US1224908A - Electrical connector. - Google Patents

Description

H. A. DOUGLAS. ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAYII, l9l5- Patented" May 8, 191 7.

mutton strains PATENT OFFICE.

EAUQIURKITG COMEANY, (9F BIKONSQQN, Ii3o.;IIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.

Specification of Letters Intent.

Patented May 8, 1917..

Application filed'llay 11, 1915. Serial No. 27,456.

229 all wiwm it may concern: Be it known that I, HARRY A. DOUGLAS,

citizen of the United States, residing at Bronson, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electrical Connectors, of which the following is a full,

clear, concise, and exact description, referonce being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to circuit couplers or connectors, and has for one of its objects the provision of such a device wherein two members are made relatively movable longitudinally of the structure to bring these members in either of two alternative relations, in one of which circuit closure is offected (assuming the circuit to be intact elsewhere) and in the other of which the circuit is opened. By means of my invention supplemental means for maintainingthe relative position of the members when the circuit is opened need not be provided, since the contact portions ofthe connector then may perform this function. This feature of my invention enables me to maintain constant engagement between contacts carried by the relatively movable members whether the circuit be opened or closed; though I do not limit myself to this characte ilitic. 1 t .e invention also contemplates the prodiate vision of a simplified electrical union between a binding screw or other terminal carried by a plug or other mounting of in sulatiug material, and a switching contact carried by the plug. This feature of the inpart of the structure; and Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of component parts.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

{23: 5, MICHIGE N, ASSIGINOR T0 DOUGLAS &, RUDD MANU- The structure includes a cylindrical metallic shell 1 provided with bayonet slots 2.

at one end, there to afiord. means for the attachment of some circuit continuing device, which is shown as being a small incandescent lamp 3, whose filament L is provided with terminals 5 and 6 carried by the base of the lamp, this base being herein termed a contact carrier. Pins 7 project from the base of the lamp to constitute with the slots 2 bayonet catches for maintaining the lamp and shell together.

The shell 1 is in axial alinement with a plug of insulating material 8, that is also herein termed a contact carrier, this plug being here shown as being removably held.

within one end of the shel The plug is centrally recessed'longitudinally of the shell, one end of this recess being larger than the other to afford a shoulder 9. A cylindrical cutrent conducting contact 10 is received in th outer end of the recess, the base of this contact being provided with a flange ll clamped against the shoulder 9 by armg nut 9 received in the larger end of the recess and there having threaded engagement with the plug 8, the contact 10 passing through the bore of the ring nut. The'outer end of the contact 10 is reduced to form a shoulder 12.. A plunger of insulating material 13 projects through the outer and contracted end of the bore of the contact 10, the base of the plunger being enlarged to limit the extent of its outward movement by engaging the contiguous shoulder 12. A coiled spring 14 is inclosed within the contact 10. The ends of this spring are seated within the recesses provided in theinner ends of the plunger 13 and plug 8, thespring being under such compression as to fforce the plunger 13 outwardly when the ends of the shell 1 are not 'sufiiciently occupied by circuit continuing,

elements. The outer end of the plunger 13 .is provided with a metallic contact cap 15, the plunger 13 constituting the means by which the contact 15 is carried by the contact carrier 8. This cap is out of engagement with the contact element 10 when the plunger is placed in its outermost position by the spring'lt, as indicated in Fig. 1, but ,Whi'chcap 0r circuit closer 15' is brought 4 tongue 10 which 80 the shell rable engagement therewith,

into engagement with the contact 10 when the circuit continuing elements are fully within the ends of the shell. The circuitcloser l5 constitutes a current conducting contact that cooperates with the current con ducting contact 10 and is adapted for sepawhile at the same time maintaining constant engagement with the curre t conducting contact 5..

Contact IQ is pressed against terminal 17 by the ring nut 9, while the metallic shell 10" is provided with an insettin spring presses upon t e upper end'of the terminal 16. The spring tongue 10 thus constitutes an improvement upon the pin or screw connections hitherto existing between parts corresponding to the elements 10' and 16. The shell 1 thus conveys current between the elements 10 andfi, the device being thus a single pole connection, but to which the invention is not to be limited. 1

Generally it is not desirable to have facility for adjusting thelamp to in and out of circuit positions While mechanically interconnected with the shell 1. I therefore arrange the plug 8 as illustrated, the plu shown carrying the screw terminals 16, 17. Means are afforded whereb this plug 8 may have two distinct positions with respect to whilecoupled therewith, and that are spaced apart longitudinally of the shell. In the outermost position of the plug 8 the spring 14 projects the plunger 13 to its outermost POSltlOIl in which the circuit closer 15 is out of engagement with the con tact 10, whereby the circuit is then opened. When the lug 8 is in its cap 15 is orced into engagement with the contact '10 to close the circuit.

1 end of the contact 10 is des1rably longitudiin circuit, so that its resiliency is not reduced. -The means which I preferably em- .plov for nal y of the structure resides in a.pair of bayonet pins or projections 18, carried by sald member, and a pair of bayonet slots 19 in the lower end of shell 1, and so formed 1 as to provide an inner pair of seats 20 and i one pair of seats to the other.

an outer pair of seats 21, the two pairs of seats thus bein spaced apart longitudinally of the shell. gVhen the projections 18 are received by the inner seats 20 the circuit is closed, and whe received by the outer seats 21, the circuit is opened. The angular displacement of one pair of seats from the other may be disregarded, slight angular displacement being desired only to permit of the ready transfer of the pins 18 from This advantage is secured, since the contact 5 may remainin engagement with the contact 15 chanical union between 'wardly against their inner position, the.

irrespective of the hold the parts in assembly.

To insure the retention of the projections 18 in the bayonet seats, said seats are provided with horns 20', 21.

To insure the maintenance of the metheshell 1 and the 8 is removed, said position of the plug 8 to lamp3 when the plug shel and which press the bayonet pins 7 u seats and longitudinally of the shell 1. That is, the springs 22 are disposed transversely of the shell, and may be flexed longitudinally thereof, each of the sprin s being .connected at one end with the shel and at the other end being free to exert pressure upon the pins 7. \Vhile I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as changes may readily be made without departing from" the spirit of the invention.

' Having thus described clainilasnew and desire to Patent the following: g

1. A circuit connector including a contact carrier; a circuit terminal carried by and entering the carrier; :1 contact carried upon the exterior of t e carrier; and an insetting spring connected with the contact and pressing upon the circuit terminal.

2. A circuit connector including a contact carrier; a circuit terminal carried by and entering the carrier; a contact carried 11 on the exterior of the carrier; and an insetti spring integrally formed with the contact and pressing upon the circuit terminal.

A circuit connector including a contact carrier; two current conducting contacts carried thereby; means for breaking engagement betweensaid contacts; a second contact carrierfa third current conducting contact which is carried by the second conmy invention, I secure by Letters ,tact carrier; and means whereby the t t ad usting the mem er 8 longitud engage one of the and force it into engagement with the other of the first aforesaid contacts.

at. A circuit connector including a contact carrier; two current conducting contacts carried. thereby; means for breaking en gagement between said contacts; contact carrier;

and a shell for holding said contact carriers and enablin the contact carriers to be so cause the third current conduct-in contact to engage one of (he first aforesai contacts and force it into engagement with the other of the first aforesaid contacts 5. A circuit connector including a contact carries strip springs 22 that are de-. s1rably integrally, formed with the shell,

relatively positioned as to the first aforesaid contacts against the force riers may be relatively positioned toenable' the third current conducting contact to engage one of the first aforesaid contacts and force it into engagement with the other of ofsaid spring, said latter means also enthe first carrier.

abling the contact carriers to be held farther apart by the spring to permit the spring to separate the contacts carried by 6. A circuit connector including a contact carrier; two current conducting contact-s carried thereby; aspring for effecting separation or said contacts;

' contact carrier; a third current conducting contact which is carried' by the. sec ondcontact carrier; and a shell for holding said contact carriers and-enabling the con-- tact carriers to be so relatively positioned as a second.

to cause the third current conducting contact to engage one of the first aforesaid con tacts and force it into engagement with the other of the first aforesaid contacts against the force of said spring, said shell being constructed to cooperate with the spring also to hold the carriers farther apart and to permit the spring to separate the contacts carried by the first carrier.

7. A circuit connector including a'shell having a bayonet slot; a contact carrier provided with a projection for reception within the seat afforded by said slot; and a strip spring carried by 'the shell and disposed transversely thereof, this'spring pressing upon the projection longitudinally of the shell tohold the projection in said seat.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of August A. D., 1914. I I

HARRY A. DO UGLAS.

Witnesses: I

HENRY C. Bowman, VILL M. Fosrnn.

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