US3478296A - Hermaphrodite electrical contact - Google Patents

Hermaphrodite electrical contact Download PDF

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Publication number
US3478296A
US3478296A US609544A US3478296DA US3478296A US 3478296 A US3478296 A US 3478296A US 609544 A US609544 A US 609544A US 3478296D A US3478296D A US 3478296DA US 3478296 A US3478296 A US 3478296A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
housing
springs
hermaphrodite
electrical contact
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
US609544A
Inventor
Karl-Friedrich Schmitt
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.)
Bunker Ramo Corp
Allied Corp
Original Assignee
Bunker Ramo Corp
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Publication date
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Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3478296A publication Critical patent/US3478296A/en
Assigned to ALLIED CORPORATION A CORP. OF NY reassignment ALLIED CORPORATION A CORP. OF NY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: BUNKER RAMO CORPORATION A CORP. OF DE
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
    • B60D1/62—Auxiliary devices involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
    • 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
    • H01R13/02—Contact members
    • H01R13/28—Contacts for sliding cooperation with identically-shaped contact, e.g. for hermaphroditic coupling devices
    • 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
    • H01R13/44—Means for preventing access to live contacts
    • H01R13/447—Shutter or cover plate
    • H01R13/453—Shutter or cover plate opened by engagement of counterpart
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
    • Y10T403/36—Three or more serial joints, at least one diverse
    • Y10T403/364—Separable intermediate joint

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an hermaphrodite electrical contact.
  • Such contacts have particularly advantageous application in many fields, for example, for electrically coupling vehicles to each other.
  • hermaphrodite contacts it is no longer necessary to consider the orientation of the contact when the vehicles are coupled together.
  • hermaphrodite electric contact in which the contact-making parts are made of a fiat metal piece which has an elongated indentation in its middle with two hooks directed toward the middle of the indentation.
  • These known hermaphrodite contacts are coupled together by rotating one contact by 90 and inserting it into the other contact.
  • the object of the present invention to provide an hermaphrodite electrical contact in which the contact-making parts slide resiliently over each other throughout a relatively long path.
  • each flat leaf spring has its end longitudinally slit, and each flat spring comprises two individual springs positioned one above the other.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one hermaphrodite electrical contact of this invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of two hermaphrodite electrical contacts of FIGURE 1.
  • FIGURE 3 is a front view of another hermaphrodite electrical contact of this invention.
  • FIGURE 4 is a side view of another embodiment of a contact arrangement according to the present invention, the same including two contact-making leaf springs in contact with each other.
  • a conductor 1 is secured to an elongated housing 3 by means of a set screw 2 threaded into a sleeve 11 which surrounds a reduced portion 3a of the housing 3 so as to be electrically conductively connected with the housing 3.
  • a recess 4 At the front end of elongated housing 3, there is a recess 4 in which two flat contact-making springs 5 are punched out, the ends of these flat springs being angled so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the housing.
  • the two flat springs slide against each other when the two contacts are slipped one into the other, for example when railway cars are being coupled, and assume the position shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 2, It will be seen that even if the mutual distance between the two contacts is changed, as can often happen in operation, the two contacts will still be in continuous engagement with each other.
  • a sleeve 6 not shown in FIGURE 1 but illustrated in FIGURE 2 is slidably arranged in the front part of housing 3. In rest condition, this sleeve projects beyond the edge of the housing. In operating condition, the sleeve is pushed into the interior of the housing against the action of a compression spring 7, this spring being interposed between a solid head 6a of sleeve 6 and an abutment 12. As shown in FIGURE 2, the head 6a of sleeve 6 is provided with grooves 6b into which project tabs 3b bent inwardly from housing 3.
  • each fiat spring 5 has their ends slitted longitudinally so as to make better contact, while in the embodiment of FIGURE 4, each fiat spring 5 consists of two individual springs 8 and 9 arranged one above the other.
  • the contact-making spring 9 is adidtionally provided with a projection 10 extending toward the contact side which serves as a detent point.
  • hermaphrodite contact can be used not only with a similar contact, but with a differently configured contact element. All that is necessary is that the contact element be capable of being introduced into the cross section of the sleeve 6. For example, a simple plug-type contact of appropriate dimensions can constitute the suitable cooperating contact element.
  • the contact according to the present invention is suitable for use not only in conjunction with vehicle couplings and especially railroad car couplings, but can always be used to advantage whenever a reliable resilient contact is to be made over a relatively long path.
  • An hermaphrodite electrical contact comprising, in combination (a) an elongated housing; and
  • first and second contact-making springs each extending out of said elongated housing and diagonally into the interior thereof, said two flat springs being positioned on opposite sides of said housing and being inclined toward each other, said two flat springs being crossed within said housing.
  • each of said flat springs has its end longitudinally slit.
  • An hermaphrodite electrical contact comprising, in combination:
  • first and second contact-making springs each extending out of said elongated housing and diagonally into the interior thereof, each of said flat springs comprising two individual springs positioned one above the other.

