US2297188A - Electric plug and socket - Google Patents

Electric plug and socket Download PDF

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US2297188A
US2297188A US329618A US32961840A US2297188A US 2297188 A US2297188 A US 2297188A US 329618 A US329618 A US 329618A US 32961840 A US32961840 A US 32961840A US 2297188 A US2297188 A US 2297188A
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socket
plug
terminals
terminal
voltage
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Joyce John
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R29/00Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/64Means for preventing incorrect coupling
    • H01R13/642Means for preventing incorrect coupling by position or shape of contact members

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  • This invention relates to electric connectors or plugs adapted to connect an electric device with an electric circuit; and to sockets or receptacles adapted to receive the plug, and especially to a plug having multiple terminals connected to different voltage windings of an electrical device.
  • 'I'here are electrical devices having plural windings or circuits designed for different voltages, any one winding or circuit of which is designed to operate the device satisfactorily when energized at its designed voltage.
  • One of the objects oi the present invention is the provision of a plug adapted to enter at will any one of a plurality of appropriate sockets energized at different voltages and automatically connect the socket terminals only with the winding or circuit of the associated device that is designed for operation on the voltage oi the selected socket.
  • An electric razor for instance, is normally designed for operation on 110 volts, which is the standard house voltage.
  • the owner of the razor would like to carry the razor on his travels and to use it on Pullman trains, airplanes and automobiles.
  • the voltages of the electric circuits of these various conveyances are diierent, 32 volts being common on railroad trains, also farm lighting plants, 12 volts being commonly used in airplanes, and 6 volts in automobiles.
  • Electric razors have been proposed having windings and switches so arranged that by properly setting a control switch the razor would v be conditioned for operation at any one oi a plural number of diierent voltages.
  • the objection to this arrangement is that the user forgets to set the switch for the proper voltage and it is possible to plug the razor into a 110 volt circuit; for instance. with the razor set for operation on a lowex ⁇ voltage, thereby burning out an energizing winding.
  • a further object of the invention is the provision oi a plug having at least three terminals adapted for connection with circuits designed for different voltages, together with a socket adapted to receive the plug and having two terminals arranged to be connected wtih a circuit of a selected voltage, the plug and the socket being so arranged that only the terminals of the plug connected to a circuit designed for the voltage applied to the terminals of the socket can be electrically connected with such socket terminals.
  • Another object of the invention is the provision of a plug having at least three terminals, the plug and the terminals being so constructed and arranged that the plug can be inserted in the present-day socket that. is standard for volts and the plug will have only its 110 volt terminals electrically connected with the socket terminals, the plug also being so arranged as to be received in a diiierent socket having terminals energized at a different voltage with only .the appropriate plug terminals in engagement with the terminals of such different socket.
  • a yet further object of the invention is the provision oi a plug having two projecting terminals and a third terminal which can yield in the direction of insertion of the plug so as to permit the plug to enter the present-day 110 volt socket and also to engage a properly disposed terminal of a different voltage socket.
  • Another object oi the invention is the provision of a socket having provision for receiving a contact or terminal member in any selected one of at least two different positions corresponding with two different voltages.
  • Another object of the invention is generally to improve the construction of plugs and sockets.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-circuit plug embodying the present invention and provided with three terminals adapted for connection with two circuits of different voltages.
  • Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l.
  • Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the plug of Fig. 1 taken at right angles to the section of Fig. 2 or along line 3-3 of Fig. l.
  • Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modied form of the third terminal.
  • Fig. 5 is a section taken through the axis of a socket or receptacle adapted for cooperation with the plug of Figs. 1 and 2.
  • Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken at right angles to the showing of Fig. 5 and corresponding with the View of the plug shown in Fig. 3.
  • Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of socket adapted for cooperation with the modified form of plug illustrated in Fig. 4.
  • Fig. 8 is an end or bottom view of the socket illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.
  • Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of plug having four terminals.
