US3839697A - Connector for automatically establishing electric connections between vehicles, particularly between railroad vehicles - Google Patents

Connector for automatically establishing electric connections between vehicles, particularly between railroad vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
US3839697A
US3839697A US00326195A US32619573A US3839697A US 3839697 A US3839697 A US 3839697A US 00326195 A US00326195 A US 00326195A US 32619573 A US32619573 A US 32619573A US 3839697 A US3839697 A US 3839697A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
bush
connector
contact elements
male contact
connection member
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
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US00326195A
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English (en)
Inventor
L Obert
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Burndy Electra SpA
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Burndy Electra SpA
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Publication date
Application filed by Burndy Electra SpA filed Critical Burndy Electra SpA
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Publication of US3839697A publication Critical patent/US3839697A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61G—COUPLINGS; DRAUGHT AND BUFFING APPLIANCES
    • B61G5/00—Couplings for special purposes not otherwise provided for
    • B61G5/06—Couplings for special purposes not otherwise provided for for, or combined with, couplings or connectors for fluid conduits or electric cables
    • B61G5/10—Couplings for special purposes not otherwise provided for for, or combined with, couplings or connectors for fluid conduits or electric cables for electric cables
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
    • B60L2200/00—Type of vehicles
    • B60L2200/26—Rail vehicles
    • 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
    • H01R13/4538—Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement

Definitions

  • Said connector comprises two connection members each of which comprises male contact elements and female contact elements secured to it; a bush provided with holes for housing corresponding male contact elements and slidable axially relative to the corresponding connection member, so as to expose apart of said male contact elements; projecting portion provided on each connection members and on each bush, each of said projecting portions, in the position in which said bush does not expose the male contact elements, surrounding at least part of a corresponding male contact element so as to electrically insulate the same from the adjacent ones.
  • This invention relates to a connector adapted to automatically establish electric connections between vehicles, particularly between railroad vehicles, which enables to establish a very high number of connection without encountering any difficulty' and by means of which a perfect insulation of the contact'elements of the connector can be attained.
  • the connectors of the kind referred to above comprise two substantially equal connection members, each of which is of cylindrical shape and is provided with male and female contact elements.
  • the female contact elements are housed in a first portion of each connection member, which is substantially defined by a plane passing through the axis of said member, whilst the male contact elements are instead secured to a second portion of the same member and housed in holes of a half-bush mounted slidably in axial direction relative to said member.
  • This half-bush is biased by helical springs coaxial with the male contact elements, which, in the position ofrest of the corresponding connection member, normally hold the front face of said half-bush aligned with the front face of the first portion of said connection member.
  • each connection member will apply an axial force to the corresponding half-bushing of the other member, so as to displace the same in an axial direction and thus expose the male contact elements which are thereby inserted into the female contact elements.
  • the major drawback of the connectors just described resides in the fact that, when either said contact elements are coupled together or not, the insulation between a contact elementsand those adjacent thereto is not established by means of an insulating material proper but, in some areas, such insulation is given by the air only, which, as is well known, in particular conditions is not adapted to establish a perfect insulation.
  • a connector for establishing electric connections between vehicles, particularly between railroad vehicles comprising two connection members each of which comprises:
  • a bush provided with holes for housing corresponding male contact elements and slidable axially relative to the corresponding connection member, so as to expose apart of said male contact elements;
  • each of said projecting portions in the position in which said bush does not expose the male contact elements, surrounding at least part of a corresponding male contact element so as to electrically insulate the same from the adjacent ones, and the shape of said projecting portions being such as to allow each projecting portion of a connection member not to interfere with the corresponding projecting portion of said bush when the latter is displaced axially to expose a part of said male contact elements.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of one connection member of the connector in accordance with the present invention, in its rest position;
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the connection member shown in FIG. 1, in its position of use, i.e., in the position where a similar connection member, which is displaced by relative to the first member, will apply to the latter an axial force sufficient to displace a bush provided thereon;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, showing some components comprising the connection member of FIGS. 1 and 2;
  • FIG. 4 shows a front view of the connection member of FIGS. 1 and 2, partially in section along lines IV-IV;
  • FIG. 5 shows a side view, partly in section, of part of the connection member of FIG. 4, alonglines V-V;
  • FIG. 6 shows a vertical section of the connection member of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 7 shows a section similar to that of the preceding figure, i. e., when the member shown in said figure has been coupled with the other connection member of the connector.
  • the connector in accordance with the present invention comprises two substantially equal connection members, one of which, indicated at l, is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, whilst the other, indicated at 2, can be seen in FIG. 7 only, where it is coupled with the firstmentioned connection member.
  • connection member comprises substantially a support 3 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) which comprises, in turn, a base 4 and a projecting portion 5 (FIG. 3), laterally defined by two cylindrical surfaces, 6 and 6' respectively, and by a substantially flat surface substantially passing through the axis of said support. Between the two cylindrical surfaces 6, 6', which are of different diameter, a step 7 is provided.
  • Male contact elements 11 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) and female contact elements 12 are fastened to the base 4 of said support 3.
  • the former are secured to the portion of the base 4 (FIG. 6) which is free from the projecting portion 5, whereas the latter are fastened to the remaining part of said base and housed inside corresponding holes 13 of said projecting portion.
  • Each contact element ll, 12, known per se, substantially comprises a cylindrical connecting section 14 (FIGS. 3, 6 and 7), which is adapted to be connected, in any suitable manner, with a corresponding electric conductor 15.
  • Each male contact element 11 is of substantially cylindrical shape and is provided with longitudinal slots 17, whilst each female contact element 12 is in the form of a bush, also provided with slots 17.
  • the cylindrical connecting section 14 of each contact contact element comprises an annular ridge 21 which can be housed in a corresponding hole or recess 22 provided in a cylindrical plate 23. This plate is disposed behind the support 3 (FIG. 6), so that its surface 24 (FIGS. 3 and 6) will be in contact with the corresponding surface 25 of said support.
  • each contact element 11, 12 is locked on one connection member 1 or 2 by disposing the corresponding annular ridge 21 inside the hole 22 of the plate 23 associated therewith and by bringing the surface 24 of the latter in contact with the corresponding surface 25 of the support 3.
  • each connection member 1, 2 is provided with five male contact elements 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and five female contact elements 12, substantially disposed along two rows.
  • a bush 26 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), laterally defined by a cylindrical surface 27, having substantially the same diameter as the surface 6 of the projecting portion 5, and by a flat surface 28 (FIG. 3), arranged for coupling with the surface 8 of said portion, is slidable relative to the support 3.
  • Said bush is provided with holes 29 passed through by the male contact elements 11, which will guide the bush during its axial displacement.
  • This bush is normally biased forward by three helical springs 34 (FIGS. 1, 4 and one end of said springs is housed in a corresponding hole 35 (FIG. 5) provided in the support 3, whilst the opposite end rests upon said bush and is centered by a corresponding pin 36.
  • the position of the three springs 34 is chosen so that the resultant of the forces applied by each of them to the bush 26 will substantially pass through the center of gravity of said bush.
  • the axes of the springs 34 are disposed along the vertices of a triangle one side of which is parallel to the surface 8 of the projecting portion 5, as seen in FIG. 4.
  • a projecting portion 37 (FIGS. 3, 6 and 7) is provided, which defines five cavities 38 of substantially cylindrical shape, inside each of which a section of a corresponding male contact element 11 is housed, as clearly shown in FIG. 6. Said projecting portion 37 will define, therefore, walls 41 (FIGS. 3, 6 and 7) which surround said sections of the contact elements 11.
  • the bush 26 is provided with sleeves 42 (FIGS 3 and 6), each of which is provided, in turn, with a hole 29 for receiving a corresponding contact element 11 and is of such dimensions to be telescopically inserted inside a corresponding cavity of the support 3, as clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
  • the sleeves 42 are integral with a side wall 44 (FIG. 3) of the bush 26.
  • a tubular member 45 (FIGS. 1 and 2) abuts against said plate 23; inside this member, a guide element 46 for the conductors 15 is disposed.
  • the support 3, the plate 23 and the bush 26 can be made of any insulating material, preferably a synthetic material, such as, for instance, aplastic material.
  • connection member 1, 2 is normally secured to the front or rear side of one of two vehicles between which an electric connection has to be established by means of the connector of the invention.
  • the two aforementioned connection members are fastened to the front or rear side of one of the two vehicles in such positions that, when the latter are suitably brought close to one another, the axes of said members will be coincident.
  • the two members arranged for establishing the connection are rotated substantially through relative to one another, so that, when they are brought close together, the projecting portion 5 of each of them will abut against the sliding bush 26 of the other.
  • the connector described above can be associated with any other coupling device with which the vehicles can be possibly provided.
  • the connector in accordance with the invention in the case when the connector in accordance with the invention is utilized on railroad vehicles, it can form part of an automatic coupling device provided on said vehicles.
  • each male contact element 11 is completely insulated from the adjacent ones.
  • each of said elements is separated from the others by both the walls 41 between the cavities 38, defined by the projecting portion 37 of the support 3, and the sleeves of the bush 26. Said walls 41 establish the insulation of each contact element 11, whilst the sleeves 42 will establish the insulation of the remaining portion of said elements.
  • This insulation has proved to be perfect inasmuch as the separation of each contact element from the adjacent ones is attained by means of insulating material; furthennore, the conditions of insulation are virtually not affected by the ambient conditions of the connector, as is instead the case with the connectors of the prior art.
  • FIG. 7 shows the connector of the invention upon completion of this connection operation.
  • each male contact element 11 is still better than in the preceding case (position of rest), inasmuch as each of these elements is insulated from the adjacent ones by insulating material, of both the sleeves 42 and the walls 41.
  • connection element To loosen the electric connection established by the connector, it is only necessary to axially displace one connection element relative to the other in the direction opposite to the former. During displacement of one element from the other, the springs 34 will displace the bush 26 in an axial direction, until the latter is brought back to the position of FIG. 1.
  • the connector in accordance with the invention enables to realize a very high number of cycles without any trouble.
  • the male contact elements 11 and the female contact elements 12 can have a structure What we claim is:
  • An improved connector for establishing electric connection between vehicles, particularly between railroad vehicles comprising two corresponding connection members (1) each of which has a substantially cylindrical shape and is provided with male contact elements (11) and female contact elements (12) secured to it and having a bush (26) with holes (29) therein for housing corresponding male contact elements (11) and slidable axially relative to the corresponding connection member, (1) so as to expose a part of said male contact elements, (11) each bush (26) being biased axially by a helical spring, (34) wherein the improvement comprises:
  • each connection member (1) comprises a support element (45) and a thin plate (23) which is provided with holes and adapted to rest upon said support element (45), each contact element (l1, 12) being provided with an annular ridge (21) adapted to the housed in a corresponding anular cavity (22) of said plate (23) so as to axially lock the contact element with respect to the support element and the plate.
  • each helical spring (34) is disposed so as to generate a resultant force whose line of action passes substantially through the center of gravity of the corresponding bush (26).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
US00326195A 1972-02-11 1973-01-24 Connector for automatically establishing electric connections between vehicles, particularly between railroad vehicles Expired - Lifetime US3839697A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT67424/72A IT949067B (it) 1972-02-11 1972-02-11 Connettore per effettuare in modo automatico connessioni elettriche tra veicoli in particolare tra veicoli ferroviari

