 and having an uninsulated portion 65 within the sleeve, is located at the open end 6 of the sleeve.
It extends from 2. The ends of the conductor 64 are insulated by a short length of insulation 66, which is present on the portion of the conductor 64 between the uninsulated portion 65 and the open end 62 of the sleeve. ing. A ball of solder 68 surrounds a portion of the uninsulated portion 65 of the conductor 64.

The portion of the conductor 64 within the sleeve 61 extends in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the sleeve;
Insulating coatings 66 and 67 (and solder balls 68)
A portion of the sleeve is in contact with the inner surface of the sleeve. The conductor 64 is positioned within the sleeve by the cooperation between the sleeve and two rings 69 and 70 of fusible material. Said ring 69 is disposed between the uninsulated portion 65 of the conductor and the open end 62 of the sleeve, and is provided with an insulating sheath 67.
A portion of the outer surface of ring 69 and sleeve 61
is sandwiched between the inner surface of Similarly, a portion of the insulation sheath 66 is sandwiched between the outer surface of a ring 70, which is positioned between the uninsulated portion 65 of the conductor and the open end 63 of the sleeve, and the inner surface of the sleeve. The sleeve has been partially recovered from a diameter larger than that shown and the conductor 64 and rings 69 and 70 are positioned such that they do not move appreciably relative to each other or relative to the sleeve 61.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 17, the conductors and solder are close to the inner surface of the sleeve so that a base object with an outer dimension slightly smaller than the inner dimension of the sleeve can be inserted into the sleeve. It is possible. Such a base object, such as a coaxial cable with a length of exposed outer conductor, is inserted into the sleeve so that the exposed outer conductor is in close proximity to the solder ball 68, and the assembly is then heated. to shrink the sleeve and remove solder balls 68 and fusible rings 69 and 70.
can be melted so that the soldered connection part becomes the uninsulated part 65 of the conductor 64.
and the outer conductor of the coaxial cable to create an environmental seal, if desired. As shown in the attached figure, if the sleeve 61 is transparent, the soldered connection parts can be easily inspected, but if such visual inspection is not necessary, it is essential to use a transparent material. It's not a thing.

18 to 20 show various shapes of solder members provided on the non-insulated portion 65 of the conductive wire 64. FIG. Solder 71 shown in FIG. 18 is formed by caulking a strip of solder around portion 65, and the resulting solder member has a compressed C-shape in cross section.
Thus, in the cross section in the solder element 71, the central portion 42 and the end portion 4 of said solder strip
3 are in contact with opposite sides of the conductor, the end portions being slightly spaced apart from each other, the central portion of the strip and the portion between each end portion being folded onto itself, so that a pair of diameter Opposite and outwardly extending solder portions 74 are obtained, each having a lateral extension in its cross section that is greater than the thickness of the solder strip.

FIG. 19 shows a solder member in the form of a ball 75, which member is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed, outwardly extending lugs 76 which may be used if the sleeve is partially When the conductor 64 is recovered and engaged with at least one of these, the anchoring of the conductor 64 within the sleeve 61 can be ensured. The solder member 77 shown in FIG. 20 has a substantially triangular cross section;
A slit 78 is provided inside. The member is thus open in cross-section and has an uninsulated portion 65 of the conductor.
It can be pressed into the top. In the case of stranded conductors, this press-in step can be facilitated by moving the strands relative to each other. Slit 78 communicates with a hole 79 in solder member 77, the size of which is such that solder 77 is held tightly over the conductor.

The solder elements shown in FIGS. 18-20 may be used in place of the solder balls 68 in the article shown in FIG. 17, if desired, and may also be used in accordance with the present invention, including preloaded electrical conductors. It can also be used within any other article.