  • Fig. 10 is an end or top view of the socket of Fig 5.
  • Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram illustrating the connections between the multiple windings of a power consuming device and the terminals of the plug of Fig. l.
  • Fig. 12 is a circuit diagram similar to Fig. 11
  • Fig. 13 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a further modiiied form oi low voltage terminal.
  • the plug embodying the present invention in the three-terminal form illustrated in Fig. 1, comprises an insulating body I 0, that can be generally cylindrical in form and has a flat terminal end I2.
  • a pair of terminals of the wiping contact type in the form of straight at blades Id and I6 project from said face in spaced relation with each other and with the :dat faces parallel.
  • the spacing between the blades, and the crosssectional dimensions of the blades does not exceed the corresponding dimensions of the usual two-blade plug adapted for insertion in the present usual or standard 110 volt socket.
  • the present plug can be inserted inthe usual 110 volt socket and establish connection with the socket terminals thereof.
  • One of the blades, as the blade I4, is narrower, or has a. smaller cross-sectional dimension, than the otherblade I6 thereby to polarize the plug and prevent its being inserted in a special socket presently to be described, except in a predetermined manner, whereby to preventimproper connections between the plug and socket terminals.
  • the plug of Fig. 1 also is provided with a third terminal I8, preferably of the butt contact type, which is located below and between the terminal blades I4 and I6. Said third terminal is yieldingly supported so that it can move inwardly of the plug body when engaged with a third terminal of the special lower voltage socket to be described or when engagedwith some' projecting part of a standard 110 volt socket, to permit effective entrance of the blades I4 and I6 into either socket.
  • a third terminal I8 preferably of the butt contact type, which is located below and between the terminal blades I4 and I6.
  • Said third terminal is yieldingly supported so that it can move inwardly of the plug body when engaged with a third terminal of the special lower voltage socket to be described or when engagedwith some' projecting part of a standard 110 volt socket, to permit effective entrance of the blades I4 and I6 into either socket.
  • the end or contact face of said third terminal I8 is generally iiush with the end face I2 of the plug.
  • Said terminal I8 comprises a cylindrical block which is slidably located in a, preferably, insulating tube 26, which may be made of fibre, with the longitudinal axis of the tube generally parallel with but oifset from the longitudinal axis of the plug.
  • the inner end of the tube is closed by a metal end c ap 22 xed thereon.
  • a exible conductor 24 connects the end cap with the terminal block I8 and the length of the conductor is such that, when taut, it holds the terminal block with its outer or contact face generally ush with the end face I2 of the plug.
  • A-helical compression spring 26 is located Within the tube 20 about the conductor and bears at one end on the inner face of the end cap and at the other end against the inner face of the terminal block I8, thereby normally holding the conductor straight and taut.
  • Endwise pressure -on the contact face of the terminal block causes the spring to yield and permit the block to move inwardly.
  • the socket includes a body 42 which can be of insulating material and tubular and has a transverse wall 44 of insulating material intermediate its ends and a forwardly projecting rim 46 forming a .tubular recess adapted to be entered by the plug.
  • the outer end face of the wall which confronts the end face of the plug is generally iiat, preferably, and the wall is formed with slots or openings 48 and 50 therethrough adapted to be entered by the plug .terminals I4 and I6, respectively.
  • the slot 48 is transversely shorter than the corresponding dimension of the slot 50 and the cross-sectional dimensions of the slots ⁇ conform closely to the corresponding dimensions of theplug .terminals I4 and I6.
  • the rear face of the wall 44 is provided with
  • Preble resilient contact fingers 5I and 52 which are in position to -be engaged and wiped over by the plug terminals I4 and I6, respectively, the fingers having terminal parts 54 and 56 either of which can be connected with an energizing conductor. If the socket were to be used on a volt circuit both parts would be provided with a conductor clamping screw 58 as shown screwthreaded in the terminal part 56. Since, however, the socket is intended primarily for use with lower voltages only one of the terminal parts and particularly the .terminal part associated with the broader plug terminal I6 is provided with such a clamping screw.
