Electric connector apparatus and method

Claim 2

Electric connector apparatus comprising support structure including an elongated conducting sleeve having an inwardly projecting shoulder intermediate its ends, an elongated tubular hollow unitary electric contact slidably mounted within said sleeve and having an outwardly projecting flange defining an integral shoulder engageable with said inwardly projecting shoulder of said sleeve to determine a normal position of said contact relative to said sleeve, said unitary contact being movable longitudinally from its normal position to an interim position due to frictional engagement with a cooperating contact during insertion of the cooperating contact into one end of said hollow unitary contact to initiate but not complete a circuit closing operation and without establishing an arc therebetween, spring means arranged to react between a part of said support structure and said unitary contact and energized by movement of said unitary contact toward its interim position for moving said unitary contact longitudinally to its normal position to complete a circuit closing operation when the force exerted by said spring means exceeds the frictional force between said unitary contact and the cooperating contact, and a sleeve contact disposed about said flange and secured thereto and in sliding contact with the part of the inner surface of said conducting sleeve which is adjacent said spring means to form a shunt circuit for diverting a substantial portion of current around said spring.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support structure comprises an electric bushing and the cooperating contact comprises a contact pin of an elbow type connector.

Claim 4

Electric apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said unitary contact and the cooperating contact move longitudinally in substantial unison during movement of said unitary contact from its normal to its interim position and wherein said unitary contact moves slidably relative to the cooperating contact during movement of said unitary contact to its normal position.

Claim 5

Electric connector apparatus comprising elongated support structure having an inwardly projecting shoulder intermediate its ends, a hollow unitary electric contact having an outwardly projecting shoulder and mounted on said support structure and movable longitudinally relative thereto between a normal position determined by engagement between said shoulders and an interim position, an elongated contact pin having an end portion constructed of insulating material secured to and forming a continuation of a conducting portion thereof, the end portion of said contact pin being engageable within an end of said hollow unitary contact to move said hollow contact longitudinally from its normal position to its interim position before completion of an electric circuit between said contact pin and said unitary contact due to frictional engagement therebetween, and contact operating means comprising spring means urging said hollow contact to said normal position and energized in coordination with movement of said hollow contact from its normal position toward its interim position for quickly moving said contact toward its normal position and into contact making engagement with said conducting portion of said contact pin in an interval of time which is sufficiently short in duration as substantially to reduce the deleterious effect of the arc when the operating force of said contact operating means exceeds the frictional force between said hollow contact and said end portion of said contact pin which is formed of insulating material.

Claim 6

Electric connector apparatus comprising elongated support structure having an inwardly projecting shoulder intermediate its ends, a hollow unitary electric contact having an outwardly projecting shoulder and mounted on said support structure and movable longitudinally relative thereto between a normal position determined by engagement between said shoulders and an interim position, an elongated contact pin having an end portion constructed of insulating material secured to and forming a continuation of a conducting portion thereof, the end portion of said contact pin being engageable within an end of said hollow unitary contact to move said hollow contact longitudinally from its normal position to its interim position before completion of an electric circuit between said contact pin and said unitary contact due to frictional engagement therebetween, and contact operating means comprising spring means urging said hollow contact to said normal position and energized in coordination with movement of said hollow contact from its normal position toward its interim position for quickly moving said contact toward its normal position and into contact making engagement with said conducting portion of said contact pin in an interval of time which is sufficiently short in duration as substantially to reduce the deleterious effect of the arc when the operating force of said contact operating means exceeds the frictional force between said hollow contact and said end portion of said contact pin which is formed of insulating material.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said contact operating means is arranged to react between said support structure and said hollow contact.