US2830282A - Socket contact for electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

Ap 1958 R. A. SWAN ETAL 2,830,282

socxm CONTACT FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 28. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS: RAYMOND A. SWAN v GUSTAV C. THYM ATTORNEY April '8, 1958 R. A. SWAN ETAL SOCKET CONTACT FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Dec. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 11. 54'

INVENTORS= RAYMOND A. SWAN GUSTAV C. THYM ATTORNEY United States Patent- SOCKET CONTACT FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Application December 28,1954, Serial No. 478,156 3 Claims. (Cl. 339-470) This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to connectors of the plug-socket type such as may be used for electrically and mechanically connecting lengths of cable to each other or to a stationary power supply or machine connector.

Connectors of this type are frequently used in underground mining operations and other hazardous locations wherein it is both desirable and necessary to eifect these connections rapidly. With previously known connectors the threads of the coupling elements of the connectors have generally been of such a fine pitch that there was not only required several turnsto effect the connection but frequently the space between the threads became packed with foreign matter thus necessitating cleaning the threads and accordingly a delay in connecting the cables together. Many times this cleaning even resulted in damage to the threads of such a degree that the couplings were rendered inoperative. It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved connector of this general type having an improved coupling means which will effectively and at the same time rapidly and easily produce the desired electrical and mechanical connection while obviating the above disadvantages.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a connector embodying this novel coupling means wherein the desired connection can be eflected by rotating the cooperating connector elements relative to each other through an arc of less than 360. Another-object of the invention is to provide a connector in which the mutually facing ends of the cooperating connector elements are thereby brought into abutting relation and looked upon coupling to form a water-tight connection.

Frequently during operations, as for example in a mine where positionings dictate the length of cable to be used or where cables are cut or otherwise damaged, it is necessary to replace the cable. It is therefore a further object of theinvention to provide a connector whereby a cable can be quickly and easily disconnected therefrom and a new cable substituted, with the provision of shroud means for protecting this union from the atmosphere. It is still a further object of the invention to provide a connector having readily detachable contacts of the socket and plug types and means for quickly and easily securing a replacement contact therein.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the attached drawings in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view with some parts in elevation and others broken away showing a pair of complementary vfi mmectors designed and constructed according to the present invention in a coupled position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary lcngi-tudinalscctional view; with parts partially in. elevation, and in the same plane as Fig.

1 showing :the complementary connectors in the same position; a

, z,s30 ,2s2 Patent dAn 8. 1 8

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the connectors in a partly coupled position;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane of line 4-4 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the plane of line 5-5 on Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of the collars of the complementary pair of connectors; r e l e i Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on the plane of line 77 on Fig, 6;

Fig. 8'is a fragmentary view of one of the collars showing the square-cut spiral grooves therein;

Fig. 9 is a view in longitudinal section of a connector with parts in elevation drawn on a larger scale and showing a replaceable socket contact;

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane of line 19.10 of'Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to placeable plug contact;

Fig. 12 is a central longitudinal sectional view with parts in elevation showing a pair of complementary connectors in a partially coupled position and embodying a modifiedarrangement of contact elements;

Fig. 13 is a'sectional view on'the same plane as Fig. 12 showing the connectors in a coupled position; I

Fig. 14 is a'transverse sectional view taken on the plane of line 14-14 on Fig. 12;

FigJlS is a similar view taken on the plane of line 157-15 on Fig. 12; and

Fig. 9 but showing a re- Fig. 16 is another transverse sectional view taken on by the reference numerals l0 and 11 and including body portions 12 and 13 respectively. These bodies may be formed of any suitable insulating material such as rubber or neoprene and have secured therein in a manner set forth hereinafter a plurality of contact elements. These contact elements may either be in the form of plug type contacts or socket contacts, and each connector element one or the other. Since the contacts when in a connected position act in the same manner regardless of to which connector element they are attached, for the purposes of this description and the appended claims, the term plugsocket contacts will be used to designate either plug or socket contacts regardless of whether they are connected to power, ground, or pilot conductor leads.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 through 5, there is disclosed connector elements embodying two pairs of power contacts and one pair of ground contacts with the plug contact 14 for the ground circuit being carried by body 13 of connector 11 while its cooperating socket contact 15 iscarried by the body 12 of connector 16. The plug contacts 16 and 16' of the power circuit are secured within body 12 while their corresponding socket contacts 17 and 17' are positioned in body 13 As is customary practice in connectors of this general type, the contacts of the power circuit and ground circuits are selected and positioned in such a manner as to be brought into engagement simultaneously (Fig. 3). When, however, itis desirable or necessary to prevent any contact arcing, a pilot circuit, as shown in Figs. 12 through 16, is used wherein the contact elements therefor are so selected and positioned that the pilot circuit is not complete-d until after the power and ground circuits are completed but is interrupted before said power and ground circuits are broken.

