US1646037A - Electrical connecter - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 18,1927. G J MEUER 1,646,037

- ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed Feb. .1, 1920 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

came STATES GEORGE J. MEUER, or MI WAUKEE,fvvrsoonsm, assrenon r CUTLER-HAM- MEE IVIFGpCil, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION or wIsConsIn.

ELECTRICAL oonnnorn'nq Application filed February 21, 1920. "Serial No. 360,557.

This invention relates to electrical con necters and more particularly to cord conuecters, although certain features thereof are also generally applicable to separable devices having co-operating contacts to be engaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear movements.

In devices of such character the co-operating contacts are usually designed to interlock and it is therefore important that they be insured engagement in a givenrelation. On the other hand, the necessity of precise relative positioning of the contacts prior to engagement thereof is annoying and the present invention has among its objects to provideanimproved device of simple construction wherein the contacts will be insured engagement in the propel-relation and wherein provision is made for considerable latitude in relative positioning of the contacts prior to engagement thereof. 7

Another object is toprovide adevice of the aforesaid character having improved contacts so mounted as to facilitate interlociting thereof and to better fuliill their electrical and mechanical.functions.

Another object is to provide a device of the aforesaid character comprising a mini mum number of simple and rugged parts compactly but yet conveniently arranged.

Another object is to provide a device of the aforesaid character having simplified and improved means for relieving strain upon the conductor terminals.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

. In the accompanying drawing, wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof;

Fig. 2 shifted angularly through approximately ninety degrees; v

Fig. 3, is a horizontalillustration substantially on line 35 of Fig. 1, as viewed from above; I V c v Fig. 4 is a similar illustration substantially on line 45*4: of Fig. 1 as viewed from above;

' Fig. 5 is a horizontal illustration also substantiallyon line 3-5 of Fig.1 but viewed from eneath and showing the conductors attached; and j v c Fig. ('3 is an enlargedtransverse sectional is a similar View but in a plane viewshowing one pair of the cooperating contacts in interlocked'relation. i j

I Referring to the drawing, the same illustrates a cord connecter comprising a cylindrical central member 6 of insulating material and substantially hemispherical end members 7 and 8 also of insulating material, the end member 8 being inpractice perinanently secured to said central member to provide a receptacle for contacts carried by theend 1nember7 which is separable from the other members. I

End members 7 and 8 arerespectively provided with axial conductor passages 9 and 10 and with projecting co-operating pairs of spaced contacts 11, 11 and 12, 12; while the member 6 is provided with through passages 13 eachto receive a pair of oppositely extending contacts 11' and 12. The two pairs ofcont'acts render the connecter of a double pole character and when the contacts are engaged they interlock to re leasably secure the end member 7 to the member 6. v More specifically, said contacts are arranged to lie substantially parallel with and to overlap one another upon diametrically opposite sides of the respective conductor passages 9 and 10, the contacts 11 being spaced a relatively greater distance to fit outside the corresponding contacts 12. The

outer surfaces of contacts 12 are provided respectively with humps adapted to take in to corresponding indentations of theinner surfacesof rcspective contacts 11 for locking the n'iembersagainst accidental separaion and also against relative rotation. The

tips of contacts 11 are tapered and flared outwardly whereas the tips of contacts 12 are flared inwardly, to assist in guiding the same into suitable interlocking relation during telescoping thereof. 7

Said contacts are provided with rectan gularly bent substantially fiat base portions 1 1-, M and 15 15 for securement thereof to the respective members of the connecter. The projecting portions of the contacts 11, which inservice are frequently exposed, are transversely arched and such arching continues through the bend between said base and projecting portions for imparting strength and rigidityto the latter particula'rly at the line of such'bendiiig, while for a like purpose these members are constructed appreciably wider than the members 12 and of heavier stock. The projecting portions of said members 12 beyond their lines of bending are similarly arched to lit accurately within the members 11, such joint arching also assisting in positioning of said contacts.

The passages 13 are of substantially uniform segment-shape in cross section being extended radially of the member 6 a distance appreciably greater than the combined thickness of either pair of co-operating contacts to provide space for radial yielding of said contacts relative to one another during telescoping thereof. Moreover, each of said passages is formed relatively broad upon its side toward the periphery of said member 6 to receive one of the broad contacts 11, while the walls of said passage converge laterally toward the respective narrow contacts 12 to provide against insertion of the contacts 11 in a relation too close to the axis of the device to c0-0perate properly with said contacts 12. Said openings being thus materially larger than the contacts to be inserted therein, are adapted, in conjunction with the tapered tips of said contacts, to facilitate entry of the latter within the former, assuming only approximately accurate prior positioning thereof, whereas the peculiar shape of said passage serves during full insertion of said contacts to guide the same into suitable relation with respect to the contacts 12.

The base portions of the several contacting members are adapted to fit snugly within correspondingly shaped recesses in the adjacent flat surfaces of end members 7 and S, the latter having each a pair of shouldered and internally screw-threaded metallic inserts 16 formed therein and projecting a short distance axially within the respective recesses and through suitable openings in the respective base portions of said contact ing members, being riveted therebeyond. Each of base portions 14 and 15 is of re duced width between its point of securement and the root of its projecting contact, such reduced portions providing for resilient radial yielding of said contacts. Terminal screws 17 are carried within said inserts whereby the latter serve for securement both of the contacting members andthe conduc tors therefor, whereas the sides of the recesses serve to prevent lateral movement or swinging of said contact members.

The base portions of the contacting members 12 are further provided with offset lugs 18 arranged substantially flush with the fiat surface of the end member 8. Said lugs are provided with screw threaded openings adapted to receive screws 19 extending through counterbored openings in the center member 6 for securing said center and end members together as described, while permitting separation thereof for wiring.

