US3518614A - Receptacle device - Google Patents

Receptacle device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3518614A
US3518614A US779165A US3518614DA US3518614A US 3518614 A US3518614 A US 3518614A US 779165 A US779165 A US 779165A US 3518614D A US3518614D A US 3518614DA US 3518614 A US3518614 A US 3518614A
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United States
Prior art keywords
spring
springs
tube
pins
receptacle
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Expired - Lifetime
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US779165A
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Richard A Nyberg
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US Department of Navy
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US Department of Navy
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R33/00Coupling devices specially adapted for supporting apparatus and having one part acting as a holder providing support and electrical connection via a counterpart which is structurally associated with the apparatus, e.g. lamp holders; Separate parts thereof
    • H01R33/74Devices having four or more poles, e.g. holders for compact fluorescent lamps
    • H01R33/76Holders with sockets, clips, or analogous contacts adapted for axially-sliding engagement with parallely-arranged pins, blades, or analogous contacts on counterpart, e.g. electronic tube socket
    • H01R33/7664Holders with sockets, clips, or analogous contacts adapted for axially-sliding engagement with parallely-arranged pins, blades, or analogous contacts on counterpart, e.g. electronic tube socket having additional guiding, adapting, shielding, anti-vibration or mounting means

Definitions

  • Each of the coiled springs have an inner cylindrical region for receiving the connector pins of photomultiplier tubes or the like that are inserted through openings in one of the rotatable plates.
  • the diameters of the inner region of the coiled springs are simultaneously increased and when rotated in the other direction the diameters are decreased.
  • the diameters are increased this permits easy insertion of the tube connector pins.
  • a spring bias element causes rotation of the plates to decrease the diameter of the coiled springs to tightly grip the connector pins. Release of the connector pins is achieved by rotating the plates against the spring bias element to increase the diameter of the coiled springs and permit easy removal of the connector pins.
  • the present invention relates to receptable devices and more particularly to a receptacle device used for holding photomultiplier tubes or the like.
  • Effective receptacles for photomultiplier tubes and the like have the basic requirements that they be mechanically and electrically functional.
  • the receptacle must mechanically secure or hold the photomultiplier tube contact pins and effectively prevent shock and vibrations from injuring the photomultiplier tube.
  • Prior receptacles used for this purpose have employed high pressure flat springs and rather complicated retainers in each terminal of the receptacle. Because of the high pressure springs, insertion of the tube pins into the receptacle terminals required substantial force. With glass tubes having relatively frail glass mounting for the tube pins, it has been found that tube breakage can easily result when the tube is not perfectly aligned with the receptacle and force is used in an attempt to insert the tube.
  • the present invention overcomes this difficulty by providing a receptacle having a plurality of coiled springs that are positioned to receive each of the tube pins in the inner cylindrical open region of each of the coiled springs.
  • a mechanical system is provided for simultaneously increasing or decreasing the diameter of the coiled springs. When the diameter of the coiled springs is increased the inner cylindrical region of each coiled spring is increased thereby permitting easy insertion of the tube pins.
  • a mechanical spring bias element which biases each coiled spring, tending to decrease the diameter of the coiled springs, to tightly grip the tube pins Release of the tube pins is achieved by simultane' ously increasing the diameter of coiled springs thereby permitting easy removal of the tube pins.
  • FIG. 1 is a top elevation of the receptacle of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the bias spring assembly taken at line 22 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the receptacle taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a top elevation of upper plate 13
  • FIG. 5 is a bottom elevation of lower plate 15.
  • the primary components making up receptacle 11 of the present invention are upper plate 13, lower plate 15, a plurality of clamping spring assemblies 17, and a pair of bias spring assemblies 19 and 21.
  • upper plate 13 includes a plurality of terminal openings 23, a plurality of spring openings 25, tab 27, and a cup section 29.
  • Cup section 29 includes a downwardly extending cylindrical wall 31, a circular base 33 that has a concentric circular opening 35, and two spring holding slots 37 and 39.
  • spring holding slots 37 and 39 respectively include fingers 41 and 43, that respectively receive one end of bias springs 45 and 47.
  • the lower plate 15 includes a plurality of terminal openings 48, a plurality of spring openings 51, a plurality of terminal pins 53, tab 55, and a cup section 57.
  • Cup section 57 includes upwardly extending cylindrical wall 59, a circular base 61 that has a concentric circular opening 63, and two spring holding slots 65 and 67.
  • spring holding slots 65 and 67 respectively include fingers 69 and 71 that respectively receive one end of bias springs 45 and 47.
  • upper and lower plates 13 and 15 are sandwiched together, are axially aligned and are rotatable with respect to each other about sleeve 73 which is inserted through openings 35 and 63 and held in place by flanges 75 and 77. It should be noted that when assembled terminal openings 23 of upper plate 13 are in alignment with terminal openings 49 of lower plate 15.
  • each of clamping spring assemblies 17 comprises a coil spring 79 having an upper end 81 and a lower end 83.
  • the upper ends 81 of each of the springs are inserted through spring openings 25 of upper plate 13 for attachment thereto.
  • the lower ends of each of the springs are inserted through spring openings 51 of bottom plate 15 for attachment thereto.
  • Each of lower spring ends 83 are also attached to terminal pins 53 to provide electrical connection between the tube and external circuitry.
  • resistors 85 between terminal pins 53- as illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • a sleeve 87 surrounds coiled spring 79 to retain the spring and prevent excessive axial misalignment.
  • Each of the clamping spring assemblies 17 are axially aligned with their respective terminal openings 23 and 49.
  • terminal openings 23 are spaced apart on a circumference of upper plate 13 and have a substantially larger diameter than terminal pins 89 of the photomultiplier tube.
  • Terminal openings 49 are spaced apart on a circumference of lower plate 15 and preferably have diameters slightly larger than the diameter of terminal pins '89 of the photomultiplier tube which are inserted therethrough.
  • the inside diameter of each of coil springs 79 is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the photomultiplier tube pins 89. Since the ends of each spring are respectively fastened to the upper and lower plates, when tabs 27 and 55 are forced together, the rotation of the upper and lower plates are in opposite directions which causes the springs to be biased or unwound slightly.
  • each spring In this unwound condition, the inside diameter of each spring is slightly larger than it was in the unbiased or wound position, thus permitting the tube pins to be easily inserted within the springs.
  • the bias springs 45 and 47 cause the upper and lower plates to rotate in opposite direction and back to the position where the coil springs 79 are returned to their unbiased smaller diameter condition and exert a gripping force on each of the tube pins.
  • Appropriate stops, not shown, may be provided to limit the rotational travel in both directions.
  • the spring force on each of the tube pins results in the tube being securely held within the receptacle with excellent electrical connections being maintained between each of the tube pins and their corresponding coil springs.
  • a receptacle comprising:
  • said upper plate includes openings in alignment with each of said coil springs
  • said lower plate includes openings in alignment with each of said coil springs.
  • each of said coil springs is surrounded by a retainer for at least part of its length.
  • a mechanical spring bias is operatively connected to said upper and lower plates to rotate said upper and lower plates in one direction with respect to each other to simultaneously decrease the diameter of the inner cylindrical open region of each of said coil springs.
  • said upper plate includes a downwardly extending cup section having a base
  • said lower plate includes an upwardly extending cup section having a base
  • said base of said upper plate including a spring holding slot having a finger member extending into said slot;
  • said base of said lower plate including a spring holding slot having a finger member extending into said slot;

