US3912889A - Electrical connector having an internal switch - Google Patents
Electrical connector having an internal switch Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3912889A US3912889A US442564A US44256474A US3912889A US 3912889 A US3912889 A US 3912889A US 442564 A US442564 A US 442564A US 44256474 A US44256474 A US 44256474A US 3912889 A US3912889 A US 3912889A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- contacts
- contact
- electrical
- plug
- receptacle
- 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
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/64—Means for preventing incorrect coupling
- H01R13/641—Means for preventing incorrect coupling by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
-
- 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
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S439/00—Electrical connectors
- Y10S439/944—Coaxial connector having circuit-interrupting provision effected by mating or having "dead" contact activated after mating
Definitions
- ABSTRACT 52 us. 01. zoo/51.1 An electrical Connector having an internal Switch that 51 Im. c1 Hon 33/30 is Opened and COsed when the P and receptacle 9f 58 Field of Search 200/5107 51.08 51.09 the connector assembly are mated and 200/511 5 L12 153 M 6 5 6 When a source of electrical power is applied to the intemal switch, the electrical connector provides an [56] References Cited electrical signal when the electrical contacts of the UNITED STATES PATENTS plug and receptacle are unmated.
- This invention relates to electrical connectors for connecting together in electrical circuit relationship a first plurality of electrical conductors to a second plurality of electrical conductors.
- the invention is more particularly related to an electrical connector assembly that provides an electrical signal when the contacts of the plug portion of the connector are not mated with the contacts of the receptacle portion of the connector.
- FIGURE illustrates a connector assembly of the type incorporating the principles of this invention.
- the connector assembly is comprised of two main portions which are called a plug 1 and a receptacle 100.
- the plug portion 1 of the connector assembly includes a dielectric insert 30 comprised of plastic or rubber; socket-type electrical contacts 40; contact retaining mechanisms 50; and a switch assembly.
- the connector insert 30 is generally a cylindrical body having a forward face 31, a rear face 32 which is parallel to the forward face 31, and a plurality of passages or bores 33 that extends through the insert 30 from the front face 31 to the rear face 32.
- a socket-type electrical contact 40 which has an enlarged portion 41 and a forward mating portion 43 that includes a passage 44 adapted to receive the mating portion 144 of a pin-type electrical contact 140.
- the socket-type electrical contact 40 is retained in a fixed position within facing shoulder 42 so that the socket contact 40 may be withdrawn from the rear of the insert 30.
- the switch assembly Located in one of the axial passages 33 in the insert 30 is a switch assembly that is activated and deactivated upon mating and unmating of the connector assembly.
- the switch assembly includes an electrically conducting conduit 20, a pin-type electrical contact mounted coaxially within the conduit and retained therein by some suitable means such as a plastic insert which electrically isolates electrical contact 10 from the electrically conducting conduit 20.
- a resiliently deflectable members 21 mounted within the conduit 20 which electrically connect the conduit 20 in circuit relationship with the contact 10 when in contact with the electrical contact 10.
- the resiliently deflectable member 21 may be one finger or a plurality of fingers formed from a tubular metal member which is soldered or welded at one end 26 to the conduit 20, the other end of the member 21 extending radially inwardly away from the conduit 20 and toward the central axis of the passage 33.
- a plurality of slots in the tubular member defines the deflectable members and allows the members 21 to be resiliently deflectable in a direction away from the central axis of the passage 33.
- One portion of the rear end of the conduit 20 includes a wire receiving terminal 22.
- the rear end portion of the electrical contact 10 includes a wire receiving terminal 12.
- the terminals 22 and 12 are connected by wires 23 to a source of electric potential 70 and an indicator light 80 so that when the resiliently deflectable member 21 is in contact with the central contact 10, the electrical circuit is complete and electrical power is supplied to the indicator light 80.
- the receptacle portion 100 of the connector assembly includes a dielectric insert 130 comprised of plastic or rubber; pin-type electrical contacts 140; contact retaining mechanisms 150; and a switch activating member 110.
- the connector insert 130 has the same configuration as the connector insert 30 of the other half of the connector assembly and also includes a plurality of passages 133 that extends through the insert 130 and which receives the electrical contacts 140 that mate with the electrical contacts of the other half of the connector assembly.
- the pin-type electrical contacts 140 are retained within the insert 130 by the retention assembly 150 which includes a plurality of deflectable members 151 which, when in position behind the rearwardly facing shoulder 142 of the electrical contact 140 maintain the electrical contact 140 in a fixed position within the insert 130.
