GB1571656A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

(54) ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR (71) We, AKZONA INCORPORATED, a corporation organised under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America of P.O. Box 2930, Asheville, N.C. 28802, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state ment :- This invention relates to an electrical connector having at least one removably mounted module.

Multiple contact cylindrical connectors are usually constructed with a fixed number of holes through the plug and socket for receiving a fixed number of contacts. Once the array of holes has been constructed, the usage of that connector is more or less limited to a particular purpose. If a different pattern of holes is needed, then the connector must be redesigned and retooling for the manufacture of such a connector must be done. Even if the contacts are easily repIaced, the hole positions are fixed. A large inventory of connectors must therefore be maintained in order to provide the various electrical connections required. This retooling and high inventory requirement is wasteful since quite often various industries use the same size connector but different contact arrays.

The differences could be the location of the contacts, the number of contacts, or the contact size needed for a particular function.

According to the invention, there is provided an electrical connector having a front surface, a rear surface and a plurality of cavities extending through the connector from the front surface to the rear surface; at least one module removably inserted in a respective one of the cavities, the or each module having a front surface and a rear surface and at least one hole extending through the module from the front surface to the rear surface for receiving an electrical contact; and at least one respective tab integral with the or each module and projecting away from the rear surface of the module, the tab serving to inhibit movement of the module in a direction from one said surface of the module towards the other said surface of the module, the tab being exposed to the rear of the connector to facilitate removal of the module from the connector.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is. a perspective view of the rear of an embodiment of an electrical plug having a module inserted in one cavity; Figure 2 is a front elevation of an electrical socket having one module inserted; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a replace- able module; Figure 4 shows a tab portion of the module shown in Fig. 3 and the recess portion of a cavity shown in Fig. 1; and Figure 5 is an eIevational view of the coupling nut used to couple the plug shown in Fig. 1 and the socket shown in Fig, 2 to-, gether.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 there is shown a plastics connector plug I adapted to mate with a plastics socket 22 shown in Fig. 2. Plug 1, in this embodiment has 5 cavities extending longitudinally therethrough. Cavity 2 is shown, in this embodiment, receiving a removable plastics module 3. The other cavities, for example cavity 4, are shown to be empty and not containing modules. In other embodiments of the invention there may be many other numbers of cavities in the connector plug and the socket of Fig. 2.

Cavity 4 includes a recess 5 for receiving a shoulder 6 of a tab 7 which protrudes from.

the rear module 3. This shoulder-recess connection is to prevent the module from sliding in the forward direction of the plug This will be more easily seen in reference to Fig. 3. Cavity 4 also has shoulders 8 which prevent the module from moving in the rearward direction of the plug There is further provided a plurality. of holes 9 extending longitudinally thorough plug I for receiving a predetermined number: of contacts. The plug further includes screw threads 10. for attaching suitable accessories such as cable adaptors and clamps. Raised portion 11 surrounds the plug and includes a plurality of wedge-shaped slots 12. The bottom 13 of these slots 12 taper up toward the front of the shell. Slots 12 are adapted to receive the non-decoupling protrusions 15 on coupling nut 14. They are tapered at an angle so that the coupling nut positively snaps into area 16 when the coupling nut is in its final position. Area 16 includes 'protrusions 17 having ramps of two different steepnesses. They include ramp 18, having a gradual slope, and ramp 19, having a steeper slope. Ramp 18, having a gradual slope, would be in initial contact with protrusion 15 of coupling nut 14 in the direction of tightening of the coupling nut. Ramp 19, having a steep slope, would- be in initial contact with protrusion 15 in the direction of Ioosening thus inhibiting the decoupling of the connector during vibration. This would make it more difficult to turn the coupling nut in the loosening direction as opposed to the tightening direction. Use of these ramps of two different steepnesses will cause a coupling nut to tend to tighten rather than loosen during vibration. This feature eliminates the need for safety wiring for the connector when it is exposed to shock and/or vibration during its service life.

