US2545429A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1951 J. c. MACY 2,545,429

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 27, 1945 4 sheetsQ-'heet 1 e4 4a 46 3g ze 36 ,f1/

E@ il 46 45 f?? INVENTOR X @J2/:415.5 /V/fnf TTO Fi N ,EYS

March 13, 1951 1 C, MACY 2,545,429

ELECTRICAL CNNECTOR Filed Nov. 27, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I BY vom@ favs? March 13, 1951 L Q MACY 2,545,429

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 2'7, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 2@ u u WWW@ U d l l /v full ifa March 13, 1951 1c. MACY 2,545,429

ELECTRICAL. CONNECTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 27. 1945 "TQM Tlcl Z4@ 40e 22e Eni@ INVENTOR Jam-5 C MCX Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE James C. Macy, New Cumberland, Pa., assgnor to Aircraft-Marine Products Inc., Harrisburg, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 2i, 1945, Serial No. 631,031

6 Claims. (Cl.'173-328) This invention relates to multiple connectors,l

particularly to multiple connectors of the knifedisconnect type. VIt is a 'continuation-impart of my application Serial No. 558,326, filed October 1'2, 1944.

As more fully disclosed` in the copending apk lthe clips and blades "so formed that when two such terminals are brought together at right angles withtheir blade portions face to lface `and are then swung into alignment, each blade makes a wiping pressure contact between the clip and vthe blade of the other terminal,l while its clip,

engaging the clip of the other terminal, holdsV `multiple connector which is economical of weight, material and space. The invention further aims to provide a multiple connectorkfor use with conductors having terminal connectors of the knife-disconnect t'y-pe which has its various counterpart connectors so arranged that when the various wires, or other members carrying the counterpart connectors, are engaged with the multiple connector, the entire assembly maybe locked against disengagement by a cover which may serve not only to' insulate 'and lock the connectionsfbut also to protect them against physical injury. Anadditional object resides in providing a multiple connector which readily may be combined with other similar multiple connectors to build up a range of sizes of connector units.

Other objects of the invention, to which reference has'not been specically' 'made herein- Although in this specification and the accompanying drawings I am showing and. describing a particular Aexample and various modiiications thereof, it should be understood that these are not intended to be exhaustive 'nor limiting 'of the invention, but on the contrary are chosen and vpresented for purposes of illustration and in order to explain the principles of the invention and the practical` employment of those principles in applying the invention to practical use. and thus so fully to instruct others skilled in this art that they will be enabled readily 'to Y modify and to select and substitute alternatives,

'each as may be best suited to the particular conditions of any given application or use.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a multiple l connector vembodying vthe invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the assembly o f Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken along .the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspectiveview of a Vspacer' block which forms a part ofthe assembly lof Figures 1 'and 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the block of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modied type of multiple connector;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 6; y

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken along the line 8-8 of Figure';

Figure 9 .is a plan view of a portion of a block similar to thatshown in Figure 6 but fitted with various modified connectors;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line IU-lll of Figure '9;

Figure 11 is a perspective View of three connectors of the type shown in Figure 6 Stacked one on top of another; l

vFigure 12 is a sectional view taken along the line l2-I2 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a perspective View of` a further modication ofthe invention;

Figure 14, is a plan view with parts broken 'away ofY the multiple connector of Figure v13;

Figure 15 is a sectional elevation taken along the broken line Iii-I5 of Figure 14; l

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken along the line |6--I6 of Figure-14;

dicated by the numeral consisting of a spacer block 22 (see also Figure 4) and a pair of covers 24 and 26 (see also Figure 2). The connector aS- sembly is shown interconnecting a plurality of electrical conductor wiresfW. Each wire W is provided with an electrical connector 28.v connector 28 is of the knife-disconnect type previously referred to and includes a ferrule portion 30, a`contact portion 32 having a blade 34, and a clip 36. Spacer block 22 is provided in the present embodiment` with a series of radially arranged slots 38. An electrical interconnector blade 40 is positioned in each slot 38. Each blade 40 includes on each side of block 22 a shank 42 and a clip 44. As shown in Figures 2 and5, each blade 42 is provided with a pair of spaced nubs 46 which prevent longitudinal movementof the blade in its slot 38. Each contact portion ,32 includes an offset 48 in its blade 34.V This oiset copending application Serial No. 530,317 abovementioned. Y

Each

l serves the dual purpose of promoting a solid en- The connector 28 can be disengagedfrom inter-v connector blade only when moved to the relationship illustrated in Figure 5, where the axis of connector 28 is substantially at right angles with respect tothe axis of blade 4U. lationship shown in Figure 2, the connectors and interconnectors cannot be the wires W cannot become disengaged and the separated. Thus, While covers 24 and 26V remain iitted to block 22,

In the re-.f-

circuits therethrough must accordingly remainfgj,

positively established. 1

It will be seen in the present embodiment that the invention is in part an improvement upon the invention of Harry B. White, Patent No. 2,383,926,

` and Stephen N. Buchanan, Patent No. 2,383,909.

