US2466370A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

AP 5, 1949 H. H. BURTT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Hay 22, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l l l1/111111111111111111111.vll'

T E N Tk, ww n u M N mv H E inl.. v0 Fhlt. mn m M uw n H April 5, 1949. H. H. BURTT 2,466,370

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed lay 22, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 56 31 75 z5 5l 76rz\ 56 21 6058 62l f4. 56 65 74 56 6 s1 A u if i 101 68 6 7*/ r 55 102 f 52 5l 53 f u 55 75 ,I 5i 6I 59 105 5 82 3l 5l 87 INVENTOR 96 T4 h 92 9 Homme H.BURTT Y BY 0%- i L ATToRNE/SMOA Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES "PA'rlzN'r OFFICEv 2,466,370 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Horatio H. Bnrtt, Hartsdale, N. Y. Application -May 22, 1946, Serial No. 671,448 3 Claims. (Cl. 173-328) This invention relates to electrical disconnect connectors.

Heretofore, great diiilculty has been encountered in freeing the coupled parts of multiple pin and socket type connectors from one another at times when the parts are being disconnected. Such pin and socket contact connectors cling or freeze and usually become bent or destroyed before the connector parts are finally separated from one, another. Without the application of a great'deal of force, it has been practically impossible to separate the connector parts.

It is accordingly among the objects oi' the present invention to provide a multiple pin and socket contact connector wherein the pin and socket contacts will be instantly separated fromone another vwhen the coupling body parts retaining them are released from one another and whereby the prying and. pulling action usually required in separating prior multiple pin and socket contact connectors will be banished.

It is another object oi' the invention to provide a connector embodying pin and socket type contacts in which the coupling parts may under certain installations, as well as the contacts be readily and positively freed from one another when the. parts are uncoupled or released, and wherein the separation of the parts is easy and 2 gether and adapted when the coupling parts are released to individually force or vfree the socket contacts of the pin contacts whereby the coupling or connector parts are quickly, readily and posil. tively freed from one another thereby eliminating socket devices are carried by the connector which instantaneous and done without damage to the contacts and without the application of physical force.

It is another object of the invention to provide a quick-disconnect connector or coupling in which each individual pin contact of a multiple contact connector will be respectively provided with a device for separating the engaged contacts independently of the coupling parts that contain the contacts, wherein said separating device for each of the contacts is carried on the contact itself whereby to provide a selfcontained assembly adapted for easy union with the connector part.

It is another object of the invention to provide a quick disconnect connector which is of monoblock construction.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a connector in which vpolarired pin and socket devices may serve to center and align the connector parts as they .are brought together.

According to the present invention. there has been provided a quick-disconnect connector bearing pin and socket contacts in which there is carried by each of the pin contacts a combination spring and ejecting sleeve adaptedto be depressed by the socket contact as the two coupling parts with the contacts are brought toare so arranged as to prevent engagement of the body parts should they be reversed and to center the body parts when in-the right order for proper alignment of the contacts at the time their engagement is made.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other. objects as hereinafter will appear, my invention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter particularly described and sought to be defined in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which show ,a preferred embodiment of my invention. and in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partly in cross section, of a rack carrying one connector part and on which there is supported an electrical or radio device bearing the other connector part and adapted to be slid into the rack so that its connector part is coupled to the connector part of the rack, and of means for obtaining the electrlcal unionof the parts against the action of the several contact springs within the connector Fig. 2 is an enlarged top view looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of Fig. 1, upon the connector and with portions of the connector parts removed vto show in full the centering members and two pairs of contacts,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary and crosssectional view of the centering members at one end of the connector and of the contacts and with the connector parts slightly detached from one another,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view the contact face of the connector the socket contacts,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view looking upon the contact face of the connector part containing the pin-contacts.

looking upon part containing Referring now to Fig. 1, II is a rack having front and rear vertical frame pieces I2 and I3 connected together by a horizontally-extending shelf I4. This shelf |4 carries a casing or shield I5 adapted to house an electrical or radio unit I6 having a vertlcally-extending handle I1 on its front face and adapted to be thrusted into or removed from the casing I5 by a push or a pulling operation upon the handle. In order that the movement of the unit I 8 will be maintained true upon its insertion and removal from the casing I5, there are provided top and'bottom guides I8 and I9 extending from the front of the casing I5 toward the rear thereof. These guides are of angular formation and the top guide I9 serves to prevent upward movement of the unit during its movement into and out of the casing I5 as well as preventing the lateral movement thereof.

