AU2008243085A1 - Lock System For Electrical Connector - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT, 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC (NZ) LIMITED Actual Inventor: IAN ROBERT FULCHER Address for service in A j PARK, Level 11, 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT Australia: 2601, Australia Invention Title: Lock System For Electrical Connector The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

-2 FIELD OF INVENTION The Invention relates toa lock system for an electrical connector such as a plug or socket connector, for preventing unintentional opening separation of parts of the body of the Connector. 5 BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Electrical connectors such as plug or socket connectors particularly of industrial grade, commonly comprise ar module which comprises the plug or connector pins, which is retained within the body of 10 the plug or connector. That is, once the individual wires of a length of electrical cord or flex to which the connector is coupled are terminated at a back end of the pins module, the pins module is then inserted into the body of the plug or connector and fixed in place. SUMMARY OF INVENTION 5 It is an object of the invention to provide an improved or at least alternative form of lock system for example for a locking together body parts of an electrical connector or appliance and/or for locking in place a pins module of an electrical connector or appliance. D In broad terms the invention comprises an electrical connector or appliance comprising a body comprising two body parts which rotatably couple to one another, and locking means which locks the two body parts relative to one another on movement of the body parts from one relative rotational position in which the body parts can be separated to another relative rotational position in which the body parts are coupled, against return of the body parts to said 5 one relative position, said locking means including a locking tab which in said another relative rotational position of the body parts is caused to protrude from one of the body parts to engage the other body part, but which can be manually moved to disengage from the other body part and remain disengaged while said body parts are rotated relative to one another to uncouple the body parts. In one forn the electrical connector or appliance comprises an aperture radially through one of the body parts enabling insertion of a tool through aperture to manually miove the locking tab to disengage the locking tab from the other body part to enable return of the two body parts relative to one another from said another relative rotational position to said one relative rotational position -3 Preferably locking tab is a flexible locking tab. The electrical connector or appliance may comprise two or more such locking tabs. The locking tab(s) may comprise a spring metal strip. 5 Preferably the locking tab is carried on the exterior of an inner of one of the body parts and comprises a detent which is caused after movement of the body parts from said one relative rotational position to said another relative rotational position to engage the interior of an outer of the other body part to lock the body parts in said another relative rotational position. 10 Preferably the interior of said outer of one of the body parts composes an abutment for engagement by said detent when said body parts are in said another relative rotational position. Preferably the interior of said outer of one of the bodypsscomprises n abutment for engagement by the detent when the body parts are in said another relative rotational position. 5 Preferably the locking means further comprises a finger tab arranged to engage said detent and hold the detent to remain disengaged after manual movement of the detent to disengage it from the other body part. 3 Preferably the interior of said outer of one of the body parts comprises a part positioned to cause the finger tab to engage said detent at said another relative rotational position and disengage said detent at said one relative rotational position. Preferably the finger tab is biased away from said detente, and the part on the interior of said outer of 5 one of the body parts is positioned to engage the finger tab and cause it to move against its bias upon movement of the body parts towards said another relative rotational position to cause the finger tab to engage the detent, and to disengage the finger tab upon movement of the body parts to said one relative rotational position to allow the finger tab to return to its normal position disengaged fom the detent. Preferably the finger tab is at one side of the detent and is shaped and oriented such that said manual movement of the locking tab causes the detent to ride over an end of the finger tab causing the finger -4 tab to flex away from the detent and then snap into a position on another side of the detent in which the detent is held disengaged from the outer one of the body parts. Preferably the locking tab and the finger tab are integral parts of a spring metal locking component and 5 the body parts are formed from a plastics material. Preferably the connector or appliance is a connector comprising a pin module housed within the two body parts when coupled together. 10 The term 'comprising' as used in this specification and claims means 'consisting at least in part of, that is to say when interrupting independent claims including that term, the features prefaced by that term in each claim will need to be present but other features can also be present. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 15 The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show preferred embodiments of an electrical connector and appliance of the invention, by way of example and without intending to be limiting. In the drawings: 20 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of a plug connector which comprises a preferred embodiment locking system of the invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the plug of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged exploded view of two parts of the body of the plug of Figures 1 and 2 not also showing the pins module of the plug; 25 Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of the two parts of the body of the plug shown in Figure 3; Figures 5a and 5b show a locking clip of the preferred embodiment locking system, from two different angles, attached to a portion of a body part of the plugs; Figures 6a and 6b show the locking clip also attached to a portion of a body part of the plug, from two different angles, with the locking clip in it's released (locked) condition; 30 Figures 7a and 7b ate similar to Figures 6a and 6b showing the locking clip but in its unlocked no condition.

