CA1062348A - Electrical connectors with tulip-butt contacts - Google Patents
Electrical connectors with tulip-butt contactsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1062348A CA1062348A CA262,254A CA262254A CA1062348A CA 1062348 A CA1062348 A CA 1062348A CA 262254 A CA262254 A CA 262254A CA 1062348 A CA1062348 A CA 1062348A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- contact
- butt
- tulip
- female
- segments
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/02—Contact members
- H01R13/22—Contacts for co-operating by abutting
Landscapes
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electrical connector which utilizes a combination of tulip and butt contacts. The female portion of the connector is formed by a longitudinally extending contact having a butt contact surface at one end thereof. A plurality of spring loaded, tulip segments are arranged circumferentially around and radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the contact. The tulip segments and the butt contact surface together define a receiving socket for the male contact. The male plug contact has a sloping annular surface which translates the inwardly directed radial force of the spring-loaded tulip segments into an axial force that provides a high pressure face or "butt" contact between the female contact butt surface and male plug contact. In the preferred embodiment, the female contact butt surface has a conical configuration and the male plug contact has a truncated conical configuration. This arrangment produces a ring contact electrical connection between the two portions of the connector.
1.
An electrical connector which utilizes a combination of tulip and butt contacts. The female portion of the connector is formed by a longitudinally extending contact having a butt contact surface at one end thereof. A plurality of spring loaded, tulip segments are arranged circumferentially around and radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the contact. The tulip segments and the butt contact surface together define a receiving socket for the male contact. The male plug contact has a sloping annular surface which translates the inwardly directed radial force of the spring-loaded tulip segments into an axial force that provides a high pressure face or "butt" contact between the female contact butt surface and male plug contact. In the preferred embodiment, the female contact butt surface has a conical configuration and the male plug contact has a truncated conical configuration. This arrangment produces a ring contact electrical connection between the two portions of the connector.
1.
Description
I! B~CKGRO~ND OF THE INVENTION
. . .
'j This invention relates to electrical connectors in ¦!general and, more particularly, to an electrical connector which ¦lutilizes a combination of tulip and butt contacts.
In the electrical connector art, "tulip" type connectors -5 '~are well known and are employed in a variety of applications. The tulip" connectors have a plurality of tulip contacts that are circumferentially spaced around the contact axis and radially spaced therefrom. A spiral garter spring spriDg-loads the tulip 'jcontacts in an inwardly direction toward the axis of the contact.
` 10 IlThe male portion of the connector comprises a plug contact that is ` .¦jinserted into the reduced diameter opening formed by the spring-Illoaded tulip contacts. Electrical contact is made between the ¦jmale plug and the tulip contacts. Butt type connectors, on the ', - i¦other hand, employ two or more contact surfaces that are forced , i5 1l together in abutting contact to provide an electrical connection.
~1 It is a general object of the present invention to ¦¦provide an improved electrical connector which utilizes both tulip and butt type contacts.
. I It is a specific object of the invention to provide an ¦electrical connector in which the inwardly directed radial force , - of the spring-loaded tulip contacts is translated into an axial v~ force that produces a high contact base pressure between butt FO~t~ce ~s~ ~
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` ~06Z348 It is another object of the invention to provide a combination tulip-butt contact electrical connector in which the butt contact comprises a ring contact.
It is a feature of the invention that the individual tulip contacts or segments are easily replaceable and provide a make-first break-last electrical connection.
It is another feature of the invention that the combi-nation tulip-butt connector can be incorporated in a suitable housing for explosion proof operation in an explosive environment.
In accordance with the present invention there is pro-vided an electrical connector comprising a female portion,longi-tudinally extending, electrically conductive female contact having a butt contact surface at one end thereof, a plurality of electri-cally conductive tulip segments positioned circumferentially around and radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the female contact with each segment having one end thereof in electri-cally conductive contact with the female contact, the plurality of tulip segments and the butt contact surface together defining a plug contact receiving socket, means for spring loading the tulip segments radially inward toward the longitudinal axis of the female contact, and wherein the tulip segments include a cam por-tion and wrherein the plug contact includes a corresponding sloping cam surface, the cam and cam surface cooperating to translate the inward radial force of the spring-loaded tulip segments into an axial force whereby the plug contact is forced against the butt contact surface of the female contact, and a male portion com-`~1 prising a longitudinally extending, electrically conductive plug contact having a butt contact surface at one end, the plug contact being adapted for insertion into the plug contact receiving socket ,~ ~
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of the female portion with the butt surface of the plug contact in butting, electrically conductive contact with the butt surface of the female contact.
