GB2063587A

GB2063587A - Snatch-type electrical connectors

Info

Publication number: GB2063587A
Application number: GB8036516A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: AB Electronic Components Ltd
Current assignee: AB Electronic Components Ltd
Priority date: 1979-11-16
Filing date: 1980-11-13
Publication date: 1981-06-03
Also published as: GB2063587B

Abstract

In an electrical cable of the snatch type, projections 13 on one of the connector parts are engageable behind teeth 24 on a rotary latch member mounted on the other connector part and loaded by a spring 18. The teeth 24 are of V- form so that on engagement the projections 13 deflect them against the action of the spring 18 and the latch then returns to secure the projections in the recesses 26. On disengagement with a sufficient axial force, the projections 13 engage the rear face of the teeth 24 and deflect the latch 15 against the action of the spring 18. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connector This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to the type of cable connector, known as a snatch connector, in which the two parts of the connector are coupled and uncoupled by a "push-on" and "pull-off" technique against a predetermined load.

According to the present invention, a snatch connector ..,cludes two relatively axially movable parts, one of the said parts having a plurality of pins engageable with a rotary latch member adapted to yield to secure or release the pins in response to a predetermined axial load in the appropriate direction.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a snatch connector according to a preferred form of the invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional perspective view of some of the components of the connector of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, the snatch connector illustrated comprises a fixed part 11 and a free part 14. The fixed part 11 is provided with a plate 1 2 for attachment to a panel or the like, or with an alternative arrangement for mounting in a "D" shaped hole in a panel. This fixed part 11 has a number of internal keyways 11 a to accept keys 1 6 shown on the free member 14, thus providing a unique angular location of the internally housed electrical contacts. This arrangement is generally conventional for other forms of coupling and is not regarded as a novel part of the present invention. The forward end of the fixed part 11 has a group of three equi-spaced pins 1 3 for co-operating with the free part 1 4 of the coupling as will be hereinafter described.These are also standard for other methods of coupling and not peculiar to snatch couplings.

The free part 14 of the connector is shown assembled in Fig. 2 and comprises a body having a bearing surface 1 4a which carries a freely rotating coupling ring 1 7 in which a rotary latch member 1 5 is housed so as to permit a limited angular movement relative to the coupling ring 1 7. The coupling ring 1 7 has a group of three equi-spaced slots 23 cooperable with the pins 1 3. The coupling ring 1 7 also houses a return spring 1 8 for the latch member 1 5.

The return spring 1 8 has one end 1 9 housed in an abutment hole (not shown) in the coupling ring 17, and the opposite and out-turned end 21 housed at the base of a slot 22 in the latch member 1 5. The latch member 1 5 is thus urged in a clockwise direction as illustrated.

The latch member 1 5 has three equi-spaced teeth 24 of isosceles V-form so as to present equally inclined faces on the inner and outer sides. The teeth 24 each project from one side of a slot 25 and there is sufficient space between the apex of each tooth 24 and the opposite side of the slot 25 for the pin 1 3 to pass, and there is also formed between the base of the slot 25 and the inner side of gha tooth 24 a recess 26 to accommodate the corresponding pin 1 3.

The latch member 1 5 is mounted on the body of the free part 14 so as to be spring loaded by the spring 18 to a position wherein the outer face of each tooth 24 is radially aligned with the corresponding slot 23 so as to be in the path of the pin 1 3 as the connector parts are put together, so that a sufficient axial load has to be applied to cause the pins 13, on abutment with the outer faces of the teeth 24, to rotate the latch member 1 5 against the action of the spring 1 8.

Once the pins have passed the apices of the teeth 24, the latch member 25 springs back so that the pins 1 3 are housed in the recesses 26 and the connector is thus held in the mated position. However, when an axial force in the opposite direction is applied, the inner edges of the teeth 24 are engaged by the pins 1 3 and the latch member can be caused to release the pins 1 3 if the axial forces are sufficient to overcome the spring bias. The connector can thus be moved to the unmated position.

It will be realised that the spring rating and the angles of the inner and outer edges of the teeth 24 are chosen so as to provide the required level of predetermined axial load before the connection can be mated or unmated, and of course the inclinations of the inner and outer edges of the teeth need not be the same if it is required to have one of the loads greater than the other.

The drawing also illustrates a circlip 27 which is used to retain the coupling ring 17, together with the latch member 1 5 and spring 18, in a fixed axial location on the body 14, while allowing relative rotation. The circlip 27 fits in an internal groove 28 in the coupling ring 1 7 and behind a shoulder 1 4b on the body 14.

Various modification may be made within the scope of the invention.