When the covers are backed away from block 22 to the positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 the various wires are unlocked and any or all may be disconnected or rearranged at will. And the connector block may be mounted in any sort of panel and thus serve to facilitate making and keeping connections between one side of the panel and the other. It will be appreciated that, where air pressure differentials must be maintained between the respective sides of the panel upon which the connector block is mounted, the various interconnector blades Ml'may advantageously be molded directly in block 22,V as is disclosed more fully hereinafter in connection with the description of Figures 17-20, thus eliminating slots 38 and presenting an imperforate surface across both faces of the block. Alternatively the slots may be sealed after assembly.

In Figures 6 through 8 the invention is shown tangular spacer block 22a instead oi Ithe paneltween the two connectors is impossible.

type block 22 of the previous embodiment. In this form the connector assembly has utility as an ordinary tie point or terminal block where, for the sake of convenience, the connectors of certain related circuits are grouped. In the present embodiment no interconnector blade nor third part, such as the previous blade 40, is required for the reason that each of the wires Wa is provided with a modied form of terminal. Each terminal has a ferrule portion 36a and an elongated contact portion 32a lincluding a blade 34a and clip 36a.

l.The contact portion 320iv extends between nub 46a and offset 48a and corresponds in length to the width of the rectangular block 22a so that it fits nicelyintorslot 38a in the block. Cover 24a locks the various contact portions 32a in position in slots 38asothat wires Wa cannot be separated from the connector block except when cover 24a is removed. The blades 34a and clips 36a. remain exposed in this form. Wires Wb carry terminals having ferrule portions 30h, blades 34h and clips 35h which may readily be connected to or disconnected from the corresponding parts of the iixed electrical connectors. l.

Block 22a isprovided at each end with a shouldered hole 501 having a threaded portion 52 for vreception of a screw post 54. A machine screw 5'6 is threaded into post 54 to hold cover 24a securely upon .block 22a. This .cover securing means'has particular-utility in connection with .the embodiment shown in Figures 11 and V12.Y

Figure 9 shows a spacer block I22a on the left hand side of .Which'appear electrical conductors Wal, Wa2 and Wa3.` Conductor Wal is substantially identical with conductors Wa of Figure 6. It is provided with a ferrule portion 133e, a blade -I34a, a nub [46a and an offset I48a. Nub 146:1 and oiTset I48a are spaced apart by an amount equal to the width of block |22a so that the con- .nector cannot move'lengthwise in its slot. Nub

Vl 46a is held tightly in engagement with face 246e of the block and shoulder i48a is held tightly in engagement with face 245a of the block. WhenA a connection is made the clips I36a and 3612 are tightly jammed betwen nub 146e and an o iset 48h so that lengthwise relative movement be- 'I'hus a good electrical contactV results. Conductor Wa2 is provided with a connector having an offset 248a but it does not include a nub corresponding to the nub I46a.A Figure 10 illustrates the manner in whichthe curved forward edge of` clip 36h, when the clip is engaged with the clip of blade 234a, provides acamming action against block face 246a to lock blade 234g, in its slot within block i22a and to jam the interfitting clips into good conducting relationship so that a tight mechanical connection exists all the way between shoulders 48h and 2481). Conductor Wa3 and its connector are similar to conductor Wa2 and its connector except for the provision of a nub 345a which interfits within a molded recess in slot 238:1 so that relative movement ofl the blade of the connector within slot 238a-is not possible'even when Yno blade 34h and clip 36h are interfitted with the connector. There is advantage, as pointed out in my earlier application Serial No. 530,317, in having a shoulder or nub, such as nubs 46a, 146o, etc., against which the curved forward a connector is made to cam against the face of a spacer block instead of yagainst a nub.

In VFigures l1Y and 12 a series of spacer blocks consisting of one block- 22a andtwo blocksl 22o and `a cover 24a are shown` secured toget`her. 'The screw post 54, shownin Figure 7, is replaced by an extension screw post 58 (see Figure l2). Thus, with Vappropriate#extension screw posts, any number of spacer -blocksmay be stacked and secured one on top of-another simply by drilling out shoulder holes VSllto -give the cylindrical configuration indicated at 59h- The distance between adjacent slots Va'shculd preferably 'be the same for each two adjacent pairs of slots so that the slots are equally spaced across the block. The distance between an end slot and the adjacent end of the block preferably should be different at opposite ends of the block so that when one block is placed on top of another block and turned end for end, the slots of the upper block will not be directly over the slots of the block immediately below. Thus the various rows of electrical connectors are staggered with respect to one another so that the connections and disconnections may more easily be made without disturbing adjacent wires. l Y

The embodiment of Figures 13-16 differs from that of Figures 6-9 in that block 22ey is approximately twice as wide as block 22a and is tted with a pair of covers 24C and 26o so that the entire connector portions of wires Wc and Wd are fully covered. Thus wires Wc may be disconnected from the multiple connector assembly only when cover 24o is removed. AWires Wd may be removed from the assembly only when both covers 24e and 26o are removed. A plurality of spacer` blocks may be stacked one on top of another as described in connection with the embodiment of Figures 11 and 12 (see Figure 16) although it will be appreciated that the stack must be partly separated when connections through any but the top block of the stack are to be altered. Corresponding parts are identified by means of corresponding reference numerals eX- cept for the change in reference letters sufiixed.