The casing I5 has attached to it a coupling part 2I from which contact terminals 22 extend rearwardly for the attachment thereto of wires brought toward the same from the rear of the rack. The connector part 2| has a flange 23 by which it is fastened to the casing I5. The ange abuts the rear face of the casing I5 and is retained thereagainst by a washer-like piece 24 having portions 25 engaging the rearward face of the flange 23 and fastened to the casing I5 by screw bolts 26 and nuts 21 retained in locked position against the frame piece 24 by lock washers 28.

Cooperating with the connector part 2| is a connector part 3| fastened to a sub-frame 32 within the radio unit IB and extending through an opening 33 in a rear wall 34 of the radio unit I6. The part 3| also extends through an opening 35 in the sub-frame and has a flange 36 by which it is fastened to the front face of the sub-frame 32 by a washer-like piece 31 and fastening bolts 38 and nuts 39. Contact terminals 4I extend forwardly from the connector part 3| for connection with wires 42 leading to devices within the radio unit.

It will be apparent from the description just now made that the connector parts are aligned with one anotherfor engagement and that the engagement is accordingly effected when the radio set is inserted into the casing I5 and forced home so that the coupling parts are completely coupled and abut one another.

In order that the radio set may be retained in its coupled or inserted position there is provided adjacent the lower end of the handle I1, a lug 43 adapted to be engaged by a locking nut 44 threaded upon a vertlcally-swingable bolt 45 pivoted at 46 to the forward end of the shelf I4. The projection 43 is provided with a forwardly bent portion 41 adapted to enter a recess 48 in the engaging face of the locking nut 44. With the locking nut 44 first screwed toward the rear of the bolt, the bolt 45 may be swung to a horizontal position to align the nut recess 48 with the portion 41. The nut 44 is then tightened upon the projection 41 so as to iinally lock the radio set I8 in its slid-in position Within the casing I5.

Referring now to Figs. 2,3, 4 and 5, there is shown the details of the connector embodying the features of the present invention.. The connector parts 2| and 3| are of monoblock construction and formed by a molding operation in which openings for containing the contacts and the centering pins are provided.

The part 2| is molded to contain eighteen pin contact assemblies indicated generally at 5 I This opening is molded in two diameters, one for effecting an opening 52 of large diameter extending for the greater distance through the material and adapted to contain the operable parts of the assembly 5I, and the other a small opening 53 adjacent the terminal face of the coupling part to provide a shoulder 54 by which the contact assembly can be locked against axial displacement when secured on its terminal end by a spring clip 55. The smaller opening 53 may be preferably provided with a at portion matching the fiat portion on the pin assembly 5I to prevent the turning of assembly in the opening 53.

At opposite sides of the part 2| there are provided relatively large diameter openings 56 and 51 for retaining long centering members 58 and 59, respectively. These openings are similarly provided with shoulders 60, GI against which the members 58 and 59 are locked by a nut 62 as it is tightened upon a threaded shank portion 63. Relatively short openings 56', 51 at the terminal face of the part serve respectively to house the nuts 62. Shoulders S0 and 6| may also be provided with a flat portion to prevent the pins from turning.

It will be noted that the centering member 58 at one side is of the socket type whereas the member 59 at the opposite side of the coupling is of the pin type. This is so that the coupling parts can be fitted together in only one way. By such an arrangement the coupling part cannot be swung end for end and fitted in an opposite manner. It will be apparent to do so that with the terminal connections already made they would not match or correspond with the terminals of the other part and serious harm right result.

The coupling part 3| is thinner than the coupling part 2|. This is so because socket contacts 54 thereof do not need to carry parts movable relative to it as in the case of the pin assembly 5|, Part 3| has an opening with large and small diameter portions and 66 for each socket contact 54. The socket contact may also have a fiat portion cooperating with a dat area in the small diameter portion 66 so as to prevent turning. With a shoulder 51 of socket contact 64 in place in the opening and fastened by a spring clip G8,

the socket contact 54 will be held against axial displacement therein.

