US3020511A

US3020511A - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: US3020511A
Application number: US744383A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raver Jack
Original assignee: General Dynamics Corp
Current assignee: General Dynamics Corp
Priority date: 1958-06-25
Filing date: 1958-06-25
Publication date: 1962-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1979-02-06

Description

Feb. 6, 1962 J. RAVER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25. 1958 INVENTOR.

J A c K R AVE R Feb. 6, 1962 J. RAVER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25. 1958 U i i d States Patent.

3,020,511 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Jack Raver, New York, N.Y., assignor to General Dynamics Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 25, 1958, Ser. No. 744,383 Claims. (Cl. 339-65) first movement of the unfixed assembly, the motion being essentially normal to the terminal face of the fixed assembly. Thereafter a second movement of the unfixed assembly may be made in order to bring complementary ones of the first and second assembly terminal sets into engagement. The second movement usually takes the form of pivoting the movable assembly relative to the fixed assembly. a

While such connectors meet the requirements of some applications, they are not suited to applications where the fixed assembly is accessible only from the front of its terminal block. In such applications, especially where space normal to the terminal face of the fixed assembly is limited, joining the assemblies in the above-described manner may be dillicult, if not impossible.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved multiple terminal connector.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved connector which may be assembled from one end rather than from the side of the fixed assembly.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved connector in which the assemblies are moved transversely with respect to each other in the above-described juxtaposing movement.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved multiple terminal connector in which any one of the terminals of one assembly is prevented from making contact with any terminal other than the complementary terminal in the other assembly during assembly.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved, multiple terminal connector in which the assemblies terminal faces are juxtaposed by transversely moving one assembly with respect to the other, and in which any one of the terminals in the first assembly is prevented from contacting any terminal other than the complementary terminal in the other assembly during the assembling movements. Y

I accomplish these and other objects as set forth inthe detailed description of my invention which follows. For convenience, reference is made to the drawings attached to and forming a part of the present specification and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a multiple terminal electrical connector;

FIG. 2 is a detail of the connector shown in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sideviews of the connector shown in FIG. 1 showing the relative positions of the components during the assembly operation. 7

Referring to the drawings, I provide a multi-terminal 3,020,51 l Patented Feb. 6, 1962 connector having first and

second assemblies

10 and 20, respectively. Assembly 20 is particularly adapted to, be permanently fixed to a structure (not shown) while assembly 10 is adapted to be moved by hand with respect to assembly 20 in a manner to be set forth presently.

Assembly 10 includes a pair of substantially parallel side pieces 11a and 11b for bearing terminal block 12. Terminal block 12 is made of insulating material and is attached to the side pieces by screws 16 or any other suitable means. A plurality of terminals, such as 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d, are imbedded or otherwise fixed to block 12. The assembly terminals are similarly oriented with respect to each other. The assembly 10 terminals are substantially normal to the lower surface of and extend through block 12 in such a manner that the lower ends form a plane face indicated in FIG. 1 by the dotted lines connecting the lower terminal ends. The upper ends are accessible for individual connection to ones of a first plurality of wires (not shown). Each of the terminals borne in block 12 is complementary to one of a plurality of terminals carried by and to be described in connection with assembly 20. Thus,

terminals

13a, 13b, 13c and 13d are intended to engage

terminals

23a, 23b, 23c and 23d, respectively, when

assemblies

10 and 20 are brought together. Locating

means comprising lugs

14a and 14b fixed to the outside surfaces of the right-hand (back) end of side pieces 11a and 11b, respectively, are provided for purposes to be set forth.

Assembly 20 comprises a pair of substantially

parallel side pieces

21a and 21b for bearing a terminal block 22 of insulating material which is attached to the side pieces by any suitable means, such asscrews 26. The aforementioned plurality of

terminals

23a, 23b, 23c and 23d, are imbedded or otherwise fixed in block 22. The assembly 20 terminals are similarly oriented with respect to each other and are substantially normal to the top surface of block 22. Theassembly 2t; terminals extend through block 22, their lower ends being accessible for individual connection to ones of asecond plurality of wires (not shown). The assembly 20 terminals are further oriented so that their upper ends present a plane face indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1 connecting the upper assembly 20 terminal ends. While terminals in the preferred embodiment of my invention are shown as the well-known knife-edge type, it is to be understood that any of a number of other accepted terminal types might be employed. I 7

Channels 24a and 24b are formed in side pieces 21:: and 21]), respectively, and cooperate with lugs 14a and 1412, respectively, to guide assembly 10 with respect to assembly 20 in the course of bringing the assemblies together. Channels 24a and 241) are open-ended at the left-hand (front) end of assembly 20 and extend parallel to the upper surface of block 22 and the plane face of terminals 23a-23d along part of the lengths of

side pieces

21a and 21b. Channels 24a and 24b are terminated near the right-hand (back) end of assembly 20 in stop or wall portions 27a and 27b which may be integral with the side pieces.