  • the socket as so far described is in principle essentially a standard socket generally used on 110 volt circuits except that the slots corresponding to the slots 48 and 50 have the same crosssectional dimensions as the slot 50.
  • the slot 48 can be as large as the slot 50 as no harm will result if the plug is reversed when entered in the socket, the connection with the low voltage terminal merely not So far as this inbeingmadeaswillbepresentlymadeclear. Since, however, it is desired to provide but one socket for use on all lower voltage circuits, as 6 volts, 12 volts, 32 volts, and in connection with plugs having more than three terminals and appliances having more than two circuits of different voltages, it is preferred to polarize the socket by making the slots 48 and4 50 with different cross-sectional dimensions. i
  • the socket is provided with a third terminal in addition to the two terminals I and 52.
  • a contact plate SII is located in an end part of a longitudinally elongated recess 62 located be- .tween the slots 48, 50 and extended substantially equally on opposite sides of the center of the socket. Said plate is held in place by a stud 84 riveted or otherwise secured to the inner end of the contact plate and located in the center line of the socket and passed through an insulating boss 86 projecting from the rear face of the wall 44, the stud having a wire connector 68 on the end thereof.
  • the outer end of the contact plate 60 has an outwardly projecting contact or terminal member which is arranged to engage the third terminal I8 of the plug.
  • the terminal member 10 engages the plug terminal I8 and causes it to be moved inwardly of the plug body as the plug is inserted in the socket. Conncction is thus established with the particular low Avoltage circuit connected between the terminal blade I6 and the third terminal I8.
  • the third terminal I8a projects from the end face of the plug and is adapted to engage the outer face of the contact plate of the socket, the contact member 10 of Fig. 5 being omitted, and the third terminal yielding inwardly of the plug body, as before, upon inserting the plug in the socket.
  • the terminal I8a bears against the outer face of the equivalent of the insulated Wall 44 and yields inwardly to permit the plug terminals I4 and I6 to engage the socket terminals.
  • the purpose of the rim 46 is primarily to shield the contact member 10 from accidental engagement.
  • the rim can be omitted when desired.
  • the plug of Fig. 9 is used.
  • a plug is similar to the plug of Fig. 1 except that it has a fourth terminal I8b similar to the terminal I8 but disposed on the opposite side of the line through the blade terminals I4 and I8,
  • terminals I8, I8b and I4 being connected respectively to the lowest voltage winding 12, the intermediate voltage winding 14, and the highest voltage winding 16, respectively.
  • Such a plug can be inserted in a standard 110 volt socket in either of two positions displaced 180 and establish connection only with the high voltage winding 16 which usually will be designed for 110 volts.
  • the plug can be inserted-in the socket of Fig. 5 and will establish connection only with the lowest voltage winding 12.
  • the contact plate 60 will be in the opposite end part of the recess 62, as indi- ⁇ cated by dotted lines, Fig. l0, so that the contact member 10 will engage only with the fourth plug terminal I8b.
  • the socket may have appropriate markings 18, 18a at the opposite ends of the recess 62 to indicate the position of the contact plate for different voltages.
  • One socket type is common for all usual lower voltages and is conditioned for two diierent voltages by merely altering the position of the contact plate 60.
  • This arrangement simplies and cheapens the cost of the socket since the users of the various voltages are commercially distinct and there is little danger that a builder of a Pullman car, for instance, using 32 volts, would obtain and inadvertently install a 12 volt socket intended primarily for use on the l2 volt systems of airplanes.
  • the plug of the present invention can be inserted in a standard 110 volt socket and also in a special socket of a different voltage and will automatically establish connection only with the proper circuit of the associated device.
  • the plug can be used also on a single circuit appliance when the circuit terminals are connected to the proper plug terminals as above described.
