Improvements in or relating to electric couplings

Abstract

Abstract 816,846. Two-part couplings. BRITISH INSULATED CALLENDER'S CABLES Ltd. Dec. 17, 1957 [Dec. 17, 1956; Feb. 6, 1957], Nos. 38461/56 and 4147/57. Class 38 (1). The parts of a plug and socket connector are identically formed and each is adjustable to form either a plug or socket to suit the cooperating part. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 each part comprises an outer sleeve 8 containing an insulating body 7 in which are moulded pin contacts 5. These pins engage socket contacts 16 having through bores and carried by an insulating block 15 in turn carried by a sleeve 13 which telescopes within the sleeve 8, being guided therein by a pin 21a engaging a slot 22. In the coupling part shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 1, the pins 5 are engaging the rear ends of the sockets 16 so that the latter can receive the pins 5 of the cooperating part, the two parts being held together by a locking ring 25 on the co-operating part screwing on to a screw-threaded rib 14 on sleeve 13, mis-mating of the coupling parts is prevented by semi-cylindrical, forwardly projecting ports 38 on the two sleeves 13 which must be aligned to form a complete cylinder before the parts can be connected. To convert the left-hand coupling part into a plug, the locking ring 25 carried thereby, and which is in partial screw-threaded engagement with the rib 14, is rotated to retract the sleeve 13, thereby causing the pins 5 to project through the sockets 16. In the fully retracted position of sleeve 13, the ring 25 disengages from the rib 14 so that on releasing plungers 30 from a groove 28, the locking ring can be slid forward until said plungers engage a second groove 29, in which position the ring is ready to receive the rib 14 on the co-operating coupling part. Sealing gaskets 21, 37 are provided. Fig. 2 shows a modification wherein the sockets 16 and pins 5 are held in fixed, spaced relation within the sleeve 8, which in this case carries the rib 14, interconnection between these contacts being effected by combined pin-and-socket contacts 41 carried by an insulating body 40 located in sleeve 13 which has limited sliding movement within sleeve 8, being guided as before by pins 21a working in slots 22. With the contacts 41 retracted, as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 2, the coupling-part forms a socket and to convert it into a plug, plungers 30 are raised and the locking-ring 25 screwed along the rib 14 so that a shoulder 45 on the ring engages the pins 21a and pushes the sleeve 13 forwards to the opposite end of groove 22 in which position contacts 41 project from sockets 16. The plungers 30 then engage a groove 29.

Inventors

• 👤 Francis Peter Harthman
• 👤 John Chalmer Balmforth
• 👤 Frederick Arthur Harwood

Bibliographic Details