Automatic disconnect mechanism for electrical terminal fittings

Claim 2

An electrical fitting to be connected to an end of a cable, including an automatic disconnect mechanism which separates the electrical fitting from a mating electrical fitting responsive to a pull on the cable, the electrical fitting comprising: a casing which receives the end of the cable; electrical contact elements in the casing adapted to be connected to conductors carried by the cable; at least one thrust member mounted in the casing for axial movement in ejection and retraction strokes between retracted and projecting positions; a resilient member in the casing; a control member mounted in the casing for movement against force produced by the resilient member to a cocked position; a trigger system which holds the control member in the cocked position and is actuable to release the control member for movement therefrom; a cam which causes the thrust member to move axially responsive to movement of the control member in the ejection and retraction strokes, the thrust member also being movable to the retracted position upon movement of the control member to the cocked position; a connection between the cable and the trigger system which causes a pull on the cable of greater than a predetermined force to release the control member from the cocked position, the thrust member being moved axially in the ejection stroke to the projecting position by action of the resilient member after release of the control member to engage a fixed element associated with a mating fitting and cause the casing and the electrical contact elements therein to be moved by reaction and separated from contact elements of the mating fitting.

Claim 3

A fitting according to claim 1 including a clamp clamped to the end of the cable, the clamp being carried by a member which actuates the trigger system responsive to a pull on the cable.

Claim 4

A fitting according to claim 1 wherein the electrical contact elements in the casing comprise elements of a plug assembly including a support member carrying external axially projecting pins which are insertable in contact clips of a mating socket and are retracted therefrom upon relative axial movement of the support member and the socket produced by the thrust member.

Claim 5

A fitting according to claim 1 wherein the electrical contact elements in the casing comprise elements of a socket assembly including contact clips mounted internally within the casing which receive contact pins of a mating plug which are retracted therefrom upon relative axial movement of the socket assembly and the plug produced by the thrust member.

Claim 6

A fitting according to claim 1 wherein the trigger system includes a fork supporting a catch which is mounted to swivel in a vertical plane about a fixed horizontal axis in the casing, and a member clamped to the cable which is mounted to pivot in a horizontal plane laterally within the casing and engage the fork to swivel the fork and actuate the catch responsive to a pull on the cable, allowing the cable to extend from the casing at angles of about 90 degrees in any direction and still swivel the fork and actuate the catch of the trigger system.

Claim 7

A fitting according to claim 1 wherein a catch of the trigger system is movably mounted on the casing and is engaged by a detent on the control member to hold it in the cocked position, and wherein the catch is moved responsive to a pull on the cable to release the control member.

Claim 8

A fitting according to claim 6 wherein the control member comprises a rotatably mounted cylindrical member having the detent on an inner surface which is engaged by the movable catch, the catch is moved radially to clear and release the detent responsive to a pull on the cable of a force greater than the threshold force, and the control member is rotated responsive to force produced by the resilient member and moves the thrust member after the detent is released.

Claim 9

A fitting according to claim 6 wherein the catch of the trigger system is pivotably mounted in the casing, the detent is fixed to the control member which is rotatable in the casing, and a second resilient member is included in the casing exerting force on the catch which urges it to a catch position in which the catch is engaged by the detent and holds the control member in the cocked position, and wherein pivotal movement of the catch is opposed by the second resilient member providing the predetermined threshold force which must be overcome by a pull on the cable to actuate the catch to release the detent and allow the control member to rotate from the cocked position.

Claim 10

A fitting according to claim 1 wherein the cam which moves the thrust member provides a mechanical advantage which results in a greater force exerted by the thrust member in the ejection stroke than force exerted by the resilient member after release of the control member by the trigger system.

Claim 11

A fitting according to claim 9 wherein the cam includes helical cam surfaces provided by slots in the control member and a follower comprising a stud on the thrust member.

Claim 12

A fitting according to claim 1 wherein a second resilient member within the casing provides the predetermined threshold force which must be overcome by a pull on the cable to actuate the trigger system.

Claim 13

A fitting according to claim 11 wherein the second resilient member is mounted between a member clamped to the cable and the casing.

Claim 14

A fitting according to claim 11 wherein the second resilient member is mounted between the movable catch and the casing.