These objects and features and other objects and features of the invention will best be understood from a detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for pur-poses of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
. Figure 1 is a view in side elevation and partial section . 10 of a combination tulip-butt electrical connector showing the male and female portions thereof in electrically conductive contact;
Figure 2 is an end view of a female contact with sur-. rounding tulip segments and a spiral garter spring:
Figure 3 is a view in perspective in partial section showing the female contact and a portion of an electrical cable -mechanically held therein by means of the mechanical cable defor-mation produce by a set screw and an opposed countersunk contact portion;
Figure 4 is an enlarged view with the dashed lines ~ indicating the position of the plug at the maximum outward ~ extension of the spring-loaded tulip segments; and, . ~
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Figure 5 is a similar view to that of Figure 4 showing the male plug contact fully inserted in the plug socket formed by the female contact and the spring-loaded tulip segments.
Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a tulip-butt connector constructed in accordance with the present invention and indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.
For purposes of illustration, the connector 10 has been depicted as a two-poled connector. However, it will be appreciated that th tulip-butt connector of the present invention can be employed in a single as well as multiple pole configurations.
The tulip-butt connector 10 comprises a female portion 1 ; and a male portion 14. The female portion 12 contains a , longitudinally extending, electrically conductive female contact 1 which is best seen in enlarged view in Figure 3. The female conta~ t 16 has a longitudinally extending cable receptacle 18, a cable deforming set screw 20 and a corresponding opposed cable receiving ountersunk portion or ~dimple~ 22. When the wires of electrical able 24 are positioned within the female contact cable receptacle ~ 6 as shown in Figure 3, the set screw 20 can be tightened to ;~ 20 mechanically deform the cable wires into the countersunk portion ~ ¦22. ThiQ arrangement provides a mechanlcal means for holding the ;3 ~ cable within the female contact while at the same time producing a ¦vesy low electrical resistance connection between the cable and th~
~contact.
In the preferred embodiment the forward end of the female contact 16 terminates in a bobbin 26 having an annular, ¦conc-ve groc 26 a~d n in~ rdly ¦
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-4~. ,. : , . , ~1 . 106Z348 Il extending, conical butt surface 30. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, ,!a plurality of electrically conductive tulip contacts or segments l32 are positioned circumferentially around and radially spaced fron ¦¦the longitudinal axis of the female contact 16. The term i"longitudinal axis" as used herein includes the axis itself as well as the extension of the axis in a forwardly direction i.e.
toward the male portion 14. .
¦ Looking at the enlarged views of Figures 4 and 5 in 'conjunction with Figures 1 and 2, the electrically conductive, Itulip contacts or segments 32 each have a generally S-shaped j,configuration when viewed in longitudinal cross section as shown in jFigures 4 and 5. One end 32a of each tulip segment 32 is positione , Irithin the bobbin groove 28 and held therein by means of a spiral garter spring 34. The other end 32b is spring-loaded in a ¦Iradial}y inward direction by means of spiral garter spring 36. The tulip segments 32 and the butt contacts surface 30 together define ja receiving socket 38 for the male element of the electrical connector. , ~¦ Referring to Figures 1, 4 and 5, the male connector :, 20 .portion 14 contains a longitudinally extending, electrically conductive plug contact 40 adopted for insertion into the plug jreceiving socket 38 of the female portion of the electrical connector. The forward end of the plug contact 40 has a truncated conical portion 42 and a reduced diameter, rearwardly sloping jannular surface 44. Looking at Figure 5, it can be seen that the dlsta e~d 3 - of the tul~p segnen~ bearo gain5t ~he rear-. r~ -- ~ , .