Description

Nov 11, 1969 KARL-FRIEDRICH SCHMITT 3,478,296
HERMAPHRODITE ELECTRICAL CONTACT Filed Jan. 16, 1967 FIG.4.
INVENTOR Karl-Friedrich Schmitt BYW/W ATTORNEY.
United States Patent Int. Cl. min 25/02 US. Cl. 339-47 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An hermaphrodite electrical contact having an elongated housing with two flat contact-making springs extending out of the housing and diagonally into the interior of the housing. The ends of the contact-making springs are bent in the longitudinal direction of the housing and, in one embodiment, the ends of the contact-making springs are slit in the longitudinal direction for better contact.
Background of the invention The present invention relates to an hermaphrodite electrical contact. Such contacts have particularly advantageous application in many fields, for example, for electrically coupling vehicles to each other. When hermaphrodite contacts are used, it is no longer necessary to consider the orientation of the contact when the vehicles are coupled together.
There exists a known hermaphrodite electric contact in which the contact-making parts are made of a fiat metal piece which has an elongated indentation in its middle with two hooks directed toward the middle of the indentation. These known hermaphrodite contacts are coupled together by rotating one contact by 90 and inserting it into the other contact.
The above described prior art contact is, however, not suitable for electrically coupling vehicles inasmuch as the two contact springs cannot slide over a long path, such as in necessary when vehicles are coupled to each other inasmuch as this often entails rough operating conditions.
It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide an hermaphrodite electrical contact in which the contact-making parts slide resiliently over each other throughout a relatively long path.
Summary of the invention present invention, the two contact-making leaf springs are crossed within the housing, and in accordance with other features of the present invention each flat leaf spring has its end longitudinally slit, and each flat spring comprises two individual springs positioned one above the other.
Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one hermaphrodite electrical contact of this invention.
3,478,296 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of two hermaphrodite electrical contacts of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is a front view of another hermaphrodite electrical contact of this invention.
FIGURE 4 is a side view of another embodiment of a contact arrangement according to the present invention, the same including two contact-making leaf springs in contact with each other.
Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIGURES 1 and 2, a conductor 1 is secured to an elongated housing 3 by means of a set screw 2 threaded into a sleeve 11 which surrounds a reduced portion 3a of the housing 3 so as to be electrically conductively connected with the housing 3. At the front end of elongated housing 3, there is a recess 4 in which two flat contact-making springs 5 are punched out, the ends of these flat springs being angled so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the housing. The two flat springs slide against each other when the two contacts are slipped one into the other, for example when railway cars are being coupled, and assume the position shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 2, It will be seen that even if the mutual distance between the two contacts is changed, as can often happen in operation, the two contacts will still be in continuous engagement with each other.
In order to provide protection, a sleeve 6 not shown in FIGURE 1 but illustrated in FIGURE 2, made of insulating material is slidably arranged in the front part of housing 3. In rest condition, this sleeve projects beyond the edge of the housing. In operating condition, the sleeve is pushed into the interior of the housing against the action of a compression spring 7, this spring being interposed between a solid head 6a of sleeve 6 and an abutment 12. As shown in FIGURE 2, the head 6a of sleeve 6 is provided with grooves 6b into which project tabs 3b bent inwardly from housing 3.
In the embodiment of FIGURE 3, the flat springs 5 have their ends slitted longitudinally so as to make better contact, while in the embodiment of FIGURE 4, each fiat spring 5 consists of two individual springs 8 and 9 arranged one above the other. The contact-making spring 9 is adidtionally provided with a projection 10 extending toward the contact side which serves as a detent point.
It will be seen that the hermaphrodite contact according to the present invention can be used not only with a similar contact, but with a differently configured contact element. All that is necessary is that the contact element be capable of being introduced into the cross section of the sleeve 6. For example, a simple plug-type contact of appropriate dimensions can constitute the suitable cooperating contact element.
The contact according to the present invention is suitable for use not only in conjunction with vehicle couplings and especially railroad car couplings, but can always be used to advantage whenever a reliable resilient contact is to be made over a relatively long path.
I claim:
1. An hermaphrodite electrical contact comprising, in combination (a) an elongated housing; and
(b) first and second contact-making springs each extending out of said elongated housing and diagonally into the interior thereof, said two flat springs being positioned on opposite sides of said housing and being inclined toward each other, said two flat springs being crossed within said housing.
2. An hermaphrodite electrical contact as defined in claim 1, wherein said fiat springs have their ends bent in the longitudinal direction of said housing.
3. An hermaphrodite electrical contact as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is electrically conductive.
4. An hermaphrodite electrical contact as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said flat springs has its end longitudinally slit.
5. An hermaphrodite electrical contact comprising, in combination:
(a) an elongated housing; and
(b) first and second contact-making springs each extending out of said elongated housing and diagonally into the interior thereof, each of said flat springs comprising two individual springs positioned one above the other.
6. An hermaphrodite electrical contact as defined in claim 5, and further comprising a projection on one side of each of said fiat springs.
7. An hermaphrodite electrical contact as defined in claim 1, wherein said flat springs are integral with said housing.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner P. A. CLIFFORD, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 287-76; 339277
US609544A 1966-02-19 1967-01-16 Hermaphrodite electrical contact Expired - Lifetime US3478296A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DET0030491 1966-02-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3478296A true US3478296A (en) 1969-11-11