The structure for coupling the complementary connector elements includes a pair of collars 20 and 21 associated with the respective connector elements. As

seen particularlyin Fig.2, the bodyportion 13 of connector element 11 is provided with an annular groove in which is positioned Mani annular sleeve'22 also having an annular groove 23which forms a racef forthe ball' bearings 24. Collar 21jon the other hand'is .provided with an annularinternal groove; 25 in 'which the ball bearings 24 ride, groove 25 beingsomewhat'elon gated longitudinally to provide a slight clearance for the longitudinal movement of collar 21 relative to body 13 for purposes hereinafter set forth. Collar 26 isrnou nted for rotational movement relative to body 12 in, the same manner, with an annular sleeve 26 being secured in an annularchannel formed in body 12 and having a central groove 27 extending circumferentially thereof providing a race for the ball bearings 28. The collar is also provided with an annular internal groove 29 and, as in the case 'of groove 25, it extends somewhat longitudinally to thereby provide a slight clearance for movement of the collar 20 longitudinally with respect to body 12 for purposes also explained hereinafter. Although both collars 20 and 21 have been illustrated'and described as being freely rotatable relative to their respective connector bodies, it, should of course be understood that either of these collars could be integrally secured to its respective body. i a

The means for coupling thecollars together and at the same time moving the connector elements relative to each other to complete the various circuits includes a pair of heavy threads or square-cut spiral grooves 30 and 31 each of which extends approximately 270 about the collar 21 and begins and ends at diametrically opposed points thereon. (Fig. 1.) A pair of diametrically opposed pins 32 and 33 are secured to and extend radially inwardly from collar 20 and areengageable with the respective grooves 30 and 31, and as can be seen inFigs. 6 through 8 as illustrated with respect to groove 30,

there is provided adjacent the open end of the grooves a 7 generally longitudinally extending portion 34. It is apparent therefore that when the complementary connector elements are moved by hand into abutting end to end relation, the pins 32 and 33 enter the longitudinally extending portion of their respective cooperating grooves. The collars are then in a position to begin coupling ro-' tation and upon initiation of such rotating action, due to the clearance provided by grooves and 29, the coupling pins freely. enter from the longitudinal portions into their respective spiral groove portions (Fig. 3) without friction at the corners formed by the junction of the two portions.

Many times in operations such as underground mining operations, wherein it is necessary or desirable to quickly complete an electric circuit, the connector elements used must be so constructed that they can be quickly and easily coupled to complete the circuit. As already pointed out with previously known connectors it has generally been necessary to rotate the collars or coupling elements of the connectors relative to eachother through several complete turns. In addition, the dust and other foreign matter frequently cakes between the threads of these previously known coupling elements due to their narrow pitch, necessitating the interruption of operations, while the threads are carefully cleaned, before an effective coupling can be made. With a connector constructed according to the present invention it can be seen that the above difiiculties are obviated by the fact that the grooves and 31 extend only approximately 270 around the collar 21 with the circuits being completed through the connector by merely rotating the collar through this 270 arc. Furtherthe grooves and pins can be con: structed of such size to resist damage, prevent accumulation of dirt and allow quick removal of any accumulation that occurs without causing any damage thereto.