Description

June 38, 1970 R. A. NYBERG 3,513,614
RECEPTACLE DEVICE Filed Nov; 26, 1968 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F I g 3 INVENTOR.
RiCHARD A. NYBERG WW fig 07 A 'TOR/VEY J 30, 1976 R. A. NYBERG 3,518,614
RECEPTACLE DEVICE Filed Nov. 26, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 015cc Patented June 30, 1970 3,518,614 RECEPTACLE DEVICE Richard A. Nyberg, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Nov. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 779,165 Int. Cl. H01r 13/62 US. Cl. 33974 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A receptacle or socket having a plurality of coiled springs that are attached to and positioned between a pair of spaced apart rotatable plates. Each of the coiled springs have an inner cylindrical region for receiving the connector pins of photomultiplier tubes or the like that are inserted through openings in one of the rotatable plates. When the rotatable plates are rotated with respect to each other in one direction the diameters of the inner region of the coiled springs are simultaneously increased and when rotated in the other direction the diameters are decreased. When the diameters are increased this permits easy insertion of the tube connector pins. After the tube pins are inserted into the coiled springs, a spring bias element causes rotation of the plates to decrease the diameter of the coiled springs to tightly grip the connector pins. Release of the connector pins is achieved by rotating the plates against the spring bias element to increase the diameter of the coiled springs and permit easy removal of the connector pins.
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes Without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.
The present invention relates to receptable devices and more particularly to a receptacle device used for holding photomultiplier tubes or the like.
Effective receptacles for photomultiplier tubes and the like have the basic requirements that they be mechanically and electrically functional. The receptacle must mechanically secure or hold the photomultiplier tube contact pins and effectively prevent shock and vibrations from injuring the photomultiplier tube. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide a positive electrical contact between the photomultiplier tube and the receptacle for all conditions of operation. In addition, it is quite desirable that the photomultiplier tube be readily inserted and removed from the receptacle.
Prior receptacles used for this purpose have employed high pressure flat springs and rather complicated retainers in each terminal of the receptacle. Because of the high pressure springs, insertion of the tube pins into the receptacle terminals required substantial force. With glass tubes having relatively frail glass mounting for the tube pins, it has been found that tube breakage can easily result when the tube is not perfectly aligned with the receptacle and force is used in an attempt to insert the tube.
The present invention overcomes this difficulty by providing a receptacle having a plurality of coiled springs that are positioned to receive each of the tube pins in the inner cylindrical open region of each of the coiled springs. A mechanical system is provided for simultaneously increasing or decreasing the diameter of the coiled springs. When the diameter of the coiled springs is increased the inner cylindrical region of each coiled spring is increased thereby permitting easy insertion of the tube pins. After the tube pins are inserted into the coiled springs, a mechanical spring bias element is employed which biases each coiled spring, tending to decrease the diameter of the coiled springs, to tightly grip the tube pins Release of the tube pins is achieved by simultane' ously increasing the diameter of coiled springs thereby permitting easy removal of the tube pins.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top elevation of the receptacle of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the bias spring assembly taken at line 22 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the receptacle taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a top elevation of upper plate 13; and
FIG. 5 is a bottom elevation of lower plate 15.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings the primary components making up receptacle 11 of the present invention are upper plate 13, lower plate 15, a plurality of clamping spring assemblies 17, and a pair of bias spring assemblies 19 and 21.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, upper plate 13 includes a plurality of terminal openings 23, a plurality of spring openings 25, tab 27, and a cup section 29. Cup section 29 includes a downwardly extending cylindrical wall 31, a circular base 33 that has a concentric circular opening 35, and two spring holding slots 37 and 39. As best depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, spring holding slots 37 and 39 respectively include fingers 41 and 43, that respectively receive one end of bias springs 45 and 47.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 the lower plate 15 includes a plurality of terminal openings 48, a plurality of spring openings 51, a plurality of terminal pins 53, tab 55, and a cup section 57. Cup section 57 includes upwardly extending cylindrical wall 59, a circular base 61 that has a concentric circular opening 63, and two spring holding slots 65 and 67. As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, spring holding slots 65 and 67 respectively include fingers 69 and 71 that respectively receive one end of bias springs 45 and 47.
As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, upper and lower plates 13 and 15 are sandwiched together, are axially aligned and are rotatable with respect to each other about sleeve 73 which is inserted through openings 35 and 63 and held in place by flanges 75 and 77. It should be noted that when assembled terminal openings 23 of upper plate 13 are in alignment with terminal openings 49 of lower plate 15.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 each of clamping spring assemblies 17 comprises a coil spring 79 having an upper end 81 and a lower end 83. The upper ends 81 of each of the springs are inserted through spring openings 25 of upper plate 13 for attachment thereto. The lower ends of each of the springs are inserted through spring openings 51 of bottom plate 15 for attachment thereto. Each of lower spring ends 83 are also attached to terminal pins 53 to provide electrical connection between the tube and external circuitry. When used with photomultiplier tubes it may be desirable to connect resistors 85 between terminal pins 53- as illustrated in FIG. 5. A sleeve 87 surrounds coiled spring 79 to retain the spring and prevent excessive axial misalignment. Each of the clamping spring assemblies 17 are axially aligned with their respective terminal openings 23 and 49.
It should be particularly noted that terminal openings 23 are spaced apart on a circumference of upper plate 13 and have a substantially larger diameter than terminal pins 89 of the photomultiplier tube. Terminal openings 49 are spaced apart on a circumference of lower plate 15 and preferably have diameters slightly larger than the diameter of terminal pins '89 of the photomultiplier tube which are inserted therethrough. In the relaxed or unbiased condition the inside diameter of each of coil springs 79 is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the photomultiplier tube pins 89. Since the ends of each spring are respectively fastened to the upper and lower plates, when tabs 27 and 55 are forced together, the rotation of the upper and lower plates are in opposite directions which causes the springs to be biased or unwound slightly. In this unwound condition, the inside diameter of each spring is slightly larger than it was in the unbiased or wound position, thus permitting the tube pins to be easily inserted within the springs. When the tabs are released, the bias springs 45 and 47 cause the upper and lower plates to rotate in opposite direction and back to the position where the coil springs 79 are returned to their unbiased smaller diameter condition and exert a gripping force on each of the tube pins. Appropriate stops, not shown, may be provided to limit the rotational travel in both directions. The spring force on each of the tube pins results in the tube being securely held within the receptacle with excellent electrical connections being maintained between each of the tube pins and their corresponding coil springs.
Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that Within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
What is claimed is:
1. A receptacle comprising:
(a) a plurality of coil springs each having an inner cylindrical open region for receiving longitudinally extending members;
(b) an upper plate and a lower plate;
(c) means for maintaining said upper and lower plates in spaced relation and rotatable with respect to each other; i
((1) said plurality of coil springs positioned between said upper and lower plates, the lower end of each of said springs being connected to said lowerplate and the upper end of each of said springs being connected to said upper plate;
(e) said upper plate includes openings in alignment with each of said coil springs;
(f) whereby rotation of said upper plate with respect to said lower plate causes a change in cross-sectional diameter of each of said coil springs; and
(g) said lower plate includes openings in alignment with each of said coil springs.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein:
(a) each of said coil springs is surrounded by a retainer for at least part of its length.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein:
(a) the diameter of the openings in said upper plate are substantially larger than the diameter of the inner cylindrical open region of said coil springs.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein:
(a) a mechanical spring bias is operatively connected to said upper and lower plates to rotate said upper and lower plates in one direction with respect to each other to simultaneously decrease the diameter of the inner cylindrical open region of each of said coil springs.
5'. The device of claim .3 wherein:
(a) said upper plate includes a downwardly extending cup section having a base;
(b) said lower plate includes an upwardly extending cup section having a base; and
(c) a sleeve operably connected to said bases of said cup sections of said upper and lower plates to permit relative rotation of said upper and lower plates with respect to each other.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein:
(a) said base of said upper plate including a spring holding slot having a finger member extending into said slot;
(b) said base of said lower plate including a spring holding slot having a finger member extending into said slot;
(0) said slots of said upper and lower plates being in vertical alignment and the finger members of each of said slots being opposite with respect to each other;
(d) a bias spring positioned in said slots with one end inserted over one finger member and the other end inserted over the other finger member.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,785,239 12/1930 Alden 339193 XR 2,635,131 4/1953 Greatbatch 173-328 OTHER REFERENCES IBM Tech. Bulletin, Kennedy et al., Pluggable Wire Wrapping Connector, June 1963, vol. 6, No. 1, p. 36.
RICHAlRD E. MOOlRE, Primary Examiner L. J. STAAB, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 339193
US779165A 1968-11-26 1968-11-26 Receptacle device Expired - Lifetime US3518614A (en)