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US609544A Expired - Lifetime US3478296A (en) 1966-02-19 1967-01-16 Hermaphrodite electrical contact

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US3478296A (en)
BE (1) BE694080A (en)
CH (1) CH458477A (en)
FR (1) FR1511964A (en)
NL (1) NL6700927A (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6231361B1 (en) * 1999-12-21 2001-05-15 Ming-Shien Ko Shielded male electrical connector
US20070010108A1 (en) * 2005-07-05 2007-01-11 Yeen Soh Vivienne P Chessboard electrical connector
CN105958247A (en) * 2016-04-29 2016-09-21 中航光电科技股份有限公司 Conductive contact and electric connector
CN105977678A (en) * 2016-04-29 2016-09-28 中航光电科技股份有限公司 Electric conduction contact component and electric connector using same
EP3451461A4 (en) * 2016-04-29 2019-05-08 Avic Jonhon Optronic Technology Co., Ltd. Electrically conductive contact and electrical connector utilizing same

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2434226A (en) * 1943-11-09 1948-01-06 Albert & J M Anderson Mfg Co Electrical connector
US2497523A (en) * 1947-03-14 1950-02-14 Herman S Warkentin Electrical cable disconnect
US2745076A (en) * 1954-11-16 1956-05-08 Albert & J M Anderson Mfg Co Electrical connector
FR1121148A (en) * 1955-02-07 1956-07-23 Lignes Telegraph Telephon Symmetrical electrical junction system
US2891103A (en) * 1957-04-22 1959-06-16 Amp Inc Detachable block
US3188600A (en) * 1960-09-12 1965-06-08 Gen Motors Corp Terminal and mounting means

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2434226A (en) * 1943-11-09 1948-01-06 Albert & J M Anderson Mfg Co Electrical connector
US2497523A (en) * 1947-03-14 1950-02-14 Herman S Warkentin Electrical cable disconnect
US2745076A (en) * 1954-11-16 1956-05-08 Albert & J M Anderson Mfg Co Electrical connector
FR1121148A (en) * 1955-02-07 1956-07-23 Lignes Telegraph Telephon Symmetrical electrical junction system
US2891103A (en) * 1957-04-22 1959-06-16 Amp Inc Detachable block
US3188600A (en) * 1960-09-12 1965-06-08 Gen Motors Corp Terminal and mounting means

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6231361B1 (en) * 1999-12-21 2001-05-15 Ming-Shien Ko Shielded male electrical connector
US20070010108A1 (en) * 2005-07-05 2007-01-11 Yeen Soh Vivienne P Chessboard electrical connector
US7182608B2 (en) 2005-07-05 2007-02-27 Amphenol Corporation Chessboard electrical connector
CN105958247A (en) * 2016-04-29 2016-09-21 中航光电科技股份有限公司 Conductive contact and electric connector
CN105977678A (en) * 2016-04-29 2016-09-28 中航光电科技股份有限公司 Electric conduction contact component and electric connector using same
CN105958247B (en) * 2016-04-29 2019-03-29 中航光电科技股份有限公司 A kind of conductive contact piece and electric connector
EP3451461A4 (en) * 2016-04-29 2019-05-08 Avic Jonhon Optronic Technology Co., Ltd. Electrically conductive contact and electrical connector utilizing same
CN105977678B (en) * 2016-04-29 2019-09-10 中航光电科技股份有限公司 A kind of conductive contact piece and the electric connector using the conductive contact piece

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6700927A (en) 1967-08-21
BE694080A (en) 1967-07-17
CH458477A (en) 1968-06-30
FR1511964A (en) 1968-02-02

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Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: ALLIED CORPORATION COLUMBIA ROAD AND PARK AVENUE,

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:BUNKER RAMO CORPORATION A CORP. OF DE;REEL/FRAME:004149/0365

Effective date: 19820922