US3851944A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Current transformer connector
Assignee: OKZONA Inc
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Filing: 1973-03-30
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-03-30
Abstract
Abstract Each contact of a connector receptacle is electrically connected to a separate lead from the secondary winding of a current transformer. In the disconnected condition, the socket contacts are shorted together by means of individual spring loaded actuators which make electrical contact with both the socket contact and a metal shorting plate which is common to all socket contact actuators. A measuring instrument or other device which is to be connected across the current transformer secondary is connected to the pin contacts of a complementary connector plug. When the connector plug is inserted into the receptacle, the pin contacts of the plug force the spring loaded actuators out of engagement with and away from the shorting plate thereby electrically isolating the socket contacts from each other. At the same time, the pin contacts engage the socket contacts, by means of the actuators, thereby establishing electrical continuity through the connector. The instrument is therefore electrically connected across the secondary winding of the current transformer. Upon disengagement of the connector, the socket contacts are automatically shorted together due to the spring loaded feature and the shorting plate, thus preventing the secondary winding of the current transformer from being accidentally in an open condition.
Inventors
- 👤 A Ganzert
- 👤 N Mina
- 👤 B Gaizauskas
- 👤 L Andrychowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/04; G01R1/0408; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/66; H01R13/70; H01R13/703; H01R13/7031; H01R13/7032
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
In an electrical connector of the type wherein an electrical circuit is continued over at least two conductor paths through engaged contacts of mated connector parts, the improvement therein comprising: means for automatically shorting the conductor paths by shorting the contacts of one of said connector parts upon disengagement of said connector parts, said means including an electrically conductive element mounted in said one connector part adjacent each of the contacts thereof; an electrically conductive shorting actuator movably mounted in each of said contacts of said one connector part and moved away from said conductive element by the corresponding contact of the other connector part upon mating of the connector parts; and bias means for each of said actuators mounted to urge said actuators into electrical contact with said conductive element upon disengagement of the connector parts, each of said contacts of said one connector part including a hollow portion and each of said actuators including a first portion slidably mounted within and electrically contacting said hollow portion of a respective contact and a second portion having a bore for receiving and releasably engaging the corresponding contact of the other connector part and said bias means including a spring retainer carried on each said actuator and a respective bias spring mounted between said spring retainer and the part which includes the hollow portion of the respective contact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
In an electrical connector of the type wherein an electrical circuit is continued over at least two conductor paths through engaged contacts of mated connector parts, the improvement therein comprising: means for automatically shorting the conductor paths by shorting the contacts of one of said connector parts upon disengagement of said connector parts, said means including an electrically conductive element mounted in said one connector part adjacent each of the contacts thereof; an electrically conductive shorting actuator movably mounted in each of said contacts of said one connector part and moved away from said conductive element by the corresponding contact of the other connector part upon mating of the connector parts; and bias means for each of said actuators mounted to urge said actuators into electrical contact with said conductive element upon disengagement of the connector parts, each of said contacts of said one connector part including a hollow portion and each of said actuators including a first portion slidably mounted within and electrically contacting said hollow portion of a respective contact and a second portion having a bore for receiving and releasably engaging the corresponding contact of the other connector part and said bias means including a spring retainer carried on each said actuator and a respective bias spring mounted between said spring retainer and the part which includes the hollow portion of the respective contact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
181 words
In an electrical connector of the type wherein an electrical circuit is continued over at least two conductor paths through engaged contacts of mated connector parts, the improvement therein comprising: means for automatically shorting the conductor paths by shorting the contacts of one of said connector parts upon disengagement of said connector parts, said means including an electrically conductive element mounted in said one connector part adjacent each of the contacts thereof; an electrically conductive shorting actuator movably mounted in each of said contacts of said one connector part and moved away from said conductive element by the corresponding contact of the other connector part upon mating of the connector parts; and bias means for each of said actuators mounted to urge said actuators into electrical contact with said conductive element upon disengagement of the connector parts, each of said bias means including a spring mounted to urge the respective actuator toward said conductive element, each of said actuators includes a circumferential groove and a ring mounted in said groove, the respective spring bearing against said ring and the respective contact.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
181 words
