US3031589A - Electric connector - Google Patents

Electric connector Download PDF

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Publication number
US3031589A
US3031589A US29886A US2988660A US3031589A US 3031589 A US3031589 A US 3031589A US 29886 A US29886 A US 29886A US 2988660 A US2988660 A US 2988660A US 3031589 A US3031589 A US 3031589A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
elements
connector
contacts
condition
pin
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US29886A
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English (en)
Inventor
Noirclerc Andre
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Societe Industrielle de Liaisons Electriques SA
Original Assignee
Societe Industrielle de Liaisons Electriques SA
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Application filed by Societe Industrielle de Liaisons Electriques SA filed Critical Societe Industrielle de Liaisons Electriques SA
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Publication of US3031589A publication Critical patent/US3031589A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
    • H01R13/52—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
    • H01R13/527—Flameproof cases
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/70—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch
    • H01R13/71—Contact members of coupling parts operating as switch, e.g. linear or rotational movement required after mechanical engagement of coupling part to establish electrical connection
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/70—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch
    • H01R13/703—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling part

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electrical connector assembliss, and more especially to safety connectors of the type comprising a pair of elements connectable with and disconnectable from eachother by a relative angular displacement of the elements and said elements being provided with respective contacts including at least one pair of main contact and one pair of pilot contacts.
  • electrical circuitry not necessarily forming part of the connector assembly, is provided; including at least one .relay operable on engagement of the pilot contacts to apply electric power to the main contacts.
  • the relative .positioning and dimensioning of the main and pilot contacts are such that on angular displacement of the connector elements from the connected to the disconnected position thereof, the pilot contacts are disengaged from each other first, while the main contacts only disengage after the elements have been ang'ul'arly displaced by an additional amount, so that no current is flowingthrough the main contacts at the time they separate, and arcing and sparking are thereby pre vented.
  • Connectors of this type are especially designed for use in circumstances Where the occurrence of a spark may constitute a fire hazard, as in minepits.
  • latching means were provided for this purpose in the form of tangentially disposed set screws so arranged that such screws had to be rotated manually before itwaspossible to displace the elements from the connected position, such rotation of the screws producing a very slow angular displacement of the connector elements during which separation of the pilot contacts occurred, While separation of the main contacts only took place during the later and more rapid stage of the angular displacement of the elements after the set screws had been actuated.
  • the improved electric connector comprises a pair of connector elements angularly displaceable from a disconnected relative position in which said elements are axially separable, through an "intermediate position, to a connected position in which said elements are prevented from axial separation; main contacts on the respective elements adapted for electric engagement in both said connected and intermediate positions, and pilot contacts on the elements adapted for elec- 3,031,589 Patented Apr.
  • FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a connector accord ing to one form of the invention, in the disconnected condition with the connector elements axially separated;
  • FIG. 2 is an end view of one of the connector elements shown in FIG. 1, as seen in the direction indicated by arrows IIaIIa of FIG. 1, the upper part of the figure being a cross section on line IIb-Ilb of FIG. 1, and
  • FIG. 3 shows the upper element of the connector of FIG. 1, with the latching cain being shown in the position permitting displacement of the elements from the connected to the intermediate relative position thereof;
  • FIG. 4 is a section on line IV-IV of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3 but with the cam being shown in the position permitting displacement to disconnected position;
  • FIG. 6 is a section on line VI-VI of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6 but with the elements "shown in disconnected angular position
  • FIG. 8 is a .view similar to FIG. 1 showing one element of an improved connector according to a modified form of the invention
  • FIG. 9 is a section on line IX-IX of FIG. 8.
  • FIGS. 10-12 are similar to FIG. 9 illustrating suc cessive stages of the disconnecting process.