As can be seen in Fig. 1, shown in solid line with re spect to groove 31, the grooves terminate in a leveledotf portion 35, i. e., a portion which lies at a slight angle with respect to the normal groove course and substan tially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the connector. The mutually facing end portions of the bodies 12 and 13 are beaded at 37 and 38 respectively, and it is apparent that with these end portions being brought into abutting relation upon rotation of the collars through approximately 27Q, continued rotation to thus move the connector pins 32 and 33 along the leveled-otf portions 35 of the grooves will maintain the tacings 37 and 38 in compression to thereby completely seal and atthe same time lock the connector elements against longitudinal displacement (Fig. 2). p

In the embodiment shownin Fig. 1, wherein the connector is used to couple two conductor cablcs together to complete a circuit therethrou gh, the insulated cable is designated generally 40.. Since both sides of the cable are secured to the connectors in a like manner, like reference numerals will be used to designate similar parts with particular reference to Fig. 1. The cable 40 is shown as including a ground conductor lead 41 and a pair of power conductor leads 42 all extending through suitable elongated grooves 43 in a barrier-like portion 44 which is integral with the body of the connector. To

make the union between the cable and the connector water-tight there is provided an elongated somewhat tapered sleeve or shroud 45 which encompasses a portion of the connector body at its forward end and the cable at its rearward end. Sleeve 45 is suitably formed to fit tightly over a flanged portion 46 of the connector body with an annular clamp 47 being positioned around the sleeve forward of flange 46 to thereby draw the sleeve into sealing contact with the connector body. Sleeve 45, adjacent its rearward end, is provided with an annular flanged portion 49 and immediately forward thereof a portion having a generally longitudinally flattened outer surface of smaller external diameter than the portions adjacent thereto on either side, with this rearward end of the sleeve being suitably clamped to the housing of the cable 40 by means of one or more annular clamps$51 surrounding portion of the sleeve. It is readily apparent therefore that with the sleeve 45 securely clamped to the connector body and to the cable housing, a watertight fitting is effected between the cable and the connector. In those instances where the cable outside diameter varies or the cable shape is other than round it may be desirable" to place a grommet around the cable housing whereby the aforementioned clamping action is transmitted through the grommet to the cable to etfect a water-tight seal.

As many times it is necessary in efifecting the proper maneuverability of the parts to which the cable is to be connected and due to the not infrequent damage to the cable as well as the wearing out of the contacts, it is desirable to provide a connector unit in which the cable can be easily removed and replaced, as well as one in which the contacts can be easily replaced.'. The novel improvements in the present connector unit which result in the rapid replacement of cable and contacts will now be described. As can be seen best in Fig. 9, the structure embodied herein for connecting the various conductor leads to the contact elements includes a contact base 54 made of any suitable conductive material and embedded in the body 13 of a connector. Contact base 54 is formed with a pair of spaced annular flange portions 56 and 57 with the material of body 13 upon molding having flowed into the cavity between these flanges to thereby prevent any longitudinal displacement of the contact base with respect to the connector body. The contact base is in turn suitably secured to a conductor element 55, which is ing generally parallel portions 59, 59'. In order to provide proper contact between a conductor lead 42 and the conductor element 55, a radially extending aperture 60 is formed in connector body 13 in registry with the opening in conductor element 55 with the result that any suitable means such as a setscrew 61 can be projected through the aperture and the conductor element opening into abutting relation with the conductor lead. Setscrew 61 is provided at its inner end with an annular bead 62 and upon clockwise rotation of the setscrew it will be seen that the conductor lead is firmly clamped to the inner periphery of conductor element 55 to thereby form a good contact therebetween. The cable can thus be readily removed from the connector by merely releasing clamps 47 and 51, sliding sleeve 45 back on to the cable, and loosening the setscrew 61 associated with each lead. Upon releasing the cable from the connector body the sleeve can then be removed from the cable. Likewise a new cable can easily be attached to the connector by reversing this procedure.

There is also illustrated in Fig. 9 a novel construction and means to facilitate the removal as well as the insertion of a socket contact in the connector in operative association with the contact base. The socket contact, designated 17 in Fig. 9, is provided with a'plurality of circumterentially spaced slits 65 extending from one end longitudinally throughout a substantial portion thereof. Contact base 54 has a portion 66 of reduced diameter corresponding approximately to the internal diameter of the socket contact 17 and is slidably received therein, with the forward edge of the socket contact abutting the flanged portion 56 of the contact base. The reduced portion 66 of the contact base is diametrically slit and is provided with a central aperture 68 having a tapered outer portion 69 and a threaded inner portion 70, and it will be readily apparent that upon the insertion of a setscrew 71 having a tapered head portion 72, the contact base portion 66 can be spread into firm engagement with the internal periphery of the socket contact 17. With such an arrangement a socket contact can thereby quickly be secured in conductive association with the contact base 54 by merely inserting a setscrew in the aperture 68 and, upon removing the setscrew, the socket contact can quickly be withdrawn therefrom. The socket contact can be provided' with an opening 75 into which a suitable hooked tool can be inserted to facilitate the removal of the socket contact. To insure that the socket contact 17 is held in firm contact with a cooperating plug contact 16, there is provided adjacent the outer end of the socket a portion 76 of reduced diameter encompassed by a spring 77 of several convolutions which due to the slots 65 in the socket contact acts to clamp the socket contact to the plug contact.

In Fig. 11 there is disclosed a connector element having a similar contact base 54 and conductor element 55 embodied therein and showing a replaceable plug contact member. In this instance the contact base 54' has a centrally threaded aperture 80 in its end remote from the conductor element with the plug contact 16 being externally threaded at 81 and adapted to be screwed into the contact base 54. The plug contact can thereby quickly be replaced by unscrewing it and inserting a suitable tool in an aperture 82 provided therein to thus pull the plug contact longitudinally out of engagement with the connector body.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 12 through 16 there is illustrated a pair of complementary connector elements embodying the novel structure as described above, however, in this modification there are two pairs of pilot contacts in addition to the two pairs of power and one pair of ground contacts. Like reference numerals are used to indicate the various parts which are the same as in the previously described embodiment with the pairs of pilot plug contacts being designated 85 and 86 and the pilot socket contacts 87 and 88. As can be seen in Fig. 14, the barriers 44' in this instance providefive passages instead of the three provided with respect to the earlier described embodiment and as can be seen in Fig. 12, the pilot contacts are so selected and positioned that they are not connected until the ground and power circuits are completed. Likewise, it will be obvious that upon uncoupling the two connector elements,.the pilot contacts will be disconnected before the power and ground contacts thus interrupting the power circuit before disengagement of the power contacts.

From the above description of the present invention it can be seen that the illustrated embodiments disclose novel and improved connector elements in which the contact elements can be quickly and easily replaced, a new length of cable likewise quickly and easily substituted and held in contacting relation with the connector and the various unions shrouded to produce a water-tight unit. Further, the connector elements can be quickly and easily brought together with less than 'a complete turn of the coupling means to thereby complete the circuits therethrough and at the same time seal the contact connections from the atmosphere. It should be understood, however, that the connector unit as illustrated and described above is by way of example only and that any changes that might occur to one skilled in the art are contemplated within the scope of the following claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a connector, in combination, an insulating body carrying at least one socket contact adapted for engagement with a plug contact between which and said body relative movement may establish and interrupt a connection between said contacts, a supporting contact base carried by said body, means accessible within said socket contact for securing the same to and releasing it from said base, said socket contact encompassing at least a portion of said contact base, a generally diametric slot in said portion of said contact base, and means for spreading at least a part of said portion of the contact base into and out of firm engagement with said socket contact.

2. A connector as set forth in claim 1 in which said contact base portion is provided with a generally central tapered aperture and said last means includes a tapered member engageable with the periphery of said portion which encompasses the aperture and being adapted to spread said portion into firm engagement with said socket Contact.

3. In a connector, in combination, an insulating body carrying at least one socket contact adapted for engagement with a plug contact between which and said body relative movement may establish and interrupt a connection between said contacts, a supporting contact base carried by said body, means accessible within said socket contact for securing the same to and releasing it from said base, said socket contact encompassing at least a.

portion of said contact base, at least a part of said portion of said contact base being resilient and means for spreading said resilient part of said contact base into firm engagement with said socket contact.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,035,345 Schaefer Mar. 24, 1936 2,100,025 Douglas Nov. 23, 1937 2,190,363 Knapp Feb. 13, 1940 2,229,211 Krengold Jan. 21, 1941 2,561,677 Souriau July 24, 1951 2,606,224 Modrey Aug. 5, 1952 2,716,737 Maberry Aug. 30, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 593,268 France May 20, 1925 1,008,833 France Feb. 27, 1952

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