In an electrical connector of the type wherein an electrical circuit is continued over at least two conductor paths through engaged contacts of mated connector parts, the improvement therein comprising: means for automatically shorting the conductor paths by shorting the contacts of one of said connector parts upon disengagement of said connector parts, said means including an electrically conductive element mounted in said one connector part adjacent each of the contacts thereof; an electrically conductive shorting actuator movably mounted in each of said contacts of said one connector part and moved away from said conductive element by the corresponding contact of the other connector part upon mating of the connector parts; and bias means for each of said actuators mounted to urge said actuators into electrical contact with said conductive element upon disengagement of the connector parts, each of said bias means including a spring mounted to urge the respective actuator toward said conductive element, each of said actuators includes a circumferential groove and a ring mounted in said groove, the respective spring bearing against said ring and the respective contact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
188 words
In an electrical connector of the type wherein an electrical circuit is continued over at least two conductor paths through engaged contacts of mated connector parts, the improvement therein comprising: means for automatically shorting the conductor paths by shorting the contacts of one of said connector parts upon disengagement of said connector parts, said means including an electrically conductive element mounted in said one connector part adjacent each of the contacts thereof; an electrically conductive shorting actuator movably mounted in each of said contacts of said one connector part and moved away from said conductive element by the corresponding contact of the other connector part upon mating of the connector parts; and bias means for each of said actuators mounted to urge said actuators into electrical contact with said conductive element upon disengagement of the connector parts, each of said contacts of said one part including a hollow portion, and each of said actuators including a first portion slidably mounted within and in electrical contact with said hollow portion of a respective contact and a second portion for releasably engaging the corresponding contact of the other connector part.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
188 words
In an electrical connector of the type wherein an electrical circuit is continued over at least two conductor paths through engaged contacts of mated connector parts, the improvement therein comprising: means for automatically shorting the conductor paths by shorting the contacts of one of said connector parts upon disengagement of said connector parts, said means including an electrically conductive element mounted in said one connector part adjacent each of the contacts thereof; an electrically conductive shorting actuator movably mounted in each of said contacts of said one connector part and moved away from said conductive element by the corresponding contact of the other connector part upon mating of the connector parts; and bias means for each of said actuators mounted to urge said actuators into electrical contact with said conductive element upon disengagement of the connector parts, each of said contacts of said one part including a hollow portion, and each of said actuators including a first portion slidably mounted within and in electrical contact with said hollow portion of a respective contact and a second portion for releasably engaging the corresponding contact of the other connector part.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement in an electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein each of said second portions of said actuators includes a bore for receiving the respective contacts of the other connector part in releasable engagement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
280 words
An electrical connector part for engagement with another connector part which has a plurality of pin contacts, comprising: a hollow body having front and rear ends; a plurality of socket contacts for receiving and releasably engaging respective ones of the pin contacts of the other connector parts; first insulating means mounting said socket contacts within said body in a spaced relationship and having a front end with a cavity therein; a conductive element mounted in the cavity in said front end of said first insulating means adjacent said socket contacts; second insulating means mounted within the cavity of said front end of said first insulating means forward of said conductive element, said conductive element and said second insulating means having aligned apertures therein for permitting access therethrough for engagement between the pin contacts and said socket contacts; an electrically conductive actuator included in each of said socket contacts and movable away from and toward said conductive element in response to engagement and disengagement, respectively, between the contacts of the connector parts; and means biasing each of said actuators toward said conductive element for automatically shorting said socket contacts upon disengagement of the connector parts, each of said socket contacts including a hollow portion and each of said actuators including a first portion slidably mounted within and electrically contacting said hollow portion of a respective socket contact and a second portion having a bore for receiving and releasably engaging the corresponding pin contact of the other connector part, and said bias means including a spring retainer carried on each of said actuators and a respective bias spring mounted between said spring retainer and the hollow portion of the respective socket contact.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
280 words
An electrical connector part for engagement with another connector part which has a plurality of pin contacts, comprising: a hollow body having front and rear ends; a plurality of socket contacts for receiving and releasably engaging respective ones of the pin contacts of the other connector parts; first insulating means mounting said socket contacts within said body in a spaced relationship and having a front end with a cavity therein; a conductive element mounted in the cavity in said front end of said first insulating means adjacent said socket contacts; second insulating means mounted within the cavity of said front end of said first insulating means forward of said conductive element, said conductive element and said second insulating means having aligned apertures therein for permitting access therethrough for engagement between the pin contacts and said socket contacts; an electrically conductive actuator included in each of said socket contacts and movable away from and toward said conductive element in response to engagement and disengagement, respectively, between the contacts of the connector parts; and means biasing each of said actuators toward said conductive element for automatically shorting said socket contacts upon disengagement of the connector parts, each of said socket contacts including a hollow portion and each of said actuators including a first portion slidably mounted within and electrically contacting said hollow portion of a respective socket contact and a second portion having a bore for receiving and releasably engaging the corresponding pin contact of the other connector part, and said bias means including a spring retainer carried on each of said actuators and a respective bias spring mounted between said spring retainer and the hollow portion of the respective socket contact.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electrical connector part as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said actuators includes a circumferential groove and a ring mounted in said groove, the respective spring bearing against said ring and the respective socket contact.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