  • the appliance say for 32 volts, can be plugged accidentally into 110 volt socket without being damaged by being connected to the excess voltage and yet will have its connections properly established when plugged into the 32 volt socket.
  • a multi-circuit plug adapted for cooperation with a standard volt socket having a pair of spaced contact members and also with a second socket having a contact member in the position of one oi said pair of contact members and an-l gized at a different voltage from thev iirst socket, said plug ⁇ comprising a body having a pair loi' terminal blades enterable in both sockets and engageable with said pair of spaced contact members, said plug having means which constrains its insertion in the second socket in a predetermined position only and having a third contact member engageable in said predetermined Vposition of the plug with Vthe last namedl contact member of said second socket and constructed contact members and another contact member,
  • said second socket being energized at a different and arranged to admit the eective insertion of said pair of terminals in said rst socket.

Description

Sept. 29, 1942. J. JOYCE 2,297,188
ELECTRIC PLUG AND SOCKET Filed April l5, 1940 Patented Sept. 29, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC PLUG AND SOCKET John Joyce, Dorchester, Mass.
Application April 15,' 1940, Serial No. 329,618
Claims.
This invention relates to electric connectors or plugs adapted to connect an electric device with an electric circuit; and to sockets or receptacles adapted to receive the plug, and especially to a plug having multiple terminals connected to different voltage windings of an electrical device.A
'I'here are electrical devices having plural windings or circuits designed for different voltages, any one winding or circuit of which is designed to operate the device satisfactorily when energized at its designed voltage.
One of the objects oi the present invention is the provision of a plug adapted to enter at will any one of a plurality of appropriate sockets energized at different voltages and automatically connect the socket terminals only with the winding or circuit of the associated device that is designed for operation on the voltage oi the selected socket.
An electric razor, for instance, is normally designed for operation on 110 volts, which is the standard house voltage. The owner of the razor, however, would like to carry the razor on his travels and to use it on Pullman trains, airplanes and automobiles. The voltages of the electric circuits of these various conveyances, however, are diierent, 32 volts being common on railroad trains, also farm lighting plants, 12 volts being commonly used in airplanes, and 6 volts in automobiles. Electric razors have been proposed having windings and switches so arranged that by properly setting a control switch the razor would v be conditioned for operation at any one oi a plural number of diierent voltages. The objection to this arrangement, however, is that the user forgets to set the switch for the proper voltage and it is possible to plug the razor into a 110 volt circuit; for instance. with the razor set for operation on a lowex` voltage, thereby burning out an energizing winding.
It thus is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical appliance having multiple windings or circuits adapted for operation on different voltages with an attachment plug having terminals connected to the various circuits and so arranged that while the plug can be plugged into appropriate sockets energized at different voltages it can only establish a connection between the socket conductors and the appliance .circuit that is intended for operation upon the voltage of the socket.
A further object of the invention is the provision oi a plug having at least three terminals adapted for connection with circuits designed for different voltages, together with a socket adapted to receive the plug and having two terminals arranged to be connected wtih a circuit of a selected voltage, the plug and the socket being so arranged that only the terminals of the plug connected to a circuit designed for the voltage applied to the terminals of the socket can be electrically connected with such socket terminals.
Another object of the invention is the provision of a plug having at least three terminals, the plug and the terminals being so constructed and arranged that the plug can be inserted in the present-day socket that. is standard for volts and the plug will have only its 110 volt terminals electrically connected with the socket terminals, the plug also being so arranged as to be received in a diiierent socket having terminals energized at a different voltage with only .the appropriate plug terminals in engagement with the terminals of such different socket.
A yet further object of the invention is the provision oi a plug having two projecting terminals and a third terminal which can yield in the direction of insertion of the plug so as to permit the plug to enter the present-day 110 volt socket and also to engage a properly disposed terminal of a different voltage socket.