Claim 15

An electrical fitting to be connected to an end of a cable, including an automatic disconnect mechanism which separates the electrical fitting from a mating electrical fitting responsive to a pull on the cable, the electrical fitting comprising: a casing which receives an end of the cable; electrical contact elements in the casing adapted to be connected to conductors carried by the cable; at least one thrust member mounted in the casing adjacent the contact elements for axial movement in ejection and retraction strokes between retracted and projecting positions; a first resilient member in the casing; a control member mounted in the casing for movement against force produced by the first resilient member to a cocked position; a trigger system including a movable catch which has a catch position in which it holds the control member in the cocked position and is actuable to release the control member for movement therefrom; a cam which moves the thrust member axially responsive to movement of the control member in the ejection and retraction strokes and retracts the thrust member to the retracted position upon movement of the control member to the cocked position; a connection between the cable and the trigger system which causes the disconnect mechanism to be operated to separate mating fittings by transmitting a pull on the cable to actuate the catch and release the control member from the cocked position, the thrust member being moved axially in the ejection stroke to the projecting position by action of the first resilient member after release of the control member by actuation of the catch; and a second resilient member mounted within the casing and exerting a force which acts to hold the catch in the catch position, and which is overcome by a pull on the cable of greater than a predetermined threshold force to actuate the catch and thereby release the control member from the cocked position so that the first resilient member acts to move the thrust member in the ejection stroke to engage a fixed element associated with a mating fitting and cause the casing and the electrical contact elements therein to be moved by reaction and separated from contact elements of the mating fitting.

Claim 16

An electrical fitting to be connected to an end of a cable, including an automatic disconnect mechanism which separates the electrical fitting from a mating electrical fitting responsive to a pull on the cable, the electrical fitting comprising: a casing which receives an end of the cable; electrical contact elements in the casing adapted to be connected to conductors carried by the cable; at least one thrust member mounted in the casing adjacent the contact elements for axial movement in ejection and retraction strokes between retracted and projecting positions; a first resilient member in the casing; a control member mounted in the casing for movement against force produced by the first resilient member to a cocked position; a trigger system including a movable catch which has a catch position in which it holds the control member in the cocked position and is actuable to release the control member for movement therefrom; a cam which moves the thrust member axially responsive to movement of the control member in the ejection and retraction strokes and retracts the thrust member to the retracted position upon movement of the control member to the cocked position; a connection between the cable and the trigger system which causes the disconnect mechanism to be operated to separate mating fittings by transmitting a pull on the cable to actuate the catch and release the control member from the cocked position, the thrust member being moved axially in the ejection stroke to the projecting position by action of the first resilient member after release of the control member by actuation of the catch; and a second resilient member mounted within the casing and exerting a force which acts to hold the catch in the catch position, and which is overcome by a pull on the cable of greater than a predetermined threshold force to actuate the catch and thereby release the control member from the cocked position so that the first resilient member acts to move the thrust member in the ejection stroke to engage a fixed element associated with a mating fitting and cause the casing and the electrical contact elements therein to be moved by reaction and separated from contact elements of the mating fitting.

Claim 17

An electrical fitting to be connected to an end of a cable, including an automatic disconnect mechanism which separates the electrical fitting from a mating electrical fitting responsive to a pull on the cable, the electrical fitting comprising: a casing having an opening which receives the end of the cable; a support member mounted in the casing; a plug assembly carried by the support member including projecting pins and fastener elements in the casing adapted to connect the plug assembly to conductors carried by the cable; at least one thrust member mounted in the casing for axial movement in ejection and retraction strokes between retracted and projecting positions; a resilient member in the casing; a control member mounted in the casing for movement against force produced by the resilient member to a cocked position; a trigger system including a movable catch which has a catch position in which it holds the control member in the cocked position and is actuable to release the control member for movement therefrom; a cam which moves the thrust member axially responsive to movement of the control member in the ejection and retraction strokes and retracts the thrust member to the retracted position upon movement of the control member to the cocked position; a connection between the cable and the trigger system which causes the disconnect mechanism to be operated to separate mating fittings by transmitting a pull on the cable of greater than a predetermined force to actuate the catch and release the control member from the cocked position, the thrust member being moved axially in the ejection stroke to the projecting position by action of the resilient member after release of the control member by actuation of the catch to engage a fixed element associated with a mating fitting and cause the casing and plug assembly to be moved by reaction and separated from contact elements of the mating fitting.