The part 3| has openings with large and small diameter portions 1I, 12 and 13 at opposite sides of the part to contain centering members 14 and 15 adapted to respectively cooperate with the centering members 58 and 59 of the coupling part 2|. Retaining nuts 16 are housed within the short large diameter portions 12 adjacent the terminal face of the part 3|. .The members 14, 15 may likewise have fiat portions to cooperate with a corresponding ilat portion along the small diameter portion 13 to prevent turning of the centering member. As the parts are located adjacent one another to be connected, the tapered points of the centering members will draw the parts and their contacts into proper alignment preparatory to the making of their actual engagement. Polarizing lead wires may be connected to these centering members.

Referrlng now particularly to Fig. 3 it will be seen that there is provided within the contact face of the connector part 3| a countersunk surface 11 within each of the openings 65. 'I'his countersunk surface 11 is not of great length but is suiilcient to receive a sleeve projection 18 on the contacting face of the coupling part 2| and surrounding the pin contact assembly 5|. This increases the length of possible arcing paths between pairs of connected contacts.

'I'hepincontactassemblyilincludesashank lhavingacontactsurfaceandtheterminal portion 22 at opposite ends thereof. Adjacent the shoulder 54 is a flange 0l having the diameterofthelargeopeningandheldint againstthe shoulderSIbythespring clip 55 bearingasainsttheterminaifaceofparttlandtted inareducedportion oftheshankespecially provided for the purpose. The terminal portion 22 is hollowed and receives a wire end Il which may be retained therein by soldering. A portion 8l between the flange Il and the reduced portion 05 hlls the reduced opening 53. The contact surface 82 of theshank 0| is rounded at its tip tstomakegoodstartingentwiththe socket contact il.

Upon the shank Il and slidable along a portion 89 between the flange N and a reduced por- ,tion 9| bearing a spring clip 92. is an ejector sleeve or member 93 having a bearing portion 94 and an electing portion $5 adapted to extend over the contact surface 82 when the ejector sleeve 93 is against the clip $2 whereby to positively force or eh'ect the socket contact il of the coupling part 3| from and free of a tip Il of the contact surface 82. The ejector sleeve 33 is backed up by an ejector spring 36 surrounding the portion 88 within the opening S2 and reacting between the flange 8l and the portion S5 of the sleeve 93. The portion 9| of the ejector sleeve 93 serves as a pilot for one end of the spring S6.

It should be apparent that the assembly 5|, not including the clip 55. may be made up before the assembly is htted into the. openings 52 and 53 of the part 2|. The spring 3i and sleeve 93 is hxed in place on the shank 0| and retained by the spring clip 32 while the parts thereof are free of the openings 52, 53. It will thus be Seen that the assemblies 5| are self-contained units 'with the Contact shank itself providing the portion on which its ejector sleeve is guided and supported. The sleeve 93 is not dependent upon the wall of the opening 52 for guiding its movement axially of the pin contact.

The socket contact il has a. slitted hallowed portion |0| with a hanged head end |02. Ai; the base and inner end of the hollowed portion i5 is a flange |03 adapted to rest against the shoulder Gl as the socket il is secured in place by the locating of the spring clip 68 over a reduced portion |05 to cooperate with the terminal face of the coupling part 3|. A portion I IS lies within and fills the reduced opening Si and is hattened to cooperate with hat portions of the opening to prevent turning. A hollowed terminal portion 4| is provided at the end of the socket contact tl for receiving the lead wire I2.

It will thus be seen from the description which has already been made that the pin assembly 5| and the socket contact il are rigidly retained against both axially and rotational displacement within their respective openings.

It will be noted that the hollow or pin receiving portion |0I and the hanged head |02 of the socket contact 64 protrudes or projects to a considerable distance from the contact face of the coupling part 3|. As the parts 2| and 3| containing their respective centering and contact elements are brought together as when the radio set IS is thrusted into its slid-in position within the casing l5 of the rack Il. the hanged head |02 of the socket contact 64 shuts the portion 05 of the ejector sleeve 93 on the male contact and forces it inwardly against the action of the ejector spring 9B as engagement is mad'e by the hollow portion |0| of the socket 64 with the contact surface 02 of the pin assembly.