Another object oi the invention is the provision of a socket having provision for receiving a contact or terminal member in any selected one of at least two different positions corresponding with two different voltages.
Another object of the invention is generally to improve the construction of plugs and sockets.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-circuit plug embodying the present invention and provided with three terminals adapted for connection with two circuits of different voltages.
' Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the plug of Fig. 1 taken at right angles to the section of Fig. 2 or along line 3-3 of Fig. l.
Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modied form of the third terminal.
Fig. 5 is a section taken through the axis of a socket or receptacle adapted for cooperation with the plug of Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken at right angles to the showing of Fig. 5 and corresponding with the View of the plug shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of socket adapted for cooperation with the modified form of plug illustrated in Fig. 4.
Fig. 8 is an end or bottom view of the socket illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of plug having four terminals.
. Fig. 10 is an end or top view of the socket of Fig 5.
Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram illustrating the connections between the multiple windings of a power consuming device and the terminals of the plug of Fig. l.
Fig. 12 is a circuit diagram similar to Fig. 11
but illustrating the connections between multiplecircuits and the terminals of the plug of Fig. 9.
Fig. 13 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a further modiiied form oi low voltage terminal.
The plug embodying the present invention, in the three-terminal form illustrated in Fig. 1, comprises an insulating body I 0, that can be generally cylindrical in form and has a flat terminal end I2. A pair of terminals of the wiping contact type in the form of straight at blades Id and I6 project from said face in spaced relation with each other and with the :dat faces parallel. The spacing between the blades, and the crosssectional dimensions of the blades does not exceed the corresponding dimensions of the usual two-blade plug adapted for insertion in the present usual or standard 110 volt socket. Hence the present plug can be inserted inthe usual 110 volt socket and establish connection with the socket terminals thereof. One of the blades, as the blade I4, is narrower, or has a. smaller cross-sectional dimension, than the otherblade I6 thereby to polarize the plug and prevent its being inserted in a special socket presently to be described, except in a predetermined manner, whereby to preventimproper connections between the plug and socket terminals.
`The plug of Fig. 1 also is provided with a third terminal I8, preferably of the butt contact type, which is located below and between the terminal blades I4 and I6. Said third terminal is yieldingly supported so that it can move inwardly of the plug body when engaged with a third terminal of the special lower voltage socket to be described or when engagedwith some' projecting part of a standard 110 volt socket, to permit effective entrance of the blades I4 and I6 into either socket.
As illustrated in all iigures but Fig. 4, the end or contact face of said third terminal I8 is generally iiush with the end face I2 of the plug. Said terminal I8 comprises a cylindrical block which is slidably located in a, preferably, insulating tube 26, which may be made of fibre, with the longitudinal axis of the tube generally parallel with but oifset from the longitudinal axis of the plug. The inner end of the tube is closed by a metal end c ap 22 xed thereon. A exible conductor 24 connects the end cap with the terminal block I8 and the length of the conductor is such that, when taut, it holds the terminal block with its outer or contact face generally ush with the end face I2 of the plug. A-helical compression spring 26 is located Within the tube 20 about the conductor and bears at one end on the inner face of the end cap and at the other end against the inner face of the terminal block I8, thereby normally holding the conductor straight and taut. Thus the free or disengaged position of the third terminal is deined. Endwise pressure -on the contact face of the terminal block causes the spring to yield and permit the block to move inwardly.