-5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORM Figures 1 and 2 show a preferred electrical plug, The plug comprises a body generally indicated at 1 and electrical (metallic) pins 2. The plug shown is a three phase plug of an industrial grading and 5 optionally comprises a threaded locking ring 3 captive on the body I of the plug, which is screwed onto a complementary threaded body of a connector or appliance to which the plug is coupled in use. In the particular form shown, within the body of the plug is retained a module 4 which comprises the pins 2. The individual wires (not shown) of a length of electrical cord or flex to which the connector is 10 coupled are terminated at the other side of the module 4 within the body 1. A cord clamp may be provided at the other, back end of the plug. The cord clamp physically clamps the plug to the cord where the cord enters the body of the plug. When the plug is coupled to a cord or flex the cord (not shown) passes through an aperture 8 in an entry end of a locking ring 7 which screw threads onto a threaded back end of the body I of the plug, through an annular clamp component 6, 15 and through an aperture 9 in the end of the connector body 1 as shown, into the interior of the plug body. The body of the plug comprises two concentric body parts 10 and 11, which are shown separated from one another and without the pins module 2 and locking ring 3 in Figure 3, and in longitudinal cross 20 section in Figure 4. The two body parts 10 and 11 are designed so that to couple them together they are pushed together in the direction of arrow A in Figure 3 and then rotated relative to one another in the direction of arrow B. To uncouple the body parts they must be rotated in the direction of arrow C and then pulled apart in the direction of arrow ). 25 The plug comprises locking means, which includes the approximately U-shaped metal element 12 indicated in Figure 3, which in the preferred embodiment is formed of spring steel. The locking element 12 includes a flexing locking tab 13 the leading edge 14 of which can protrude to engage an abutment 20 on the inner surface of the body part 11, as generally indicated at 15 in Figure 4 and as specifically shown in Figures 6a and 6b. In use, when an electrician has inserted the body part 11 over 30 the end of an electrical cord or flex and has terminated the individual wires of the cord or flex to the module 4, the module 4 is then inserted through the body part 10 (in which it is then retained), and the two parts 10 and II of the body of the plug are brought together and rotated to couple them. As the -6 body parts 10 and 11 are rotated to lock them together, the locking tab 13 rides over the inside annular surface of the body part 11, until the body parts 10 and II are fully home together. 'To uncouple the body parts 10 and 11, to open the plug, the locking tab 14 is manually moved, by 5 depressing it inwardly, to disengage it from the body part II. In the preferred form an aperture 16 is provided through the wall of the body part 11, in a position such that the aperture 16 will over lie the locking tab 13 when the body parts 10 and 11 are coupled together. A tool such as the end of a small screwdriver may be inserted through the aperture 16 to depress the locking tab 13. The locking tab 13 forms a detent and in the preferred form moves via flexing, but alternatively the locking tab may be 10 mounted via a small spring pivot so that it will pivotally move when pushed via a tool through aperture 16, against a spring bias. Referring particularly to Figures 5 to 7 which show the locking eletuent 12 in detail, it comprises a tab 18 on one side with a small end finger 19 as shown. The tab 18 is at one side of the locking tab 13 and is biased away from the locking tab 13. Upon rotation of the body parts towards the locked position, a part 30 on the interior of body part I1 engages the tab 18 and causes it 15 to move against its bias such that the small end finger 19 is in a position to engage the detent as the locking tab is depressed inwardly. The arrangement is such that when the locking tab 13 is depressed inwardly as referred to above, the locking tab 13 then moves from the lock position shown in Figures 6a and 6b to the unlock position shown in Figures 7a and 7b (disengaged from abutment 20). As the locking tab 13 is depressed inwardly, it rides over the finger 19, causing the tab 18 to flex away from the .0 locking tab 13 and then snap back into a position on the other side of the locking tab 13 to hold it down. The locking tab 13 is held down, disengaged from the inside of the body part 11, by the finger 19 until the body parts 10 and 12 have then been rotated relative to one another (in the direction of arrow C in Figure 3) to uncouple then, at which point the part 30 on the interior of the body part 11 disengages from the tab 18 allowing it to spring back to its original position thus allowing the locking 25 tab 13 to spring back to it's original position ready for recoupling of the body parts together. The arrangement is such that in order to open the plug, "three hands" are not required. It is possible to first insert a tool through aperture 16 to disengage the locking tab 13, which will remain disengaged then by action of the tab 18 and finger 19, while the two body parts 10 and 11 of the coupling are 0 grasped and rotated relative to one another. When the body parts are separated the tab 14 is released from beneath the tab finger, for subsequent reassembly of die plug, -7 The preferred form locking system described above is described in relation to a plug but alternatively may be provided in a socket connector or an electrical appliance. lhe description of the preferred form above in relation to a plug connector is given by way of example only. 5 The foregoing describes the invention including preferred forms thereof, Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated in the scope hereof as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims (14)

1. An electrical connector or appliance comprising: a body comprising two body parts which rotatably couple to one another, and 5 locking means which locks the two body parts relative to one another on movement of the body parts from one relative rotational position in which the body parts can be separated to another relative rotational position in which the body parts are coupled, against return of the body parts to said one relative position, said locking means including a locking tab which in said another relative rotational position of the body parts is caused to protrude from one of the body parts to engage the other body 10 part, but which can be manually moved to disengage from the other body part and remain disengaged while said body parts are rotated relative to one another to uncouple the body parts.