  • the connector assembly here illustrated comprises the two broadly similar elements 1 and 2. Corresponding parts of both elements are designated by the same numerals, the numerals designating parts of element 2 being followed by the letter a.
  • Element 1 of generally cylindrical shape, is provided around its outer periphery with a diametrically opposed pair of part-annular ribs or tenons, one of which is shown at 5. At corresponding circumferential ends of said ribs or tenons bosses 7 and 8 are provided, having inwardly projecting flanges 9 and 10.
  • the boss 7 defines a part-annular groove 13 adapted to receive the tenon 5a therein, and similarly boss 8 defines a groove 14.
  • Electric contact plates, described later, are provided in the respective connector elements. The arrangement is such that the two elements are mechanically interengaged by relative rotation thereof, with the part-annular tenons such as 5 of each element being received in the corresponding grooves such as 13a, 14a
  • a latching device including a pin 41a extending freely through the boss 7a of element 2, in a radial inward direction, and secured to one end of a leaf spring 42a of arcuate form having its other end secured to the said boss, as by means of a screw 43a.
  • the spring leaf tends to urge the pin 41a towards the center axis of the elemen-t.
  • Pin 41a is adapted to cooperate with a latch cam 45 mounted on element 1 of the connector assembly.
  • cam 45 is in the form of a cylindrical block rotatable in a radial bore 4&5 of element 1 and retained in a radial direction by an annular flange 47 projecting from said cylindrical block and engaging on one side a shoulder formed in bore 46 and on the other side engaging against a snapring 48 received in a complementary groove formed in the bore.
  • the active surface of cam 45 comprises a helical surface or ramp 51 having its lowermost point substantially flush with the flange 47 and its highermost point flush with the upper end surface of the cylindrical block 45, and with the outer surface of a boss 52 which lies in the path of the pin 41a during the connecting and disconnecting operations. That part of boss 52 remote from cam 45 is formed with an incline 53 which is slidably engageable by the pin during connecting and disconnecting operations.
  • the cam 45 is formed with a central hole 54, e.g. of square contours into which is insertable a key of complementary shape for rotating the cam.
  • a pin 55 projecting radially from cam 45 limits the angular displacement of the latter to about one half a turn in the example shown, the two end positions of the cam 45 being determined by said pin respectively engaging boss 53, or another boss 56 positioned on the opposite side from cam 45.
  • the connector assembly is assumed to be in its engaged or connected condition.
  • the cam 45 of element 1 is first rotated to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and cam 45a of element 2 is rotated to a corresponding'position.
  • cam 45a of element 2 is rotated to a corresponding'position.
  • This movement is permitted owing to the fact that the pin 41a of element 2 is able to slide over the low part of the helical ramp 51 of cam 45 until it engages and abuts boss 52.
  • This abutment action defines a position which, hereinafter, will be referred to as the intermediate position. From this point, the disengagement of the connector cannot be continued further without first performing an additional operation.
  • the connector includes main contacts such as 15 and 15a, and pilot contacts such as 29 and 29a, connected with circuitry not shown such that current can only flow through the main contacts 15-15a, after the pilot contacts have first been engaged to energize a relay, not shown.
  • main contacts such as 15 and 15a
  • pilot contacts such as 29 and 29a
  • circuitry not shown such that current can only flow through the main contacts 15-15a, after the pilot contacts have first been engaged to energize a relay, not shown.
  • the connector In the assembled condition of the connector, all the contacts are made.
  • the pilot contacts Ztt-Ztla are first separated but the main contacts owing to their dimensioningcontinue to be engaged. During this movement the separation of the pilot contacts cuts off current flow through the main contacts through the action of the above mentioned relay circuiry.
  • the relay or relays have amply had the time to operate and cut 01f the circuit including the main contacts 15, 15a.
  • the main contacts therefore, are disengaged at a time when there is no voltage applied thereto, and danger of sparking is thereby eliminated.
  • the engagement of the connector can be performed very quickly and without any riskof sparking, since the main contacts 15, 15a engage each other before the pilot contacts do, and hence the main contacts are only placed under power after closure. It will be evident, furthermore, that the electrical engagement of the various contact pairs only occurs after both connector elements have been firmly connected with each other mechanically, thus providing the necessary safety action.
  • the cams may preliminarily be placed in their final locking positions (FIGS. 1 and 2).
  • the latching device includes a pawl 61a attached to the element 2 and having two claws 62a, 63a cooperating with circumferentially spaced stops 64, 65 of element 1.
