US2425608A - Plug coupling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

- 1947. o. s. FIELD 2,425,608

PLUG COUPLING APPARATUS Filed May 23, 1944 Fl-l.

'PB ii \i 41 1&0 W485 INVENTOR 0. 6.5246,

Patented Aug. 12, 1947 PLUG COUPLING APPARATUS Gscar S. Field, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Gen--. e Railwa S gnal Comp st r,

Application May 23,, 1944, Serial No. 536,926

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to electrical contacting apparatus, and has more particular reference to an improved plug coupling means for use in the provision oi quickly detachable electrical connections between two pieces of electrical apparatus.

This application is a continuationein-part of my co-pending application Ser. No. 361,060, filed October ll, 1340, and entitled Light signals for railroads, now Patent No. 2,316,534, issued May- 2 2, 1945.

One of the objects of the present inventio is to provide a plug coupling means in which the socket portion provides a relatively large number of individual and strongly biased metallic contaots r h a ng against he inserted pl g me ber.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a larg number of socket and plug members within a limited space and so constructed as to provide self-alignment between the socket members and their respective plug members.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide the socket members completely en-. closed within a socket board which is arranged to assume a definite predetermined positiQn. with respect to the plug board.

Further objects, purposes and characteristic features of this invention will appear as, the description progresses with respect to the accompanying drawings, show ng in a Wholly diagram-. matic manner, and in no way whatsoever in a limiting sense one form of the present invention.

With reference to the drawin s; I

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the plug coupling means of he present venti n take on line o Pie 2 viewed. in he. dire t on of. he arrows;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the inside face of the socket board of the plug QOUDliIlg mean of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the inside face of the p us oard. of the plug coup i g m a s of the present invention; and

F 4 is a perspective view of one of th socket contactor elements or the plug coupling means of the present invention hown in the other views.

Referring now to the drawings, the plug coupling means constituting the present. invention includes a socket board SB shown in Fig. 2 and a plug board PB shown in Fig. 3. Both of these o r s. re orm oi suitable nsulating m a such. a phenol c c den t o p duct. From these two figures it can be seen that the plug coupling mean includes a relatively large number of socket and plug members. and that the p it on of-the inn r aces of the boards can be accurately positioned with respect to each other by reason O the beveled outline of the socket board. as ndicated at it n .Fig. wh ch s r o d. y t e i nerf ce of a depressed p rt on. f e p us boa d P 3.- It. should be noted that. th nnerfoces of the p u oard and ocket board. o t c nt-a t. ut are spaced sli y apa due t h at a l nding s. 0;. th e n numher, on the socket board, which lugs 40 contact t ree nw dly proi t n aised pad o ons 4! on e g board whereby to posii two b ard in a rtical e, re ard ess f a y Wa g near t e cen al ti n o the boards.

T pl s. board B ha a ra ity f. lus m s m unte t n, a h. c is a threaded headed portion l1}3.w-it h a squared collar I14 fitting into a corresponding recessi n the inner face of h P s rd a d clam ed h aseinst by a screw I15 received in th socket I13. This screw I15. also fastens a wire, such as wire I16 to the plug mem e an after assembly, th wire end terminal can be beaded over, orupset toforin a locking member for the screw. Each plugmemb-er includes a plug stem l4 rounded at its end and; receivable. between the spaced parallel springy fingers I18 of a socket contactor member, This socket contactor member, is shown in per spective in F g. 4, and includes two side portions with slots therein to; form six spring fingers on .each side connected at one. end by a semi-circular portion I19, and at the other end by a tubular rolled portion I80.

It can thus be seen that these socket contactor members, can be, readily made by punchin their outline and their slots from a suitable fiat material, such as phosphor.- bronze sprin material and then formed with th tubular portion lBIl followed by the bending of the semi-circular portion HQ and giving an outward slope to the free end. Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, it will be seen that the tubular portion [80. is slightly longer than the semi-circular portion I19 for. reasons which will be apparent. as. the description pro-s gresses.

Each of these socket contactor members is. re.- ceivable in its respective. socket or recess 32 in. the socket, board, and, before being assembled therein, a conn t n olt 34 s passed through the tubular portion Hill with a head I 83. bearing, against one end of the tubular portion, and with the o her e ex endingthrough a h le 84 in cov r plate. 3 hiehi astened. to the so ket.

1 the self-centering feature and for receiving elongated nuts end. The stud extends beyond l-Bl so as to pass through a. protective plate and receives nut I93 clamping the protective board SB to cover the various sockets or recesses tween the bolt 34 and the socket member, and

yet provides a limited amount of spring movement of the contactor member in the slot'32 with respect to the bolt 34 acting as a pivot, to effect for receiving a plug stem 14. This slight movement of the socket contactor member can occur because its free semi-circular portion I19 does not touch either the cover plate on the one side nor the socket board SB on the other side since the tubular portion ISO is slightly longer, as above mentioned. Suitable nuts 18! are 188 130 the bolts 34 as shown in Fig. 1.

Threaded studs L99 are provided for fastening the cover 35 in place on the socket board SB plate in place. This protective plate I92 is employed to protect the lead wires I88 from interfering with other associated apparatus, and if it is desired to inspect the wire connections, the nuts I93 can be removed without in any way disturbing the clamping together of the plate 35 to the socket board SB. 7

- It should be noted that the sockets 32 in the socket board SB are arranged as shown in Fig. 2,

in diagonal positions in offset parallel rows,,

whereby to economize in space, and to permit a larger number of connectors in a given space than would otherwise be the case. Furthermore, each of the socket contactor members, as shown in Fig. 2, tapers from its tubular end to itsother end whereby the plug member M which is of a diameter approximately that of the tubular portion 180, actswhen it enters into the socket contactor member to spring the two sides apart and cause a tight springy 12 point contact between it and the contactor member. In other words, the spring tension of each contactor member is capable of being distributed between-12 different contacting Points on the plug member M which is obviously effective to reduce the electrical resistance between the socket contactor member and the plug, member. permits the making of positive'electrical contact between the contactor member and its plug member regardless of slight deformities in the contour of the plug member.

It .willbe noted that thesocket contactor members are held in proper vertical positions with re-' spect to the direction of insertion of the plug members by reason of their respective bolts 34,

which bolts 34 are held both by the .cover 35 and suitable. recesses for their square head in the socket board SB as indicated in Fig. 1. Such support for the contactor members is advantageous since they are loosely received in the recesses 32 of the socket board SB and if the contactor members failed to assume proper positions they might not freely receive their respective plug 7 members and some of their contacting strip between the slots and might become bent or broken. I

In other words, the pivotal mounting of the contactor. members of this multiple contact point typeiis especially advantageous toprovide for'the proper reception of the plug members. Referring to Fig. 4, itwillbe seen end of the contactor member is bent outwardly provided for clampin'gwires j I91 on the outer the clamping nut that tnerree I 75 the plug and loosely "received in the: socket; a; r

sunk so that the rounded plug members l4 may be easily inserted into the socket board upon bringing them into close cooperation. Also, the holes for receiving the plug members are suificiently large so that the board PB may assume its predetermined position as determined by the bev- This construction also .eled edges above described, irrespective of slight variations in the spacing between the plugs. It will also be apparent that the rounded portion of V the plug members will co-act with their respective contactor members and cause such contactor membersto become aligned in proper positions. In other words, the plug board can assume a predetermined position and the socket contactor members are sufllciently self-aligning to compensate for any variation 'in the spacing and locations of the respective plugs and yet provide sub stantial spring tension on each side of a plug member by each of the twelve contacting spring portions I18. a

The quick detachable plug coupler described above is very simple and rugged in construction; The plug and socket boards can be readily molded of phenolic condensation product or like material and yet be entirely effective to take predetermined positions with respect to each other. Furthermore; any slight warping of the two boards with respectto each'other is ineffective to change their relative positions and'does not; interfere with the efiectiveness of the contact beg tween the plug members'and their respective socket contactor members, since such slight variations would not appreciably. change the number of contact points between each plug member and its respective socket contactor member. This plug coupling -means of the present invention provides unusually good electrical contact between the respective coupling parts, due to the large number of separate points of contact between the springy fingers of the socket members and their respective plug. members. I Furthermore, the protective plate I92 covering the connecting wires can be removed without disturbing the'socket' members. .Also, the socket members can be readily disconnected and removed forre placing, if necessary, and reassembled without any difficulty due to their self eadjusting, charac-- teristics. Obviously such facility is especia1ly-de-- sired in'connectionwith inspection 'andadju sL 5 V ment, or for any other purpose, when suchplug coupling means is employed in connection with a any manner in a limiting sense; 7 It. is to' beune derstood thatvarious modifications, adaptations,

. and alterations, can be applied to meet the re quirements of practice without in any 'manner departing froin'thespirit or scope of the'invention except as" limited by .the appended. claims.

specific descrlptionof the i Having described myinvention, I now claim: 1 a V 1. Inga plug coupler mechanism, a plug'board; a. pin-like member in'the plug board and project-; I Y ing inwardly thereof asocket board, a socket in a the socket board, alsocket contactorifor receiving cover over the socket to hold the contactor in its socket, a post fastened tothe contaotor and extending through the cover, means clamping the post and cover together, and holding means removably holding the cover on the socket board.

2. In a plug coupler for electrical apparatus and the like, a plug board, a pin-like plug member in the plu board and projecting inwardly thereof, a socket board, a socket in the socket board, a socket contactor for receiving the plug and loosely received in the socket, a cover over the socket to hold the contactor in its socket, a post fastened to. the contactor and extending through the cover, means. clamping the post and cover together, holding: means removably holding the cover on the socket board, a protective plate received on the holdin means and spaced from the post, and means on the holding meansfor removably fastoning the protective plate to the socket board.

Bel a plu coupler for electrical circuits, a

Plus; board. a p n-li e plu m mb r in th pl oard and project n inward y ther a socket board, a socleet in the socket board,-a contactor for receivin the plug and loosely received in the socket, a cover over the socket to hold the contaoto in its socket. a co as torthe e011- ta tor, nd. extending hro h t ov means clamping. e os and co e together, holding mean rem. vabl h ld n t e over n th so t board, the contagtor comprising a wide ribbon of springy conducting metal bent in the form of a V with one leg of the V bent in a loop for receiving the post, the plug being received between the legs of the V and at a location toward the point of the V. 4. In a plug coupled connector, a plug board, a pin-like plug member in the plug board and projecting inwardly thereof, a socket board, a socket in the socket board, a contactor for receiving the plug and loosely received in the socket, Cover over the socket to. hold the contactor in its, socket; a post fastened to the contactor and extending through the cover, means clamping they post and cover together, holding means removably holding the cover on the socket board, the contactor comprising a wide ribbon of springy conducting metal bent in the form of a V, with one leg of the V bent in a loop for receiving; the post, the'plug being received between the legs of the V and toward the point of the V, each leg of the V having a plurality of spaced parallel slots therein, to form a plurality of springy contact means contacting opposite sides of the plug when the coupler is connected.

5. In a plug coupling mechanism for detachably connecting a plurality of electrical circuits, a plug board having a plurality of plug members projecting therefrom, a socket board having a plurality of socket members for receiving said plu members, each of said socket members comprising an elongated contact member constructed to receive and exert contact pressure on the opposite sides of its respective plug member when such plug member is inserted intermediate of its length, said contact member being formed by a multiple number of contacting substantially straight spring portions interconnected at their opposite ends, and means attaching said contact member at one of its ends to said socket board, whereby said contact members are self-aligning with their respective plug members when such said plug board is made to co-act with said socket board.

6. In a plug coupling mechanism for detachably connecting a plurality of electrical circuits,

a'plug board having a plurality ofplug members projecting therefrom, a socket. board: having a plurality of contactors for receiving their respece tive plug members, each of said contactors com-3e prising a wide ribbon of contactsp-ring metal bent in the form of a V with'one leg ofthe V bentuin the form of a loop, and a post for passing through said loop of said contactor for mounting said contactor to said socket board, said contactors being locatedon said socket board to receive said plug members intermediate of their length between. the legs of. therespective contactors. V

7. In aplug coupling mechanism for detach: ably connecting an electrical circuit, a receiving member comprising an, insulating socket board having a recess for loosely receiving a contactor, said contactor comprisingv a relatively wide strip 0f contacting spring metal bent in the form of a V with one leg ofthe y bent in a loop filling h open end of the V, said eontactor having lots lo itudinally alon the le o h V to rm a ura ity o nd dual contact ng suria s for c actin the oppo ite sides of a plu m me b r when the coup er i e eeteda bin post assi h ou h 009 fo m d i said c nta tor or meun n sai eo -t ete Wi hin a d recess n a mann to ac s a pivot up n whicht e ed ei the e cen ctor can swi and said insulated socket board having a circular hole slig t y a ger than he said plu member ntrally lo ted ith ressee to saidreeess, er by h n e ion o Said cl e memb r oushs hole enga es sa o taetewhi h b com ad y a gn w h said lus memb r by reason of its pivotal support.

