Separable electrical connector module

Claim 1

A separable electrical connector module for coupling with a mating connector module, comprising: (a) an insulating housing having an elongated receiving passageway therein, and (b) a switch insert closely fitted in said passageway and comprising: (i) a conductive container tube having an outer end adapted to receive a rod contact member of said mating connector module and an inner end; (ii) a snuffer tube in said container tube having a central bore for receiving said rod contact member and having inside said bore a layer of ablative material; (iii) a bore contact member within said container tube having a gas port, (iv) a piston fixed to said bore contact member and adapted to drive said bore contact member toward the outer end of said container tube in response to the generation of gas by arcing in said bore and the passage of said gas through said port, said piston having angularly-spaced keyways in its outer periphery, (c) the inside wall of said container tube including a plurality of axially extending keyribs angularly spaced about the longitudinal axis of said container tube and slidably received within the keyways in said piston to prevent said piston from rotating relative to the container tube, (i) said piston comprising a generally tubular metallic portion comprising angularly-spaced segments biased radially-outwardly against the inside wall of said container tube in locations between said keyribs to establish continuous electrical contact with said inside wall while said piston is stationary and while in motion, (ii) and means biasing said segments radially outward comprising a split annular metal spring located radially inwardly of said segments and tending to expand in diameter and urge said segments radially outward.