GB2118786A

GB2118786A - Electrical plug and socket couplings

Info

Publication number: GB2118786A
Application number: GB08207683A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Douglas Ainsworth
Original assignee: UK Atomic Energy Authority
Current assignee: UK Atomic Energy Authority
Priority date: 1982-03-16
Filing date: 1982-03-16
Publication date: 1983-11-02

Abstract

A multiple pin electrical plug and socket has a fixed part (10) mounted in a wall (W) and a decouplable part (11). The decouplable part 11 is engaged by a lever (12) which can effect initial decoupling and final coupling and can support the decouplable part at pads (16) engaging flats (17) when initially decoupled. The lever (12) is gravity supported on pivots (13) and can be lifted away from the coupling so that a complete decoupling can be effected unimpeded by the lever. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical plug and socket couplings This invention relates to breakable electrical plug and socket couplings.

This invention is mainly concerned with multiple pin (greater than three) plug and socket couplings. These find application for coupling and decoupling multiple (eg twenty-four) wire connections.

The invention arose initially from the problem of coupling and decoupling multiple pin plug and socket couplings when used for passing multiple wire connections through a wall or partition of a cell for handling radioactive components. To reduce the number of penetrations through the wall there is an incentive to have plugs and sockets with a large number of pins. The larger the number of pins the greater the force required to couple and decouple.

In cells for handling radioactive components operations have to be conducted by manipulators and whilst these can be constructed robustly and can be powered there remains an underlying motivation to ensure that the forces they are called upon to exert remain modest. The force required to fully couple and decouple a 24-pin coupling can be more than modest, typically in excess of 30 pounds.

There may be a further requirement that the movable part of the coupling should normally be held captive after decoupling but that facilities should exist to allow the movable part to be subsequently freed if required. Whilst the matters discussed above are important in the specific context of use in radioactive cells they can also be of significance in the context of more general use.

The multiple-pin coupling according to the present invention has a nominally fixed part supported in a datum member (such as a wall or partitions and a nominally decouplable part in which the decouplable part is engaged by a lever assembly operable to finally couple and initially decouple the parts.

The lever assembly preferably has a lever arm gravity retained on a pivot so that it can be removed from the lever assembly prior to final decoupling. In this way the lever can be used to exert the "more-than-modest" force on the coupling (as required for final coupling action or the initial decoupling action) are then "parked" away from the coupling, or used on another coupling, and a manipulator can be used to exert the "modest" force (as required for complete decoupling or the initial coupling action).

In a preferred form of coupling with a removable lever, the decouplable part of the coupling is provided with two vertical flats defining end flanges and the lever has circular pads which lie against the flats to give support and provide circular face contact with the end flanges to give final coupling and initial decoupling action.

One form of coupling according to the present invention wili now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a side elevation of a coupling according to the present invention in use in a wall of a cell for handling radioactive components.

The drawing represents the cell by a wall W, the right hand side of the wall being the outside of the cell and the left hand side the inside of the cell.

A multiple-pin coupling is represented by nominally fixed part 10 supported in the wall W and a nominally decouplable part 11 engaged by a lever assembly consisting of a U-shaped lever 12, lever pivot 1 3 and bracket 14. The lever 1 2 has forks 1 5 at the bottoms of both legs of its U-shape so that it can be gravity retained on the pivot 1 3.

The lever 1 2 also has two circular pads 1 6 which can move over respective flats 1 7 which exist on the part 11 between end flanges 1 8. The pads 1 6 bear against the end flanges 1 8 when the lever is operated, there being a degree of lost motion as the lever moves between flanges. The bracket 14 has a lever stop 1 9. This stop is located so that when the lever is moved in the direction of the arrow A it is arrested on the stop at a point where the part 11 of the coupling is partially removed from the part 10 but remains supported.

In use, and starting from the stage shown in the drawing with the coupling made, the coupling is partially decoupled by moving the lever 12 with a manipulator arm in the direction of the arrow A until the lever contacts the stop 1 9. The lever arm 12 is then lifted clear of the pivot 1 3 and part 11 by the manipulator and parked on a suitable near by hook. The manipulator then engages the partially decoupled part 11 and effects a complete decoupling. To remake the coupling the above procedure is carried out in reverse and the lever 12 is moved counter to the direction A to provide final coupling.

It is not essential that the arm is removed. For a temporary electrical break at the coupling the lever can be operated and retained in position.

1. A multiple pin electrical plug and socket coupling having a nominally fixed part (10) supported in a datum member (W) and a nominally decouplable part (11) in which the decouplable part (11) is engaged by a lever assembly operable to finally couple and initially decouple the parts.

2. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 in which the lever assembly is capable of hoiding the decouplable part (11) captive after initial decoupling but that facilities exist to allow said part (11) to be freed if required.

3. A coupling as claimed in claim 2 comprising a lever arm (12) gravity retained on a pivot (13) so that the lever can be lifted from the pivot to free the decouplable part for complete decoupling.

4. A coupling as claimed in claim 3 in which the decouplable part (11) has two vertical flats (17) defining end flanges (18) and the lever arm (12) has circular pads (16) which lie against the flats to give support and provide circular face contact with the end flanges to give final coupling and initial decoupling action.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Electrical plug and socket couplings This invention relates to breakable electrical plug and socket couplings. This invention is mainly concerned with multiple pin (greater than three) plug and socket couplings. These find application for coupling and decoupling multiple (eg twenty-four) wire connections. The invention arose initially from the problem of coupling and decoupling multiple pin plug and socket couplings when used for passing multiple wire connections through a wall or partition of a cell for handling radioactive components. To reduce the number of penetrations through the wall there is an incentive to have plugs and sockets with a large number of pins. The larger the number of pins the greater the force required to couple and decouple. In cells for handling radioactive components operations have to be conducted by manipulators and whilst these can be constructed robustly and can be powered there remains an underlying motivation to ensure that the forces they are called upon to exert remain modest. The force required to fully couple and decouple a 24-pin coupling can be more than modest, typically in excess of 30 pounds. There may be a further requirement that the movable part of the coupling should normally be held captive after decoupling but that facilities should exist to allow the movable part to be subsequently freed if required. Whilst the matters discussed above are important in the specific context of use in radioactive cells they can also be of significance in the context of more general use. The multiple-pin coupling according to the present invention has a nominally fixed part supported in a datum member (such as a wall or partitions and a nominally decouplable part in which the decouplable part is engaged by a lever assembly operable to finally couple and initially decouple the parts. The lever assembly preferably has a lever arm gravity retained on a pivot so that it can be removed from the lever assembly prior to final decoupling. In this way the lever can be used to exert the "more-than-modest" force on the coupling (as required for final coupling action or the initial decoupling action) are then "parked" away from the coupling, or used on another coupling, and a manipulator can be used to exert the "modest" force (as required for complete decoupling or the initial coupling action). In a preferred form of coupling with a removable lever, the decouplable part of the coupling is provided with two vertical flats defining end flanges and the lever has circular pads which lie against the flats to give support and provide circular face contact with the end flanges to give final coupling and initial decoupling action. One form of coupling according to the present invention wili now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a side elevation of a coupling according to the present invention in use in a wall of a cell for handling radioactive components. The drawing represents the cell by a wall W, the right hand side of the wall being the outside of the cell and the left hand side the inside of the cell. A multiple-pin coupling is represented by nominally fixed part 10 supported in the wall W and a nominally decouplable part 11 engaged by a lever assembly consisting of a U-shaped lever 12, lever pivot 1 3 and bracket 14. The lever 1 2 has forks 1 5 at the bottoms of both legs of its U-shape so that it can be gravity retained on the pivot 1 3. The lever 1 2 also has two circular pads 1 6 which can move over respective flats 1 7 which exist on the part 11 between end flanges 1 8. The pads 1 6 bear against the end flanges 1 8 when the lever is operated, there being a degree of lost motion as the lever moves between flanges. The bracket 14 has a lever stop 1 9. This stop is located so that when the lever is moved in the direction of the arrow A it is arrested on the stop at a point where the part 11 of the coupling is partially removed from the part 10 but remains supported. In use, and starting from the stage shown in the drawing with the coupling made, the coupling is partially decoupled by moving the lever 12 with a manipulator arm in the direction of the arrow A until the lever contacts the stop 1 9. The lever arm 12 is then lifted clear of the pivot 1 3 and part 11 by the manipulator and parked on a suitable near by hook. The manipulator then engages the partially decoupled part 11 and effects a complete decoupling. To remake the coupling the above procedure is carried out in reverse and the lever 12 is moved counter to the direction A to provide final coupling. It is not essential that the arm is removed. For a temporary electrical break at the coupling the lever can be operated and retained in position. CLAIMS

5. A coupling as claimed in claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.

6. A coupling as claimed in any preceding claim in which the fixed part (10) is mounted in the wall (W) of a cell having therein a manipulator which can reach the decouplable part and the lever assembly so that the manipulator can operate the lever of the assembly for finally coupling and initially decoupling and can then lift the lever clear of the assembly and then engage the initially decoupled part to effect a complete decoupling.