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3990760A (en) * 1975-08-22 1976-11-09 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Electrical connector for wire leads
US5439393A (en) * 1994-04-18 1995-08-08 Watson; Troy M. Helical zero insertion force connector for coaxial cables
US20060046550A1 (en) * 2004-08-30 2006-03-02 Andre Lalonde Optical package alignment and test module
US20060079871A1 (en) * 2004-10-13 2006-04-13 Sherwood Services Ag Universal foot switch contact port
US20130012047A1 (en) * 2010-03-24 2013-01-10 Nhk Spring Co., Ltd. Connector

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1785239A (en) * 1926-08-12 1930-12-16 Robert S Allyn Support for vacuum tubes
US2635131A (en) * 1951-04-04 1953-04-14 Jr William H Greatbatch Spring lock socket

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1785239A (en) * 1926-08-12 1930-12-16 Robert S Allyn Support for vacuum tubes
US2635131A (en) * 1951-04-04 1953-04-14 Jr William H Greatbatch Spring lock socket

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3990760A (en) * 1975-08-22 1976-11-09 Gte Sylvania Incorporated Electrical connector for wire leads
US5439393A (en) * 1994-04-18 1995-08-08 Watson; Troy M. Helical zero insertion force connector for coaxial cables
US20060046550A1 (en) * 2004-08-30 2006-03-02 Andre Lalonde Optical package alignment and test module
US7503789B2 (en) * 2004-08-30 2009-03-17 Finisar Corporation Optical package alignment and test module
US20060079871A1 (en) * 2004-10-13 2006-04-13 Sherwood Services Ag Universal foot switch contact port
US7628786B2 (en) * 2004-10-13 2009-12-08 Covidien Ag Universal foot switch contact port
US20130012047A1 (en) * 2010-03-24 2013-01-10 Nhk Spring Co., Ltd. Connector
US8814586B2 (en) * 2010-03-24 2014-08-26 Nhk Spring Co., Ltd. Connector

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