GB1337253A - Electrical connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

1337253 Coaxial connectors BELLING & LEE Ltd 19 April 1971 [21 Nov 1969] 57100/69 Heading H2E A locking electrical connector assembly comprises a plug, Fig. 1, and socket, Fig. 2, the plug including a cylindrical portion 3 having an external circumferential groove 4 and the socket having a tubular portion within which the cylindrical portion 3 of the plug may enter as in Fig. 4. The socket is provided with rollers 44, each roller being mounted in the tubular portion of the socket for limited radial movement provided by axles 45 and abutments possibly provided by slits in body 34 and projections 47 of pillars 43, the roller housing being completed by a bezel 39 slotted at 39(a) to allow the rollers to extend outwardly. The plug is provided with a tubular looking cylinder 18 mounted for axial movement and biased to a position in which it overlaps groove 4 by a spring 22. The radial movement of the rollers may alternatively be limited by abutments formed by the inner ends of slots (70) in socket housing (71) (Figs. 11-13, not shown) and a preferably resiliently deformable slotted retaining member (73) positioned about the housing. As the plug is inserted into the socket, plug portion 3 passes through bezel 39 and its leading edge urges rollers 44 outwardly of socket shell 34. As the plug enters the socket further the leading edge of cylinder 18 encounters rollers 44 which arrest its further forward movement, inward progression of the plug then being against the bias provided by spring 22. When groove 4 reaches the rollers, these are forced into the groove by bevelled edge 17(a) of portion 17, thus releasing cylinder 18 which is then forced by spring 22 into the position shown in Fig. 4, portion 17 overlying rollers 44. The rollers cannot now move outwardly and the plug is locked into the socket. To withdraw the plug, cylinder 18 is drawn away from the socket thus uncovering rollers 44 which can then move outwardly, further movement of cylinder 18 initiating plug withdrawal and expulsion of rollers 44 from groove 4. Contact member 34 is constructed from a sheet metal blank (50) (Fig. 8, not shown).