US2391324A - Mounting plate for plug-in devices - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1945. P. N. MARTIN MOUNTING PLATE FOR PLUG-IN DEVICES Filed Sept. 9, 1944 fiyz 6e INVENTOR Paul NI Mapflzz.

axw f H1! ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- 2',391,324 MOUNTING PLATE FOR PLUG-IN DEVICES Paul N. Martin, Pittsburgh, Pa... assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, -Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 9, 1944, Serial No. 553,384 7 (c1. zoo-s1) I 9 Claims.

My invention relates to a mounting plate for plug-in devices.

In many forms of devices in which external circuit connections to the device are completed by plugging the device into a mounting plate having connectors permanently attached to the external circuit wires, such for example as the plug-in relays employed in railway signaling systems, one form of which relays is described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,198,704, granted to Branko Lazich on April 30, 1940, it is desirable to be able to at times open one or more of the circuits which are completed through the connectors on the mounting .plate without disturbing the remaining circuits and without disconnecting the external circuit wires from the respective connectors on the mounting plate, and one object of my present invention is to provide a simple and improved mounting plate which will enable this result to be readily accomplished.

According to my invention, the connectors of the mounting plate are mounted in the plate in recesses which are suiiiciently long to permit the connectors to be individually moved into or out of engagement with the cooperating contact members On the relay, and a clamping member is provided which is operable between two positions in one of which it is effective to lock all of the connectors in their contact making positions in the associated recesses and in the other of.

which it permits individual movement of the connectors within the recesses to their disengaged positions.

Other objects and characteristic features of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

I shall describe two forms of mounting plates embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing one form of mounting plate embodying my in-,

vention. Fig. 2 is a right-hand side view of the mounting plate shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the contact members of the mounting plate shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a view partly in section and partly in side elevation showing another form of mounting plate embodying my invention. Fig. 5 is a rightehand side view of the plate shown in Fig. 4 with certain of the parts broken away to better illustrate the remaining parts. Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the clamping member 2| forming part of the mounting plate shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the severalviews.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, I have here shown a mounting plate I embodying my invention in the form it assumes when used in connection with a plug-in rela of the type shown in Lazich Patent No. 2,198,704 referred to hereinbefore, but it should be clearly understood at the outset that my invention is not limited to thisparticular form. Inasmuch as the plug-in relay is described in detail in the said Patent No. 2,198,704, only those parts of the relay which are necessary for a clear understanding of my present invention have been shown and will be described herein. The portion of the relay which is shown comprises the lower end of the back plate 4 of the relay. The back plate is of insulating material, and has moulded or otherwise secured therein a plurality of contact fingers 5, the rear ends 5a of which extend into a'rectangular cavity 4a and constitute plugs for making connection with suitable female connectors 6 mounted in the mounting plate l, in a manner which will be made clear presently.

The mounting plate I is also of insulating material, and is intended to be secured in a vertical position to any suitable support in such manner that access to the rear face of the mounting plate may be readily had. The construction of the support and the means for securing the mounting plate to it form no part of my present invention, and are therefore not shown.

Formed on one side of the mounting plate i is a rectangular projection lb which enters the cavity to in the back plate 4 when the relay is plugged into the mounting plate, and formed in the other side of the mounting .plate directly op posite the projection lb is a cavity lc surrounded at its outer end by a boss Id. The projection lb is provided with a plurality of slots Ie, one for receiving the plug portion 5a of each contact finger of the relay. Each slot le communicates at its inner end with a recess If which latter recess, in turn, communicates at the end opposite the slot le with the cavity lc. Disposed in each recess If is one of the female connectors 6 referred to hereinbefore. These female connectors are of well known construction and each is made from a'single piece of material bent over onto itself to form a tail portion 6a and two spaced U-shaped return bend portions 6b, the inner legs of which are urged toward each other by their own resiliency to positions in which they will frictionally engage the cooperating plug portions 5a of the associated contact fingers when the parts are in their normal plugged-in positions, as shown. The tail portions 6a of the connectors are relatively long, and extend with some clearance adjacent their outer ends through slots 8a formed in a cover member 8 of insulating material secured by means of screws 9 to the boss ld which surrounds the outer end-of the cavity 10. The outer end of each connector is intended to be permanently connected to an external circuit wire -ll, and to facilitate fasteningthe circuit wires to the outer ends of the connectors the tail por- A clamping member I provided with a plurality of slots la, one for loosely receiving the tail portion 6a of each connector 6, is loosely mounted in the cavity lc for sliding movement along the tail portions 6a of the connectors 6 between an inner position in which it engages the bottom of the cavity lo, and an outer position in which it engages the cover member 8. The clamping member is arranged to be moved between its two positions by means of two screws l2 having shank portions l2a and elongated head portions I25. The shank portions l2a extend through clearance holes lb provided in the clamping member 1 and are screwed at their inner ends into tapped holes lg provided in the mounting plate I, while the elongated head portions extend outwardly through clearance holes 8b formed in the cover member 8 and are provided at their outer ends with saw kerfs l2c for the reception of a screw driver. The elongated head portions of the screws are made larger in diameter than the shank portions so that a shoulder PM is formed at the junction of the head and shank portions, and these shoulders cooperate with the outer face of the clamping plate when the screws are screwed into the holes lg to move the clamping plate to its inner position. A recess 1c is formed around the inner end of each hole lb and a ring member I4 is secured to the shank portion of each screw within the recess, whereby when the screws are backed out of the holes lg the ring members will act to move the clamping plate to its outer position.

