Cables for aircraft. Pressure-type connections

The paper discusses the techniques adopted by Britain aircraft constructors for terminating cables by pressure-type connections. After a brief historical introduction, the various factors which influence design are dealt with in some detail. The various forms of high-pressure (permanent) connection used for aircraft cables are reviewed. As one type of termination can be used for several different cables, the subject is dealt with under the respective conductor temperatures as stated in BS2G.178. The termination of special-purpose (i.e. thermocouple, screened and r.f.) cables is also described. High-density semipermanent connectors are dealt with briefly and the systems employed for reprogramming multicircuit flight and ground tests of new aircraft are reviewed. No attempt has been made to review the practices employed for multiway circular connectors, as such a subject would demand a separate discussion. Finally, the paper anticipates the development of high-temperature preinsulated terminals and pressure-type terminations for semirigid coaxial cables.