US3771099A

US3771099A - Single-pole electrical connector

Info

Publication number: US3771099A
Application number: US00158856A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Dinse
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-08-20
Filing date: 1971-07-01
Publication date: 1973-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-06
Also published as: JPS5132311B1; FR2104564A5; SE384301B; GB1362273A

Abstract

An electrical connector for electrical and other supply connections, the connections interfitting endwise to prevent relative rotation, and a housing part to move endwise and rotatably of one connector to receive and interlock with the other connector to hold the connectors firmly together.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,771,099

Dinse 1 Nov. 6, 1973 [541, SINGLE-POLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Rl3,138 7/1910 Robinson 339/16 R 3,082,394 3/1963 Hahn et a1. [761 g Kmlgsrelhe 3,195,095 7/1955 Field 339/16 R ermany [22] Filed y 1 1971 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS A N 158 28,720 12/1911 Great Britain 339/16 R Primary Examiner-Joseph H. MeGlynn [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Attorney-H. Dale Palmatier et a1.

Aug. 20, 1970 Germany P 20 41 290.2

[5 7] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 339/16 R, 339/90 R [51 l Int. Cl H011- 13/54 An electncal connector electrlcal and other s upply [58] Field 6156111611 339/15 16 90 mnectims, mnmctms emiwse prevent relative rotation, and a housing part to move [56] References Cited endwise and rotatably of one connector to receive and interlock with the other connector to hold the connec- UNITED STATES PATENTS tors firmly together. 3,523,266 8/1970 Wetzig et a1 339/15 2,864,628 12/1958 Edleson 339/16 R 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures sir/1.09s

PATENTEDNBV s 1915 3mm 1 or 3 9 V//////// l- L 8% WWI d 4

l L I SHEET

2 or 3 PATENTED HUY 6 m5 SINGLE-POLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a single-pole electrical plug-in connector whose plug and socket bodies can be coupled together by a process of insertion into one another followed by relative rotation.

Already, the most varied kinds of electrical plug-in connections are known, in which a retainer pin is provided which, after the elements have been inserted into one another, engage in a groove in order by rotation to establish an electrical contact; In one specific plug-in connector of this kind, the retainer pin is formed at the periphery of the plug body. When the two bodies are inserted into one another, this retainer pin slides in a longitudinal groove in the socket body. The longitudinal groove opens into a helical groove, and the retainer pin and groove are so disposed in relation to one another that the plug body, by rotation of the two bodies in relation to one another, is drawn into the socket body so that a pressure is developed which is conducive to good electrical conduction.

The object of the present invention is to create a single-pole plug-in connector of the kind introductorily described, which, in addition to the main current connection, enables additional utility lines, such as electrical control or gas or coolant supply lines to be connected as well.

This object is achieved in that one of the two bodies is assigned additional electrical and/or other supply connections; and in that the corresponding connections on the other body are co-rotationally disposed.

By virtue of the fact that the additional connections on one body are co-rotationally disposed, it is possible to couple the two bodies together by rotating them in rotation to one another, in order thus to transmit the main current in the coaxial conductor, and thus to ensure that said current is transmitted properly. The facility for co-rotation of the additional connections for utility lines such as control or supply lines, makes it possible to combine them with the known plug-in connector used to transmit the main current.

The additional connections can be used for linking the most varied kinds of utility lines. For example, these carry the electrical control lines. In addition to electrical control through these lines, it is also possible to effect control through the main line, by altering the frequency of the main current. The connectors can also be used, however, to link or join other utility lines for carrying gas, water and other coolants and heating media. Whatever additional utility or supply lines are provided, depends upon the particular application.

Advantageously, a driver is provided in order to ensure that the correspondingly disposed body is corotated. This driver can, in turn, advantageously be constituted by one or more of the connections so that it is not necessary to provide a separate element for the purpose, this connection or connections forming the drive function itself/themselves.

In accordance with a further constructional embodiment of the connector in accordance with the invention, the co-rotatable connections can advantageously be formed upon a rotatable insert. This embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the rotatable insert is disposed in the housing of the associated body. This embodiment not only guarantees straigntforward operation, but also an economical one to manufacture.

The said rotatable insert, in one embodiment, is formed in the socket body.