Publications (1)

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US3839697A true US3839697A (en) 1974-10-01

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00326195A Expired - Lifetime US3839697A (en) 1972-02-11 1973-01-24 Connector for automatically establishing electric connections between vehicles, particularly between railroad vehicles

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3839697A (fr)
BE (1) BE795208A (fr)
CH (1) CH568873A5 (fr)
DE (1) DE2305955A1 (fr)
ES (1) ES411491A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR2182837B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1409862A (fr)
IT (1) IT949067B (fr)
NL (1) NL7301893A (fr)
SE (1) SE381228B (fr)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4445739A (en) * 1982-05-04 1984-05-01 Wooten Norman W Male plug with automatic prong cover
US4588244A (en) * 1985-01-14 1986-05-13 Itt Corporation Linear actuated connector
US4611880A (en) * 1984-04-16 1986-09-16 Allied Corporation Multipiece electrical connector
FR2618951A1 (fr) * 1987-07-28 1989-02-03 Metallo Ste Fse Connecteur pour tubes cathodiques tels que prevus pour la television pourvu d'une semelle telescopique destinee a assurer la protection totale des sorties de contact durant le stockage, le transport et la manutention jusqu'a son insertion aussi bien manuelle qu'automatique dans le circuit imprime
US4897765A (en) * 1988-01-14 1990-01-30 Elektro-Apparatebau Olten Ag Signal generating and transmitting apparatus with mobile shroud for electric terminals
US5030119A (en) * 1989-09-27 1991-07-09 Safe Care Products, Inc. Safety plug
US5599196A (en) * 1995-05-01 1997-02-04 Powell; Patti J. Electrical plug safety cover
US6102715A (en) * 1998-02-10 2000-08-15 The Great American Gumball Corporation Personal computer peripheral device adapter
US6167291A (en) * 1998-03-12 2000-12-26 Cardima, Inc. Protected pin connector for an electrophysiology catheter
US20060270254A1 (en) * 2004-12-23 2006-11-30 Chiang Shu M Dustproof receptacle connector
US20110237098A1 (en) * 2008-12-18 2011-09-29 Shigeru Tajima Plug, plug receptacle and electric power supplying system
US10483689B2 (en) * 2016-12-05 2019-11-19 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Releasable connection for cables
WO2020229038A1 (fr) * 2019-05-16 2020-11-19 Voith Patent Gmbh Contact enfichable d'accouplement de palan électrique, moitié d'accouplement de palan électrique pourvue d'un contact enfichable d'accouplement de palan électrique, accouplement de palan électrique ainsi que moitié d'accouplement de palan accouplement de palan