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; 106Z348 wardly sloping shoulder 44 of the male plug contact 40. Since the tulip segments 32 are spring-loaded inwardly in a radial direction by garter spring 36, the distal end of each tulip segment acts as a cam on the annular surface 44 which functions as a cam surface.
Thus, the inward, radially directed force from the spring-loaded tulip segment is translated into an axial force which forces the butt, contact surface 46 of the male plug contact into electrical contact with the butt surface 30 of the female contact. Given the conical configuration of the female contact butt surface 30, it can be seen that the resulting contact between the two butt surfa s is a ring contact. The ring contact runs cooler and with less of a voltage drop than the point contact produced between two flat, butt surfaces.
Although the preferred embodiment employs a conical femal contact surface and a truncated conical configuration for the male plug, it should be understood that the invention is not so limite . Generally, the invention uses a combination ~f tulip and butt contacts. Thus, the butt contacts, both male and female, can have a number of other configurations besides the illustrated conical ^/ 20 s~rface and truncated cone. For example, the contacting surface of the plug contact can take the form of a truncated sphere where-3 in the continuity of the ring contact can be maintained in the ~, event of co-axial mis-alignment of the male and female contacts.
Conversely, the female contact surface 30 can have a spherical configuration while the male contact surface rcmains as a :~- truncated cone. Other butting male - female contact surface ~ configuration6 including two planar surfaoe6 also can be '~; .
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used as axial butt contacts in the tulip - butt connector of the present invention.
l The tulip segments 32 electrically parallel the main butt ¦ contact between the male plug contact 40 and the female contact ¦ surface 30 thereby increasing the current carrying capacity of the connector. In addition, the tulip segments provide a make-first, break-last connection. Since these segments are easily replaceabl , ¦ they function effectively as the arc destroyable element in the l connector.
¦ The preceeding discussion has been directed to the ¦ structure and electrical operation of the basic components of the ; ¦ tulip - butt connector of the present invention. These components can be used in conjunction with a variety of insulating materials ¦ including air as the insulating medium. In the preferred ~- 15 ¦ embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, the basic : ¦¦co ponents v~ been Incorporaeed ln su~es~le proeective houoing- ¦
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- ~l 1062348 ¦Ito provide an explosion proof connector.
il Looking at Figure 1, the female contact 16, tulip segment 32 and the garter springs 34 and 36 are positioned within and held ilin detachable relation to a threaded metal housing 48. The licomponents are held by and insulated from the metal housing 48 by means of a receptacle main insulator 50 and ar. insulating retainin disk 52. A threaded metal sleeve 54 is screwed onto the connector housing 48 to hold a rotatable bushing 56. The bushing in turn ¦is threaded to accept a packing nut 58. A vapor tight seal is provided with respect to the cable insulation 60 by means ~f hose tubing 62, a compressible packing washer 64 and a grommet 66.
'I A similar construction is employed in the male portion of llthe electrical connector. The male plug contact 40 is positioned i ~within and in detachable relation to a metal housing 68. The plug i~ lS ¦Icontact is held within the housing by means of a corresponding ¦Iplug contact insulator 70 and an insulating retaining disk 72. A
metal handle 74 is threaded onto the housing 68. The handle 74 is in turn threaded to accept a packing nut 76. The vapor tight seal 7 Ijis obtained with respect to cable insulation 78 by means of hose ;;~ 20 ¦tube 80, packing follower 82, packing 84 and gland 86.
~ ¦ The female and male housings 48 and 74, respectively, are -.~. Iheld together by means of a rotatable screw coupling 88 as shown inFigure 1. The female housing 48 preferably is provided with a ~,apertures 90 through.which can be placed the shank of a padlock 92.
~-~ 25 ¦jWith the padlock position, as shown by the dashed lines in Figure 1 the coupling ring 8~ cannot be removed.
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Having described in detail a preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims:
What we claim and desire to secure by Letters.Patent of the United States is:
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. . .
'j This invention relates to electrical connectors in ¦!general and, more particularly, to an electrical connector which ¦lutilizes a combination of tulip and butt contacts.