Side pieces

21a and 21b are separated from each other by a distance sufficient to allow the width of assembly 10 to be received between the side pieces of assembly 20, and channels 241: and 241) are shaped to allow

lugs

14a and 14b to be freely movable within channels 24a and 2412 when assemblies 10 between the side pieces of 20 are so positioned.

Assemblies

10 and 20 are brought together by introducing

lugs

14a and 14b into the open ends of channels 24a and 24b, respectively, as indicated in FIG. 3, and moving assembly 10 transversely toward the back of assembly 20. In this manner, the height of the back end of assembly 10 above the terminal face of assembly 3 20 is fixed. In order to prevent any of terminals l3a-13d from contacting any other than the complementary one of terminals 23a23d, I provide means including surfaces 15a and 15b on the bottoms of portions extended from the right-hand (back) ends of side pieces 11a and 11b, respectively, for engaging the top surface of block 22 during the transverse movement of assembly with respect to assembly 20. Surfaces a and 15b are parallel to each other and at an angle to the plane defined by the bottom surface of block 12, as well as the aforementioned face of contacts l3a-l3d. The engagement between surfaces 15a and 15b and the upper surface of block 22 in combination with the presence of lugs 14a and 1412 within channels 240 and 24b is effective to maintain the terminal face of assembly 10 at an angle with respect to the terminal face of assembly during the transverse motion of assembly 10 across assembly 2%). The angle at which assembly 10 is maintained with respect to assembly Ed is sufficient to prevent any of contacts 13a-l3d from engaging any one of contacts 23a-23d.

In order to further position assemblies 10 and 2t) during the movement of assembly 1% I provide other lugs 140 and 14d attached substantially at the midpoints of side pieces 11a and 11b, respectively. A line extending from the center of each of lugs 14a and 141) through the center of each of lugs 14c and 14d, respectively, is substantially parallel to surfaces 15a and 15b. Lugs 14c and 14d are received within channels 24a and 2417, respectively, during the transverse movement of assembly 10, so that lugs 14c and 14d help to maintain assembly 10 at the above-described fixed angle with respect to assembly 20.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4-, the transverse movement of assembly 10 with respect to assembly 20 is stopped by

lugs

14a and 14b engaging stops 27a and 27b. As indicated in FIG. 4, stops 27a and 27b are located in such a manner that when the motion of block 10 is arrested in the aforementioned manner, surfaces 15a and 151) have been moved past and disengaged from the upper surface of block 22. Further, the transverse motion of assembly 10 is. arrested at a point Where lugs 1 4 0 and 14d are opposite depressions or

subchannels

28a and 28b which open into and extend downwardly from channels 24a and 2412 within

side pieces

21a and 21b.

Depressions

28a and 28b are of width sufficient to receive lugs 14c and 14d.

Block 12 is located within side pieces 11a and 11b so that when the motion of assembly 10 with respect to assembly 2-0 is arrested in the above-described manner, assembly ll) is constrained to rotate in a counterclockwise direction with respect to assembly 2% around the pivot point defined by the point of engagement between lugs 14:: and 14b and stops 27a and 27b within channels 24a and 24b. Such rotation of assembly 10 about assembly 20 is effective for bringing ones of terminals Illa-13d into engagement with complementing ones of terminals 23a-23d. The rotational movement of assembly 10 forces lugs 14c and 14d into

depressions

28a and 28b, respectively, thereby further positioning and locking assembly 10 against further transverse movement with respect to assembly 20.

In order to assist the user in rotating assembly It with respect to assembly 20, I provide means including cam 30 which is pivotally attached to the left-hand (front) end of the assembly 10 side pieces 11a and 11b by means including lugs 19a and 1%. Referring to FIG. 2, cam 30 cooperates with

lugs

29a and 29b borne on the front end of assembly 20 in the manner next set forth. Cam 30 has a front portion 31 and

sides

32a and 32b which extend parallel to side pieces 11a and 11b. The sides 32a and 3212 have slots opening into the right-hand edges of the sides. The Walls of each slot diverge from each other toward the open ends of the slots. When

assemblies

10 and 20 have been positioned with respect to each other by the above-described transverse movement, rotational movement of assembly 10 with respect to assembly 20 is effected by rotating cam '30 in a counterclockwise direction about lugs 19a and 19b. As a result of such rotation, the bottom surfaces of the slots in

sides

32a and 32b engage the lower sides of

lugs

29a and 29b. The upwardly sloping bottom surfaces of the slots forces the front end of assembly 10 to be drawn toward assembly 20 to the point where contacts 13a-13d engage respective ones of contacts 23a-23d.