Each of said end members 7 and 8 is provided with a device for relieving strain upon the conductor terminals thereot, such devices comprising flat bridge members 20 arranged fiatwise in the respective conductor passages 9 and 10 and substantially bisecting the same. Each of said bridge members is provided with a portion 21 extending within such conductor opening and with shouldered terminal portions 22 adapted to lit within suitably arranged slots 23 which communicate both with the flat surface and with the conductor passage of their respective end member and having corresponding shoulders for accurate positioning of said bridge member with its exposed edge 2% substantially flush with such flat surface. Said exposed ec ge 24 is provided with an extended notch 25 having its base substantially in. the radial plane of the adjacent conductor terminals.

In wiring either of said end members, the conductor is passed inwardly through the conductor opening, with one of its wires upon either side of the bridge member, said wires being bent across the latter and within the notch 25 thereof for connection with the opposite terminal screw. The bridge thus provides substantially a right angle bend of the conductor wires whereby any pull upon the conductor is taken by the bridge and not by the terminals. The location of the wires within the notches 25 also provides against radial displacement of the former. The center member 6 may furthermore be recessed as illustrated at 26 to provide additional space for the wires as the same pass the bridge and to further provide against lateral shitting of said wires.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, cooperating members provided with contacts to be engaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear movement, the contacts of one of said members projecting therebcyond and the contacts of the other member being relatively narrower and confined in substantially V-shaped passages therein, said last mentioned con tacts being located adjacent to the converging point of the walls of said passages, and said other contacts being admissible into said passages only at a predetermined distance trom said converging point to thereby insure proper engagement of the respective contacts.

2. In combination, cooperating members provided with contacts to be engaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear movement, the contacts of one of said members projecting outwardly therefrom, and the contacts of the other member being narrower than said projecting contacts and confined in passages in said member, each of said passages being of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length and having its walls converging toward the contact confined therewithin.

3. The combination with a pair of insulating members, a plurality of outwardly projecting cooperating contacts carried by said members, the contacts on one of said members being of greater width than the contacts on the other member, an insulating member secured to said last mentioned memher and having passages therethrough of substantially V-shape in cross section, said last mentioned contacts being located adjacent the respective points of convergence of the walls of said V-shaped passages, and the other contacts being movable into said pas sages only at a greater distance from said points of convergence.

4. A quick detachablecord connecter com prising a plurality of insulating members. one of said members carrying a plurality of contacts and another of said members carrying a plurality of smaller contacts adapted to cooperate therewith, all of said contacts being of substantially concavo-conver: form in cross section, the convex surfaces of said small contacts being adapted for engagement with the concave surfaces of the other contacts, a third insulating member secured to said second mentioned member and having substantially V-shaped through passages of uniform cross sectional area to receive said small contacts adjacent the respective points of convergence of the walls thereof, said large contacts being admissible into said passages only in a relation to engage the convex surfaces of the other contacts, and means for releasably interlocking said contacts when in engagement.

5. In combination, co-operating members provided with contacts adapted to be engaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear relative movement, one of said me1nbers having its contacts projecting therebeyond and the other member having contacts of less width yieldingly confined in passages therein, said pass-ages being materially larger than said projecting contacts to facilitate entry of the latter within the former and each of said passages having its walls converging laterally toward the contacts contained therein to provide for a given relation of said co-operating contacts when engaged, said co-operating contacts being shaped with respect to each other in a manner to assist in relative positioning thereof.

6. In combination, co-operating members provided with contacts adapted to be engaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear relative movement, one of said members having its contacts projecting therebeyond and the other member having narrower contacts confined within passages therein,

said co-operating contacts having releasable interlocking'means and complementary guiding means to assist in accurate relative positioning thereof, said passages being materially larger than said projecting contacts to facilitate insertion of the latter within the former and each of'said openings having its walls converging laterally toward the contacts confined therein for insuring insere tion of said projecting contacts only in such relation as to render said guiding means effective. 7

7. In combination, co-operating members provided with contacts adapted to be engaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear relative movement, one of said mem bers having its contacts projecting therebeyond and the other member having relatively narrower contacts yieldingly confined in passages therein, said passages having free openings materially larger than said projecting contacts to facilitate entry of the latter within the former and having walls converging laterally toward the contacts confined therein for insuring engagement of said co-operating contacts only in a given relation and also having wall portions spaced laterally from in-bent portions of said con- I fined contacts to permit yielding thereof during insertion of said projecting contacts.

8. In combination, co-operating members provided with contacts adapted to be engaged and disengaged by substantially rectilinear relative movement, one of said niembers having its contacts projecting therebe yond and the other member having contacts of less width yieldingly confined in passages therein, said passages having 7 free open ings and being materially larger than said projecting contacts to facilitate entry of the latter within the former and being of tapered form in transverse section to permit full insertion of said contacts only in a given relation to said confined contacts while permitting yielding of said latter contacts.

9. The combination with a plurality of members each carrying a plurality of contacts, the contacts on one of said members having convex portions and the contacts on the other of said members being relatively wider and having concave portions for engagement therewith, an insulatingmember having substantially V-shaped passages extending therethrough, the contacts on said first mentioned member being located adjacent the points of convergence'of the walls latter mentioned insulating member by said inserts respectively, ezuh oi said conductive members having a portion Formed to provide a Contact and another portion "formed to provide a lug, means cooperating with said lugs For releasably securing said insulating' members together, and terminal screws carried by said inserts.

In witnessrrhereof, I have hereunto subscribed. my name.

GEORGE J. MEUER.

Images