If desired, one or more of the vertices of the triangle that is the cross-section of one or both of the outwardly projecting portions 74 of FIG. 18 and the solder member 77 of FIG. It is possible to act in the same manner as described above, ie to enhance the anchoring of the solder element in the sleeve and thus the anchoring effect of the conductor 64 in the sleeve. One case in which such an enhancement is desirable is when the short insulation length 66 of FIG. In some cases, the article has only one ring of fusible material (eg ring 69 in FIG. 17, ring 70 is missing).

In all figures except FIG. 10, at least a portion of the solder member is disposed within a protrusion within the outer periphery of the sleeve. In the case of the sleeve shown in the accompanying figures, said protrusions substantially disappear or become inconspicuous when the sleeve is free to recover and the solder melts.

When an article of the invention has an elongated electrical lead pre-installed with a solder member, the article can have one or more such leads as desired.

Examples of elongate electrical conductors that can be used in articles of the invention having pre-installed conductors are ground conductors and electrically conductive pins, such as terminal pins. In articles with pre-installed conductors, the sleeve with a substantially constant cross-section over its entire length may have additional sections, such as end sections, of different cross-sectional shapes and/or dimensions. You can leave it there. However, this requires that a significant portion of the inner periphery of the additional part be spaced a considerable distance from the conductor. That is, the additional portion is not restored to intimate contact with the conductor.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an article according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an article according to the invention containing two solder balls, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an article according to the invention containing one solder ball. 4 is a diagram illustrating the use of an article according to the invention for connecting a ground conductor to a braided wire of a coaxial cable, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another article according to the invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the article of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the use of the article of FIGS. 5 and 6 for connecting a ground conductor to a coaxial cable braid; FIGS. A cross-sectional view of another article according to the present invention, FIG.
12 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the article of FIG. 11; FIG. 13 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the article of FIG.
14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 15 is an article according to the invention with two longitudinally extending compartments. 16 is a view showing one end portion of the article shown in FIG. 15, FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the article according to the present invention including a pre-installed conducting wire, and FIG.
Figures 20-20 are perspective views illustrating electrical conductors using articles containing pre-installed conductors, the conductors having different shapes of solder members. 2; 6; 9; 20; 25; 31; 50; 61:
Heat shrinkable sleeve, 3; 5; 10; 24; 2
8;29;32;42;55;68;74;7
5; 77: Solder member, 13: Earth conductor, 1
5: Coaxial cable, 16: Coaxial cable braided wire, 18: Conductor wire.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An article for forming an electrical connection between an elongated conductor and a second conductor, the article comprising: a heat-shrinkable sleeve open at each end; a solder member eccentrically disposed on and/or carried by the sleeve, the solder member not extending over the entire inner periphery of any cross-section of the sleeve; located on one or more portions of the inner surface of the sleeve, and the construction of the article allows the elongated conductor to be inserted into one end of the sleeve, such that the elongated conductor covers the entirety of the sleeve. extending outwardly from the other end of the sleeve, the sleeve being capable of receiving or retaining the second conductor therein;
As a result, the second conductor is disposed within the sleeve adjacent the solder member and protrudes from one end of the sleeve. 2. The article according to claim 1, wherein in a cross section of the article in the area of the solder member, the area of the solder is smaller than the total area surrounded by the sleeve. . 3. The article according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in a cross section of the article in the area of the solder member, the solder does not protrude into the area surrounded by the sleeve. Goods to do. 4. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the solder member is positioned such that an elongated object having dimensions smaller than the inner dimensions of the sleeve can be inserted into the sleeve. Articles characterized by: 5. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the solder member has two portions spaced apart from each other, and the solder member has two portions spaced apart from each other such that an elongated base object can be inserted between the portions. An article characterized by being 6. Article according to claim 5, characterized in that the two parts lie in a common cross-section of the sleeve. 7. An article according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the two parts are close to each other but not in contact with each other. 8. In the article according to any one of claims 5 to 7, the two parts are opposing parts of a solder member at least partially having a C-shaped or U-shaped cross section. Featured articles. 9. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the solder member has an elongated base object housed in the sleeve in use, and a portion of the elongate base object is attached to the solder member. disposed proximate and configured such that at least a portion of the solder member is disposed between the portion of the elongate base object and the portion of the sleeve that is radially outwardly from the portion of the elongate base object. An article characterized in that: 10. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least a portion of the solder member has a C-shaped or U-shaped cross-sectional shape. 11. The article according to claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the C or U shape is in contact with the inner surface of the sleeve. 12. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the solder member is located on a portion of the inner surface of the sleeve,