Assemblies

10 and 20 may be rotated apart from each other by the opposite movement of cam 30, i.e., by rotating the cam 30 in a clockwise direction about lugs 19a and 1%, so that the upper surfaces of the slots in

sides

32a and 32b engage the upper sides of

lugs

29a and 29b and consequently force the front ends of

assemblies

10 and 20 apart as cam 30 is rotated.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, other modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. I do not, therefore, desire my invention to be limited to the specific arrangement shown and described, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the scope and spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A separable electrical connector comprising a first longitudinal insulating block having a predetermined longitudinal pattern of terminal elements disposed on a face thereof, said first block having a proximal end and a distal end, a first pair of parallel opposed side plates mounted on opposite sides of said first block and extending beyond said distal end thereof, each of said first pair of side plates including a channel therein oriented parallel to the length of said first block a given first distance above the face thereof, each channel extending from a first point in the vicinity of the proximal end of said first block to a second point, which second point of both channels is located the same given longitudinal distance beyond the distal end of said first block, each channel being open ended at said first point thereof and closed ended at said second point thereof, a second 1ongitudinal insulating block having a complementary longitudinal pattern of terminal elements disposed on a face thereof which are engageable with said terminals of said first block, said second block having a leading end and a trailing end, a second pair of parallel opposed side plates mounted on opposite sides of said second block, each of said second pair of side plates including a short straight edge foot portion located below the leading end thereof and disposed at an acute angle with respect to the length of said second block, said acute angle facing the trailing edge of said second block, said foot portion being brought into engagement with the face of said first block at the proximal end thereof when assembly of said connecter is initiated and then riding on the face of said first block towards said distal end thereof as assembly of said connector proceeds, whereby during assembly of said connector said second block is maintained in spaced relationship with respect to said first block at said acute angle to thereby maintain said terminal elements in disengagement, each of said second pair of side plates including a respective pivot pin lug projecting therefrom and oriented directly above said foot portion in a position to be received by said respective channels at said first point thereof when assembly of said connector is initiated, whereby said pivot pin lugs move in said channels towards said second point thereof as assembly of said connector proceeds, the length of each short straight edge foot portion being no greater than said given longitudinal distance, whereby when said pivot pin lugs reach said second point each of said foot portions has moved beyond the distal end of said firstblock, thereby permitting said second block to be rotated about said pivot pin lugs through said acute angle towards said first block, said complementary longitudinal pattern of terminal elements achieving cooperative relationship with said predetermined longitudinal pattern of terminal elements when said pivot pin lugs reach said second point of said channels, whereby said complementary longitudinal pattern of terminal elements are sequentially engaged to said predetermined pattern of terminal elements in response to rotation of said second block about said pivot pin lugs through said acute angle towards said first block when said pivot pin lugs have reached said second point of said channel.

2. The electrical connector defined in claim 1 wherein each of said terminals of said predetermined longitudinal pattern of terminal elements projects above said face of said first longitudinal insulating block.

3. The electrical connector defined in claim 1 further including a guide pin lug laterally secured to each of said second pair of side plates and projecting therefrom, said guide pin lug located between said pivot pin lug and said trailing edge of said second block in a position to be received by said channels at said first point thereof as assembly of said connector proceeds, and said first pair of side plates including a slot-like depression extending downwardly from said channel towards said first block to receive said guide pin lug, said slot-like depression spaced a given radial distance from said second point, said guide pin lug being spaced from said pivot pin lug the same radial distance, whereby when said pivot pin lugs reach said second point said guide pin lug coacts with'said slotangle towards said first block.

like depression, thereby permitting said second block to be rotated about said pivot pin lugs through said acute 4. The electrical connector defined in claim 1 wherein each of said pivot pin lugsis located the same given first distance directly above said straight foot portion along a line perpendicular to said short straight edge foot portion. a I

5. The electrical connector defined in claim 4 wherein said pivot pin lug and said guide pin lugs lie in a straight line, said straight line being parallel to said short straight edge foot portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS