Patent US4192572A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4192572A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector apparatus
Assignee: Amerace Corp
•
Filing: 1978-11-13
•
Granted: 1980-03-11
•
Expires: 1998-11-13
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for connecting and disconnecting a male contact element and a high voltage cable includes a housing securable to the cable and defining an axial passage having a cavity, a piston assembly with a female contact element movable in the passage and defining a chamber, material generating arc-quenching gas, a gas-pressure responsive valve providing communication between the chamber and cavity selectively on fault closure to accelerate engagement of the contact elements and connectors for providing continuous electrical connection to the female contact element of substantially fixed resistivity.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Stanger
- 👤 Larry N. Siebens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:48
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/53; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/02; H01H33/04; H01H33/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
412 words
A separable female connector for use in connecting or disconnecting an energized high voltage circuit by engagement or disengagement with a complementary connector having a male contact element, said female connector comprising: a housing, said housing having first and second ends and an axially extending opening therebetween, a female contact assembly in said housing opening, said assembly including (a) a tubular sleeve having piston means at one end thereof for defining a first chamber within said tubular sleeve, (b) female contact means fixedly positioned with respect to said tubular sleeve in said first chamber for engaging said male contact element, said female contact means being electrically connected to said piston means, (c) guide means at the other end of said tubular sleeve for receiving and guiding said male contact element for movement within said first chamber, and for evolving arc-quenching gas in response to an arc being struck between said male contact element and said female contact means during said movement, said tubular sleeve being mounted in said housing opening for axial movement between a first position wherein said piston means is substantially adjacent to said second end of said housing and a second position wherein said piston means is located between its said first position and said first end of said housing, said housing opening defining a second chamber, said female contact assembly further including (d) valve means responsive to arc-quenching gas of predetermined pressure in said first chamber to provide a passage from said first chamber to said second chamber for applying said gas to said piston means thereby displacing said tubular sleeve from said first position to said second position and accelerating engagement of said female contact means with said male contact element to extinguish said arc, biasing means between said housing and said tubular sleeve for normally maintaining said tubular sleeve in said first position, for permitting joint movement of said male contact element and said tubular sleeve between said first position and said second position during withdrawal of said male contact element from said connector, and for accelerating the return of said tubular sleeve to said first position upon disengagement of said male contact element from said female contact means, terminal means in said second end of said housing adapted for connection in a high voltage circuit, and conductor means disposed interiorly of said second chamber between said second end of said housing and said piston means for electrically connecting said piston means and said terminal means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
412 words
A separable female connector for use in connecting or disconnecting an energized high voltage circuit by engagement or disengagement with a complementary connector having a male contact element, said female connector comprising: a housing, said housing having first and second ends and an axially extending opening therebetween, a female contact assembly in said housing opening, said assembly including (a) a tubular sleeve having piston means at one end thereof for defining a first chamber within said tubular sleeve, (b) female contact means fixedly positioned with respect to said tubular sleeve in said first chamber for engaging said male contact element, said female contact means being electrically connected to said piston means, (c) guide means at the other end of said tubular sleeve for receiving and guiding said male contact element for movement within said first chamber, and for evolving arc-quenching gas in response to an arc being struck between said male contact element and said female contact means during said movement, said tubular sleeve being mounted in said housing opening for axial movement between a first position wherein said piston means is substantially adjacent to said second end of said housing and a second position wherein said piston means is located between its said first position and said first end of said housing, said housing opening defining a second chamber, said female contact assembly further including (d) valve means responsive to arc-quenching gas of predetermined pressure in said first chamber to provide a passage from said first chamber to said second chamber for applying said gas to said piston means thereby displacing said tubular sleeve from said first position to said second position and accelerating engagement of said female contact means with said male contact element to extinguish said arc, biasing means between said housing and said tubular sleeve for normally maintaining said tubular sleeve in said first position, for permitting joint movement of said male contact element and said tubular sleeve between said first position and said second position during withdrawal of said male contact element from said connector, and for accelerating the return of said tubular sleeve to said first position upon disengagement of said male contact element from said female contact means, terminal means in said second end of said housing adapted for connection in a high voltage circuit, and conductor means disposed interiorly of said second chamber between said second end of said housing and said piston means for electrically connecting said piston means and said terminal means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The female connector claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide means is axially spaced from said female contact means by no