US1736887A

US1736887A - Electric plug and socket

Info

Publication number: US1736887A
Application number: US218065A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pritchett William Jacob
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-11-19
Filing date: 1927-09-07
Publication date: 1929-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1946-11-26

Description

w. J. PRlTcHET-r v ELECTRIC PLUG AND SOCKET Nov. 26, 1929.

Filed Sept. 7, 1927 Patented Nov. 26, 1929 WILLIAM JACOB PRITCIIETT, F SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA ELECTRIC PLUG AND SOCKET- Application filed September 7, 1927, Serial No.

This invention relates to plugs and sockets such as are used for connecting electrical apparatus to the source of supply and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and eective arrangement ot' plug and socket whereby connection between the circuit and the apparatus may be completed by inserting the plug and may be broken quickly and without arcing under full load by simply withdrawing the plug from the socket thus rendering a switch in the circuit unnecessary.

The plug is provided with as many longitudinally slidable pins as may be necessary for the particular apparatus, which pins are normally held back in the plug by springs .or the like. Each pin is provided with a groove near the forward end and each pin has means whereby electrical contact is established between it and terminals on the plug to which the leads are connected. The socket consists of an insulating casing having in it a number of individual sockets corresponding to the number oi' pins in the plug.

Each is provided near the open end with a vfspring controlled pin which projects slightly into the central passage.

The invention may be clearly understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the complete plug and socket when the circuit is fully established,

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation or" the plug and socket when the circuit is about to be broken,

Figure 3 is a plan of the socket,

Figure 4 is a sectional eleva-tion of the socket,

Figure 5 is a plan of the. cap of the plug, and

Figure 6 is a plan of the plug with the cap removed.

The plug consists of a base 7 and a cap 8 formed of any suitable and well known insulating material. The base is provided with plates 9 which are inserted or attached to it in any well known manner and through each plate apin 10 is adapted to slide, the pin being formed with a flange 11 against which the spring 12 bears, and being provided with a groove 13 and an insulating sleeve 14 at the 218,065, and' in Australia November 19, 1926.

tip. The plates 9 are provided with terminals 15 to which the leads 16 lare attached, being brought in through the notches 17 and kept well separated by the partition 19.

The socket consists of a casing 20 also formed or'l any suitable insulating material in which are retained by any well known means the individual sockets 21 arranged to register with the pins 10. Each socket consists oi conducting material and is provided with an inwardly projecting pin 22, which is pressed inwards by the spring 23, and a clamping device 24 for the reception oi' the incoming wire 25. An insulating partition 26 is provided and also means 27 for attaching the cover 28 to the casing 20.

The plug is inserted in the usual manner so that the pins 10 enter the sockets 21 and it is pushed in until the. pins take up the position shown in Figure 1. The insulated tips 14 prevent the passage of any current when the tips are just inserted and it is necessary to push the plug in untill the resistances of the small pins 22 are overcome when the plug suddenly slides into position and the pins 22 enter the grooves 13 thus ensuring that only a complete and good contact is made. Ample contact is established between the pin 10 and the sockets 21 bythe action of the springs 23 and pins 22 which press the pins 10 against the sockets 21, the insulating sleeves 14 being of slightly less diameter than the pins. Current is carried from the pins 10 to the plates 9 both by direct contact and by the springs 12 which bear tightly against the flanges 11 and the plates 9.

On withdrawing the plug to break the circuit, the springs 12 are compressed until the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2 and the resistance of the pins 22 in the grooves 13 is finally overcome. The pins 10 are then suddenly released to ily back under the influence ot the springs 12 to make a sudden clean break of the circuit between the pins 10 and the socket 11.

rlhe depth of the sockets 21 may be increased so that the pins 22 will enter and leave again the grooves 13 as the plug is inserted but the pins will arrest momentarily the Withdrawal motion until the springs 12 have been compressed.

The insulation of the socket casing is carried Well over the contacts so that risk of shock or short cireuiting is eliminated and the length of the pins l0 and insulating sleeves 14 may be so proportioned that When the pinsV are inade live there Will not be sufiioient room between the plug and the socket for the operator to come in contact with the pins l0, and a hand knob 29 may be provided so that the plug may be easily gripped.

Additional pins and sockets may be provided to suit the circuit or type of apparatus which is being used and an eXtra pin may be provided for control of the circuit to a pilot lamp or the like, if any be used with the apparatus connected to the plug.

I claim :v-

Anelectrical plug and socket fitting coinprisingv a base portion, a plurality of pins slidably mounted on said base portion, each of said pins being provided With a groove, spring means normally holding said pins in fixed position With respect to said base porL tion, a plurality of socketsmeans on said sockets for yieldably engaging said grooves, and insulating means surrounding the end of each pin adjacent said groove.

In testimony whereof I have aiixed by signature.

WILLIAM JACOB PRI'ICHETT.