Considered in detail, this connector, which is equipped with a rotatable insert, can be so designed that said insert is displaceable by the plug body against the force of the spring and, after a specific translational movement, can be rotated away from an initial position. From the constructional point of view, this connector is so designed that the plug body is equipped in the conventional way with the retainer pin and the socket body with a longitudinal groove for guiding said pin in, plus a rising annular groove for clamping the two bodies together; and that the rotatable insert, with its co-rotatable actions, is fixed, in its undisplaced initial position, in a specific angular position vis-a-vis the longitudinal groove, the connections of the plug body being adapted to this angular position by virtue of their angular relationship to the retainer pin. This is a particularly convenient embodiment.

In this embodiment, a detent pin can be provided in the socket body, which pin, with the rotatable insert in its initial position, locates in a longitudinal detent groove therein, the length of which matches the extent of the translatory motion (of the rotatable insert) in which no rotational movements can take place. This ensures that first of all the desired contact is established at the connections, whereupon, after the socket and plug bodies have been telescoped together, rotation can take place. Conveniently, the longitudinal detent groove is formed in a ring flange on the rotatable insert, said flange simultaneously doing duty as a seat for one end of the spring.

In accordance with a further constructional embodiment, the connections (contacts, etc.) of the two bodie s, can be arranged in end covers thereof. These end covers can, in turn, be made of an insulating material, for example, a suitable synthetic material, so that the individual connections are insulated from one another. Also, economic manufacture is thus made possible. The manufacture of the end cover from synthetic material also makes it possible to simultaneously form sealing elements in it so that additional O-rings or the like are unnecessary.

'If the connections are of the plug-in type, then simultaneously they can, if required, perform the driver function too.

The insert as well will advantageously be formed as an insulating body in order to insulate the individual lines in relation to one another.

In one embodiment, the projecting parts (plug contacts) of the individual plug-in connections, will be arranged above the rotatable insert.

In order to protect the connections against damage, they can be disposed in a recessed fashion. This will advantageously be contrived by arranging for the housing of the associated body to project beyond the connections. a

The plug-in connector in accordance with the invention is particularly suitable for welding equipmentin which not only must there be a good connection for the main current between the welding machine and the welding gun, but also between the gun and the additional utilities or supply and control lines.

In a plug-in connector of this kind, for welding equipment, it is advantageous for one pair of contacts to be disposed centrally and to be used to connect the guide tube for the endless filler rod which is melted and consumed in the welding operation. This rod or wire is thus guided in an unrestricted manner. The path of the wire is not disturbed, either, by the rotation involved in establishing the plug-in connection in accordance with the invention.

If central connections of this kind are provided, then advantageously these will engage with one another in taper or cone form in order to ensure not only good guidance but also a clean plug connection.

If the welding machine is one which uses other utilities such as shield gas and coolant, then a pair of connectors will be provided to link the lines for the shield gas and another pair for the, coolant lines. The other connectors are used to link other utility lines such as control lines for switching the welding current on and off.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail making reference to an example illustrated in the drawing, for example concerning a plug-in connection for shielded arc welding machines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view of one embodiment of a plug-in connector in accordance with the invention, prior to the fitting together of the two halves of the connector;

FIG. 2 is a section through the illustration of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragment of the section of FIG. 2, after the assembly together of the two plug halves;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the end of the plug body and showing the end face of the plug body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The plug-in connector illustrated in the drawing is indicated in general by numeral 40 consists of a plug and a socket which are designed, in addition to the contents of carrying the relatively heavy welding current, to link with one another several other supply lines. The plug has the various utility or supply lines taken to it in a bunch within a sleeve 1. The actual plug body 21 is arranged in a housing 2 which projects at 20 in order to protect the exposed section of the plug body. The housing consists of rubber or some similar material.

The socket body 8 illustrated opposite the plug body is likewise protected by a rubber sleeve 3. Over the socket body, two insulating sleeves 4 and 6 are slid between which the fixing plate for the socket is located. Attachment is effected by means of a nut 7 and a spring ring 9. The socket body 8 is at this end provided with an external thread. Between the socket body and the tapered hollow screw 11, the supply line 10 for the welding current, is clamped. The hollow screw has an external thread which mates with a corresponding internal thread in the socket body.

The line for the welding current to the plug, is in the form of a hollow conductor 17 which is clamped between a conical screw 18 and a corresponding conical nut 19. The nut 19 is in turn screwed into the plug body 21.

Extending centrally through the connector 40 is a two part guide tube and main current conductor 13 for the welding rod or wire. This guide tube terminates in the plug body 21, at a flared plug-in connector 13a located at the end face of the plug body and in the socket body 8 at a tapered plug-in connector 13b which fits with the connector 13a. The connector 13a is arranged in an end cover 25 made of synthetic material, in the plug body 21. Also, a two part utility line 14 in the form of a conduit or tube for the shield gas passes through the connector 40. The ends of this line 14 are linked through tubular sections 24 with corresponding plug-in connectors 14a and 14b which enter one another. The connector 14a is located at the end face of plug body 21 and in the end cover 25 thereof. Instead of or in addition to this line 14, a water and/or a compressed air line can be provided. Finally, two additionally two part utility lines in the form of electrical control signal conductors 15 for welder controlling electrical signals pass through the connector 40. These are clamped by screws 16 and linked with plug-in connectors 15a and 15b which enter one another. The connection 15a is likewise arranged at the end face of the plug body 21 in the end cover 25.

In the socket body 8 there is assembled a displaceable and rotatable insert 12 of synthetic material through which the guide tube 13, gas duct 14, and signal conductor 15b extend. This insert 12 is displaceable against the load of the spring 33, this in fact by means of the plug body 21 when assembled with the socket body 8. Arranged in the socket body 8 is a detent pin 30 which projects into a longitudinal detent groove 31 contained in a flange 29 of the insert 12. This detent pin 30 prevents the rotation of the insert 12 until the longitudinal detent groove has been displaced beyond the range of the detent pin, during the insertion of the plug body. The spring 33 seats between the flange 29 of insert 12 and one end of the conical hollow screw 11 which is secured to socket body 8.

Centrally in the rotatableinsert 12 is one part of the guide tube and main conductor 13 for the filler rod. The plug-in connector 13b of this guide tube 13 is conical or tapered, i.e., has a chamfer the angle of which corresponds with the flare in the plug-in connector 13a.

In the socket body 8, an opening 8a is provided the internal diameter of which corresponds with the external diameter of the front section of the plug body 21. A longitudinal keyway groove 27 guides the retainer or keying pin 22 when plug and socket bodies are slid together. These two bodies are then tightened into contact with one another by rotating them in relation to one another so that the retainer pin 22 enters the helical groove 28 of socket body 8. When this happens, the socket body 8 is tightened into contact with the conical surface 26 on the plug body so that good conduction of the relatively heavy current is ensured at the assembled pair of plug-in connectors 13a, 13b.

The assembly of the connection is effected by moving the plug body 21 into the socket body 8. As this happens, the protective section 20 of the housing 2 enshrouds the corresponding rubber sleeve 3. The retainer pin 22 is guided in the longitudinal groove 27 and at the same time the associated

connectors

13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a and 15b enter one another and are joined together by simple, endwise movement and are held together under the continuous pressure of spring 33". When an adequate initial connection has been es tablished the insert 12 will have been displaced sufficiently far so that its rotation is no longer prevented by the detent pin 30 since at this stage it has left the longitudinal detent groove 31. If, now, the plug body 21 is rotated relative to socket body 8, in order to tighten up in the region of the conical surface 26, by operation of the retainer pin 22 in the helical groove 28, the

plugin connectors

14a, 14b, 15a and 15b act as drivers so that the rotatable insert 12 is rotated along with them and plug body 21 and thus the joints already established at the connectors are drawn snugly together. Because of the conical or tapered design of the connectors 13a, 13b, good centering is achieved. After the assembly of the connector 40,.the condition shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. Thus, the plug body 21 has been moved in the direction of its own longitudinal axis as indicated by the arrow A. The insert 12 was displaced by a smaller extent in the longitudinal direction, as indicated by the arrow B. The arrow C indicates thatthe insert 12 can rotate within socket body 8. In the illustration of FIG. 3, the plug body (see retainer pin 22) occupies the same position as in the illustration of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows that in the present embodiment, in addition to the line for the welding current there are three other supply lines provided. These are the two electrical control lines 15 whose connector 15a are shown in FIG. 2. These lines are part of an electrical control circuit for transmission of control signals by means of which the welding current is switched on or off. Furthermore, the connector 13a is provided for the guide tube 13 and the connector 14a for the shield gas line 14.