  • the pawl is pivotally mounted about a pivot 67a supported in boss 70 parallel to the connector axis.
  • the pawl is received in a recess 68a formed in said boss and is surrounded with a body 6941 of resilient material, e.g. rubber, serving to provide a tight seal and also to urge the pawl resiliently to its latching position in the engaged condition of the connector (FIG. 9).
  • the stops 64a and 65a are so positioned that, during the relative angular displacement between the connector elements for disengaging the connector, rotation of pawl 61a as shown by arrow (FIG. 9) e.g. by means of a suitable key 71 inserted into a hole 72 in the pawl enables the connector element 2 to be rotated with respect to element l by an angle a until the pawl claw 62a has engaged the stop 65 of element 1, as indicated in FIG. 10.
  • the pawl 61 is then allowed to return to its original position, whereupon the element 2 can be rotated by a further angle a (FIG. 11) with respect to element 1, until the pawl. claw 63a has in turn engaged the stop 65 of element ll. If the pawl is now again rotated as indicated by arrow 1 (FIG. 12), the relative rotation of the connector ment a" has been effected which enables full separation of the connector elements in the axial direction.
  • An electric connector comprising a pair of elements angularly displaceable from a disconnected condition in which said elements are axially separable, through an intermediate and to a connected condition in which said elements are prevented from axial separation; main contacts on the respective elements adapted for electric engagement in both said connected and intermediate conditions and pilot contacts adapted for engagement in said connected but not said intermediate condition; latching means engageable in both said connected and intermediate conditions for preventing angular displacement of the elements including a manually operable latch-control member movable to one position in which said latching means are disabled in said connected condition but enabled in said intermediate condition and movable to another position in which said latching means are disabled in said intermediate condition; whereby displacement of said elements from connected to disconnected condition requires manual movement of said latch-control member to said one position thereof angular displacement of said elements to said intermediate condition, movement of said member to said other position thereof, and angular displacement of said elements to said disconnected condition.
  • said latching means comprise a latch projecting from each element into engagement with the other element; a first and a second latch-control members cooperating with the respective latches.
  • said latching means comprise a latch pin on one element and spring means urging said latch pin to a projected condition; a stop on the other element adapted for engagement with one side of said latch pin in said connected condition of the elements and another stop on said other element adapted for engagement with the opposite side of said latch pin in said intermediate condition of the elements; and said latch-control member is a movable cam having an inclined cam surface adapted in said other position of the cam to engage said opposite side of said latch pin to block the pin against said first stop in said connected condition of the elements while providing a smooth path of travel for said pin in the intermediate condition of the elements to move past said other stop; and adapted in said one position of the cam to provide a smooth path of travel for said pin in said connected condition of the element away from said one stop while bringing said pin up against said other stop in the intermediate condition of the elements.
  • said latching means including said latch control member comprise a pivoted pawl on one element and at least a pair of cooperating circumferentially spaced teeth on the other element, the relative positioning and dimensioning being such that the pawl requires to be moved to a different position about its pivot for permitting displacement of each successive one of said teeth therepast, and means for manually moving the pawl about its pivots.
  • An electric connector comprising a pair of elements angularly displaceable from a disconnected condition in which said elements are axially separable, through an intermediate and to a connected condition in which said elements are prevented from axial separation; contacts on the respective elements adapted for electric engagement in said connected but not said intermediate condition; latching means engageable in both said connected and intermediate conditions for preventing angular displacement of the elements including a manually operable latchcontrol member movable to one position in which said latching means are disabled in said connected condition but enabled in said intermediate condition and movable to another position in which said latching means are enabled in said connected condition but disabled in said intermediate condition of the elements.
US29886A 1959-05-25 1960-05-18 Electric connector Expired - Lifetime US3031589A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR795490A FR1235393A (fr) 1959-05-25 1959-05-25 Raccords électriques