In the electrical connector art, "tulip" type connectors -5 '~are well known and are employed in a variety of applications. The tulip" connectors have a plurality of tulip contacts that are circumferentially spaced around the contact axis and radially spaced therefrom. A spiral garter spring spriDg-loads the tulip 'jcontacts in an inwardly direction toward the axis of the contact.
` 10 IlThe male portion of the connector comprises a plug contact that is ` .¦jinserted into the reduced diameter opening formed by the spring-Illoaded tulip contacts. Electrical contact is made between the ¦jmale plug and the tulip contacts. Butt type connectors, on the ', - i¦other hand, employ two or more contact surfaces that are forced , i5 1l together in abutting contact to provide an electrical connection.
~1 It is a general object of the present invention to ¦¦provide an improved electrical connector which utilizes both tulip and butt type contacts.
. I It is a specific object of the invention to provide an ¦electrical connector in which the inwardly directed radial force , - of the spring-loaded tulip contacts is translated into an axial v~ force that produces a high contact base pressure between butt FO~t~ce ~s~ ~
.
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.. -: .
~ ' ' .: : . ~ - -.
~ -: . . .. :: ' ' .
'' .
` ~06Z348 It is another object of the invention to provide a combination tulip-butt contact electrical connector in which the butt contact comprises a ring contact.
It is a feature of the invention that the individual tulip contacts or segments are easily replaceable and provide a make-first break-last electrical connection.
It is another feature of the invention that the combi-nation tulip-butt connector can be incorporated in a suitable housing for explosion proof operation in an explosive environment.
In accordance with the present invention there is pro-vided an electrical connector comprising a female portion,longi-tudinally extending, electrically conductive female contact having a butt contact surface at one end thereof, a plurality of electri-cally conductive tulip segments positioned circumferentially around and radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the female contact with each segment having one end thereof in electri-cally conductive contact with the female contact, the plurality of tulip segments and the butt contact surface together defining a plug contact receiving socket, means for spring loading the tulip segments radially inward toward the longitudinal axis of the female contact, and wherein the tulip segments include a cam por-tion and wrherein the plug contact includes a corresponding sloping cam surface, the cam and cam surface cooperating to translate the inward radial force of the spring-loaded tulip segments into an axial force whereby the plug contact is forced against the butt contact surface of the female contact, and a male portion com-`~1 prising a longitudinally extending, electrically conductive plug contact having a butt contact surface at one end, the plug contact being adapted for insertion into the plug contact receiving socket ,~ ~
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of the female portion with the butt surface of the plug contact in butting, electrically conductive contact with the butt surface of the female contact.
These objects and features and other objects and features of the invention will best be understood from a detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for pur-poses of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:
. Figure 1 is a view in side elevation and partial section . 10 of a combination tulip-butt electrical connector showing the male and female portions thereof in electrically conductive contact;
Figure 2 is an end view of a female contact with sur-. rounding tulip segments and a spiral garter spring:
Figure 3 is a view in perspective in partial section showing the female contact and a portion of an electrical cable -mechanically held therein by means of the mechanical cable defor-mation produce by a set screw and an opposed countersunk contact portion;
Figure 4 is an enlarged view with the dashed lines ~ indicating the position of the plug at the maximum outward ~ extension of the spring-loaded tulip segments; and, . ~
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Figure 5 is a similar view to that of Figure 4 showing the male plug contact fully inserted in the plug socket formed by the female contact and the spring-loaded tulip segments.
Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a tulip-butt connector constructed in accordance with the present invention and indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.
For purposes of illustration, the connector 10 has been depicted as a two-poled connector. However, it will be appreciated that th tulip-butt connector of the present invention can be employed in a single as well as multiple pole configurations.