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5108297A (en) * 1990-11-26 1992-04-28 Hubbell Incorporated Positive locking electrical plug with shielded blade protection
JPH0878096A (ja) * 1994-08-31 1996-03-22 Hosiden Corp 多極コネクタ

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1171914A (en) * 1906-08-13 1916-02-15 Gen Electric Receptacle and plug.
US1394057A (en) * 1918-05-04 1921-10-18 Westinghouse Air Brake Co Electric coupling device
US2082986A (en) * 1935-12-02 1937-06-08 Joseph H Staley Protected terminal
US3360764A (en) * 1964-04-24 1967-12-26 Bac Fernand Georges Electrical connections
US3524160A (en) * 1968-09-17 1970-08-11 Donald B Robinson Underwater operable connector
US3575684A (en) * 1969-08-22 1971-04-20 Charles S Mcintyre Electrical safety plug assembly

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1391459A (fr) * 1964-04-27 1965-03-05 Accouplement multipolaire à fiches pour câbles électriques

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1171914A (en) * 1906-08-13 1916-02-15 Gen Electric Receptacle and plug.
US1394057A (en) * 1918-05-04 1921-10-18 Westinghouse Air Brake Co Electric coupling device
US2082986A (en) * 1935-12-02 1937-06-08 Joseph H Staley Protected terminal
US3360764A (en) * 1964-04-24 1967-12-26 Bac Fernand Georges Electrical connections
US3524160A (en) * 1968-09-17 1970-08-11 Donald B Robinson Underwater operable connector
US3575684A (en) * 1969-08-22 1971-04-20 Charles S Mcintyre Electrical safety plug assembly

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4445739A (en) * 1982-05-04 1984-05-01 Wooten Norman W Male plug with automatic prong cover
US4611880A (en) * 1984-04-16 1986-09-16 Allied Corporation Multipiece electrical connector
US4588244A (en) * 1985-01-14 1986-05-13 Itt Corporation Linear actuated connector
FR2618951A1 (fr) * 1987-07-28 1989-02-03 Metallo Ste Fse Connecteur pour tubes cathodiques tels que prevus pour la television pourvu d'une semelle telescopique destinee a assurer la protection totale des sorties de contact durant le stockage, le transport et la manutention jusqu'a son insertion aussi bien manuelle qu'automatique dans le circuit imprime
WO1989001248A1 (fr) * 1987-07-28 1989-02-09 Societe Française Metallo Connecteur a semelle retractable prevu pour la protection des sorties de contact
US4897765A (en) * 1988-01-14 1990-01-30 Elektro-Apparatebau Olten Ag Signal generating and transmitting apparatus with mobile shroud for electric terminals
US5030119A (en) * 1989-09-27 1991-07-09 Safe Care Products, Inc. Safety plug
US5599196A (en) * 1995-05-01 1997-02-04 Powell; Patti J. Electrical plug safety cover
US6102715A (en) * 1998-02-10 2000-08-15 The Great American Gumball Corporation Personal computer peripheral device adapter
US6413108B2 (en) 1998-02-10 2002-07-02 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Personal computer peripheral device adapter
US6167291A (en) * 1998-03-12 2000-12-26 Cardima, Inc. Protected pin connector for an electrophysiology catheter
US20060270254A1 (en) * 2004-12-23 2006-11-30 Chiang Shu M Dustproof receptacle connector
US7223108B2 (en) * 2004-12-23 2007-05-29 Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Dustproof receptacle connector
US20110237098A1 (en) * 2008-12-18 2011-09-29 Shigeru Tajima Plug, plug receptacle and electric power supplying system
US8702435B2 (en) * 2008-12-18 2014-04-22 Sony Corporation Plug, plug receptacle and electric power supplying system
US10483689B2 (en) * 2016-12-05 2019-11-19 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Releasable connection for cables
WO2020229038A1 (fr) * 2019-05-16 2020-11-19 Voith Patent Gmbh Contact enfichable d'accouplement de palan électrique, moitié d'accouplement de palan électrique pourvue d'un contact enfichable d'accouplement de palan électrique, accouplement de palan électrique ainsi que moitié d'accouplement de palan accouplement de palan

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1409862A (en) 1975-10-15
BE795208A (fr) 1973-05-29
DE2305955A1 (de) 1973-08-16
FR2182837B1 (fr) 1976-05-14
CH568873A5 (fr) 1975-11-14
FR2182837A1 (fr) 1973-12-14
NL7301893A (fr) 1973-08-14
ES411491A1 (es) 1976-01-01
IT949067B (it) 1973-06-11
SE381228B (sv) 1975-12-01

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