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3031589A true US3031589A (en) 1962-04-24

Family

ID=8715137

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US29886A Expired - Lifetime US3031589A (en) 1959-05-25 1960-05-18 Electric connector

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3031589A (de)
BE (1) BE590654A (de)
CH (1) CH369804A (de)
DE (2) DE1268703B (de)
ES (1) ES257998A1 (de)
FR (2) FR1220035A (de)
GB (1) GB881069A (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4398230A (en) * 1980-09-23 1983-08-09 Souriau & Cie. Protection device for electrical connectors
US4732567A (en) * 1985-08-21 1988-03-22 Societe D'exploitation Des Procedes Marechal (Sepm), S.A. Apparatus and method for preventing reversal of the relative displacement by hand of engaged male and female components
WO2007071968A2 (en) * 2005-12-23 2007-06-28 Rota Engineering Limited Connector
US20100323542A1 (en) * 2009-06-18 2010-12-23 Thomas & Betts International, Inc. Electrical connector

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH635001A5 (de) * 1979-01-23 1983-03-15 Cerberus Ag Verbindungseinrichtung zur verbindung eines sockelteils mit einem meldereinsatz in einem brandmelder.
GB9515380D0 (en) * 1995-07-27 1995-09-27 Thorn Security Fire detector positioning
JP2003257571A (ja) * 2002-03-05 2003-09-12 Yazaki Corp 電源ソケット装置

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1832887A (en) * 1927-09-30 1931-11-24 Westinghouse Air Brake Co Electric coupler device
US2151926A (en) * 1936-08-14 1939-03-28 Westinghouse Air Brake Co Control means for bus switches

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE638759C (de) * 1936-11-21 Stapelmann & Co H Steckerschalter an Stromabnahmevorrichtungen fuer elektrische Bahnen
DE180101C (de) *
AT25789B (de) * 1905-05-20 1906-09-25 Julius Pintsch Fa Kupplung für die elektrischen Kabel zwischen Eisenbahnwagen.
DE530412C (de) * 1930-07-16 1931-07-29 Friemann & Wolf G M B H Sicherheitssteckkupplung
DE589344C (de) * 1931-09-29 1933-12-06 Siemens Schuckertwerke Akt Ges Schlagwettergeschuetzte Steckvorrichtung
DE621241C (de) * 1932-08-31 1935-11-04 Voigt & Haeffner Akt Ges Steckvorrichtung fuer explosionsgefaehrliche Raeume
FR811155A (fr) * 1935-12-27 1937-04-08 L App Electr Ardennais Prolongateur pour câbles électriques
FR855068A (fr) * 1939-01-19 1940-05-01 Mines Domaniales De Potasse Dispositif de liaison amovible pour conducteurs électriques
DE849869C (de) * 1944-02-19 1952-09-18 Accumulatoren Fabrik Ag Einpolige schlagwettergeschuetzte Steckervorrichtung

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1832887A (en) * 1927-09-30 1931-11-24 Westinghouse Air Brake Co Electric coupler device
US2151926A (en) * 1936-08-14 1939-03-28 Westinghouse Air Brake Co Control means for bus switches

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4398230A (en) * 1980-09-23 1983-08-09 Souriau & Cie. Protection device for electrical connectors
US4732567A (en) * 1985-08-21 1988-03-22 Societe D'exploitation Des Procedes Marechal (Sepm), S.A. Apparatus and method for preventing reversal of the relative displacement by hand of engaged male and female components
AU583642B2 (en) * 1985-08-21 1989-05-04 Societe D'exploitation Des Procedes Marechal (Sepm) A device for preventing reversal of the movement of relative displacement of two components consisting respectively of a male part and a female counterpart, one component being actuated by hand
WO2007071968A2 (en) * 2005-12-23 2007-06-28 Rota Engineering Limited Connector
WO2007071968A3 (en) * 2005-12-23 2007-08-16 Rota Eng Ltd Connector
US20100323542A1 (en) * 2009-06-18 2010-12-23 Thomas & Betts International, Inc. Electrical connector
US8328573B2 (en) 2009-06-18 2012-12-11 Thomas & Betts International, Inc. Electrical connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES257998A1 (es) 1960-09-01
GB881069A (en) 1961-11-01
FR1235393A (fr) 1960-07-08
FR1220035A (fr) 1960-05-20
BE590654A (fr) 1960-09-01
DE1290212B (de) 1969-03-06
DE1268703B (de) 1968-05-22
CH369804A (fr) 1963-06-15

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