The method of anchoring the terminals in' the plug body is not of importance herein. A quite 75.
satisfactory method is to solder the terminals I4 and I6 to the ends of insulated conductors 28 and I having, say, a 12 volt winding 38V and a 110 volt winding 40, which, with the connections illustrated, includes the lower voltage winding. Energization of the terminals i6 and i8 energizes the low voltage winding only, and energization of the terminals I6 and I4 energizes the high voltage winding. The different windings can be entirely separate as illustrated in Fig. 12, but some economy of wire and space is obtained byhaving the higher voltage current pass through the lower voltage winding or windings. vention is concerned, however, the more important object is to prevent a low voltage winding from being connected with a high voltage energizing circuit so that the winding receives excessive current. l
A receptacle or socket adapted for cooperation with the abovedescribed plug is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 10. The socket includes a body 42 which can be of insulating material and tubular and has a transverse wall 44 of insulating material intermediate its ends and a forwardly projecting rim 46 forming a .tubular recess adapted to be entered by the plug. The outer end face of the wall which confronts the end face of the plug is generally iiat, preferably, and the wall is formed with slots or openings 48 and 50 therethrough adapted to be entered by the plug .terminals I4 and I6, respectively. The slot 48 is transversely shorter than the corresponding dimension of the slot 50 and the cross-sectional dimensions of the slots `conform closely to the corresponding dimensions of theplug .terminals I4 and I6. Thus the plug terminal I6 cannot enter the slot 48 and hence the location of the third plug terminal I8 with respect to the socket is assured. The rear face of the wall 44 is provided with uitable resilient contact fingers 5I and 52 which are in position to -be engaged and wiped over by the plug terminals I4 and I6, respectively, the fingers having terminal parts 54 and 56 either of which can be connected with an energizing conductor. If the socket were to be used on a volt circuit both parts would be provided with a conductor clamping screw 58 as shown screwthreaded in the terminal part 56. Since, however, the socket is intended primarily for use with lower voltages only one of the terminal parts and particularly the .terminal part associated with the broader plug terminal I6 is provided with such a clamping screw.
The socket as so far described is in principle essentially a standard socket generally used on 110 volt circuits except that the slots corresponding to the slots 48 and 50 have the same crosssectional dimensions as the slot 50.
When the present socket is used for the lowest low voltage, say 6 volts, or is to receive a plug having only three terminals for two circuits of different voltages, the slot 48 can be as large as the slot 50 as no harm will result if the plug is reversed when entered in the socket, the connection with the low voltage terminal merely not So far as this inbeingmadeaswillbepresentlymadeclear. Since, however, it is desired to provide but one socket for use on all lower voltage circuits, as 6 volts, 12 volts, 32 volts, and in connection with plugs having more than three terminals and appliances having more than two circuits of different voltages, it is preferred to polarize the socket by making the slots 48 and4 50 with different cross-sectional dimensions. i
While only one of the contact ngers II, 52 will be energized when the socket is used on the lower voltages, both fingers will be in mechanical engagement with the terminal blades of the plug and will act .to hold the plug mechanically rmly in place.
The socket is provided with a third terminal in addition to the two terminals I and 52. To this end a contact plate SII is located in an end part of a longitudinally elongated recess 62 located be- .tween the slots 48, 50 and extended substantially equally on opposite sides of the center of the socket. Said plate is held in place by a stud 84 riveted or otherwise secured to the inner end of the contact plate and located in the center line of the socket and passed through an insulating boss 86 projecting from the rear face of the wall 44, the stud having a wire connector 68 on the end thereof. In the form illustrated in Fig. 5, the outer end of the contact plate 60 has an outwardly projecting contact or terminal member which is arranged to engage the third terminal I8 of the plug.
With the plug and socket as thus described 'the terminal member 10 engages the plug terminal I8 and causes it to be moved inwardly of the plug body as the plug is inserted in the socket. Conncction is thus established with the particular low Avoltage circuit connected between the terminal blade I6 and the third terminal I8.
In the plug and socket as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7, the third terminal I8a projects from the end face of the plug and is adapted to engage the outer face of the contact plate of the socket, the contact member 10 of Fig. 5 being omitted, and the third terminal yielding inwardly of the plug body, as before, upon inserting the plug in the socket. When such a plug is inserted in a standard III) volt socket, having no contact plate, the terminal I8a bears against the outer face of the equivalent of the insulated Wall 44 and yields inwardly to permit the plug terminals I4 and I6 to engage the socket terminals.