Article characterized in that it has a C-shaped cross section and is held solely by said sleeve. 13. The article according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein the two parts are separate solder members. 14. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that at least a portion of the solder is located within a projection on the outer periphery of the sleeve. 15. The article of claim 14, wherein the protrusion substantially disappears when the sleeve recovers freely and the solder melts. 16. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the solder member is held in place within the sleeve by a partially contracted portion of the sleeve. 17. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the solder member is partially surrounded by a sleeve material. 18. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the sleeve has two longitudinally extending compartments over at least a portion of its length, the compartments comprising: juxtaposed with each other, one of which has a smaller cross-sectional area than the other, said solder element is arranged in a compartment of smaller cross-sectional area, said two compartments having at least a portion of said solder element. An article characterized in that the regions are electrically conductive to each other. 19. Article according to claim 18, characterized in that the compartments are in electrical communication with each other over the entire length of the smaller compartment. 20. Article according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the solder element is retained by the inner wall of the smaller compartment. 21. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the solder member is held by a sleeve. 22. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the solder member is attached to the sleeve with adhesive flux. 23. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the sleeve also includes a guiding device for storing an elongate base object within the sleeve and determining its radial position within the sleeve. and wherein the guide device is adapted to place a portion of the elongated base object in close proximity to at least a portion of the solder member when storing the elongate base object in use. Articles that are 24. In the article according to any one of claims 1 to 23, the solder member is located at a position away from the open end of the sleeve, and the solder member is located at least in a region between the open end and the solder member. An article characterized in that it is provided with a guide device for storing an elongated base object and guiding it to a position where a portion of the base object is in close proximity to a solder member. 25. Article according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the guide device has a channel with two open ends. 26. An article according to any one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that the guide device is at least partially defined by the wall of the sleeve. 27. An article according to any one of claims 23 to 26, characterized in that the guide device has an internal aperture that engages an elongated base object housed within the guide device in use. Featured articles. 28. Article according to claim 27, characterized in that the aperture is formed by a recess in the wall of the sleeve. 29. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 28, further comprising a stop for restricting axial entry of a base object housed within the sleeve into the sleeve during use. Articles characterized by: 30. An article according to claim 1 or 29, characterized in that at least a portion of the sleeve is elastically deformable and has a substantially rectangular cross-section. Articles that are 31. The article according to claim 30, wherein the solder member is close to a short side of the rectangle. 32. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 31, characterized in that the sleeve comprises an electrically insulating material. 33. The article according to any one of claims 1 to 32, characterized in that a member of a meltable substance is disposed between the solder member and the open end of the sleeve. . 34. An article according to claim 1, having an elongated electrical conductor projecting from at least one end of the sleeve, at least a portion of the conductor within the sleeve being uninsulated; An article characterized by having solder placed thereon. 35. A method of forming an electrical connection between an elongated conductor and a second conductor, the method comprising: a heat-shrinkable open sleeve, the sleeve being eccentrically disposed therein; or an elongated sleeve having a solder member retained on the sleeve that does not extend over the entire inner periphery of any cross-section of the sleeve, but is localized to one or more portions of the inner surface of the sleeve. inserting the conductor so that the elongated conductor passes through the entire sleeve and extends out from the other end;
inserting a second conductor into one end of the sleeve to terminate the conductor; and heating the sleeve to contract around the conductor and melting the solder material to form an electrical connection between the conductors. A method comprising steps.