8. In a plug coupling mechanism for detaehably connecting a plurality of electrical circuits, a plug board having a plurality of plug members oj ct ng h r m a ocke b ard ha i ea corresponding plurality of holes for receiving; saidplug members in relatively predetermined position, and an elongated contactor member opeposite each hole of said ocket board and come is a o d s n con ac i s ip sup.-v Iw d a one nd o i s cket boardsoas to permit limited movement of its other end in a. plane, parallel to such socket board and bent to grasp the opposite sides of its respective plug member when it is inserted, whereby a plurality of contacting points are provided between each contactor and its respective plug member, and whereby said contactors are self-aligning with respect to their respective plug members when inserted through said holes in said socket board.

9. In a plug coupling mechanism for detachably connecting a plurality of electrical circuits, a plug board having a plurality of projecting plug members, a socket board having a corresponding plurality of holes for receiving said plug members, and a corresponding number of contact members, each being pivotally mounted on that side of said socket board away from said plug board and located beneath its respective hole of said socket board but with the pivot mounting being somewhat off center with respect to that hole so as to be able to swing in a plane parallel with said socket board upon the insertion of its respective plug member, each of said contact members being slotted to provide a multiple number of individual contact points on its respective plug member, whereby the positioning of said plug member in direct cooperation with said socket board causes each of said plug members to pass through its respective hole and make a plurality of wiping contacts with its said contact number.

q I 10. In a plug connector, an insulating member having an elongated recess with an entering circular guide hole located intermediate to the ends of saidrecess, a contact member formed of a resilient spring metal and having two arm portions extending substantially the length of said elongated recess and beneath said hole with said two arm portions being positioned on opposite sides of the center of said hole, said arm portions being. furcated to form a plurality of individual contacting points for each side of a plug. member inserted through said guide hole, and means fo'r rigidily supporting said contact member at one end of said elongated recess to maintain said arms in proper positions for the insertion of a plug member.

'11. In a plug coupling mechanism for detachably connecting a plurality of electrical circuits,

a plug board having a plurality of plug members projecting therefrom, a socket board having a plurality of contactors for receiving their respective plug members, each of said contactors comprising a wide ribbon of contact spring metal bent in the form of a V with one leg of the V bent to form a loop, a post associated with each contactor for passing through th'e loop of that contactor to act as a support for mounting said contactor to said socket'board in a manner to permit the closed end of said V to swing laterally with respect to said socket board, said contactors being located on said socket board to receive said plug members intermediate of their length between the legs of their respective contactors, and three oppositely disposed raised lugs on said plug board to provide a three point'limit to the movement of said plug board as it is received by said socket board. 7 v

12. In a plug coupling 'mechanism for detachably connecting a, plurality of electrical circuits, a plug board having a plurality of plug members projecting therefrom and having a projecting portion around the outer edge of said plug board with its inner surface beveled, a socket board having a beveled periphery for fitting within the plug board beveled portion and having a plurality of contactors for receiving their respective plug members, each of said contactors comprising a wide ribbon of contact spring metal bent in a form of a V with one leg ofv the V being longer than-the other and shaped in the form of'a loop to close the open end of the V, a post on .said

socket board for each of said contactors for supporting that contactor by passing through its loop, and three oppositely disposed lugs on said plug board for determining its position whenreceived by said beveled socket board.

13. In a 'plug coupling mech'anismfor detachably connecting electrical circuits, a plug board having a plurality of plug members projecting therefrom, a socket board having a pluralityof contactors for receiving their respective plug members, each of said, contactors comprising a ribbon ofspring metal bent in'the form of a V with one leg of the V being longer than the other and shaped to form a loop within the open en'd'of the V, a post for each contactor adapted to re- .ceivevthe loop of that contactor and to support it with respect to said socket board in a manner to allow the free end' of th'e'V to swing with its post acting as a pivot, said socket board having holes therein for receiving said plug members at points intermediate to the length of Ieachof the respective contactors, and said socket board having means supporting both extreme portions of said posts, whereby said contactors are held in vertical positions regardless of the friction established between'them and their respective plug members upon coupling and decoupling of the mechanisnn 'REFEBENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Datef oscAR s. FIELD.

7 Australia Nov. 24, 1938

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