As shown in the drawing, the clamping member is secured in its inner position by means of the screws l2 and the parts are so proportioned that under these conditions the clamping member I will cooperate with the shoulders formed at the junction of the tail portions 6a of the connectors with the U-shaped return bend portions 6b to secure the connectors in such positions in the associated recesses that if the relay is then plugged into the mounting base, as shown in Fig. 1, the connectors will make electrical contact with the plug portions of the contact fingers and will thus establish good electrical connection between the contact fingers and the external circuit wires II.

If now with the relay in its plugged-in position, it is desired to interrupt the connection between any one or more of the circuit wires and the associated contact of the relay without disturbing the connection between the remaining circuit wires and the associated contacts, as is desirable for example in making ground tests on the relay wiring, the clamping member will first be moved' to its outer position by backing the screws l2 out of the holes lg. This will permit any of the female connectors to be slid outwardly within the associated recess far enough to disengage it from the plug portion 5a of the associated contact finger but not far enough to remove it completely from the associated recess If in the mounting plate I. If desired, a tool with a hook on the end to engage the hole lid in the finger and with insulating sides to eliminate danger of short circuits between the connectors due to the tool accidentally touching other connectors may be provided to facilitate moving the springs to their outer positions. After the tests are completed, the clamping member can be returned to its clamping position by means of the screws l2, and the connectors will be automatically returned to their normal engaging positions. It should be particularly noted that since the female connectors remain in the recesses I! when moved to their disconnected or disengaging positions any possibility of interchanging of wires by mistake is prevented, thereby retaining all of the advantages of the usual plug-in mounting arrangement,

As shown in Fig. 1, the heads of the clamping screws I2 are approximately flush with the outer side of the cover member 8 when the clamping member I is moved by the screws to its inner or clamping position. These heads may therefore be used to serve as an indicator to indicate when the connectors are locked in their normal positions.

It is not essential that the clamping screws provide a means for moving the clamping member l to its outer position since when the member is free to move to its outer position, the movement of any of the connectors to its disengaging position would automatically move the clamping member to its outer position. Accordingly, if desired the ring members It may be omitted from the screws l2.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to '7, inclusive, I have here shown a mounting plate 20 which is generally similar to the mounting plate I except for the fact that provision is made for a fewer munber of connectors 6, and for the further fact that a different type of clamping member 2l is employed to lock the connectors in their normal positions within the associated recesses 20} in the mounting plate. The clamping member 2| is mounted in a cavity 200 in the clamping plate 20 for movement at right angles to the tail portions to of the connector 6 rather than longitudinally along the tail portions, and is provided with a plurality of laterally connected slots 2 la and Zlb. The slots 2la are just large enough to receive the tail portions 6a in the connectors, and are so disposed that a different one of the slots will align with an associated one of the slots 20] when and only when the clampin plate is moved to its right-hand extreme position as viewed in Fig. 5. Theslots 2|b are the same size as the recesses 20] in the clamping plate, and are so disposed that each slot 2lb will align with an associated one of the slots 2|,f when and only when the clamping plate is moved to its left-hand extreme position as viewed in Fig. 5. The clamping plate is held in place in the cavity 200 by a cover 'member 22, and is arranged to be moved .be-

tween its two extreme positions by a cam member 23, the outer end of which is journaled in a hole 22a in the cover member 22, and the inner end of which is journaled in a bearing opening 209 mal positions.

the clamping member is moved to its other expositions.

