EP2017924A2 - Elektrischer Steckverbinder - Google Patents

Elektrischer Steckverbinder Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2017924A2
EP2017924A2 EP08252460A EP08252460A EP2017924A2 EP 2017924 A2 EP2017924 A2 EP 2017924A2 EP 08252460 A EP08252460 A EP 08252460A EP 08252460 A EP08252460 A EP 08252460A EP 2017924 A2 EP2017924 A2 EP 2017924A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
male
female parts
disengaging device
connector
female
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08252460A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2017924A3 (de
Inventor
John Cameron
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Phase 3 UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Phase 3 UK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Phase 3 UK Ltd filed Critical Phase 3 UK Ltd
Publication of EP2017924A2 publication Critical patent/EP2017924A2/de
Publication of EP2017924A3 publication Critical patent/EP2017924A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/629—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances
    • H01R13/633—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances for disengagement only
    • H01R13/635—Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical locking indicators, manufacturing tolerances for disengagement only by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrical connector, in particular but not exclusively a connector for high current applications, such as with three phase apparatus.
  • terminals of high current electrical connectors present a risk of electrocution.
  • Such terminals are typically of large dimensions making live contacts accessible to the inadvertent or deliberate insertion of an object, such as a user's finger.
  • US 6 309 231 describes an electrical connector, in which the male and female connector parts present only insulating surfaces to a user when the male and female connector parts are engaged.
  • the electrical connector of US 6 309 231 comprises a spring biased locking pin, which is operative to prevent disengagement of the male and female connector parts.
  • a release tool is used to depress the locking pin and thereby permit disengagement of the male and female connector parts.
  • the release tool of US 6 309 231 is not attached to either of the male and female connector parts. Thus, the release tool has a tendency to be misplaced.
  • WO 2005/083848 describes an improved electrical connector, in which the release tool is formed as a sleeve surrounding one of the male and female connector parts. According to WO 2005/083848 , the locking pin is depressed by advancing the sleeve along the connector part to which the sleeve is attached.
  • the present inventor has appreciated certain disadvantages of the electrical connector of WO 2005/083848 .
  • an electrical connector comprising:
  • Rotation of the disengaging device in relation to one of the male and female parts provides for greater ease of use compared, for example, with the electrical connector of WO 2005/083848 .
  • disengagement of the male and female parts of WO 2005/083848 involves moving a sleeve along one of the male and female parts such that the pin is depressed against its spring bias and then disengaging the male and female parts by rotating the male and female parts in relation to each other.
  • This operation can be difficult to carry out with two hands because it involves holding the sleeve against the spring bias of the pin by exerting a force along the male or female part whilst the male and female parts are rotated in relation to each other.
  • holding the disengaging device against the spring bias involves exerting a rotational force whilst the male and female parts are rotated in relation to each other. This operation is more readily accomplished with two hands.
  • the electrical connector may be configured such that a rotation of the disengaging device that advances the disengaging device along the said part and depresses the pin is in a same direction as rotation of the male and female parts to disengage the male and female parts from each other.
  • the male and female parts may be disengaged by their relative rotation in an anti-clockwise direction.
  • the connector coupling may comprise a bayonet coupling.
  • the connector coupling may be brought into engagement by pushing the male and female parts together as well as rotating the male and female parts in relation to each other.
  • the disengaging device and one of the male and female parts may define respective, cooperating profiles that engage with each other such that relative rotation of the disengaging device and the said one part causes the disengaging device to advance along the said one part.
  • the electrical connector may comprise a threaded coupling between the disengaging device and one of the male and female parts. Hence, as the disengaging device is rotated the threaded coupling may cause the disengaging device to move along one of the male and female parts.
  • the threaded coupling may comprise at least one groove defined in one of the disengaging device and the male and female parts and at least one tab received in a respective groove, the at least one tab protruding from the other of the disengaging device and the male and female parts.
  • the groove may be defined in the one of the male and female parts.
  • the at least one groove may describe a path around and along the one of the male and female parts.
  • the at least one groove may describe a spiral or diagonal path.
  • At least one groove may define a path that extends part way around one of the male and female parts.
  • the threaded coupling may comprise a plurality of cooperating grooves and tabs, the grooves being spaced apart from each other around the one of the male and female parts.
  • the disengaging device may comprise a sleeve extending around the one of the male and female parts.
  • the sleeve may define a gripping surface configured to provide for ease of gripping of the disengaging device by a user's hand when the disengaging device is being rotated to depress the spring biased pin.
  • the gripping surface may comprise corrugations on a surface of the sleeve.