Plug 1 further has a plurality of raised rails 20 which are placed in predetermined locations along the outer circumference of the cylindrical plug in a key relation with elongated detents 21 of socket 22 shown in Fig. 2. These rails and detents are arranged symmetrically so that the cavities which contain the modules in the plug and socket will align in only a single predetermined manner.

As shown in Fig. 2 the socket 22 has a flange 23 and mounting holes 24 for mounting the socket. The socket includes a plurality of cavities 25 which correspond to the cavities 4 shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment four of the empty cavities 25 show the shoulders 26 which correspond to the shoulders 8 shown in the plug 1 of Fig. 1 Again these shoulders 26 prevent the module from being moved in the direction rearward of the receptacle. The rear side of the receptacle (not shown) would also have at least one recess adjacent to each cavity to prevent the forward motion of a module as previously described in reference to Fig. 1. Cavity 27 is filled by module 28. The triangular markings 29 on the socket and markings 30 on the module 28 are provided to key the proper insertion of the modules in the cavities. Furthermore, each module may be numbered to correspond with a numbered cavity on the plug or socket. The holes 9 and 38 may be lettered with letters which correspond on the plug and receptacle for contact alignment.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3, there is -shown module 31 having five holes 32 therethrough for receiving electrical contacts which in this embodiment are male contacts 33. The rear of the male contacts are connected to wires 34 providing electrical - signals to the contacts. The module includes spring-biased tabs 35 extending rearwardly from the module. The tabs 35 are spring biased in that they taper away from the longitudinal axis of the modules. The relationship between the tabs and the shoulders in the cavities of the plug and receptacle may be seen more clearly in Fig. 4.

As can be seen in Fig. 4, tab 35 includes a shoulder 6 which snaps into recess 37 of either the plug or socket cavity when the module is inserted. This prevents the module from moving in the forward direction while the connector is in use. However, when it is desired to extract any module, both tabs 35 should be pressed inwardly thus freeing the shoulders 6 away from the recess 37. The module then may be pressed forward and and out of the plug or socket.

The plugs, sockets and modules are all made of a plastics material, so that the contacts are electrically insulated from one another. The voltage levels on adjacent contacts may therefore vary by substantial amounts without fear of electrical shorts.

The openings of the cavities on both the plug and socket are substantially symmetrical about the horizontal and vertical axes of the front surface of the respective plug and socket; however, these cavities may be symmetrical about other axes. This symmetry allows for ease of alignment for mating respective plugs and sockets. In this embodiment, the plugs and sockets are a monolithic piece of plastics which is moulded or preformed; however, the plugs and sockets may each include a core which includes the modular features set forth herein but adapted to be inserted in a connector shell.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An electrical connector having a front surface, a rear surface and a plurality of cavities extending through the connector from the front surface to the rear surface; at least one module removably inserted in a respective one of the cavities, the or each module having a front surface and a rear surface and at least one hole extending through the module from the front surface to the rear surface for receiving an electrical contact; and at least one respective tab integral with the or each module and pro jecting away from the rear surface of the module, the tab serving to inhibit movement of the module in a direction from one said surface of the module towards the other said surface of the module the tab being exposed to the rear of the connector to facili tate removal of the module from the connec tor.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   portion 11 surrounds the plug and includes a plurality of wedge-shaped slots 12. The bottom 13 of these slots 12 taper up toward the front of the shell. Slots 12 are adapted to receive the non-decoupling protrusions 15 on coupling nut 14. They are tapered at an angle so that the coupling nut positively snaps into area 16 when the coupling nut is in its final position. Area 16 includes 'protrusions 17 having ramps of two different steepnesses. They include ramp 18, having a gradual slope, and ramp 19, having a steeper slope. Ramp 18, having a gradual slope, would be in initial contact with protrusion 15 of coupling nut 14 in the direction of tightening of the coupling nut. Ramp 19, having a steep slope, would- be in initial contact with protrusion 15 in the direction of Ioosening thus inhibiting the decoupling of the connector during vibration. This would make it more difficult to turn the coupling nut in the loosening direction as opposed to the tightening direction. Use of these ramps of two different steepnesses will cause a coupling nut to tend to tighten rather than loosen during vibration. This feature eliminates the need for safety wiring for the connector when it is exposed to shock and/or vibration during its service life.

   Plug 1 further has a plurality of raised rails 20 which are placed in predetermined locations along the outer circumference of the cylindrical plug in a key relation with elongated detents 21 of socket 22 shown in Fig. 2. These rails and detents are arranged symmetrically so that the cavities which contain the modules in the plug and socket will align in only a single predetermined manner.

   As shown in Fig. 2 the socket 22 has a flange 23 and mounting holes 24 for mounting the socket. The socket includes a plurality of cavities 25 which correspond to the cavities 4 shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment four of the empty cavities 25 show the shoulders 26 which correspond to the shoulders 8 shown in the plug 1 of Fig. 1 Again these shoulders 26 prevent the module from being moved in the direction rearward of the receptacle. The rear side of the receptacle (not shown) would also have at least one recess adjacent to each cavity to prevent the forward motion of a module as previously described in reference to Fig. 1. Cavity 27 is filled by module 28. The triangular markings 29 on the socket and markings 30 on the module 28 are provided to key the proper insertion of the modules in the cavities. Furthermore, each module may be numbered to correspond with a numbered cavity on the plug or socket. The holes 9 and 38 may be lettered with letters which correspond on the plug and receptacle for contact alignment.

   Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3, there is -shown module 31 having five holes

   32 therethrough for receiving electrical contacts which in this embodiment are male contacts 33. The rear of the male contacts are connected to wires 34 providing electrical - signals to the contacts. The module includes spring-biased tabs 35 extending rearwardly from the module. The tabs 35 are spring biased in that they taper away from the longitudinal axis of the modules. The relationship between the tabs and the shoulders in the cavities of the plug and receptacle may be seen more clearly in Fig. 4.

   As can be seen in Fig. 4, tab 35 includes a shoulder 6 which snaps into recess 37 of either the plug or socket cavity when the module is inserted. This prevents the module from moving in the forward direction while the connector is in use. However, when it is desired to extract any module, both tabs

   35 should be pressed inwardly thus freeing the shoulders 6 away from the recess 37. The module then may be pressed forward and and out of the plug or socket.

   The plugs, sockets and modules are all made of a plastics material, so that the contacts are electrically insulated from one another. The voltage levels on adjacent contacts may therefore vary by substantial amounts without fear of electrical shorts.

   The openings of the cavities on both the plug and socket are substantially symmetrical about the horizontal and vertical axes of the front surface of the respective plug and socket; however, these cavities may be symmetrical about other axes. This symmetry allows for ease of alignment for mating respective plugs and sockets. In this embodiment, the plugs and sockets are a monolithic piece of plastics which is moulded or preformed; however, the plugs and sockets may each include a core which includes the modular features set forth herein but adapted to be inserted in a connector shell.

   WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An electrical connector having a front surface, a rear surface and a plurality of cavities extending through the connector from the front surface to the rear surface; at least one module removably inserted in a respective one of the cavities, the or each module having a front surface and a rear surface and at least one hole extending through the module from the front surface to the rear surface for receiving an electrical contact; and at least one respective tab integral with the or each module and pro jecting away from the rear surface of the module, the tab serving to inhibit movement of the module in a direction from one said surface of the module towards the other said surface of the module the tab being exposed to the rear of the connector to facili tate removal of the module from the connec tor.
2. 2. A connector according to Claim 1

   which is in the form of a plug adapted to be received in a socket.
3. 3. A connector according to Claim 1 which is in the form of a socket adapted to be received by a plug.
4. 4. A connector according to Claim 1 which comprises a plug removably received in a socket, both the plug and the socket being provided with at least one removable module.
5. 5. A connector according to any preceding claim further comprising means for inhibiting movement of the module in a direction from the said other surface of the module towards the said one surface of the module.
6. 6. A connector according to any preceding claim which is formed of a plastics material.
7. 7. A connector according to any preceding claim wherein the or each said tab is resilient.
8. 8. A connector according to any preceding claim wherein a plurality of modules are provided.
9. 9. An electrical connector substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.