The tulip-butt connector 10 comprises a female portion 1 ; and a male portion 14. The female portion 12 contains a , longitudinally extending, electrically conductive female contact 1 which is best seen in enlarged view in Figure 3. The female conta~ t 16 has a longitudinally extending cable receptacle 18, a cable deforming set screw 20 and a corresponding opposed cable receiving ountersunk portion or ~dimple~ 22. When the wires of electrical able 24 are positioned within the female contact cable receptacle ~ 6 as shown in Figure 3, the set screw 20 can be tightened to ;~ 20 mechanically deform the cable wires into the countersunk portion ~ ¦22. ThiQ arrangement provides a mechanlcal means for holding the ;3 ~ cable within the female contact while at the same time producing a ¦vesy low electrical resistance connection between the cable and th~
~contact.
In the preferred embodiment the forward end of the female contact 16 terminates in a bobbin 26 having an annular, ¦conc-ve groc 26 a~d n in~ rdly ¦
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-4~. ,. : , . , ~1 . 106Z348 Il extending, conical butt surface 30. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, ,!a plurality of electrically conductive tulip contacts or segments l32 are positioned circumferentially around and radially spaced fron ¦¦the longitudinal axis of the female contact 16. The term i"longitudinal axis" as used herein includes the axis itself as well as the extension of the axis in a forwardly direction i.e.
toward the male portion 14. .
¦ Looking at the enlarged views of Figures 4 and 5 in 'conjunction with Figures 1 and 2, the electrically conductive, Itulip contacts or segments 32 each have a generally S-shaped j,configuration when viewed in longitudinal cross section as shown in jFigures 4 and 5. One end 32a of each tulip segment 32 is positione , Irithin the bobbin groove 28 and held therein by means of a spiral garter spring 34. The other end 32b is spring-loaded in a ¦Iradial}y inward direction by means of spiral garter spring 36. The tulip segments 32 and the butt contacts surface 30 together define ja receiving socket 38 for the male element of the electrical connector. , ~¦ Referring to Figures 1, 4 and 5, the male connector :, 20 .portion 14 contains a longitudinally extending, electrically conductive plug contact 40 adopted for insertion into the plug jreceiving socket 38 of the female portion of the electrical connector. The forward end of the plug contact 40 has a truncated conical portion 42 and a reduced diameter, rearwardly sloping jannular surface 44. Looking at Figure 5, it can be seen that the dlsta e~d 3 - of the tul~p segnen~ bearo gain5t ~he rear-. r~ -- ~ , .
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.
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; 106Z348 wardly sloping shoulder 44 of the male plug contact 40. Since the tulip segments 32 are spring-loaded inwardly in a radial direction by garter spring 36, the distal end of each tulip segment acts as a cam on the annular surface 44 which functions as a cam surface.
Thus, the inward, radially directed force from the spring-loaded tulip segment is translated into an axial force which forces the butt, contact surface 46 of the male plug contact into electrical contact with the butt surface 30 of the female contact. Given the conical configuration of the female contact butt surface 30, it can be seen that the resulting contact between the two butt surfa s is a ring contact. The ring contact runs cooler and with less of a voltage drop than the point contact produced between two flat, butt surfaces.
Although the preferred embodiment employs a conical femal contact surface and a truncated conical configuration for the male plug, it should be understood that the invention is not so limite . Generally, the invention uses a combination ~f tulip and butt contacts. Thus, the butt contacts, both male and female, can have a number of other configurations besides the illustrated conical ^/ 20 s~rface and truncated cone. For example, the contacting surface of the plug contact can take the form of a truncated sphere where-3 in the continuity of the ring contact can be maintained in the ~, event of co-axial mis-alignment of the male and female contacts.
Conversely, the female contact surface 30 can have a spherical configuration while the male contact surface rcmains as a :~- truncated cone. Other butting male - female contact surface ~ configuration6 including two planar surfaoe6 also can be '~; .
1 ~ ~ 6.
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used as axial butt contacts in the tulip - butt connector of the present invention.
l The tulip segments 32 electrically parallel the main butt ¦ contact between the male plug contact 40 and the female contact ¦ surface 30 thereby increasing the current carrying capacity of the connector. In addition, the tulip segments provide a make-first, break-last connection. Since these segments are easily replaceabl , ¦ they function effectively as the arc destroyable element in the l connector.
¦ The preceeding discussion has been directed to the ¦ structure and electrical operation of the basic components of the ; ¦ tulip - butt connector of the present invention. These components can be used in conjunction with a variety of insulating materials ¦ including air as the insulating medium. In the preferred ~- 15 ¦ embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, the basic : ¦¦co ponents v~ been Incorporaeed ln su~es~le proeective houoing- ¦
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- ~l 1062348 ¦Ito provide an explosion proof connector.
il Looking at Figure 1, the female contact 16, tulip segment 32 and the garter springs 34 and 36 are positioned within and held ilin detachable relation to a threaded metal housing 48. The licomponents are held by and insulated from the metal housing 48 by means of a receptacle main insulator 50 and ar. insulating retainin disk 52. A threaded metal sleeve 54 is screwed onto the connector housing 48 to hold a rotatable bushing 56. The bushing in turn ¦is threaded to accept a packing nut 58. A vapor tight seal is provided with respect to the cable insulation 60 by means ~f hose tubing 62, a compressible packing washer 64 and a grommet 66.
'I A similar construction is employed in the male portion of llthe electrical connector. The male plug contact 40 is positioned i ~within and in detachable relation to a metal housing 68. The plug i~ lS ¦Icontact is held within the housing by means of a corresponding ¦Iplug contact insulator 70 and an insulating retaining disk 72. A
metal handle 74 is threaded onto the housing 68. The handle 74 is in turn threaded to accept a packing nut 76. The vapor tight seal 7 Ijis obtained with respect to cable insulation 78 by means of hose ;;~ 20 ¦tube 80, packing follower 82, packing 84 and gland 86.
~ ¦ The female and male housings 48 and 74, respectively, are -.~. Iheld together by means of a rotatable screw coupling 88 as shown inFigure 1. The female housing 48 preferably is provided with a ~,apertures 90 through.which can be placed the shank of a padlock 92.
~-~ 25 ¦jWith the padlock position, as shown by the dashed lines in Figure 1 the coupling ring 8~ cannot be removed.
I . , 7~
Having described in detail a preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims:
What we claim and desire to secure by Letters.Patent of the United States is:
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Claims (5)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An electrical connector comprising:
(1) a female portion comprising:
a. a longitudinally extending, electrically conductive female contact having a butt contact surface at one end thereof;
b. a plurality of electrically conductive tulip segments positioned circumferentially around and radially spaced from the long-itudinal axis of the female contact with each segment having one end thereof in electrically conductive contact with the female contact, said plurality of tulip segments and said butt contact surface together defining a plug contact receiving socket;
c. means for spring loading the tulip segments radially inward toward the longitudinal axis of the female contact;
d. wherein said tulip segments include a cam portion and wherein said plug contact includes a corresponding sloping cam surface, said cam and cam surface cooperating to translate the inward radial force of the spring-loaded tulip segments into an axial force whereby said plug contact is forced against the butt contact surface of said female contact; and, (2) a male portion comprising a longitudinally extending, electrically conductive plug contact having a butt contact surface at one end, said plug contact being adapted for insertion into the plug contact receiving socket of said female portion with the butt surface of the plug contact in butting, electrically conductive contact with the butt surface of the female contact.
(1) a female portion comprising:
a. a longitudinally extending, electrically conductive female contact having a butt contact surface at one end thereof;
b. a plurality of electrically conductive tulip segments positioned circumferentially around and radially spaced from the long-itudinal axis of the female contact with each segment having one end thereof in electrically conductive contact with the female contact, said plurality of tulip segments and said butt contact surface together defining a plug contact receiving socket;
c. means for spring loading the tulip segments radially inward toward the longitudinal axis of the female contact;
d. wherein said tulip segments include a cam portion and wherein said plug contact includes a corresponding sloping cam surface, said cam and cam surface cooperating to translate the inward radial force of the spring-loaded tulip segments into an axial force whereby said plug contact is forced against the butt contact surface of said female contact; and, (2) a male portion comprising a longitudinally extending, electrically conductive plug contact having a butt contact surface at one end, said plug contact being adapted for insertion into the plug contact receiving socket of said female portion with the butt surface of the plug contact in butting, electrically conductive contact with the butt surface of the female contact.