Claim 18

An electrical fitting to be connected to an end of a cable, including an automatic disconnect mechanism which separates the electrical fitting from a mating electrical fitting responsive to a pull on the cable, the electrical fitting comprising: a casing having an opening which receives the end of the cable; a support member mounted in the casing; a plug assembly carried by the support member including projecting pins and fastener elements in the casing adapted to connect the plug assembly to conductors carried by the cable; at least one thrust member mounted in the casing for axial movement in ejection and retraction strokes between retracted and projecting positions; a resilient member in the casing; a control member mounted in the casing for movement against force produced by the resilient member to a cocked position; a trigger system including a movable catch which has a catch position in which it holds the control member in the cocked position and is actuable to release the control member for movement therefrom; a cam which moves the thrust member axially responsive to movement of the control member in the ejection and retraction strokes and retracts the thrust member to the retracted position upon movement of the control member to the cocked position; a connection between the cable and the trigger system which causes the disconnect mechanism to be operated to separate mating fittings by transmitting a pull on the cable of greater than a predetermined force to actuate the catch and release the control member from the cocked position, the thrust member being moved axially in the ejection stroke to the projecting position by action of the resilient member after release of the control member by actuation of the catch to engage a fixed element associated with a mating fitting and cause the casing and plug assembly to be moved by reaction and separated from contact elements of the mating fitting.

Claim 19

An electrical fitting to be connected to an end of a cable, including an automatic disconnect mechanism which separates the electrical fitting from a mating electrical fitting responsive to a pull on the cable, the electrical fitting comprising: a casing having an opening which receives the end of the cable; a socket assembly including electrical contact elements in the casing adapted to be connected to conductors carried by the cable; at least one thrust member mounted in the casing adjacent the contact elements for axial movement in ejection and retraction strokes between retracted and projecting positions; a resilient member in the casing; a control member mounted in the casing for movement against force produced by the resilient member to a cocked position; a trigger system including a movable catch which has a catch position in which it holds the control member in the cocked position and is actuable to release the control member for movement therefrom; a cam which moves the thrust member axially responsive to movement of the control member in the ejection and retraction strokes and retracts the thrust member to the retracted position upon movement of the control member to the cocked position; a connection between the cable and the trigger system which causes the disconnect mechanism to be operated to separate mating fittings by transmitting a pull on the cable of greater than a predetermined force to actuate the catch and release the control member from the cocked position, the thrust member being moved axially in the ejection stroke to the projecting position by action of the resilient member after release of the control member by actuation of the catch to engage a fixed element associated with a mating fitting and cause the casing and the electrical contact elements therein to be moved by reaction and separated from contact elements of the mating fitting.

Claim 20

An electrical fitting to be connected to an end of a cable, including an automatic disconnect mechanism which separates the electrical fitting from a mating electrical fitting responsive to a pull on the cable, the electrical fitting comprising: a casing having an opening which receives the end of the cable; a socket assembly including electrical contact elements in the casing adapted to be connected to conductors carried by the cable; at least one thrust member mounted in the casing adjacent the contact elements for axial movement in ejection and retraction strokes between retracted and projecting positions; a resilient member in the casing; a control member mounted in the casing for movement against force produced by the resilient member to a cocked position; a trigger system including a movable catch which has a catch position in which it holds the control member in the cocked position and is actuable to release the control member for movement therefrom; a cam which moves the thrust member axially responsive to movement of the control member in the ejection and retraction strokes and retracts the thrust member to the retracted position upon movement of the control member to the cocked position; a connection between the cable and the trigger system which causes the disconnect mechanism to be operated to separate mating fittings by transmitting a pull on the cable of greater than a predetermined force to actuate the catch and release the control member from the cocked position, the thrust member being moved axially in the ejection stroke to the projecting position by action of the resilient member after release of the control member by actuation of the catch to engage a fixed element associated with a mating fitting and cause the casing and the electrical contact elements therein to be moved by reaction and separated from contact elements of the mating fitting.

Claim 21

An electrical fitting to be connected to an end of a cable, including an automatic disconnect mechanism which separates the electrical fitting from a mating electrical fitting responsive to a pull on the cable, the electrical fitting comprising at least one thrust member mounted for axial movement in ejection and retraction strokes between retracted and projecting positions and a trigger system which causes a pull on the cable of greater than a predetermined force to release the thrust members from the retracted position, the thrust members being moved axially in the ejection stroke to the projecting position by a resilient member after release to engage a fixed element associated with a mating fitting and cause the casing and the electrical contact elements therein to be moved by reaction and separated from contact elements of the mating fitting.

Claim 22

An electrical fitting to be connected to an end of a cable, including an automatic disconnect mechanism which separates the electrical fitting from a mating electrical fitting responsive to a pull on the cable, the electrical fitting comprising at least one thrust member mounted for axial movement in ejection and retraction strokes between retracted and projecting positions and a trigger system which causes a pull on the cable of greater than a predetermined force to release the thrust members from the retracted position, the thrust members being moved axially in the ejection stroke to the projecting position by a resilient member after release to engage a fixed element associated with a mating fitting and cause the casing and the electrical contact elements therein to be moved by reaction and separated from contact elements of the mating fitting.