less than the order of magnitude of one-half the distance between said male contact element and said female contact means at which an arc will be struck between said male contact element and said female contact means as said male contact element approaches said female contact means under high voltage fault conditions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The female connector claimed in claim 1 wherein said female contact means defines an axial bore communicating with said piston means and therewith defining said first chamber, whereby said female contact means confines said arc-quenching gas where said arc-quenching gas is at pressure less than said predetermined pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The female connector claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve means is rupturable to provide said passage from said first chamber to said second chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The female connector claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve means is opened when said arc-quenching gas is at pressure equal to or greater than said predetermined pressure and is closed when said arc-quenching gas is at pressure less than said predetermined pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The female connector claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing comprises an outer member of elastomeric insulative material and an inner member of conductive material contiguous with said outer member throughout the axial extent of said inner member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The female connector claimed in claim 6 wherein said inner member is a rigid metallic member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The female connector claimed in claim 7 wherein said rigid metallic member is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
348 words
An assembly for electrically connecting and disconnecting a high voltage cable and a male contact element, comprising: (a) a housing having first and second ends and an axial passage therebetween; (b) conductive base means seated in said housing first end and engageable with said cable for closing said housing first end; (c) a piston assembly slidably displaceable in said passage and having an axial chamber; (d) first means fixedly supported in said housing for limiting displacement of said piston assembly therebeyond toward said housing first end and axially spaced from said base means for defining a cavity in said housing passage; (e) second means fixedly supported in said housing between said first means and said housing second end for limiting displacement of said piston assembly therebeyond toward said housing second end; said piston assembly including (c1) a female contact element having resilient contact fingers for engaging said male contact element, (c2) guide means for guiding said male contact element into said axial chamber and for generating arc-quenching gas therein upon arcing between said contact elements, (c3) a tubular member supporting said guide means, (c4) a conductive piston connected to said female contact element and supporting the same in fixed relation to said tubular member, and (c5) valve means for separating said cavity and said chamber, and (f) connector means for providing electrical continuity of substantially fixed resistivity between said piston and said base means, said valve means being operable on movement of said male contact element through said guide means toward said housing first end to conduct arc-quenching gas from said chamber into said cavity exclusively upon predetermined arc-quenching gas pressure in said chamber, thereby displacing said piston assembly toward said housing second end and accelerating engagement of said contact fingers and said male contact element, said contact fingers maintaining such engagement with said male contact element during subsequent movement of said male contact element toward said housing second end until displacement of said piston assembly is limited by said second means, said contact fingers thereupon releasing said male contact element at substantially the speed of movement thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
348 words
An assembly for electrically connecting and disconnecting a high voltage cable and a male contact element, comprising: (a) a housing having first and second ends and an axial passage therebetween; (b) conductive base means seated in said housing first end and engageable with said cable for closing said housing first end; (c) a piston assembly slidably displaceable in said passage and having an axial chamber; (d) first means fixedly supported in said housing for limiting displacement of said piston assembly therebeyond toward said housing first end and axially spaced from said base means for defining a cavity in said housing passage; (e) second means fixedly supported in said housing between said first means and said housing second end for limiting displacement of said piston assembly therebeyond toward said housing second end; said piston assembly including (c1) a female contact element having resilient contact fingers for engaging said male contact element, (c2) guide means for guiding said male contact element into said axial chamber and for generating arc-quenching gas therein upon arcing between said contact elements, (c3) a tubular member supporting said guide means, (c4) a conductive piston connected to said female contact element and supporting the same in fixed relation to said tubular member, and (c5) valve means for separating said cavity and said chamber, and (f) connector means for providing electrical continuity of substantially fixed resistivity between said piston and said base means, said valve means being operable on movement of said male contact element through said guide means toward said housing first end to conduct arc-quenching gas from said chamber into said cavity exclusively upon predetermined arc-quenching gas pressure in said chamber, thereby displacing said piston assembly toward said housing second end and accelerating engagement of said contact fingers and said male contact element, said contact fingers maintaining such engagement with said male contact element during subsequent movement of said male contact element toward said housing second end until displacement of said piston assembly is limited by said second means, said contact fingers thereupon releasing said male contact element at substantially the speed of movement thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The assembly claimed in claim 9 wherein said guide means is axially spaced from said female contact element by no less than the order of magnitude of one-half the distance between said male contact element and said female contact element at which an arc will be struck between said male contact element and said female contact element as said male contact element approaches said female contact element under high voltage fault conditions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The assembly claimed in claim 9 wherein said female contact element defines an axial bore communicating with said piston and therewith defining said chamber, said female contact element confining said arc-quenching gas where said arc-quenching gas is at pressure less than said predetermined pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly claimed in claim 9 wherein said valve means is rupturable to provide said passage from said chamber to said cavity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The assembly claimed in claim 9 wherein said valve means is openable when said arc-quenching gas is at pressure equal to or greater than said predetermined pressure and is closable when said arc-quenching gas is at pressure less than said predetermined pressure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The assembly claimed in claim 9 wherein said housing comprises an outer member of elastomeric insulative material and an inner member of conductive material contiguous with said outer member throughout the axial extent of said inner member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly claimed in claim 14 wherein said inner member is a rigid metallic member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly claimed in claim 15 wherein said rigid metallic member is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
387 words
An assembly for electrically connecting and disconnecting a high voltage cable and a male contact element, comprising: (a) a housing having first and second ends and an axial passage therebetween; (b) conductive base means seated in said housing first end and engageable with said cable for closing said housing first end; (c) a piston assembly slidably displaceable in said passage and having an axial chamber; (d) first means fixedly supported in said housing for limiting displacement of said piston assembly therebeyond toward said housing first end and axially spaced from said base means for defining a cavity in said housing passage; (e) second means fixedly supported in said housing between said first means and said housing second end for limiting displacement of said piston assembly therebeyond toward said housing second end, said second means biasing said piston assembly into engagement with said first means; said piston assembly including (c1) a female contact element having resilient contact fingers for engaging said male contact element, (c2) guide means for guiding said male contact element into said axial chamber and for generating arc-quenching gas therein upon arcing between said contact elements, (c3) a tubular member supporting said guide means, (c4) a conductive piston connected to said female contact element and supporting the same in fixed relation to said tubular member, and (c5) valve means for separating said cavity and said chamber, and (f) connector means for providing electrical continuity of substantially fixed resistivity between said piston and said base means, said valve means being operable on movement of said male contact element through said guide means toward said housing first end to conduct arc-quenching gas from said chamber into said cavity exclusively upon predetermined arc-quenching gas pressure in said chamber, thereby displacing said piston assembly from said biased engagement thereof with said first means toward said housing second end and accelerating engagement of said contact fingers and said male contact element, said contact fingers maintaining such engagement with said male contact element during subsequent movement of said male contact element toward said housing second end until displacement of said piston assembly is limited by said second means, said contact fingers thereupon releasing said male contact element at substantially the speed of movement thereof, said second means thereupon returning said piston assembly into said biased engagement thereof with said first means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
387 words
An assembly for electrically connecting and disconnecting a high voltage cable and a male contact element, comprising: (a) a housing having first and second ends and an axial passage therebetween; (b) conductive base means seated in said housing first end and engageable with said cable for closing said housing first end; (c) a piston assembly slidably displaceable in said passage and having an axial chamber; (d) first means fixedly supported in said housing for limiting displacement of said piston assembly therebeyond toward said housing first end and axially spaced from said base means for defining a cavity in said housing passage; (e) second means fixedly supported in said housing between said first means and said housing second end for limiting displacement of said piston assembly therebeyond toward said housing second end, said second means biasing said piston assembly into engagement with said first means; said piston assembly including (c1) a female contact element having resilient contact fingers for engaging said male contact element, (c2) guide means for guiding said male contact element into said axial chamber and for generating arc-quenching gas therein upon arcing between said contact elements, (c3) a tubular member supporting said guide means, (c4) a conductive piston connected to said female contact element and supporting the same in fixed relation to said tubular member, and (c5) valve means for separating said cavity and said chamber, and (f) connector means for providing electrical continuity of substantially fixed resistivity between said piston and said base means, said valve means being operable on movement of said male contact element through said guide means toward said housing first end to conduct arc-quenching gas from said chamber into said cavity exclusively upon predetermined arc-quenching gas pressure in said chamber, thereby displacing said piston assembly from said biased engagement thereof with said first means toward said housing second end and accelerating engagement of said contact fingers and said male contact element, said contact fingers maintaining such engagement with said male contact element during subsequent movement of said male contact element toward said housing second end until displacement of said piston assembly is limited by said second means, said contact fingers thereupon releasing said male contact element at substantially the speed of movement thereof, said second means thereupon returning said piston assembly into said biased engagement thereof with said first means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
The assembly claimed in claim 17 wherein said guide means is axially spaced from said female contact element by no less than the order of magnitude of one-half the distance between said male contact element and said female contact element at which an arc will be struck between said male contact element and said female contact element as said male contact element approaches said female contact element under high voltage fault conditions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The assembly claimed in claim 17 wherein said female contact element defines an axial bore communicating with said piston and therewith defining said chamber, said female contact element confining said arc-quenching gas where said arc-quenching gas is at pressure less than said predetermined pressure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The assembly claimed in claim 17 wherein said valve means is rupturable to provide said passage from said chamber to said cavity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The assembly claimed in claim 17 wherein said valve means is openable when said arc-quenching gas is at pressure equal to or greater than said predetermined pressure and is closable when said arc-quenching gas is at pressure less than said predetermined pressure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The assembly claimed in claim 17 wherein said housing comprises an outer member of elastomeric insulative material and an inner member of conductive material contiguous with said outer member throughout the axial extent of said inner member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly claimed in claim 22 wherein said inner member is a rigid metallic member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The assembly claimed in claim 23 wherein said rigid metallic member is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
282 words
A separable female connector for use in connecting or disconnecting an energized high voltage circuit by engagement or disengagement with a complementary connector having a male contact element, said female connector comprising: a housing, said housing having first and second ends and an axially extending opening therebetween, a female contact assembly mounted for axial movement in said housing opening, said assembly including (a) a tubular sleeve having piston means at one end thereof for defining a first chamber within said tubular sleeve, (b) female contact means fixedly positioned with respect to said tubular sleeve in said first chamber for engaging said male contact element, said female contact means being electrically connected to said piston means, (c) guide means at the other end of said tubular sleeve for receiving and guiding said male contact element for movement within said first chamber, and for evolving arc-quenching gas in response to an arc being struck between said male contact element and said female contact means during said movement, said housing opening defining a second chamber, said female contact assembly further including (d) valve means responsive to arc-quenching gas of predetermined pressure in said first chamber to provide a passage from said first chamber to said second chamber for applying said gas to said piston means thereby displacing said female contact assembly and accelerating engagement of said female contact means with said male contact element to extinguish said arc, terminal means in said second end of said housing adapted for connection in a high voltage circuit, and conductor means disposed interiorly of said second chamber between said second end of said housing and said piston means for electrically connecting said piston means and said terminal means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
282 words
A separable female connector for use in connecting or disconnecting an energized high voltage circuit by engagement or disengagement with a complementary connector having a male contact element, said female connector comprising: a housing, said housing having first and second ends and an axially extending opening therebetween, a female contact assembly mounted for axial movement in said housing opening, said assembly including (a) a tubular sleeve having piston means at one end thereof for defining a first chamber within said tubular sleeve, (b) female contact means fixedly positioned with respect to said tubular sleeve in said first chamber for engaging said male contact element, said female contact means being electrically connected to said piston means, (c) guide means at the other end of said tubular sleeve for receiving and guiding said male contact element for movement within said first chamber, and for evolving arc-quenching gas in response to an arc being struck between said male contact element and said female contact means during said movement, said housing opening defining a second chamber, said female contact assembly further including (d) valve means responsive to arc-quenching gas of predetermined pressure in said first chamber to provide a passage from said first chamber to said second chamber for applying said gas to said piston means thereby displacing said female contact assembly and accelerating engagement of said female contact means with said male contact element to extinguish said arc, terminal means in said second end of said housing adapted for connection in a high voltage circuit, and conductor means disposed interiorly of said second chamber between said second end of said housing and said piston means for electrically connecting said piston means and said terminal means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
73 words
The female connector claimed in claim 25 wherein said guide means is axially spaced from said female contact means by no less than the order of magnitude of one-half the distance between said male contact element and said female contact means at which an arc will be struck between said male contact element and said female contact means as said male contact element approaches said female contact means under high voltage fault conditions.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
The female connector claimed in claim 26 wherein said female contact means defines an axial bore communicating with said piston means and therewith defining said first chamber, whereby said female contact means confines said arc-quenching gas where said arc-quenching gas is at pressure less than said predetermined pressure.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The female connector claimed in claim 26 wherein said valve means is rupturable to provide said passage from said first chamber to said second chamber.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