2. The electrical connector of Claim 1 wherein said plug contact has a forwardly sloping surface which engages and disengages said tulip segment to provide a first-make, last-break electrical connection.
3. The electrical connector of Claim 1 wherein said female contact butt surface has an inwardly extending conical configuration and said plug contact has a truncated conical configuration whereby a ring contact is produced between the two portions of the electrical connector.
4. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said male and female contacts include a cable receiving receptacle, a set screw means threadably mounted in said contact for extension radially into said cable receiving receptacle and a countersunk contact portion radially opposed to said set screw means.
5. An electrical connector comprising:
(1) a female portion comprising:
a. a longitudinally extending, electrically conductive female contact having an inwardly extending conical butt contact surface at one end thereof;
b. a plurality of electrically conductive tulip segments positioned circumferentially around and radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the female contact with each segment having one end thereof in electrically conductive contact with the female contact and the other end having a cam portion, said plurality of tulip segments and said butt contact surface together defining a plug contact receiving socket;
c. means for spring loading the tulip segments radially inward toward the longitudinal axis of the female contact; and, (2) a male portion comprising a longitudinally extending, electrically conductive plug contact having a truncated, conical butt contact surface at one end and a sloping cam surface, said plug contact being adapted for insertion into the plug contact receiving socket of said female portion with the butt surface of the plug contact in butting, electrically conductive contact with the butt surface of the cable contact and the cam surface in operative camming contact with the cam portion of at least one of said tulip segments whereby the inward radial force of the spring-loaded tulip segments is translated into an axial force that forces the plug contact into butting, electrical contact with the butt surface of the female contact.
(1) a female portion comprising:
a. a longitudinally extending, electrically conductive female contact having an inwardly extending conical butt contact surface at one end thereof;
b. a plurality of electrically conductive tulip segments positioned circumferentially around and radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the female contact with each segment having one end thereof in electrically conductive contact with the female contact and the other end having a cam portion, said plurality of tulip segments and said butt contact surface together defining a plug contact receiving socket;
c. means for spring loading the tulip segments radially inward toward the longitudinal axis of the female contact; and, (2) a male portion comprising a longitudinally extending, electrically conductive plug contact having a truncated, conical butt contact surface at one end and a sloping cam surface, said plug contact being adapted for insertion into the plug contact receiving socket of said female portion with the butt surface of the plug contact in butting, electrically conductive contact with the butt surface of the cable contact and the cam surface in operative camming contact with the cam portion of at least one of said tulip segments whereby the inward radial force of the spring-loaded tulip segments is translated into an axial force that forces the plug contact into butting, electrical contact with the butt surface of the female contact.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US61919175A | 1975-10-03 | 1975-10-03 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1062348A true CA1062348A (en) | 1979-09-11 |
Family
ID=24480830
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA262,254A Expired CA1062348A (en) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-09-28 | Electrical connectors with tulip-butt contacts |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1062348A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2644088C3 (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA765772B (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3111287A1 (en) * | 1981-03-23 | 1982-09-30 | Multi-Contact AG Basel, 4056 Basel | Electrical contact plug connection |
| DE3421799A1 (en) * | 1984-06-12 | 1985-12-12 | Feinmetall Gmbh, 7033 Herrenberg | CONTACT ELEMENT FOR TEST ADAPTER |
| DE602005004007T2 (en) * | 2005-02-14 | 2009-01-08 | Enzo Catellani | Improved electrical connector |
| DE102013222084B3 (en) | 2013-10-30 | 2015-04-02 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Arrangement with an electrical contact and a movably arranged pin |
-
1976
- 1976-09-27 ZA ZA765772A patent/ZA765772B/en unknown
- 1976-09-28 CA CA262,254A patent/CA1062348A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-09-30 DE DE2644088A patent/DE2644088C3/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ZA765772B (en) | 1977-08-31 |
| DE2644088C3 (en) | 1980-03-20 |
| DE2644088B2 (en) | 1979-07-05 |
| DE2644088A1 (en) | 1977-08-25 |
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