  • the disengaging device may comprise a rotatable member, e.g. a sleeve, which is rotatable by a user, and an actuator member mechanically coupled to the rotatable member, the actuator member being operative to depress the spring biased pin.
  • a rotatable member e.g. a sleeve, which is rotatable by a user
  • an actuator member mechanically coupled to the rotatable member, the actuator member being operative to depress the spring biased pin.
  • the rotatable member and the actuator member may be mechanically coupled for their relative rotation.
  • the rotatable member and the actuator member may be mechanically coupled such that the actuator member moves along the one of the male and female parts as the rotatable member moves along the one of the male and female parts.
  • the rotatable member and the actuator member may be directly coupled to each other, i.e. such that there are no intermediate components.
  • the rotatable member may bear against the actuator member as the rotatable member moves along the one of the male and female parts.
  • the actuator member may comprise an actuator tab received in a recess defined in the other of the male and female parts.
  • the actuator member may comprise a substrate member (e.g. from which an actuator tab protrudes), the substrate member being mechanically coupled to the rotatable member to provide for freedom of their relative rotational movement whilst providing for movement of the substrate member along the one of the male and female parts as the rotatable member rotates around and moves along the one of the male and female parts.
  • the actuator member comprises an actuator tab
  • the substrate member and the actuator tab may be integrally formed with each other.
  • the rotatable member may define a groove in which the substrate member is received.
  • the groove may extend substantially orthogonally to the recess.
  • the substrate member may be substantially c-shaped such that the substrate member extends at least part way around the one of the male and female parts.
  • the substrate member may be disposed on and move along an outer surface of the one of the male and female parts.
  • the disengaging device may be removably attached to the one of the male and female parts.
  • the disengaging device may comprise at least one release member, which is user operable to permit removal of the disengaging device from the one of the male and female parts.
  • the release member may interlock, e.g. be in threaded engagement, with the one of the male and female parts.
  • the release member may be a screw.
  • the release member may define a tab of a threaded coupling between the one of the male and female parts and the disengaging device.
  • the electrical connector may comprise a catch operable to selectively allow or prevent the advance of the disengaging device along the said one part.
  • the catch may form part of the said one part.
  • the catch may comprise a recess and a catch member receivable in the recess, the catch preventing the advance of the disengaging device along the said one part when the catch member is received in the recess.
  • the recess may be formed in a groove of a threaded coupling of the electrical connector.
  • the recess may be deeper than the groove.
  • the catch member may threadedly engage one of the disengaging device and one of the male and female parts.
  • threading the catch member selects between allowing and preventing the advance of the disengaging device along the said one part.
  • the catch member may be a screw of a threaded coupling between the disengaging device and one of the male and female parts.
  • the electrical connector may be configured such that upon a relative rotation of the disengaging device and the one of the male and female parts of between substantially 15° and substantially 60°, the disengaging device moves along the one of the male and female parts a distance at least sufficient to depress the pin.
  • the electrical connector may be configured for relative rotation of the disengaging device and the one of the male and female parts by substantially 30°.
  • At least one of the male and female parts may be of generally cylindrical shape.
  • the male and female parts may be coupled to each other towards respective distal portions.
  • the male part may comprise a connection portion comprising an outer insulating sleeve and an inner conducting sleeve, and a spring biased insulating cover mounted within the inner sleeve, the spring biased insulating cover being biased by a spring to substantially block an open end of the outer sleeve.
  • the inner sleeve may define an electrical connector contact of the male part.
  • the female part may comprise a second outer insulating sleeve and a connector pin within the second outer insulating sleeve.
  • an end of the connector pin proximate an open end of the second outer insulating sleeve is formed from an insulator.
  • the connector pin may comprise a contact surface which is spring biased in a radially outward direction.
  • the male part may comprise the pin and the female part may comprise the recess.
  • the electrical connector may be configured such that only insulating parts are presented to a user when the connector coupling is engaged.
  • the electrical connector may be configured such that a live component of the male and female parts is recessed from an edge of the electrical connector.
  • the electrical connector may be configured for use in three-phase applications.
  • electrical apparatus such as an electrical generator, operable on a three-phase power supply, the electrical apparatus comprising at least one electrical connector according to the first aspect of the present invention.
  • Figure 1 shows an electrical connector 10 of known construction and operation as described in each of US 6 309 231 and WO 2005/083848 .
  • the electrical connector 10 is configured for use in making a connection in a line of a three phase power system.
  • the electrical connector 10 of Figure 1 has a male part 12 and a female part 14.
  • the male part 12 has a body 16 formed from an electrically insulating material, such as a plastics material.
