US2808575A - Connecting device - Google Patents

Description

1957 J. c. KARLSON 7 2,808,575

' CONNECTING DEVICE Filed Au 10. 1953 JOHN CHARLES mAzso/v "unf Y DAM/am ATTORNEY United States Patent CONNECTING DEVICE John C. Karlson, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, Teterboro, N. L, a corporation of Delaware Application August 10, 1953, Serial No. 373,334

4 Claims. (Cl. 339-92) This invention relates generally to plug and socket connectors and more particularly to the connection and disconnection of plug and socket connectors.

In the present tendency to miniaturize the signal generating and amplifying components of automatic control systems, these components are frequently mounted in a single container or sub-assembly so that they may be readily removed for replacement or repair. These components may require a large number of conductors in a small allotment of space. As a result, difficulties arise in the alignment, connection and disconnection of the connectors.

Plug and socket connectors are frequently used; the socket being carried by the chassis, and the plug carried by the component. The plug may have a number of prongs. Since these prongs tend to cling or freeze to the socket, \care must be used in the alignment and insertion of the prongs into the socket; and a great deal of force is required to remove the prongs from the socket. An excessive rocking motion or pressure may result in a distortion of the prongs thereby breaking or bending them and destroying the prongs or sockets. These difficulties are enhanced by the component being in confiement with other components.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a novel apparatus for connecting and disconnecting plug and socket connectors.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a novel arrangement on a chassis whereby a container holding one unit of a plug and socket connector may be placed in a stanchion or support to align the unit with its complementary unit and by operation of a further member cooperating with the stanchion or support insert the first unit into the second unit to complete the connector or remove the first unit from the second unit to disconnect the connector.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the acompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawing wherein like parts are marked alike:

Fig. 1 illustrates the present invention in operative association with the chassis of an amplifier and signal generator for a control system;

Fig. 2 shows the support arrangement of the invention shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 shows a plug, container, relay assembly and force supplying unit of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 for a more detailed description, the present invention is comprised generally of a framework or support 10, a container 12, and a force supplying unit 14.

Patented Oct. 1, 1957 The framework 10, Fig. 2, provides a support for the container 12, as shown in Fig. 1, and is comprised generally of a seat 15 and two upstanding bars or arms 16 and 18. These bars have apertures 20 at their upper ends, are fixed to seat 15, and constitute stanchions for the force supplying unit 14. Seat 15 has an aperture 26 in which the plug end of cannister 12 fits and may be provided with two other apertures 28 in which suitable means such as bolts or screws may pass to secure the framework or support 10 to the chassis.

The container 12, Fig. 3, may be a casing 30 having at one end plug connections 32 and at the other end force supplying unit 14.

Projecting from plug 32 is a plurality of prongs 33 for insertion in cooperating sockets in the chassis. In the present embodiment, casing 30 houses a series of relays 34 which are connected by wires 35 to the prongs 33.

The force supplying unit is comprised generally of a jack screw 40, a bracket 41, and a bar or bridge member 42. Bracket 41 is secured to casing 30 by suitable means such bolts 4-5, and screw is rotatabiy journalled in the bracket. Bar 42 is threaded on screw 40 and has slots 44 which cooperate with the upper walls formed by the apertures 20 in uprights 16 and 18.

The aligning and connecting operations of the invention will now be apparent. By way of suitable screws in aperture 28, framework 10 is fixed to the amplifier chassis so that aperture 26 centers the connector sockets in the chassis. To connect plug 32 with the socket, bar 42 is threaded downwardly on screw 40 until the bar engages bracket 41. Container 12 is slipped between uprights 16 and 18 of the support 10; these uprights bearing against the container 12 support the same therein and aiign the prongs and sockets. The uprights are biased apart and bar 42 inserted in apertures 20. When the biasing force is released uprights 16 and 18 return to their original position and engage bar 42. Rotation of screw 40 threads the screw into bar 42 moving container 12 downwardly and inserting prongs 52 into their complementary sockets. The reaction forces the upper side walls of apertures 29 into slots 44.

Additional force applied by way of screw 49 after plug 32 has been seated in aperture 26 wil bow bar 14 slightly. This distorts the threads in the bar which engage screw 40 so that vibration will not loosen the connection.

To remove the container for repair or replacement, the above operations are merely reversed. Screw 49 is threaded upwardly within the support 10 in bar 42, pulling container 12 upwardly and removing prongs 33 from their socket. When the prongs clear the socket, uprights 16 and 18 of the support 10 may be biased outwardly and bar 42 removed from slot Thus, container 12 is freed from the support and may be removed without injury to prongs 33.

The foregoing has presented a novel apparatus for supporting aligning, connecting, and disconnecting plug and socket connections of the type in a plug bar, a plurality of prongs and the socket a piurality of complementary apertures. Although the apparatus is simple in structure and function, the connection is securely locked against shocks and vibration.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A coupler for engaging and disengaging an element having one unit of a plug and socket connection from 3 a chassis having the other unit, comprising a support for said element, said support mounted on said chassis and including a seat having two spaced members projecting from said seat at opposite sides thereof for engaging 'said element between said spaced members whereby said plug and socket units are aligned, a screw rotatably mounted on said element, and a bar threaded on said screw, said bar being engageable with said members whereby selective rotation of said screw causes relative movement of said element and chassis to connect and disconnect said plug and socket units.

2. A coupler for engaging and disengaging an element having one unit of a plug and socket connection from a chassis subject to shock and vibration and having the other unit, comprising a support for said element, said support adapted to be fixed to said chassis and including a seat having two spaced arms projecting from said seat at opposite sides thereof for engaging said element between said spaced members whereby said plug and socket units may be aligned, a screw journalled on said element, and a bridge member threaded on said screw and having slots therein, said arms having apertures therein for engaging said bridge and being laterally yieldable whereby said tZlIIllS may be spread so that said bridge member may enter said apertures, and whereby said slots engage said arms as said screw is rotated and said element is moved relative to said chassis to engage and disengage said plug and socket units, said bridge member being deformable under the thrust load of said screw to lock said units against shock and vibration.

3. A coupler for engaging and disengaging an element having one unit of a plug and socket connection from a chassis having the other unit, comprising a support for said element, said support mounted on said chassis and including a seat having two spaced members for aligning one unit with the other, said spaced members being arranged at opposite sides of said element, a screw rotatably mounted on said element, and a bar threaded on said screw, said members having apertures therein and being flexible so that said members may be biased and said bar engaged Within said apertures whereby selective rotation of said screw causes relative movement of said element and chassis to connect and disconnect said plug and socket units.

4. A coupler for engaging and disengaging an element having one unit of a plug and socket connection from a chassis subject to vibration having the other unit, comprising a support for said element, said support mounted on said chassis and including a seat having two upright arms extending at opposite sides of said element and so arranged as to align the one unit of the element with the other unit of the chassis, a screw rotatably mounted on said element, a member having a threaded aperture therein for threadedly receiving said screw, engaging means on said arms, said member cooperating with said engaging means for bridging said arms whereby said plug and socket units may be engaged and disengaged by rotating said screw, said member being flexible so as to bow slightly under continued rotation of said screw after said units are engaged whereby the threaded aperture receiving said screw is distorted so that vibration will not loosen the connection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 66,170 Patterson June 25, 1867 1,631,288 Potter June 7, 1927 1,722,816 Meunier July 20, 1929 2,457,119 Bour Dec. 28, 1948 2,637,763 Palmer May 5, 1953 2,673,334 Julian Mar. 23, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 658,628 Great Britain Oct. 10, 1951

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