What is claimed is:

1. A single pole electrical connector for conducting a main current and an auxiliary utility, comprising:

a plug body having an end face and an elongate socket body removably receiving the plug body therein, the plug and socket bodies having interfitting means permitting relative rotation between the plug body and the socket body and about a longitudinally extending axis and said interfitting means drawing said bodies tightly together by reason of such rotation,

an insulated rotatable insert in the elongate socket body and movable relative to the socket body both longitudinally and rotatably relative to such axis, and spring means restraining endwise movement of the rotatable insert in the socket body away from the plug body, and urging the rotatable insert toward the socket body, the rotatable insert having an end face confronting the end face of the plug body,

a main electrical current conductor in two endwise separable parts connected together by a pair of interfitting and endwise separable plug-in connectors, the two parts of the current conductor respectively extending longitudinally through the plug body and the insulated insert and being affixed therein, said interfitting connectors of said pair of plug-in connectors being respectively disposed at the confronting end faces of the plug body and insert,

an auxiliary utility line in two endwise separable parts connected together by a pair of interfitting and endwise separable plug-in utility connectors, the I both of said pairs of endwise separable conductor and utility plug-in connectors being functionally assembled upon relative convergent endwise movement of the plug body and rotatable insert, and one of said pairs of plug-in connectors being spaced from the rotation axis of the socket body and plug body and rotatable insert and said last-mentioned one pair of plug-in connectors also being functionally assembled upon initial endwise assembly of the plug body and socket body and producing rotation of the insert with the plug body as the plug body is rotated and drawn into the socket body and toward the insert to draw the main current and utility plu gin connectors snugly togethen A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said utility line is a conduit for fluid flow and said plug-in utility connectors define a passage providing fluid flow communication therethrough.

3. A connector for welding equipment to which endless filler rod or wire is supplied, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main current conductor comprises a guide tube for the endless filler rod or wire consumed in a welding operation. i

4. The connector according to claim 1 and the two part main conductor and" main conductor plug-in connectors thereof being disposed along the axial center of the relatively rotatable plug and socket bodies and the rotatable insert, and

the two part utility line and the utility plug-in connectors thereof are spaced outwardly from said axial center to produce rotation of the insert with the plug body. 5. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said utility line is a conductor for electriccontrol signals and said utility connector transmits such control signals.

6. The connector according to claim 1 and the plug and socket bodies having guide means including a transverse keying pin on the plug body and a longitudinal keyway groove in the socket body requiring predetermined rotational orientation of the plug and socket bodies relative to each other before endwise assembly with each other, and releaseable detent means holding said rotatable insert in predetermined rotational orientation within the socket body to align and interfit the plug-in connectors for assembly, after which the insert is longitudinally displaced by the plug body and plug-in connectors interfitting with each other until the detent means releases the insert to revolve with the plug body and said interfitting means for drawing the plug and socket bodies tightly together.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 6, and said detent means including a detent pin on the socket body and a longitudinally extending endwise open detent groove in the rotatable insert receiving the detent pin when the insert is in its initial position, the length of said endwise open detent groove corresponding to the longitudinal groove of the guide means to release the insert for rotation when the keying pin clears the end of the keyway groove.

8. A connector as claimed in claim 7, and said rotatable insert having an annular flange seating said spring and defining the longitudinal detent groove, the groove extending endwise through the flange.

9. A single pole electrical connector for conducting a main current and auxiliary utilities, comprising:

elongate conductive socket body removably receiving the plug body therein, the socket body having an internal socket with an open end to receive the plug body and the socket having a helical groove around the inner periphery thereof and a longitudinal keyway groove at the internal periphery adjacent the open end and providing endwise access to the helical groove, the plug body having a transverse external keying pin to fit in said longitudinal and helical grooves to draw the plug and socket bodies together by reason of rotation of the plug body relative to the socket body,

an elongate and insulating rotatable insert in the socket body and being rotatable and displaceable in an endwise direction, spring means restraining endwise movement of the rotatable insert in the socket body away from the plug body and continuously urging the rotatable insert toward the plug body, the rotatable insert also having an end face confronting the end face of the plug body,

main electrical current conductor in two endwise separable parts respectively extending coaxially through and affixed in the plug body and rotatable insert, a pair of endwise assembleable and separable interfitting connectors each affixed on one of said endwise separable conductor parts and interfitting with each other adjacent the confronting end faces of the plug body and rotatable insert,

a pair of auxiliary utility lines each in two endwise a conductive plug body having an end face, and an separable parts connected together by a pair of interfitting plug-in utility connectors, the two parts of each of the utility lines respectively extending longitudinally through and affixed in the plug body and rotatable insert and in outwardly spaced relation from and along the main electrical current conductor, the interfitting plug-in utility connectors being disposed at the confronting end faces of the plug body and rotatable insert and said plug-in utility connectors producing rotation of the insert the plug-in connectors being drawn snugly together upon rotation of the plug body along the helical groove in the socket body to produce movement of the plug body against the rotatable insert and endwise displacement of the rotatable insert against the pressure of the spring means.