tl in such manner that rotation of the cam member through an angle of substantially 180 will -move the clamping plate between its two extreme positions. It will be obvious that the clampingis moved to this extreme position it will cooperate with the shoulders formed at the junctions of the tail portions and the U-shaped return bend portions to fasten the connectors in their nor- It will also be obvious that whenv treme position,- the connectors may then be individually moved toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4 to disengage them from the associated contact finger.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms of mounting plates embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a mounting plate having a plurality of recesses which communicate at one end with slots formed in one side of the plate and at the other end with a cavity formed in the other side of the plate, connectors disposed in said recesses for making contact with the plug portions of contact members inserted into said recesses through said slots, said connectors being movable within said recesses between positions in which they engage said plug portions and other positions in which they are disengaged from said plug portions, and clamping means disposed in said cavity for movement between two posit1ons in one of which all of saidconnectors "are secured in their contact making positions and in the other of which individual movement of said connectors to their contact disengaging positions is per-- mitted.

2. In combination, a mounting plate having a plurality of recesses which communicate at one end with slots formed in one side of said plate and at the other end with a cavity formed in the other side of said plate, a cover member secured to said plate and closing the outer end of said cavity, connectors disposed in said recesses for making contact with the plu portions of contact members inserted into said recesses through said slots, said connectors being movable within said recesses between positions in which they engage said plug portions and other positions in which they are disengaged from said plug portions, each said connector being formed with a tail portion extending through said cavity and through clearance slots provided in said cover member and with a shoulder at the inner end of said tail portion, said tail portions providing means for attaching external circuit wires to the connectors,

a clamping member mounted in said cavity for movement between inner and outer positions provided with slots which slidably receive the tail portions of said connectors, said clamping member cooperating in its inner position with the shoulders on said connectors to secure all of said connectors in their contact making positions and permitting in its outer osition individual, movement of the connectors, and means for moving said clamping member between its inner and outer 3. In combination, a mounting plate having a plurality of recesses which communicate at one end with slots formed in one side of said plate and at the other end with a cavity formed in the other side of said plate, a cover member secured to said plate and closing the outer end of said cavity, connectors disposed in said recesses for making contact with the plug portions or contact members inserted into said recesses through said slots, said connectors being movable within said recesses between positions in which they engage said plug portions and other positions in which they are disengaged from said plug portions, each said connector being formed with a tail portion extending through said cavity and through clearance slots provided in said cover member and with a shoulder at the inner end of said tail portion, said tail portions providing means for attaching external circuit wires 'sh'ank portions of reduced diameter extending with clearance through holes provided in said clamping member and threaded into said cover member, said screws when screwed in place acting to move said cover to and secure it in its inner position and when backed out to permit movement of said cover member to its outer position.

4. In combination, a mounting plate having a plurality of recesses which communicate at one end with slots formed in one side of said plate and at the other end with a cavity formed in the other side of said plate, a cover member secured to said plate and closing the outer end of said cavity, connectors disposed in-said recesses for making contact with the Plug portions of contact members inserted into said recesses through said slots, said connectors being movable within said recesses between positions in which they engage said plug portions and other positions in which they are disengaged from said plug portions, each said connector being formed with a tail portion extending through said cavity and through clearance slots provided in said cover member and with a shoulder at the inner end of said tail portion, said tail portions providing means for attaching external circuit wires to the connectors, a clamping member mounted in said cavity for movement between inner and outer positions and provided with slots which slidably receive the tail portions of said connectors, said clamping member cooperating in its inner position with the shoulders on said connectors to secure all of said connectors in their contact making positions and permitting in its outer position individual movement of the connectors away from their contact making positions, and screws extending through clearance hole in said cover member and provided with a, shank portion of reduced diameter extending with clearance through holes provided in said clamping member and'threaded into said cover member, said screws when'screwed in place acting to move said cover to and secure it in its inner position and when backed out to permit movement of said. cover member to its outer position, the heads of said screws when said screws are screwed in place serving as indicators to indicate the position of said clamping member.

5. In combination, a mounting plate having a plurality of recesses which communicate atone end with slots formed in one side of said plate and at the other end with a cavity formed in the other side of said plate, a cover member secured to said plate and closing the outer end of said cavity, connectors disposed in said recesses for making contact with the plug portions of contact members inserted into said recesses through said slots, said connectors being movable within said recesses between positions in which they engage said plug portions and other positions in which they are disengaged from said plug portions, each said connector being formed with a tail portion extending through said cavity and through clearance slots provided in said cover member and with a shoulder at the inner end of said tail portion, said tail portions providing means for attaching external circuit wires to the connectors, a clamping member mounted in said cavity for movement between inner and outer positions and provided with slots which slidably receive the tail portions of said connectors, said clamping member cooperating in its inner position with the shoulders on said connectors to secure all of said connectors in their contact making positions and permitting in its outer position individual movement of the connectors, and screws extending through clearance holes in said cover member and provided with a shank portion of reduced diameter extending the clearance through holes provided in said clamping member and threaded into said cover member, said screws when screwed in place acting to move said cover to and secure it in its inner position, and means provided on said screws on the inner side of said cover member effective when said screws are backed out to move said clamping member to its outer position.