The purpose of the rim 46 is primarily to shield the contact member 10 from accidental engagement. The rim can be omitted when desired.
In the furthermodiiied form of low voltage plug terminal as illustrated in Fig. 13 the terminal I8' isinset below the end face of the plug, the compression spring 26a holding the contact face of the terminal yieldingly against the inner end of a bushing 21 xed within the outerv end of the tube 20. Thus the ilexible conductor 24a. is relieved from the spring pressure which, for some purposes, is advantageous. A socket cooperating with such a plug terminal will have a suillciently long low voltage contact 10 to enter the bushing and engageand depress the terminal I8.
With an electrical appliance such as 35a, Fig. 12, having three circuits or windings 12, 14, 16 of different voltages, the plug of Fig. 9 is used. Such a plug is similar to the plug of Fig. 1 except that it has a fourth terminal I8b similar to the terminal I8 but disposed on the opposite side of the line through the blade terminals I4 and I8,
and the terminals I8, I8b and I4 being connected respectively to the lowest voltage winding 12, the intermediate voltage winding 14, and the highest voltage winding 16, respectively.
Such a plug can be inserted in a standard 110 volt socket in either of two positions displaced 180 and establish connection only with the high voltage winding 16 which usually will be designed for 110 volts. The plug can be inserted-in the socket of Fig. 5 and will establish connection only with the lowest voltage winding 12. For a socket to establish connection with the intermediate voltage winding 14 the contact plate 60 will be in the opposite end part of the recess 62, as indi- `cated by dotted lines, Fig. l0, so that the contact member 10 will engage only with the fourth plug terminal I8b. The socket may have appropriate markings 18, 18a at the opposite ends of the recess 62 to indicate the position of the contact plate for different voltages.
One socket type is common for all usual lower voltages and is conditioned for two diierent voltages by merely altering the position of the contact plate 60. This arrangement simplies and cheapens the cost of the socket since the users of the various voltages are commercially distinct and there is little danger that a builder of a Pullman car, for instance, using 32 volts, would obtain and inadvertently install a 12 volt socket intended primarily for use on the l2 volt systems of airplanes.
It is thus apparent that the plug of the present invention can be inserted in a standard 110 volt socket and also in a special socket of a different voltage and will automatically establish connection only with the proper circuit of the associated device.
The plug can be used also on a single circuit appliance when the circuit terminals are connected to the proper plug terminals as above described. Thus the appliance, say for 32 volts, can be plugged accidentally into 110 volt socket without being damaged by being connected to the excess voltage and yet will have its connections properly established when plugged into the 32 volt socket.
I claim:
l. In combination with an electric power consuming device having a plurality of circuits of the terminal Ii being common to all windings diierent voltages, of a plug having terminals connected with said circuits arranged to enter different sockets energized at corresponding different voltages and having cliierently positioned energized terminals, and means constraining the plug to enter all sockets in the same position and automatically connect the socket only with the circuit of the device adapted for the voltage of the socket.
2. In combination with an electric power consuming device having a plurality of circuits of dierent voltages, a plug having terminals connected with said circuits, and a socket having terminals energized at only one of said different voltages, said terminals in said socket being arranged to engage the terminals of said plug and automatically connect the energized terminals of the socket only with the circuit of the device corresponding to the voltage of the energized socket terminals.
3. A multi-circuit plug adapted for cooperation with a standard volt socket having a pair of spaced contact members and also with a second socket having a contact member in the position of one oi said pair of contact members and an-l gized at a different voltage from thev iirst socket, said plug` comprising a body having a pair loi' terminal blades enterable in both sockets and engageable with said pair of spaced contact members, said plug having means which constrains its insertion in the second socket in a predetermined position only and having a third contact member engageable in said predetermined Vposition of the plug with Vthe last namedl contact member of said second socket and constructed contact members and another contact member,
Y said second socket being energized at a different and arranged to admit the eective insertion of said pair of terminals in said rst socket.