2. An electrical connector or appliance as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connector or appliance further comprises an aperture radially through one of the body parts enabling insertion of a tool 15 through said aperture to manually move said locking tab to disengage said locking tab from said other body part to enable return of the two body parts relative to one another from said another relative rotational position to said one relative rotational position.

3. An electrical connector or appliance as claimed in any either one of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein 20 said locking tab is a flexible locking tab.

4. An electrical connector or appliance as claimed in any one of claims I to 3 wherein said locking tab is carried on the exterior of an inner of one of the body parts and comprises a decent which is caused after movement of the body parts from said one relative rotational position to said another 25 relative rotational position to engage the interior of an outer of one of the body parts to lock the body parts in said another relative rotational position.

5. An electrical connector or appliance as claimed in claim 4 wherein the interior of said outer of one of the body parts comprises an abutment for engagement by said detent when said body parts are 30 in said another relative rotational position. -9

6. An electrical connector or appliance as claimed in either claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said locking means further comprises a finger tab arranged to engage said de tent and hold the detent to remain disengaged after manual movement of the detent to disengage it from the other body part. 5

7. An electrical connector or appliance as claimed in claim 6 wherein the interior of said outer of one of the body parts comprises a part positioned to cause the finger tab to engage said detent at said another relative rotational position and disengage said decent at said one relative rotational position.

8. An electrical connector or appliance as claimed in claim 7 wherein the finger tab is biased away 10 from said detent, and said part on the interior of said outer of one of the body parts is positioned to engage said finger tab and cause it to move against its bias upon movement of the body parts towards said another relative rotational position to cause said finger tab to engage said detent, and disengage said finger tab upon movement of the body parts to said one relative rotational position to allow said finger tab to return to its normal position disengaged from said detent. 5

9. An electrical connector or appliance as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein said finger tab is at one side of said detent and is shaped and oriented such that said manual movement of the locking tab causes the detent to ride over an end of the finger tab causing the finger tab to flex away from the detent and then snap into a position on another side of the detent in which the detent is held ) disengaged from the outer one of the body parts.

10. An electrical connector or appliance as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein said locking tab and said finger tab are integral parts of a spring metal locking component and said body parts are formed from a plastics material. 5

11. An electrical connector or appliance as claimed in any one of claims I to 10 wherein said locking means comprises two or more of said locking tabs.

12. An electrical connector or appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the connector or appliance is a connector comprising a pin module housed within the two body parts when coupled together. - 10

13. An electrical connector or appliance comprising: a body comprising two body parts which rotatably couple to one another, a locking tab carried on one of the body parts and which forms a detent which is caused after movement of the body parts from One relative rotational position to another relative rotational position 5 to engage an abutment on the other body patt to lock the body parts in said another relative rotational position, said detent being manually movable to disengage from the abutment, an aperture radially through an outer of the body parts enabling insertion of a tool through said aperture to manually move said locking tab to disengage from the abutment to enable return of the two body parts relative to one another from said another relative rotational position to said one relative 0 rotational position, a finger tab at one side of said detent and biased towards the detent and shaped and oriented such that said manual movement of the detent to disengage from the abutment causes the detent to ide over an end of the finger tab causing the finger tab to flex away from the detent and then snap into a position on another side of the detent and hold the detent disengaged from the other body part while said body parts are rotated relative to one another to uncouple the body parts, and a part on one of the body positioned to allow return movement of said finger tab on movement of the body parts from said another relative rotational position to said one relative rotational position.

14. An electrical connector or appliance comprising: a body comprising two body parts which rotatably couple to one another, locking meanswhich locks the two body parts relative to one another on movement of the body parts from one relative rotational position in which the body parts can be separated to another relative rotational position in which the body parts are coupled, against return of the body parts to said one relative position, said locking means including a locking tab which in said another relative rotational position of the body parts is caused to protrude from one of the body parts to engage the part, but which can be manually moved to disengage from the other body part and engage a goetherrnedtohodbholckny finger tab of the locking means arranged to hold the locking tab disengaged from the other body part while said body parts are rotated relative to one another to uncouple the body parts, and an apetre radially through one of the body parts enabling insertion of a tool through said aperture to manually move sad locking tab to enable return of the two body parts relative to one another from said another relative rotational position to said one relative rotational position. 5 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC (NZ) LIMITED Patent Attorneys for the Applicant Date: 3 November 2008