Claims

1. A single pole electrical connector for conducting a main current and an auxiliary utility, comprising: a plug body having an end face and an elongate socket body removably receiving the plug body therein, the plug and socket bodies having interfitting means permitting relative rotation between the plug body and the socket body and about a longitudinally extending axis and said interfitting means drawing said bodies tightly together by reason of such rotation, an insulated rotatable insert in the elongate socket body and movable relative to the socket body both longitudinally and rotatably relative to such axis, and spring means restraining endwise movement of the rotatable insert in the socket body away from the plug body, and urging the rotatable insert toward the socket body, the rotatable insert having an end face confronting the end face of the plug body, a main electrical current conductor in two endwise separable parts connected together by a pair of interfitting and endwise separable plug-in connectors, the two parts of the current conductor respectively extending longitudinally through the plug body and the insulated insert and being affixed therein, said interfitting connectors of said pair of plug-in connectors being respectively disposed at the confronting end faces of the plug body and insert, an auxiliary utility line in two endwise separable parts connected together by a pair of interfitting and endwise separable plug-in utility connectors, the two parts of the utility line respectively extending longitudinally through the plug body and rotatable insert and being secured therein in spaced and side by side relation with the endwise separable parts of the current conductor, said interfitting plug-in utility connectors of the pair of utility connectors being respectively disposed at the confronting end faces of the plug body and insert, both of said pairs of endwise separable conductor and utility plug-in connectors being functionally assembled upon relative convergent endwise movement of the plug body and rotatable insert, and one of said pairs of plug-in connectors being spaced from the rotation axis of the socket body and plug body and rotatable insert and said last-mentioned one pair of plugin connectors also being functionally assembled upon initial endwise assembly of the plug body and socket body and producing rotation of the insert with the plug body as the plug body is rotated and drawn into the socket body and toward the insert to draw the main current and utility plug-in connectors snugly together.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said utility line is a conduit for fluid flow and said plug-in utility connectors define a passage providing fluid flow communication therethrough.

3. A connector for welding equipment to which endless filler rod or wire is supplied, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main current conductor comprises a guide tube for the endless filler rod or wire consumed in a welding operation.

4. The connector according to claim 1 and the two part main conductor and main conductor plug-in connectors thereof being disposed along the axial center of the relatively rotatable plug and socket bodies and the rotatable insert, and the two part utility line and the utility plug-in connectors thereof are spaced outwardly from said axial center to produce rotation of the insert with the plug body.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said utility line is a conductor for electric control signals and said utility connector transmits such control signals.

9. A single pole electrical connector for conducting a main current and auxiliary utilities, comprising: a conductive plug body having an end face, and an elongate conductive socket body removably receiving the plug body therein, the socket body having an internal socket with an open end to receive the plug body and the socket having a helical groove around the inner periphery thereof and a longitudinal keyway groove at the internal periphery adjacent the open end and providing endwise access to the helical groove, the plug body having a transverse external keying pin to fit in said longitudinal and helical grooves to draw the plug and socket bodies together by reason of rotation of the plug body relative to the socket body, an elongate and insulating rotatable insert in the socket body and being rotatable and displaceable in an endwise direction, spring means restraining endwise movement of the rotatable insert in the socket body away from the plug body and continuously urging the rotatable insert toward the plug body, the rotatable insert also having an end face confronting the end face of the plug body, a main electrical current conductor in two endwise separable parts respectively extending coaxially through and affixed in the plug body and rotatable insert, a pair of endwise assembleable and separable interfitting connectors each affixed on one of said endwise separable conductor parts and interfitting with each other adjacent the confronting end faces of the plug body and rotatable insert, a pair of auxiliary utility lines each in two endwise separable parts connected together by a pair of interfitting plug-in utility connectors, the two parts of each of the utility lines respectively extending longitudinally through and affixed in the plug body and rotatable insert and in outwardly spaced relation from and along the main electrical current conductor, the interfitting plug-in utility connectors being disposed at the confronting end faces of the plug body and rotatable insert and said plug-in utility connectors producing rotation of the insert with rotation of the plug body relative to the socket body, the socket body and rotatable insert having cooperating detent means including respectively a transversely extending detent pin and a longitudinally extending detent groove receiving the detent pin and maintaining a predetermined rotational orientation of the rotatable insert with respect to the socket body, but permitting longitudinal movement of the insert to separate the detent pin and detent groove and thereafter permit rotation of the insert in the socket body as the plug body is revolved to draw the plug and socket bodies together, the plug-in connectors being drawn snugly together upon rotation of the plug body along the helical groove in the socket body to produce movement of the plug body against the rotatable insert and endwise displacement of the rotatable insert against the pressure of the spring means.