.4s The combina-tion with an electric power consuming device having a plurality of windings of diierent voltages, one of the voltages being adapted to be energized and operate satisfactorilyl when energized from the standard 110 volt house lighting circuit, a .plug adapted for cooperation with a standard 110 volt socket having a pair. of spaced contact members and also adapted for cooperation with a second socket having a contact member in the position of one of said pairs oi' voltage from the standard socket, said plug comprising a body having terminals connected with the windings of said power consuming device, one pair of said terminals comprising projecting terminal blades connected with the said 110 volt winding and enterable in both sockets and en-
US329618A 1940-04-15 1940-04-15 Electric plug and socket Expired - Lifetime US2297188A (en)

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Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2417928A (en) * 1945-08-28 1947-03-25 Max M Guernsey Electric plug
US5297015A (en) * 1989-07-21 1994-03-22 Hitachi, Ltd. Power supply control system
US5540601A (en) * 1994-03-30 1996-07-30 Adaptec, Inc. Adapter for computer interface
US20080182454A1 (en) * 2006-02-27 2008-07-31 Light Sources Inc. Ultraviolet lamp for use in water purifiers
US20080188131A1 (en) * 2006-02-27 2008-08-07 Light Sources Inc. Ultraviolet lamp for use in water purifiers
US20080246402A1 (en) * 2006-02-27 2008-10-09 Lightsources Inc. Ultraviolet lamp for use in water purifiers
EP2234223A1 (en) * 2007-12-25 2010-09-29 Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd Outlet and plug
US8845368B1 (en) * 2012-08-31 2014-09-30 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Electrical connectors
US20150093918A1 (en) * 2013-09-27 2015-04-02 Ifpl Group Limited Electrical connectors
US10734771B2 (en) 2014-03-25 2020-08-04 Ifpl Group Limited Four-terminal headphone socket with two electrically-connected terminals to ensure reliable audio with different plugs

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2417928A (en) * 1945-08-28 1947-03-25 Max M Guernsey Electric plug
US5297015A (en) * 1989-07-21 1994-03-22 Hitachi, Ltd. Power supply control system
US5540601A (en) * 1994-03-30 1996-07-30 Adaptec, Inc. Adapter for computer interface
US7604505B2 (en) 2006-02-27 2009-10-20 Light Sources, Inc. Ultraviolet lamp for use in water purifiers
US20080188131A1 (en) * 2006-02-27 2008-08-07 Light Sources Inc. Ultraviolet lamp for use in water purifiers
US20080246402A1 (en) * 2006-02-27 2008-10-09 Lightsources Inc. Ultraviolet lamp for use in water purifiers
US20080182454A1 (en) * 2006-02-27 2008-07-31 Light Sources Inc. Ultraviolet lamp for use in water purifiers
US7795813B2 (en) 2006-02-27 2010-09-14 Light Sources, Inc. Ultraviolet lamp for use in water purifiers
US8021189B2 (en) 2006-02-27 2011-09-20 Light Sources Inc. Ultraviolet lamp for use in water purifiers
EP2234223A1 (en) * 2007-12-25 2010-09-29 Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd Outlet and plug
EP2234223A4 (en) * 2007-12-25 2013-06-26 Panasonic Corp Outlet and plug
US8845368B1 (en) * 2012-08-31 2014-09-30 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Electrical connectors
US20150093918A1 (en) * 2013-09-27 2015-04-02 Ifpl Group Limited Electrical connectors
US9300082B2 (en) * 2013-09-27 2016-03-29 Ifpl Group Limited Electrical connectors
US10734771B2 (en) 2014-03-25 2020-08-04 Ifpl Group Limited Four-terminal headphone socket with two electrically-connected terminals to ensure reliable audio with different plugs

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