Figures 17-21 illustrate a further embodiment similar in many respects to that of Figures 1-5. Again similar reference characters are used for similar parts with the exception of different reference-letter suffixes. Spacer block 22e cornprises a slotted disc Si! and a retaining flange 62 lcore6'6. The-assembled-covers 24e are similarly retained upon core t4. When itis desired to connect or disconnect awire We, the- appropriate cover 24e or 26e is removed by first removing spring clips luso that-'the two vhalf covers may be separatedV and removed thus' giving access to connector portions of interconnector blade 40e. The embodiment of Figures 1 7- 20 has advantage over that of Figures 1-5 in that the covers do not have to be backedoffalong the wires but instead may be directly removed, thus rendering the connector more suitable for use in cramped spaces rand where the several wires spread out in various directions.

From the foregoing it will be seen that multiple connectors made in accordance with the present invention are welly adapted to attain the ends and objects hereinbefore set forth and to be economically manufactured since the combinations are suited to common production methods and are susceptible to a wide latitude of variations as may be desirable in adapting the invention to different applications.

vAs various additional embodiments may be made of the above invention and as changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

` I claim:4

l. A multiple connector comprising a plurality of connector blades arranged in closely spaced relationship along parallel axes and each having a counterpart engaging clip near one end eX- tending from one edge portion of the blade, and block means supporting said blades in said spaced relationship; said block means comprising intermediate slotted portions in each slot of which an intermediate portion of a blade is disposed, said block means further comprising marginal portions provided with recesses, each recess being associated in communication witha slot of said slotted portions, and each recess presenting a surface in closely spaced juxtaposition with respect to said one edge portion of the blade disposed in the slot associated with such recess.

2. In apparatus of the character described, block means of insulating material, and electrical connector means fitted within saidblock means Y and projecting outwardly therefrom; said contightly tting therearound so that flange e2 serves to lock the interconnector blades 40e (see Figure 21) in radial slots 38e of disc 60. n ad dition a pair of cores 64 and 55 (see Figure 18) are permanently clamped together upon disc 6i] by means of a rivet 68, Thus disc 6l), cores E4 and 65, and rivet 68 in effect form an integral spacer block unit, and when blades 40e are fitted within slots 38e, retaining flange S2' may be frictionally forced upon the blade-carrying disc to form a solid assembly of disc, blades and cores. Such an assembly can be made to present a substantially imperforate barrier where pressure differentials are to exist on opposite faces of the connector unit. As shown in Figures 19 and 20, each of the covers 2te extends through 180, instead of cylindrically as in the form of Figures 1 5, and the two covers 25e are clamped together by a pair of spring clips Ill (see Figure 19) which fasten upon flanges l2 and '53. The assembled covers 26e are prevented from slipping off of core 6E by means of a pair of annular ridges 'I4 and 16 (see Figure 18) which interfit with a pair of nector means being of the knife-disconnect type and having a blade with a clip near the outer end thereof, said means including a counterpart-clip- Y abutment portion spaced inwardly from said clip by an amount substantially equal to the width of said clip, whereby a counterpart knife-disconnect connector may be engaged with said connector means with the forward edge of the clip of the counterpart connector camming against said abutment portion to jam the two clips into solid, highly conductive electrical engagement,

and said block means including removable walldefming means in spaced juxtaposition with respect to said connector blade means, the spacing between said wall-defining means and said blade means being less than the amount of clearance necessary to accomplish a knife-disconnect movement of a counterpart connector.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said abutmentportion is formed by a part of said connector means.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said electrical connector means is attached at a region remote from said clip to an electrical conductor.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein said elec- .trcal connector means includes a plurality of projecting blades each provided with a clip.

6. The invention of claim 2 wherein said elecv trcal connector means removably fits into a slot- 5 like passageway within said block means.

JAMES C. MACY.

v REFERENCES CITED Y The following references are of recordv in the' 10 Number Name I v Y Date Upson et a1. Feb. 9, 1909 Menningen July 21, 1914 Small Aug. 10, 1915 Burton Nov. 9, 1915 Heath May 8, 1917 Ide Nov. 11, 1924 Goelz Oct. 30, 1928 Goelz Dec. 1, 1931 Smith Nov. 19, 1935 Terrill, Jr Feb. 23, 1937 Donaldson Apr. 18, 1944 Macy Feb. 25, 1947

Images