- a switch activating member 110 that deflects the movable member 21 upon mating of the connector assembly.
- the nonconducting member 110 is comprised ofa suitable material such as plastic that includes a bore 111 at one end thereof that receives the forward mating portion of the electrical contact 10 in the other insert upon mating of the connector assembly.
- the nonconducting member 110 is retained within the insert 130 in the same manner as the electrical contacts 140.-As can be seen from the drawing, the forward mating portion of the nonconducting contact 110 is sized to enter the passage 33 in the insert 30, the configuration of the deflectable members 21 being such that they are not deflected until a forward end of the nonconducting member 110 passes the sloping shoulder 25 of deflectable member 21.
- This arrangement is preferable because the deflectable member 21 will not be deflected out of contact with member 10 until the forward mating portion of the electrical contact 140 and the forward portion of the nonconducting member 110 are inserted more than half way into the passage 33 in the insert 30. This arrangement therefore will provide a signal when the contacts 140 are not completely inserted into contacts 40.
- the movable members 21 of the switch are in contact with the forward portion of the electrical contact 10 and the electrical circuit is complete so that power is supplied to the indicating light which gives an indication that the electrical contacts 40 within the connector assembly are not mated with the electrical contacts of the other half of the connector assembly.
- the forward mating portion of the contacts 140 are inserted into the forward mating portion of the socket contact 40, the forward portion of the nonconducting contact enters passage 33.
- the forward portion of the nonconducting contact 110 As the forward portion of the nonconducting contact 110 enters further into the passage 33, it encounters the forwardly facing shoulders 25 of the deflectable members 21 and the forward mating portion of the pin-type contact 10, which enters the passage 111. Further movement of the contact 110 in the direction of the rear face 32 of the insulator 30 moves the deflectable members 21 away from the contact 10 and out of electrical contact with the contact 10. Once the forward end of the nonconducting contact 110 passes the forwardly facing shoulders 25 of the deflectable members 21 and the deflectable members 21 are no longer in contact with the electrical contact 10, the electical power 70 which is suppled to the indicating light 80 is discontinued and the indicator light goes off. Obviously, the indicator light 80 could be replaced by a buzzer, other audio signal or switching circuitry, e.g. interlock.
- the resiliently deflectable members 21 return to their original position, which is in contact with the electrical contact 10.
- the electrical circuit is energized and the indicating light 80 gives an indication that the forward mating portion of the contact is no longer fully inserted into the passage 44 of the socket contact 40.
- the electrical circuit may be arranged so that the signal instead of giving an indication that the contacts are unmated, may give a signal or indication when the contacts are mated.
- the nonconducting contact 110 may be made the same size as the electrical contact 140 and/or the switching assembly may be made to have the same outside configuration as the contact 40 and its retaining assembly 50.
- the electrical connector assembly may contain twoor more nonconducting contacts 110 and two or more switching assemblies to increase the reliability and effectiveness of the switch assembly.
- the deflectable members 21 may be arranged so that they are in the normally open position so that insertion of a nonconductor would result in the deflectable members 21 making contact with another conductor to complete an electrical circuit. Accordingly, it is intended that the illustrative and descriptive materials herein be used to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the scope thereof.
- An electrical connector unit comprising:
- an insulator having a plurality of bores therethrough extending from a forward face to a rear face;
- each of said contacts mounted in a respective bore, each of said contacts having one end that extends from the rear face of said insulator;
- a metal sleeve electrically insulated from and coaxially mounted around one of said contacts, said sleeve having a terminal end portion which extends from the rear face of said insulator;
- At least one resiliently deflectable and electrically conducting member for connecting said sleeve and said one contact in electrical circuit relationship, said resiliently deflectable member having one end connected to said sleeve.
- switching means operable to provide a signal when the electrical contacts of said plug are not mated with the electrical contacts of said receptacle
- said switching means include at least one set of normally closed contacts disposed within one of said bore, of one of said inserts, at least one of said contacts being resiliently deflectable away from said other contact upon the insertion into said one bore of one of said other contacts from said other insert when said plug and receptacle are mated whereby upon mating of said plug and receptacle said deflectable contact returns to its original closed position and a signal is provided to identify the fact that the contacts of the respective inserts are not in electrical circuit relationship.
Landscapes
- Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (4)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US442564A US3912889A (en) | 1974-02-14 | 1974-02-14 | Electrical connector having an internal switch |
GB558175A GB1450004A (en) | 1974-02-14 | 1975-02-10 | Electrical connector assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US442564A US3912889A (en) | 1974-02-14 | 1974-02-14 | Electrical connector having an internal switch |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3912889A true US3912889A (en) | 1975-10-14 |
Family
ID=23757290
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US442564A Expired - Lifetime US3912889A (en) | 1974-02-14 | 1974-02-14 | Electrical connector having an internal switch |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3912889A (en) |
GB (1) | GB1450004A (en) |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0236923A2 (en) * | 1986-03-08 | 1987-09-16 | Manfred Fladung GmbH | Electrical power supply installation for aircraft |
US5275575A (en) * | 1992-10-09 | 1994-01-04 | Trw Inc. | Electrical connection system with safety interlock |
US5314345A (en) * | 1992-10-09 | 1994-05-24 | Trw Inc. | Electrical connection system with interlock |
US5462445A (en) * | 1994-06-27 | 1995-10-31 | Itt Corporation | Switching connector |
FR2723267A1 (en) * | 1994-07-29 | 1996-02-02 | Carrier Kheops Bac | AUXILIARY CONTACT DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND CORRESPONDING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR |
US5879176A (en) * | 1997-02-10 | 1999-03-09 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Interlocked connector |
US6322398B1 (en) | 1998-06-19 | 2001-11-27 | Manfred Fladung | Plug connector |
GB2374941A (en) * | 1999-02-10 | 2002-10-30 | Lucent Technologies Inc | Detecting the presence of a patch cord connector in a telecommunications patch system using mechanical switches |
EP1271708A2 (en) * | 2001-06-28 | 2003-01-02 | Delphi Technologies, Inc. | Electrical connector |
US20040185697A1 (en) * | 2001-09-13 | 2004-09-23 | Nec Corporation | Computer system, switch connector, and method for controlling operations of the comuter system |
US20090040673A1 (en) * | 2007-07-10 | 2009-02-12 | Guillaume Maigret | Group protection module for a switchgear arrangement and switchgear arrangement having such a group protection module |
CN110622626A (en) * | 2017-05-16 | 2019-12-27 | 株式会社富士 | Plasma generator |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH0620314Y2 (en) * | 1987-08-10 | 1994-05-25 | 住友電装株式会社 | Terminal insertion tester |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3090948A (en) * | 1961-10-31 | 1963-05-21 | Norman C Cremer | Receptacle plug to protect appliance theft |
US3192518A (en) * | 1962-08-13 | 1965-06-29 | Michael T Sliman | Alarm system |
-
1974
- 1974-02-14 US US442564A patent/US3912889A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1975
- 1975-02-10 GB GB558175A patent/GB1450004A/en not_active Expired
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3090948A (en) * | 1961-10-31 | 1963-05-21 | Norman C Cremer | Receptacle plug to protect appliance theft |
US3192518A (en) * | 1962-08-13 | 1965-06-29 | Michael T Sliman | Alarm system |
Cited By (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0236923A2 (en) * | 1986-03-08 | 1987-09-16 | Manfred Fladung GmbH | Electrical power supply installation for aircraft |
EP0236923A3 (en) * | 1986-03-08 | 1988-10-12 | Manfred Fladung Gmbh | Electrical power supply installation for aircraft |
US5275575A (en) * | 1992-10-09 | 1994-01-04 | Trw Inc. | Electrical connection system with safety interlock |
US5314345A (en) * | 1992-10-09 | 1994-05-24 | Trw Inc. | Electrical connection system with interlock |
US5462445A (en) * | 1994-06-27 | 1995-10-31 | Itt Corporation | Switching connector |
FR2723267A1 (en) * | 1994-07-29 | 1996-02-02 | Carrier Kheops Bac | AUXILIARY CONTACT DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND CORRESPONDING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR |
US5879176A (en) * | 1997-02-10 | 1999-03-09 | Applied Materials, Inc. | Interlocked connector |
US6322398B1 (en) | 1998-06-19 | 2001-11-27 | Manfred Fladung | Plug connector |
GB2374941B (en) * | 1999-02-10 | 2003-05-07 | Lucent Technologies Inc | Method and device for detecting the presence of a patch cord connector in a te lecommunications patch system |
GB2374941A (en) * | 1999-02-10 | 2002-10-30 | Lucent Technologies Inc | Detecting the presence of a patch cord connector in a telecommunications patch system using mechanical switches |
EP1271708A2 (en) * | 2001-06-28 | 2003-01-02 | Delphi Technologies, Inc. | Electrical connector |
EP1271708A3 (en) * | 2001-06-28 | 2003-08-13 | Delphi Technologies, Inc. | Electrical connector |
US20040185697A1 (en) * | 2001-09-13 | 2004-09-23 | Nec Corporation | Computer system, switch connector, and method for controlling operations of the comuter system |
US7029285B2 (en) * | 2001-09-13 | 2006-04-18 | Nec Corporation | Computer system, switch connector, and method for controlling operations of the computer system |
US20090040673A1 (en) * | 2007-07-10 | 2009-02-12 | Guillaume Maigret | Group protection module for a switchgear arrangement and switchgear arrangement having such a group protection module |
US7974058B2 (en) * | 2007-07-10 | 2011-07-05 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Group protection module for a switchgear arrangement and switchgear arrangement having such a group protection module |
CN110622626A (en) * | 2017-05-16 | 2019-12-27 | 株式会社富士 | Plasma generator |
EP3627977A4 (en) * | 2017-05-16 | 2020-05-27 | Fuji Corporation | Plasma generator |
CN110622626B (en) * | 2017-05-16 | 2022-01-11 | 株式会社富士 | Plasma generator |
US11470711B2 (en) * | 2017-05-16 | 2022-10-11 | Fuji Corporation | Plasma generator with connector-cable detector |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB1450004A (en) | 1976-09-22 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3912889A (en) | Electrical connector having an internal switch | |
US4034172A (en) | High voltage connector with crow bar | |
US3850495A (en) | Multi-pin shielded high voltage connector | |
US4915641A (en) | Modular drawer connector | |
EP0265766B1 (en) | A connector plug | |
US5213517A (en) | Separable electrodes with electric arc quenching means | |
US4317969A (en) | Electrical line-connector | |
US3731252A (en) | Printed circuit board connector | |
CA1073982A (en) | Electrical separable connector with stress-graded interface | |
US7021950B2 (en) | System and method for preventing electric arcs in connectors feeding power loads and connector used | |
US4611873A (en) | Insert assembly for a connector | |
KR960000628A (en) | Device for blocking the flow of current in the positive or impregnated cable of the vehicle battery | |
GB1519202A (en) | Assembly comprising an electrical connector | |
US3370140A (en) | Electro-magnetic radiation proof plug and receptacle | |
WO1986006883A1 (en) | Wire seal | |
US5266042A (en) | Electrical jack and patch plug assembly | |
EP0005938A1 (en) | Reducing the effects of radial voids in electrical connections | |
US5580261A (en) | Coaxial electrical connector also performing a switching function | |
US5397242A (en) | Plug and socket connector system with particular applications in avionics | |
US20220069526A1 (en) | Connector with a Position Assurance Element Having a Contact Receptacle | |
US5222899A (en) | Electrostatic discharge safety connector for electro-explosive devices | |
US3665129A (en) | Multi-circuit switching connector | |
US3845459A (en) | Dielectric sleeve for electrically and mechanically protecting exposed female contacts of an electrical connector | |
US3748632A (en) | Insulated electrical connector | |
GB1122846A (en) | Improvements relating to electric connectors |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ALLIED CORPORATION, A CORP. OF NY Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:BENDIX CORPORATION, THE,;REEL/FRAME:004765/0709 Effective date: 19850401 Owner name: CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE, NEW YORK AGENC Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AMPHENOL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:004879/0030 Effective date: 19870515 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AMPHENOL CORPORATION, LISLE, ILLINOIS A CORP. OF D Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:ALLIED CORPORATION, A CORP. OF NY;REEL/FRAME:004844/0850 Effective date: 19870602 Owner name: AMPHENOL CORPORATION, A CORP. OF DE, ILLINOIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ALLIED CORPORATION, A CORP. OF NY;REEL/FRAME:004844/0850 Effective date: 19870602 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, AS AGENT Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AMPHENOL CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DE;REEL/FRAME:006035/0283 Effective date: 19911118 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AMPHENOL CORPORATION A CORP. OF DELAWARE Free format text: RELEASED BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE;REEL/FRAME:006147/0887 Effective date: 19911114 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AMPHENOL CORPORATION, CONNECTICUT Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:BANKERS TRUST COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:007317/0148 Effective date: 19950104 |