The female connector claimed in claim 26 wherein said valve means is opened when said arc-quenching gas is at pressure equal to or greater than said predetermined pressure and is closed when said arc-quenching gas is at pressure less than said predetermined pressure.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
The female connector claimed in claim 26 wherein said housing comprises an outer member of elastomeric insulative material and an inner member of conductive material contiguous with said outer member throughout the axial extent of said inner member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The female connector claimed in claim 30 wherein said inner member is a rigid metallic member.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The female connector claimed in claim 31 wherein said rigid metallic member is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The female connector claimed in claim 26 wherein said piston includes an axial bore and wherein said valve means comprises a rupturable disc and reinforcing means disposed in said piston axial bore.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
254 words
A female connector for use in connecting a male contact element with an energized high voltage circuit, said connector comprising: a housing having a first end adapted to receive said male contact element, a second end adapted to be substantially closed and an axially extending opening therebetween, an elongate female contact assembly in said housing opening, said assembly including (a) a tubular sleeve having piston means, said sleeve being axially movable between a first position wherein said piston means is maximally spaced from said first housing end and a second position wherein said piston means is minimally spaced from said first housing end, said piston means providing said assembly with a first chamber remote from said second housing end and a second chamber adjacent said second housing end, (b) female contact means in said first chamber for engaging said male contact element, said female contact means being carried by and movable with and in electrically conductive relationship with said sleeve, (c) means for evolving arc-quenching gas in said first chamber in response to an arc being struck between said male contact element and said female contact means as said male contact element approaches said female contact means, and (d) means for maintaining said sleeve in said first position until the gas pressure of such evolved arc-quenching gas attains a predetermined value and for permitting said sleeve to move toward said second position when said pressure exceeds said predetermined value, under the influence of gas pressure exerted on said piston means in said second chamber.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
254 words
A female connector for use in connecting a male contact element with an energized high voltage circuit, said connector comprising: a housing having a first end adapted to receive said male contact element, a second end adapted to be substantially closed and an axially extending opening therebetween, an elongate female contact assembly in said housing opening, said assembly including (a) a tubular sleeve having piston means, said sleeve being axially movable between a first position wherein said piston means is maximally spaced from said first housing end and a second position wherein said piston means is minimally spaced from said first housing end, said piston means providing said assembly with a first chamber remote from said second housing end and a second chamber adjacent said second housing end, (b) female contact means in said first chamber for engaging said male contact element, said female contact means being carried by and movable with and in electrically conductive relationship with said sleeve, (c) means for evolving arc-quenching gas in said first chamber in response to an arc being struck between said male contact element and said female contact means as said male contact element approaches said female contact means, and (d) means for maintaining said sleeve in said first position until the gas pressure of such evolved arc-quenching gas attains a predetermined value and for permitting said sleeve to move toward said second position when said pressure exceeds said predetermined value, under the influence of gas pressure exerted on said piston means in said second chamber.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector claimed in claim 34 wherein said sleeve and said female contact means are separate parts.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
37 words
The connector claimed in claim 34 wherein a valve is situated between said first and second chambers, said valve being normally closed but openable to permit flow of gas from said first chamber to said second chamber.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connector claimed in claim 36 wherein said means for maintaining said sleeve in said first position comprises said valve.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
The connector claimed in claim 37 wherein said piston means has a closed wall at an end thereof adjacent said second housing end and said valve is in said wall.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector claimed in claim 37 wherein said valve comprises a disc rupturable at said predetermined pressure.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
11 words
The connector claimed in claim 36 wherein said valve is reclosable.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector claimed in claim 37 wherein said maintaining means further comprises means resiliently biasing said sleeve in said first position.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
13 words
The connector claimed in claim 41 wherein said biasing means is a spring.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
211 words