The connector parts will likely be kept in place by the friction of the radio set along its sliding surfaces but to be certain of their engagement the swingable bolt 45 is brought up and the nut 44 screwed into place on the projection 4l. Once the set is released and with slight movement of the set to overcome friction, the contacts will separate themselves. With cable mountings the force of the contact springs may be sufficient to bodily move the surrounding parts from one another upon their locking means being released. As long as this nut is retained in its locking or tightened up position the ejector springs 96 will remain compressed and the contact of the socket 6I with the contact surface 82 is sustained. The radio set I6 will thus operate in its normal fashion.

It will now be apparent that the radio set i8 can be readily freed of the casing |5 when the locking nui;` 44 is released thereby making it unnecessary that a diflicult and perhaps harmful pull be made of the radio set to break the coupling parts or disconnect the contacts. The extra force required to separate conventional pin and socket contact connectors has been elimi- While the present description has been made with reference to a radio set connector. it will be understood that the invention may be equally embodied in the ordinary free cable connectors of the socket and pin type having some means for retaining the parts in coupled relationship.

While I have shown my invention in the preferred form, it will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-separable electrical disconnect connector comprising two parts adapted to be coupled together, means for retaining the parts in coupled relations, a socket contact carried by one of the parts, and a self-contained pin contact structure assembled as a unit upon the other con nector part for alignment with the socket contact as the parts are coupled together, said pin contact unit comprising a pin contact having an axially-extending contact surface and spring-biased electing means carried upon the pin Contact and slidable over substantially the full extent of the pin contact surface, said spring-biased ejecting means operating between limits upon the pin contact and adapted to substantially bodily disconnect the socket contact from the pin contact and to uncouple the parts when parts are released from the retaining means.

2. A self-separable disconnect connector comprising two intertting body parts of insulating material, axially-aligned counterbored openings provided in each of the parts, normally contracted, yieidable socket contacts extending respectively through the openings of one of the parts and having a hollow contacting portion protruding from the body part, a pin Contact assembly disposed in each of the openings of the other part, each pin contact assembly including a pin contact' surface withia shank having a. hanged portion adapted to abut the shoulder provided by the counterbored opening and serving to prevent axial movement oi the shank in one direction through the opening, a spring clip on the shank and cooperating with the body part for preventlng axial movement of the shank through the opening in the opposite direction, said pin contact having an axially-extending contacting sur.. face adapted to be engaged by the socket contact as the parts are brought together, an ejector sleeve sutiable upon the shank and over substantially the full extent of the axially-extending contact surface and adapted to abut the socket contact, stop meanson the shank for limiting further outward movement of the sleeve over the pin contacting surface as when the socket member has been made free of the contacting surface, a strong spring .acting between the sleeve and the ilange on the shank to cause the sleeve to free the socket contact of the pin contact surface at times when it is desired that the parts be diSCOnnected, and both the socket contact and the pin contact shank being respectively provided with terminal portions for the attachment of a wire thereto.

3. A self-separable electrical disconnect connector comprising two parts adapted to be coupled together, means for retaining the parts in coupled relation, a socket contact carried by one of the parts, a self-contained pin contact assembly carried as a. unit upon the other connector part for alignment with the socket contact as the parts are coupled together, said pin contact assembly comprising a pin contact member having a shank with a flange thereon, said other connector part having an opening for receiving the pin contact' assembly with a shoulder therein,

'said flange engaging with said shoulder of the other connector part, said shank having a groove rearwardly of the ange, a washerseated in said .groovetosecuretheshankagainstaxialdisplaceof the pin member.

HORATIO H. BUR'IT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Meschenmoser Oct. 19, 1915 French Mar. 31, 1925 Y Cannon May '1, 1935 Ley et al. Sept. 17, 1935 Schroeder Feb. 2o, 1945 Still et al. Jan. 22, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Cmmtry Date Great Britain July 12, 1934 Germany Oct. 19, 1927 Germany Oct. 25, 1935 Number Number

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