GB1285608A - Electrical connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

1285608 Two-part couplings A I APPLETON 21 Oct 1969 51604/69 [25 Oct 1968] Heading H2E In a two-part coupling the male and female parts provide at least one pair of mating surfaces arcuate in cross-section and of the same radius of curvature, one of the surfaces being less than semicircular in cross-section, and a separate biasing means which is an integral part of the coupling biases a portion of the length of the mating surfaces together, providing at least two line contacts, preferably area contact. A double-ended socket 20 for use in a multi-contact bridge assembly (Fig. 1) comprises two arcuate portions 81 held together by resilient sleeve 83. Alternatively (Fig. 3 not shown) a helical spring surrounding the two parts of the socket may be the biasing means. Particularly for use in a bridging contact, one of the arcuate portions may be divided laterally and two separate C-rings may provide independent biasing against each male contact (Fig. 4, not shown). A connector for two conductors (Figs. 7 to 10, not shown) comprises an insulating body with a pair of female contacts located in through bores, each contact being in two parts held together and also positioned by a screw in a transverse bore, a pair of C-rings providing the biasing means. Each of the two parts has a recess into which the divided strands of a conductor are inserted and soldered. In Fig. 12 it is the male contact which is divided, portions 171, 172 fitting together to form a cylinder. The parts are biased apart by captive springs 173 and the assembly is held together by sleeve 174 and cotter pin 175. Part 172 may be plastics if connection afforded by 171 is adequate, or if both parts are metal a piece of braid (182) (Fig. 14, not shown) may enhance electrical contact between them. Instead of helical springs 173, a leaf spring may bias the parts apart to an extent limited by a pair of rivets holding them together (Figs. 16, 17, not shown). A male contact may alternatively comprise a substantially cylindrical member having a prong with two blind transverse holes 215 each containing a captive ball 216 biased outwardly by helical spring 217. The prong is not quite circular in cross-section to provide a surface A subtending an angle of less than 180 degrees which surface conforms to the surface of a female part of the connector.