GB881069A - Improvements in electrical connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

881,069. Two-part couplings. SOC. INDUSTRIELLE DE LIAISONS ELECTRIQUES. May 16, 1960 [May 29, 1959], No. 17258/60. Class 38(1). An element 2 of a connector is provided with a diametrically opposed pair of part annular ribs or tenons 5a and with bosses 7a, 8a having flanges 9a, 10a. Part annular grooves 13a, 14a are adapted to receive tenons 5 of a similar element 1, and grooves 13, 14 of the element 1 receive the tenons 5a of element 2. The elements are mechanically interengaged by relative rotation thereof. Latching devices comprise a pin 41a secured to a leaf spring 42a which urges the pin towards the centre of the element. The pin 41a co-operates with a cam 45 having a helical ramp 51, and a pin 55 projecting radially from the cam limits the displacement of the cam to half a turn by engagement with bosses 52, 56. Assuming the connector is in its engaged condition, the pin 41a of element 2 is entrapped between the high part of cam 45 and boss 56 of element 1, and pin 41 of element 1 is entrapped between cam 45a and boss 56a of element 2. The elements 1, 2 are thus prevented from relative rotation and cannot be separated. To disengage the connector, the cam 45 is first rotated to the position shown in Figs. 3, 4, and the cam 45a to a corresponding position. The pins 41, 41a are now able to slide over the low part of the cams and the elements are able to rotate to an intermediate position where the pins engage the bosses 52, 52a. To permit further relative rotation between the elements, the two cams are returned to their original positions whereby the pins are moved upward along the ramps 51, and are level with the upper surface of the bosses 53, 53a. The disengaging movement of the connector is now able to continue to that shown in Fig. 7 and the elements can be separated axially from each other. The connector includes main contacts 15, 15a, and pilot contacts 20, 20a connected with circuitry including a relay or relays (not shown) such that current can only flow through the main contacts after the pilot contacts have first been engaged to energize a relay. On disengagement of the connector to its intermediate position the pilot contacts are separated and the relay(s) have ample time to cut off the current through the main contacts before the connector elements are moved to their final disengaged position. The danger of sparking at the main contacts is thereby eliminated. During the engagement of the connector the main contacts engage each other before the pilot contacts and so are placed under power only after closure. Pins 58 inserted into radial holes 59 in the connector elements are used to rotate the elements with respect to each other. The latching device of a modification, Figs. 8-12 (not shown), includes a pawl having two claws co-operating with two stops of the other element. The disengaging process involves two compulsory delay periods.