US3668614A — Separable electrical connectors

Claim 1

Independent Claim 245 words

A compound copulatory electrical connector for selectively connecting and disconnecting an energized electrical conductor with or from a load, said connector having separable portions, one of said portions having: a. a conductive probe mechanically mounted thereto at one end and electrically connected with said conductor at the same end, said probe having a free end remote from said mounting; b. a non-conductive open-ended receptor surrounding said probe in radially spaced relationship; the other of said portions having: c. a non-conductive probe having a free end with an exterior surface shaped to mate with the interior of said receptor (b); d. a conductive receptor having an interior surface shaped to mate with the exterior of said conductive probe (a) adjacent the free end thereof, said interior surface being spaced from the free end of said non-conductive probe (c) by a distance substantially equal to but less than the length of said conductive probe (a) within said non-conductive receptor (b); and e. a pair of arc-pinching elements mounted within said nonconductive probe (c) between said conductive receptor (d) and the free end of said non-conductive probe (c), said arcpinching elements being resiliently biased toward each other but free for forcible movement away from each other for a distance sufficient to accommodate said conductive probe (a) between them, said pair of arc-pinching elements entering into contiguous closure to curtail arcing between saId conductive probe and conductive receptor during insertion or withdrawal of said probe within said non-conductive probe.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 245 words

A compound copulatory electrical connector for selectively connecting and disconnecting an energized electrical conductor with or from a load, said connector having separable portions, one of said portions having: a. a conductive probe mechanically mounted thereto at one end and electrically connected with said conductor at the same end, said probe having a free end remote from said mounting; b. a non-conductive open-ended receptor surrounding said probe in radially spaced relationship; the other of said portions having: c. a non-conductive probe having a free end with an exterior surface shaped to mate with the interior of said receptor (b); d. a conductive receptor having an interior surface shaped to mate with the exterior of said conductive probe (a) adjacent the free end thereof, said interior surface being spaced from the free end of said non-conductive probe (c) by a distance substantially equal to but less than the length of said conductive probe (a) within said non-conductive receptor (b); and e. a pair of arc-pinching elements mounted within said nonconductive probe (c) between said conductive receptor (d) and the free end of said non-conductive probe (c), said arcpinching elements being resiliently biased toward each other but free for forcible movement away from each other for a distance sufficient to accommodate said conductive probe (a) between them, said pair of arc-pinching elements entering into contiguous closure to curtail arcing between saId conductive probe and conductive receptor during insertion or withdrawal of said probe within said non-conductive probe.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

The connector of claim 1 wherein said conductive receptor (d) has resilient fingers extending axially thereof adjacent said interior surface, and means biasing the free ends of said fingers radially inward.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 12 words

The connector of claim 2 wherein said means is a garter spring.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The connector of claim 1 in which said arc-pinching elements are composed of arc-quenching material and have a relatively large arc-accessible surface area.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

The connector of claim 1 in which said receptor and said arc-pinching elements are mounted in radially spaced relationship within a capsule composed of dielectric material which when exposed to an arc is non-carbon-evolving, non-tracking, and arc-suppressing, and said capsule is embedded within said non-conductive probe (c).

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The connector of claim 1 wherein said one of said portions is an elbow having a conductor extending through it.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 130 words

The combination with an electrical connector part having a conoidal exterior insulating member, of an insides embedded in said member, comprising, a female-shaped conductive element, a capsule embracing at least part of said element, said capsule being composed of dielectric material which when exposed to an arc is non-carbon-evolving, non-tracking and arc-resistant, said capsule being internally subdivided into a plurality of chambers containing respectively: i. at least part of said conductive element; and ii. paired arc-pinching elements radially biased toward each other, but free for movement into radially spaced relationship; said capsule having an axial channel open at the end thereof remote from said conductive element and extending through said chambers to accommodate movement of a conductive probe from the outer end of said member into contact with said element.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 130 words

The combination with an electrical connector part having a conoidal exterior insulating member, of an insides embedded in said member, comprising, a female-shaped conductive element, a capsule embracing at least part of said element, said capsule being composed of dielectric material which when exposed to an arc is non-carbon-evolving, non-tracking and arc-resistant, said capsule being internally subdivided into a plurality of chambers containing respectively: i. at least part of said conductive element; and ii. paired arc-pinching elements radially biased toward each other, but free for movement into radially spaced relationship; said capsule having an axial channel open at the end thereof remote from said conductive element and extending through said chambers to accommodate movement of a conductive probe from the outer end of said member into contact with said element.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The combination of claim 7 in which adjacent ones of said chambers are separated by baffles formed of arc-suppressing material.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 47 words

The combination of claim 7 wherein said conductive element has a surface disposed for resilient contact with said probe, and means spaced from said surface but in conductive relation with said element for diverting, away from said surface, an arc drawn between said probe and said element.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 80 words

An insides for a male non-conductive part of a separable electrical connector, comprising, complemental half-liners of moldable arc-resistant material, said half-liners having an axially extending valley at each end and a plurality of axially spaced partitions between said valleys, each partition having a central notch, said notches being axially aligned with each other and with said valleys, paired clappers of arc-quenching material confined between successive ones of said partitions, and means biasing the clappers of each pair toward each other.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 80 words

An insides for a male non-conductive part of a separable electrical connector, comprising, complemental half-liners of moldable arc-resistant material, said half-liners having an axially extending valley at each end and a plurality of axially spaced partitions between said valleys, each partition having a central notch, said notches being axially aligned with each other and with said valleys, paired clappers of arc-quenching material confined between successive ones of said partitions, and means biasing the clappers of each pair toward each other.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 52 words

The insides of claim 10 wherein said valleys at one end of said half-liners are interlocked with a female conductive member having axially extending fingers, resilient means for radially biasing said fingers, said paired clappers having half-conical recesses addressed toward each other with their bases addressed away from said female conductive part.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

The insides of claim 10 having a female-configurated stationary contact at one end of said complemental half-liners.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

The combination with the insides of claim 12 of a removable male-configurated conductive member proportioned to be accommodated in the notches and valleys of said complemental half-liners and to be accepted by said stationary contact.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

The combination of claim 13 wherein the arc-accessible surface area of said clappers is substantially greater than the surface area of that portion of said male-configurated conductive member between said valleys and said stationary contact.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The connector of claim 1 wherein the free end of said conductive probe is formed at least in part of arc-resisting conductive material.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

The connector oF claim 1 wherein said non-conductive open-ended receptor extends axially beyond the free end of said conductive probe.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-06-06	1975-12-06	1976-06-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-06-06	1979-12-06	1980-06-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-06-06	1983-12-06	1984-06-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Separable electrical connectors

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