1. An electrical cable connector of the snatch type comprising two relatively axially movable parts adapted to be coupled together and uncoupled by a "push-on" and the "pulloff" technique against a predetermined load, in which one of the said parts has a plurality of pins engageable with a rotary latch member mounted on the other of the said parts and adapted to yield to secure or release the pins in response to a predetermined axial load

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Connector This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to the type of cable connector, known as a snatch connector, in which the two parts of the connector are coupled and uncoupled by a "push-on" and "pull-off" technique against a predetermined load. According to the present invention, a snatch connector ..,cludes two relatively axially movable parts, one of the said parts having a plurality of pins engageable with a rotary latch member adapted to yield to secure or release the pins in response to a predetermined axial load in the appropriate direction. The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of a snatch connector according to a preferred form of the invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional perspective view of some of the components of the connector of Fig. 1. As shown in the drawings, the snatch connector illustrated comprises a fixed part 11 and a free part 14. The fixed part 11 is provided with a plate 1 2 for attachment to a panel or the like, or with an alternative arrangement for mounting in a "D" shaped hole in a panel. This fixed part 11 has a number of internal keyways 11 a to accept keys 1 6 shown on the free member 14, thus providing a unique angular location of the internally housed electrical contacts. This arrangement is generally conventional for other forms of coupling and is not regarded as a novel part of the present invention. The forward end of the fixed part 11 has a group of three equi-spaced pins 1 3 for co-operating with the free part 1 4 of the coupling as will be hereinafter described.These are also standard for other methods of coupling and not peculiar to snatch couplings. The free part 14 of the connector is shown assembled in Fig. 2 and comprises a body having a bearing surface 1 4a which carries a freely rotating coupling ring 1 7 in which a rotary latch member 1 5 is housed so as to permit a limited angular movement relative to the coupling ring 1 7. The coupling ring 1 7 has a group of three equi-spaced slots 23 cooperable with the pins 1 3. The coupling ring 1 7 also houses a return spring 1 8 for the latch member 1 5. The return spring 1 8 has one end 1 9 housed in an abutment hole (not shown) in the coupling ring 17, and the opposite and out-turned end 21 housed at the base of a slot 22 in the latch member 1 5. The latch member 1 5 is thus urged in a clockwise direction as illustrated. The latch member 1 5 has three equi-spaced teeth 24 of isosceles V-form so as to present equally inclined faces on the inner and outer sides. The teeth 24 each project from one side of a slot 25 and there is sufficient space between the apex of each tooth 24 and the opposite side of the slot 25 for the pin 1 3 to pass, and there is also formed between the base of the slot 25 and the inner side of gha tooth 24 a recess 26 to accommodate the corresponding pin 1 3. The latch member 1 5 is mounted on the body of the free part 14 so as to be spring loaded by the spring 18 to a position wherein the outer face of each tooth 24 is radially aligned with the corresponding slot 23 so as to be in the path of the pin 1 3 as the connector parts are put together, so that a sufficient axial load has to be applied to cause the pins 13, on abutment with the outer faces of the teeth 24, to rotate the latch member 1 5 against the action of the spring 1 8. Once the pins have passed the apices of the teeth 24, the latch member 25 springs back so that the pins 1 3 are housed in the recesses 26 and the connector is thus held in the mated position. However, when an axial force in the opposite direction is applied, the inner edges of the teeth 24 are engaged by the pins 1 3 and the latch member can be caused to release the pins 1 3 if the axial forces are sufficient to overcome the spring bias. The connector can thus be moved to the unmated position. It will be realised that the spring rating and the angles of the inner and outer edges of the teeth 24 are chosen so as to provide the required level of predetermined axial load before the connection can be mated or unmated, and of course the inclinations of the inner and outer edges of the teeth need not be the same if it is required to have one of the loads greater than the other. The drawing also illustrates a circlip 27 which is used to retain the coupling ring 17, together with the latch member 1 5 and spring 18, in a fixed axial location on the body 14, while allowing relative rotation. The circlip 27 fits in an internal groove 28 in the coupling ring 1 7 and behind a shoulder 1 4b on the body 14. Various modification may be made within the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

1. An electrical cable connector of the snatch type comprising two relatively axially movable parts adapted to be coupled together and uncoupled by a "push-on" and the "pulloff" technique against a predetermined load, in which one of the said parts has a plurality of pins engageable with a rotary latch member mounted on the other of the said parts and adapted to yield to secure or release the pins in response to a predetermined axial load in the appropriate direction.

2. A snatch connector as claimed in claim 1, in which the rotary latch member has a plurality of teeth each engageable with one of the said pins, the teeth being of V-form to present inclined faces to the pins on each side, and each tooth projecting from one side of a slot providing a recess behind the tooth to retain the pin in the secured position.

3. A snatch connector as claimed in claim 2, in which the latch member is spring loaded so as to urge the teeth in a direction towards their apices.

4. An electrical cable connector as claimed in claim 3, in which the latch member yieldably connected to a coupling member rotatable on the said other part and having means engageable with the pins to orientate the coupling member and latch member.

5. A snatch connector as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, in which the faces of the teeth are inclined at the same angle to the circumferential direction.

6. An electrical cable connector of the snatch type substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.