EP0591948A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connection system with safety interlock
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1993-10-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-10-06
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connection system comprises a first component carrying a pair of male connector elements releasably mated with a pair of female connector elements carried by a second connector component. A shorting clip is associated with the first component for providing an electrical short between the male connector elements. A safety latch is selectively receivable in a latch position for moving the shorting clip to a non-shorting position when the first component is mated with the second component and a lock element is arranged to be actuated by the safety latch to prevent separation of the first and second components while the safety latch is in the latch position.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Cahaly
- 👤 Brian R. Pitstick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:52
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/64; H01R13/66; H01R13/70; H01R13/703; H01R13/7031; H01R13/7032; H01R2201/00; H01R2201/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
An electrical connection including: a) a first component carrying a first pair of electrical connector elements; b) a second component releasably mated with the first component and carrying a second pair of electrical connector elements engaged with the first pair of electrical connector elements; c) a shorting element for electrically shorting the first pair of electrical connector elements; d) a safety latch element selectively receivable in a latch position for moving the shorting element to a non-shorting position when the second component is mated with the first component; and, e) lock means actuated by the safety latch element for preventing separation of the first and second components while the safety latch element is in the latch position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical connection as defined in claim 1 wherein the second component carries the lock means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical connection as defined in claim 2 wherein the lock means includes a lock element which is moved into locking engagement with the first component when the safety latch element is in its latch position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrical connection as defined in claim 1 wherein the shorting element comprises a resilient clip which extends between the first pair of electrical connector elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electrical connection as defined in claim 4 wherein the safety latch element includes means for engaging the shorting element when in said latch position and moving said shorting element out of contact with at least one of said first pair of electrical connector elements thereby electrically opening said first pair of connector elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electrical connection as defined in claim 5 wherein the lock means includes a resilient element which is deflected into locking engagement by the safety latch element when the safety latch element is in latch position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
An electrical connection as defined in claim 5 wherein the resilient element extends from the second component and wherein the safety latch element when in the latch position extends through the first component, wherein preferably the first component comprises a socket into which the second component extends, and wherein preferably the safety latch extends into the second component when in a latch position, and wherein the lock means includes a resilient element which is biased laterally into locking engagement with the socket when the safety latch is in the latch position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
An electrical connection including: a) a first component carrying a male connector element; b) a second component releasably mated with the first component and carrying a female connector element engaged with the male connector element; c) a shorting element biased for electrically shorting the male connector element; d) a safety latch element selectively positionable in a latch position when the second component is mated with the first component; e) means on said safety latch element for selectively urging said shorting element against said bias and electrically opening said male connector element when in said latch position; and, f) lock means actuated by the safety latch element for preventing separation of the first and second components while the safety latch element is in the latch position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electrical connection as defined in claim 8 wherein the second component carries the lock means, wherein preferably the safety latch element includes tab portions that maintain portions of the second component in engagement with the first component, wherein preferably the safety latch element extends into the second element when in the latch position, wherein preferably the first component includes a socket which receives the first component, wherein preferably the second component includes resilient first portions that engage in recesses formed in the socket, and wherein preferably the safety latch element when in the latch position prevents the resilient first portions from disengaging from the recesses in the socket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrical connection including: a first component; a second component releasably mated with the first component; and a safety latch element selectively receivable in a latch position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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