6. In combination, a mounting plate having a plurality of recesses which communicate at one end with slots formed in one side of said plate and at the other end with a cavity formed in the other side of said plate, a cover member secured to said plate and closing the outer end of said cavity, connectors disposed in said recesses for making contact with the plug portions of contact members inserted into said recesses through said slots, said connectors being movable within which they are disengaged from said plug portions, each said connector being formed with a tail portion extending through said cavity and through clearance slots provided in said cover member and with a shoulder at the inner end of said tail portion, said tail portions providing means for attaching external circuit wires to the connectors, a clamping member mounted in said cavity for lateral movement between two positions and provided with a plurality of slots which are of a size to receive the tail portions of said connectors with slight clearance and which align respectively with the recesses in said plate when and only when said clamping member is moved to one extreme position, said clamping member also being provided with other slots each of which is connected to an associated one of the first mentioned slots and which are of the same size as the recesses in said plate and which align with the recesses in said plate when and only when said clampingv member is moved to its other position, and means for moving said clamping member between its two positions.

7. In combination, a mounting plate having a plurality of recesses which communicate at one end with slots formed in one side of said plate and at the other end with a cavity formed in the other side of said plate, a cover member secured to said plate and closing the outer end .of said cavity, connectors disposed in said recesses for making contact with the plug portions of contact members inserted into said recesses through said slots, said connectors being movable within said recesses between (positions in which they engage said plug portions and other positions in which they are disengaged from said plug portions, each said connector being formed with a tail portion extending through said cavity and through clearance slots provided in said cover member and with a shoulder at the inner end of said tail portion, said tail portions providing means for attaching external circuit wires to the connectors, a clamping member mounted in said cavity for lateral movement between two positions and provided with a plurality of slots which are of a size to receive the tail portions of said connectors with slight clearance and which align respectively with the recesses in said plate when and only .when said clamping member is moved to one extreme position, said clamping member also being provided with other slots each of which is connected to an associated one of the first mentioned slots and which are of the same size as the recesses in said plate and which align with the recesses in said plate when and only when said clamping member is moved to its other position, and means for moving said clamping member between its two positions comprising a cammember journaled in said cover member and said plate and provided with an eccentric portion disposed in a cam slot provided in said clamping member.

8. In combination, a mounting plate, a plurality of connectors mounted in said mounting plate for making contact with associated contact members in an associated coupling membensaid connectors being movable within said mountin plate between two positions in one of which they engage the mating contact members and in the other of which they are disengaged from said mating contact members, and clamping means on said mounting plate movable between two positions in one of which all of said connectors are secured in their contact making positions and in the other of which individual movement of said connectors to their disengaging positions is permitted.

9. In combination, a mounting plate having a plurality of recesses which communicate at one end with slots formed in one side of said plate and at the other end with a cavity formed in the other side of said plate, a cover member secured to said plate and closin the outer end of said cavity, connectors disposed in said recesses for making contact with the plug portions of contact members inserted into said recesses through said slots, said connectors being movable within said recesses between positions in which they engage said plug portions and other positions in which they are disengaged from said plug portions, each said connector being formed with a tail portion extending through said cavity and through clearance slots provided in said cover member and with a shoulder 'at the inner end of said tail portion, saidtail portions providing means for attaching external circuit wires to the connectors, a clamping member mounted in said cavity for lateral movement between two positions and provided with a first group of slots each slot of which aligns with a different one of the recesses in said plate when said clamping member is in its one extreme position and with a second group of slots each slot ofwhich is connected with a slot of the first group and each slot of which aligns with a different one of the recesses in said plate when and only when said clamping member is moved to its other position, the slots of said first group being of such size that when they are in alignment with said recesses they will cooperate with said connectors at said shoulders to retain said connectors in their plug engaging positionsin said recesses and the slots of said second group being of such size that when they are in alignment with said recesses said connectors can be moved to their disengaged positions in said recesses, and means for moving said clamp- 10 ing member between its two positions.

PAUL N. MARTIN.

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