  • the male part has a cylindrical male portion 18, a flange 20 and a rear part 22.
  • the male part is configured for connection to a high voltage source by means of a conventional threaded connector 24.
  • the male part 12 has an end face 26 and an insulating pin 28 projects slightly beyond the end face.
  • the male portion 18 has two slots 30, which define a bayonet type coupling with the female part 14.
  • the female part 14 has a cylindrical electrically nonconductive body 40 having a recess 42 extending inwardly from an end face of the housing 40.
  • the female part 14 is also connected to a source or sink of electrical power.
  • a spring biased pin 45 projects from a face towards an end of the male portion 18. As will be described below, the pin 45 forms part of a locking mechanism.
  • Figure 2 shows an end view of the female part 14 of the connector of Figure 1 .
  • An insulating end piece ensures that all exposed parts of the female part are insulating.
  • the inner surface of the body 40 defines two protrusions 57, which are spaced apart from each other around the circumference of the inner surface by less than 180 degrees. This ensures that there is only one relative angular orientation in which male and female parts can be joined.
  • the protrusions 57 are received in the slots 30 formed on male portion 18 to form a bayonet type coupling.
  • the relative dispositions of the two protrusions 57 around the inner circumference differ, e.g. 60 degrees instead of 170 degrees.
  • male and female parts having different dispositions of protrusions can be used to provide a connection in different three-phase power lines, such as a neutral line and a live line, without any risk of a male neutral part being connected to a female live part.
  • Figure 3 shows the male 12 and female parts 14 when they are connected to each other.
  • the component parts of connector 10 shown in Figure 3 are the same as described above with reference to Figure 1 , with the following exceptions.
  • the female part 14 comprises a pin 52, which is used in accordance with well-known practice to pin a contact assembly (not shown) to the body 40. This prevents relative movement of the contact assembly and the housing.
  • the male part 12 comprises a pin 60, which prevents relative movement of the male part contact assembly (not shown) and the housing 22.
  • the male 12 and female parts 14 are brought into engagement by pushing the male and female parts together. This action depresses the pin 45 against its spring bias.
  • the male and female parts are rotated so that the protrusions 57 on the female part engage with the slots 30 of the male part.
  • the spring biased pin projects into the recess 42, thereby preventing further relative rotation of the male and female parts.
  • FIG 4 shows the disengaging device 80 of the present invention.
  • the disengaging device 80 comprises a sleeve 82 (which constitutes a rotatable member) and an actuator member 84.
  • the actuator member 84 comprises a c-shaped substrate member 86 which is integrally formed with an actuator tab 88.
  • the sleeve 82 and the actuator member 84 are formed of a plastics material.
  • the sleeve may be provided with corrugations on its outer surface to provide an improved grip for a user.
  • Figure 4 also shows the housing 40 of the female part 14 with the recess 42 formed towards its leading edge. As described above the pin 45 of the male part 12 is received in the recess 42 when the male and female parts are fully engaged with each other.
  • the actuator tab 88 is received in the recess 42 and such that an inner surface 90 of the actuator member 84 rests against the outer surface of the housing 40.
  • the sleeve 82 is placed over the actuator member 84 and such that the sleeve and actuator mechanically couple with each other as will be described below.
  • Two Nylon® tipped grub screws 92 (which constitute tabs of a threaded coupling) are screwed into apertures formed in opposing sides of the sleeve 82 to the extent that the Nylon® tips extend beyond an inner surface of the sleeve and into a respective spiral groove 94 formed in the outer surface of the housing 40.
  • Figures 5A and 5B provide respective cross-sectional views of the disengaging device 80 when in the engaged and disengaged conditions.
  • the sleeve 82 defines a groove 96 on its inner surface that receives the substrate member 86 of the actuator member 84.
  • the substrate member 86 is free to rotate in relation to the sleeve 82 but is constrained to move to and fro along the housing 40 as the sleeve moves to and fro along the housing.
  • the disengaging device 80 Before the disengaging device 80 is used it is in the disposition shown in Figure 5A , in which the Nylon® tipped grub screws 92 are at a location in the grooves furthest away from the end of the housing.
  • the actuator tab 88 is at a location in the recess 42 furthest from the end of the housing and such that the actuator tab 88 allows the pin (not shown) to be fully extended in the recess 42.
  • FIG. 5B shows the disposition of the disengaging device 80 when actuator tab 88 has been advanced in the recess to the extent that the pin (not shown) has been depressed such that it is no longer received in the recess.
  • Figure 5B also shows a catch 98 provided towards an end of the groove 96 furthest from the connector end of the disengaging device 80. More specifically, the catch 98 is a cylindrical recess formed in the housing 40 to a greater depth than the groove 96.
  • the grub screw 92 can be threaded through the aperture formed in the sleeve 82 such that the end of the screw 92 is received in the catch 98 to thereby retain the sleeve 82 in the engaged condition shown in Figure 5A .
  • the catch 98 provides a means to reduce the likelihood that the sleeve 82 is moved accidentally and the male and female parts disengaged from each other.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
EP08252460A 2007-07-20 2008-07-18 Elektrischer Steckverbinder Withdrawn EP2017924A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0714219A GB0714219D0 (en) 2007-07-20 2007-07-20 Electrical connector

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2017924A2 true EP2017924A2 (de) 2009-01-21
EP2017924A3 EP2017924A3 (de) 2012-05-02

Family

ID=38476725

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08252460A Withdrawn EP2017924A3 (de) 2007-07-20 2008-07-18 Elektrischer Steckverbinder

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2017924A3 (de)
GB (1) GB0714219D0 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010089023A1 (de) * 2009-02-05 2010-08-12 Phoenix Contact Gmbh & Co. Kg Elektrischer steckverbinder
CN105186178A (zh) * 2015-07-22 2015-12-23 海盐县盛安电器有限公司 一种卡扣旋转式航空公母转接头
US12049176B2 (en) 2021-06-28 2024-07-30 Dana Automotive Systems Group, Llc High efficiency electrical conduit

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6309231B1 (en) 1999-09-02 2001-10-30 Litton Precision Products International, Inc. High current male and female power connector assembly
US20050083848A1 (en) 2003-10-20 2005-04-21 Huai-Rong Shao Selecting multiple paths in overlay networks for streaming data
WO2005083848A1 (en) 2004-02-26 2005-09-09 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Electrical connector

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4241969A (en) * 1979-09-18 1980-12-30 Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated Locking plug

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6309231B1 (en) 1999-09-02 2001-10-30 Litton Precision Products International, Inc. High current male and female power connector assembly
US20050083848A1 (en) 2003-10-20 2005-04-21 Huai-Rong Shao Selecting multiple paths in overlay networks for streaming data
WO2005083848A1 (en) 2004-02-26 2005-09-09 Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. Electrical connector

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2010089023A1 (de) * 2009-02-05 2010-08-12 Phoenix Contact Gmbh & Co. Kg Elektrischer steckverbinder
RU2474021C1 (ru) * 2009-02-05 2013-01-27 Феникс Контакт Гмбх Унд Ко. Кг Электрический штекерный соединитель
US8562372B2 (en) 2009-02-05 2013-10-22 Phoenix Contact Gmbh & Co. Kg Electrical plug connector
CN102308442B (zh) * 2009-02-05 2014-05-07 菲尼克斯电气公司 电气插拔连接器
CN105186178A (zh) * 2015-07-22 2015-12-23 海盐县盛安电器有限公司 一种卡扣旋转式航空公母转接头
CN105186178B (zh) * 2015-07-22 2017-11-14 海盐县盛安电器有限公司 一种卡扣旋转式航空公母转接头
US12049176B2 (en) 2021-06-28 2024-07-30 Dana Automotive Systems Group, Llc High efficiency electrical conduit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2017924A3 (de) 2012-05-02
GB0714219D0 (en) 2007-08-29

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