244 words
An electrical connector part for engagement with another connector part which has a plurality of pin contacts, comprising: a hollow body having front and rear ends; a plurality of socket contacts for receiving and releasably engaging respective ones of the pin contacts of the other connector parts; first insulating means mounting said socket contacts within said body in a spaced relationship and having a front end with a cavity therein; a conductive element mounted in the cavity in said front end of said first insulating means adjacent said socket contacts; second insulating means mounted within the cavity of said front end of said first insulating means forward of said conductive element, said conductive element and said second insulating means having aligned apertures therein for permitting access therethrough for engagement between the pin contacts and said socket contacts; an electrically conductive actuator included in each of said socket contacts and movable away from and toward said conductive element in response to engagement and disengagement, respectiVely, between the contacts of the connector parts; and means biasing each of said actuators toward said conductive element for automatically shorting said socket contacts upon disengagement of the connector parts, each of said socket contacts including a hollow portion, and each of said actuators including a first portion slidably mounted within and in electrical contact with said hollow portion of a respective socket contact and a second portion for releasably engaging the corresponding pin contact of the other connector part.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
244 words
An electrical connector part for engagement with another connector part which has a plurality of pin contacts, comprising: a hollow body having front and rear ends; a plurality of socket contacts for receiving and releasably engaging respective ones of the pin contacts of the other connector parts; first insulating means mounting said socket contacts within said body in a spaced relationship and having a front end with a cavity therein; a conductive element mounted in the cavity in said front end of said first insulating means adjacent said socket contacts; second insulating means mounted within the cavity of said front end of said first insulating means forward of said conductive element, said conductive element and said second insulating means having aligned apertures therein for permitting access therethrough for engagement between the pin contacts and said socket contacts; an electrically conductive actuator included in each of said socket contacts and movable away from and toward said conductive element in response to engagement and disengagement, respectiVely, between the contacts of the connector parts; and means biasing each of said actuators toward said conductive element for automatically shorting said socket contacts upon disengagement of the connector parts, each of said socket contacts including a hollow portion, and each of said actuators including a first portion slidably mounted within and in electrical contact with said hollow portion of a respective socket contact and a second portion for releasably engaging the corresponding pin contact of the other connector part.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrical connector part as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said second portions of said actuators includes a bore for receiving the respective pin contact of the other connector part in releasable engagement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
155 words
An electrical connector comprising: a connector plug including pin contacts for connection to a first circuit, a connector receptacle including socket contacts for connection to a second circuit, said plug and said receptacle including means for mating said plug and said receptacle with said pin contacts received by said socket contacts to electrically connect said first and second circuits, and means in said connector receptacle for short circuiting said socket contacts in response to withdrawal of said pin contacts from said socket contacts upon disengagement of said plug and receptacle, each of said socket contacts comprising a hollow portion, a generally cylindrical conductive member slidably received in said hollow portion and having a hollow portion for receiving the corresponding pin contact, and a spring having two ends, one of said ends bearing against said socket contact comprising said hollow portion, said conductive member including a spring retainer bearing against the other end of said spring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
155 words
An electrical connector comprising: a connector plug including pin contacts for connection to a first circuit, a connector receptacle including socket contacts for connection to a second circuit, said plug and said receptacle including means for mating said plug and said receptacle with said pin contacts received by said socket contacts to electrically connect said first and second circuits, and means in said connector receptacle for short circuiting said socket contacts in response to withdrawal of said pin contacts from said socket contacts upon disengagement of said plug and receptacle, each of said socket contacts comprising a hollow portion, a generally cylindrical conductive member slidably received in said hollow portion and having a hollow portion for receiving the corresponding pin contact, and a spring having two ends, one of said ends bearing against said socket contact comprising said hollow portion, said conductive member including a spring retainer bearing against the other end of said spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |