Insulation piercing slotted beam electrical connector

A slotted beam connector for effecting an electrical connection with an insulation covered electrical conductor including

• a flat sheet of electrically conductive material bifurcated from an intermediate base portion to one end, each of the furcations having a progressively tapered cross section for distributing forces internal thereto to produce a force couple between said furcations, and a generally rectangular-shaped elongated member extending outwardly away from said base portion in a direction opposite said furcations,
• said furcations being spaced apart from each other by an elongated slot having a radius of curvature at a junction point between said furcations chosen so as to reduce a concentration of stress forces between said furcations when under load, a width dimension near the ends of said furcations which is slightly smaller than a diameter of said electrical conductor and a variable width dimension intermediate the two defined dimensions,
• first and second angularly oriented chisel-like cutting edges, integral with free ends of said furcations, for piercing through said insulation covering said electrical conductor so that said insulation remains intact along an outer edge of said furcations, said edges defining a generally V-shaped notch adjacent said free ends for directing said electrical conductor into said elongated slot having the width dimension slightly smaller than said conductor diameter,
• inner edges of said furcations for abrading contact depressions into opposite side of said electrical conductor, said contact depressions and said force couple producing gastight connections between said conector and said electrical conductor, and
• first and second oppositely directed generally V-shaped notches, roots of said notches extending into said base portion, a first side of each of said notches lying in a plane generally perpendicular to first and second planes containing inner edges of said furcations and a second side of said first notch and a second side of said second notch lying in first and second oppositely directed planes, respectively, which intersect at a point in said plane perpendicular to said first mentioned first and second planes, said notches enabling a lateral yawing of said furcations as they engage said insulation covered electrical conductor, said first and second chisel-like cutting edges, said inner edges for abrading contact depressions, and said notches enabling a lateral yawing of said furcations all lying along a common longitudinal axis of said connector.