A female connector for use in connecting a male contact element with an energized high voltage circuit, said connector comprising: a housing having a first end adapted to receive said male contact element, a second end adapted to be substantially closed and an axially extending opening therebetween, an elongate female contact assembly in said housing opening, said assembly including (a) a tubular sleeve having piston means, said sleeve being axially movable between a first position wherein said piston means is maximally spaced from said first housing end and a second position wherein said piston means is minimally spaced from said first housing end, (b) female contact means for engaging said male contact element, said female contact means being carried by and movable with said sleeve, (c) means for evolving arc-quenching gas in response to an arc being struck between said male contact element and said female contact means as said male contact element approaches said female contact means, and (d) means for maintaining said sleeve in said first position until the gas pressure of such evolved arc-quenching gas attains a predetermined value and for permitting said sleeve to move toward said second position when said pressure exceeds said predetermined value, under the influence of gas pressure exerted on said piston means.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
211 words
A female connector for use in connecting a male contact element with an energized high voltage circuit, said connector comprising: a housing having a first end adapted to receive said male contact element, a second end adapted to be substantially closed and an axially extending opening therebetween, an elongate female contact assembly in said housing opening, said assembly including (a) a tubular sleeve having piston means, said sleeve being axially movable between a first position wherein said piston means is maximally spaced from said first housing end and a second position wherein said piston means is minimally spaced from said first housing end, (b) female contact means for engaging said male contact element, said female contact means being carried by and movable with said sleeve, (c) means for evolving arc-quenching gas in response to an arc being struck between said male contact element and said female contact means as said male contact element approaches said female contact means, and (d) means for maintaining said sleeve in said first position until the gas pressure of such evolved arc-quenching gas attains a predetermined value and for permitting said sleeve to move toward said second position when said pressure exceeds said predetermined value, under the influence of gas pressure exerted on said piston means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
75 words
The connector claimed in claim 43 wherein said assembly has a first chamber remote from said second housing end and a second chamber adjacent said second housing end, said female contact means is in said first chamber and in electrically conductive relationship with said sleeve, said means for evolving arc-quenching gas is in said first chamber and said gas pressure which is exerted on said piston means is provided by gas in said second chamber.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a female connector for use in connecting a male contact element with an energized high voltage circuit, said connector comprising a housing having a first end adapted to receive said male contact element, a second end adapted to be substantially closed and an axially extending opening therebetween and an elongate female contact assembly in said housing opening, said assembly including a tubular sleeve having piston means, said sleeve being axially movable between a first position wherein said piston means is maximally spaced from said first housing end and a second position wherein said piston means is minimally spaced from said first housing end, female contact means for engaging said male contact element, said female contact means being carried by and movable with said sleeve, and means for evolving arc-quenching gas in response to an arc being struck between said male contact element and said female contact means as said male contact element approaches said female contact means: the improvement comprising means for maintaining said sleeve in said first position until the gas pressure of such evolved arc-quenching gas attains a predetermined value and for permitting said sleeve to move toward said second position when said pressure exceeds said predetermined value, under the influence of gas pressure exerted on said piston means.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a female connector for use in connecting a male contact element with an energized high voltage circuit, said connector comprising a housing having a first end adapted to receive said male contact element, a second end adapted to be substantially closed and an axially extending opening therebetween and an elongate female contact assembly in said housing opening, said assembly including a tubular sleeve having piston means, said sleeve being axially movable between a first position wherein said piston means is maximally spaced from said first housing end and a second position wherein said piston means is minimally spaced from said first housing end, female contact means for engaging said male contact element, said female contact means being carried by and movable with said sleeve, and means for evolving arc-quenching gas in response to an arc being struck between said male contact element and said female contact means as said male contact element approaches said female contact means: the improvement comprising means for maintaining said sleeve in said first position until the gas pressure of such evolved arc-quenching gas attains a predetermined value and for permitting said sleeve to move toward said second position when said pressure exceeds said predetermined value, under the influence of gas pressure exerted on said piston means.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
19 words
The connector claimed in claim 44 wherein said assembly has means providing communication between said first and second chambers.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The connector claimed in claim 46 wherein said communication providing means comprises a valve.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connector claimed in claim 46 wherein said means for maintaining said sleeve in said first position comprises a valve.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector claimed in claim 48 wherein said maintaining means further comprises means resiliently biasing said sleeve in said first position.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
20 words
The connector claimed in claim 47 wherein said means for maintaining said sleeve in said first position comprises said valve.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector claimed in claim 50 wherein said maintaining means further comprises means resiliently biasing said sleeve in said first position.
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) | 1983-03-11 | 1983-09-10 | 1984-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-03-11 | 1987-09-10 | 1988-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-03-11 | 1991-09-10 | 1992-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |