U.S. patent application number 12/526907 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-26 for electrical switch connector assembly and method of connecting an electrical device to an electrical switch assembly.
Invention is credited to Roberto Sandano.
Application Number | 20110120841 12/526907 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39734905 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110120841 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sandano; Roberto |
May 26, 2011 |
Electrical Switch Connector Assembly And Method Of Connecting An
Electrical Device To An Electrical Switch Assembly
Abstract
An electrical connector assembly (10) incorporates a connector
(12) with a switch and is designed to electrically and mechanically
connect and disconnect to a mating electrical device (14) while
maintaining a closed circuit continuously through the connector.
The mating electrical device includes a plurality of conductive
contacts (20). The electrical connector includes an insulating
housing (30) with at least a pair of input and output terminals
(32) mounted on the housing. The terminals include contact portions
(32b) for engaging the contacts of the mating electrical device. A
switch mechanism (40; 60) is movably mounted on the housing for
movement between a connecting position and a disconnecting
position. The switch mechanism includes a latch member (48; 17) and
at least one switch terminal (44). In the connecting position, the
latch member is interengaged with a latch (26; 62) on the mating
electrical device with the switch terminal out of engagement with
the input and output terminal. In the disconnecting position, the
latch member (48, 17) is disengageable from the latch (26, 62) on
the mating electrical device so that the device can be removed from
the assembly with the switch terminal (44) in engagement with the
input and output terminals (32) to maintain a closed circuit
through the connector (12) when the mating electrical device (14)
is removed.
Inventors: |
Sandano; Roberto; (Veneto,
IT) |
Family ID: |
39734905 |
Appl. No.: |
12/526907 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
February 12, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2007/061966 |
371 Date: |
January 17, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
200/43.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 2201/20 20130101;
G01R 11/04 20130101; H01R 13/7031 20130101; H01R 13/701 20130101;
H01R 9/2433 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
200/43.11 |
International
Class: |
H01H 9/28 20060101
H01H009/28 |
Claims
1. A mating connector system, comprising: a mating electrical
device (14) including a latch (26; 62) and at least a pair of
conductive contacts (20); and an electrical connector assembly (10)
including an insulating housing (30), at least a pair of conductive
input and output terminals (32) mounted on the housing, the
terminals including contact portions (32b) for engaging contacts
(20) of the mating electrical device, and a switch mechanism (40;
62) movably mounted on the housing for movement between a
connecting position and a disconnecting position, whereby in the
connecting position a closed circuit flow is maintained through the
electrical device (14), and in the disconnecting position a closed
circuit flow is maintained through the input and output terminals
with a shorting circuit, wherein the switch mechanism includes a
shaft (40; 70) and a locking member (48; 16d), the shaft including
at least one switch terminal (44; 74), wherein in the connecting
position the locking member (48; 16d) is interengaged with a lock
(26; 68) on the mating electrical device where the switch terminal
(44; 74) is out of engagement with the input and output terminals,
and in the disconnecting position the locking member (48; 16d) is
disengageable from the lock (26; 68) on the mating electrical
device so that the device can be removed from the assembly where
the switch terminal (44; 74) is in engagement with the input and
output terminals (32) forming the short circuit to maintain a
closed circuit flow through the connector (12) when the mating
electrical device (14) is removed, the switch mechanism designed so
that the switch terminals (44; 74) engage the appropriate input and
output terminals (32) before the locking member (48;16d) is
disengaged from the lock (26; 68).
2. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said switch
mechanism comprises a shaft (40) rotatably mounted on the housing
(30), with said switch terminal (44) being disposed at an outer
circumferential periphery of the shaft.
3. The electrical connector assembly of claim 2 wherein said shaft
(40) is elongated and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis
(42), the input and output terminals (32) are spaced longitudinally
of the shaft, the switch terminal (44) extends longitudinally of
the shaft, and the switch terminal extends longitudinally for
shorting the input and output terminals in the rotatable
disconnecting position of the shaft.
4. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said mating
electrical device (14) includes an actuator (22) for moving the
switch mechanism (40) between said positions.
5. The electrical connector assembly of claim 4 wherein said
actuator (22) includes said latch (26) for interengagement with the
latch member (48) on the movable switch mechanism (40).
6. The electrical connector assembly of claim 5 wherein said
actuator comprises a lever (22) pivotally mounted on the mating
electrical device (14).
7. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said
connector housing (30) and said mating electrical device (14) have
mounting faces (30a;16a) mountable on a support structure in a
coplanar relationship, the mating electrical device being mateable
onto the housing in a mating direction (A) generally perpendicular
to their mounting faces.
8. The electrical connector assembly of claim 7, including a
plurality of guide projections (34) on the connector housing (30)
extending in said mating direction (B) for receipt in a
corresponding plurality of guide apertures (18a) in the mating
electrical device (14).
9. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, including locking
means (50a,50b,52) for holding the switch mechanism (40) in either
of its connecting or disconnecting positions.
10. The electrical connector assembly of claim 5 wherein said
actuator 60 is slidably mounted on the mating electrical device
(14).
11. An electrical connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein
said electrical device is a watt-hour meter.
12. A method of connecting an electrical device (14) to a connector
assembly (10) incorporating a connector (12) with a switch while
maintaining a closed circuit flow through the connector, comprising
the steps of: moving an electrical device (14) into electrical
engagement with the connector assembly (10) so that at least a pair
of input and output terminals (32) from one circuit mounted on the
housing (30) of the connector assembly (10) engages contacts 20) of
the mating electrical device and so that a lock (26; 68) on the
mating electrical device is inserted into locking member (48; 16d)
on a switch mechanism movably mounted on the housing for movement
between a connecting position and a disconnecting position, whereby
in the connecting position, a closed circuit flow is maintained
through the electrical device (14), and in the disconnecting
position a closed circuit flow is maintained through the input and
output terminals with a shorting circuit, held in the connector,
the switch mechanism including at least one switch terminal (44,
74) that is in engagement with the pair of input and output
terminals (32) forming the short circuit to maintain a closed
circuit thought the connector (12); and moving the switch mechanism
to the connecting position that first engages the lock (26; 68) to
the locking member (48; 16d) and then disengages the switch
terminal (44; 74) from the pair of input and output terminals (32)
removing the short circuit and allowing current to flow through the
meter.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of moving the switch
mechanism includes sliding movement of the switch mechanism in
relation to the connector housing.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of moving the switch
mechanism includes rotating movement of the switch mechanism in
relation to the connector housing.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to the art of electrical
connectors and, particularly, to an electrical switch connector
assembly incorporating a switch to electrically and mechanically
connect and disconnect a mating electrical device while maintaining
a closed electrical circuit continuously through the connector
assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Electrical power is supplied to an individual site by
external electrical power line conductors located above or below
ground. In a conventional arrangement, electrical power line
conductors and electrical load conductors are connected directly to
contacts in a watt-hour meter mounted on a building wall. The
watt-hour meter is used to measure the electric power drawn through
the circuit.
[0003] These meters must be removed periodically for servicing,
calibration or replacement. Since the meter is connected to the
circuit in series, the removal of the meter will open the circuit.
In order to avoid such an open circuit condition after the meter is
removed, the input and output electrical conductors to and from the
meter must be shorted.
[0004] A number of methods exist to create this short circuit. Two
such methods require the skill of an electrical technician. In one
instance, the technician is required to place jumper wires between
the input and output conductors. In another instance, the
technician uses a separate device that connects to all of the input
and output conductors at the same time.
[0005] Still another method includes the use of a non-conductive
blade inserted between input and output and shorting terminals.
When the blade is inserted, the shorting arms are moved out of
engagement with the input and output terminals allowing current to
flow through the meter. When the blade is removed from between the
terminals, the shorting terminals engage respective input and
output terminals creating the short that will allow the meter to be
removed without opening the circuit. This method works well but
there is no provision for wiping the terminals to remove any
non-conductive material on the contact surfaces. Also to allow for
relatively easy insertion and removal of the non-conductive blade,
the spring force in the shorting terminals cannot be too great. If
there is any non-conductive material build-up on the contact
surfaces, the spring force may not be great enough to force the
shorting terminal through the build up resulting in an incomplete
or even non-existent electrical connection. Also with a blade there
is an extra part that can be lost and there still must be a
separate feature that locks the meter with the connector.
[0006] A final method includes a projection on the meter that acts
like the blade method described above. Although the projection is
part of the meter and does not require a separate part that can get
lost, there still must be a separate feature that locks the meter
with the connector.
[0007] These prior art methods are expensive since in some cases an
expensive technician must be employed or in other instances the
meter is more complicated requiring extra parts. Also a consistent
electrical contact is not always ensured since the contacting
surfaces of the mating switch terminals don't provide any wiping
that can remove any non-conductive build up on the mating surfaces
of the terminals. Also some of these methods allow the terminals to
be exposed to the weather and are also capable of accidental or
unintentional contact by testing personnel or other personnel
unaware of the exposed electrical potential.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is directed to solving the problems of
the prior art by providing an electrical connector assembly that
uses a connector with a switch, the connector being readily
connected and disconnected both electrically and mechanically to a
mating electrical device, such as an electrical meter, while
maintaining a continuous closed circuit current flow through the
connector. Also, the connector provides a wiping action to improve
the electrical connection and will be safer with fewer exposed
terminals.
[0009] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an electrical
connector assembly incorporates a connector with a switch mechanism
and is designed to electrically and mechanically connect and
disconnect a mating electrical device while maintaining a closed
circuit current flow through the connector. The mating electrical
device includes a plurality of conductive contacts. The electrical
connector includes an insulating housing with at least a pair of
input and output terminals from one circuit mounted on the housing.
The terminals include contact portions for engaging the contacts of
the mating electrical device.
[0010] The switch mechanism is movably mounted on the housing for
movement between a connecting position and a disconnecting
position. The switch mechanism includes a latch member and at least
one switch terminal. In the connecting position, the latch member
is inter-engaged with a latch on the mating electrical device with
the switch terminal out of engagement with the input and output
terminal. In the disconnecting position, the latch member is
disengageable from the latch on the mating electrical device so
that the device can be removed from the assembly with the switch
terminal in engagement with the input and output terminals to
maintain a circuit through the connector when the mating electrical
device is removed.
[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the switch
mechanism comprises a rotating shaft mounted on the housing. The
switch terminal is disposed at an outer periphery of the shaft. The
shaft is elongated and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis.
The input and output terminals are spaced longitudinally along the
shaft. The switch terminal extends longitudinally for shorting the
input and output terminals in the disconnecting position of the
shaft.
[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, the mating
electrical device includes an actuator for moving the switch
mechanism between its connecting and disconnecting positions. The
actuator includes the latch for inter-engagement with the latch
member on the movable switch mechanism. In the exemplary
embodiment, the actuator comprises a lever pivotally mounted on the
mating electrical device on an axis coincident with the axis of
rotation of the shaft that forms the switch mechanism.
[0013] According to a further aspect of the invention, the
connector housing and the mating electrical device have mounting
faces mountable on a support structure in a coplanar relationship.
The mating electrical device is mated onto the housing in a mating
direction generally perpendicular to their mounting faces. A
plurality of guide projections on the connector housing extend in
the mating direction for positioning in a corresponding plurality
of guide apertures in the mating electrical device.
[0014] Other features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The features of this invention that are believed to be novel
are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The
invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof,
may be best understood by reference to the following description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like
reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in
which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector
assembly including a connector and a mating electrical device, with
the connector and the device in a disconnecting position;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the assembly of FIG.
1;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but with the
device connected to the connector and with the actuating lever on
the device in its disconnecting position;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembly with the
actuating lever on the device pivoted to its connecting
position;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, with the
actuating lever on the device pivoted to its connecting
position;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a fragmented, partially cut-away perspective view
of the assembly, with the connector housing removed to show the
switch shaft, and with the housing of the electrical device removed
to show the interconnection of the contacts and the terminals of
the assembly in the disconnecting position;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the switch shaft, with one
of the switch terminals removed from the shaft;
[0023] FIG. 8 shows an end elevation view of the switch shaft in
conjunction with one of the connector terminals, and with the shaft
in its disconnecting position from the electrical device;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8, with the switch
shaft in its connecting position when the connector is connected to
the electrical device;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment
with a sliding switch actuator in its disconnecting position from
the electrical device;
[0026] FIG. 11 shows an end elevation view of the switch shaft of
the alternative embodiment in conjunction with one of the connector
terminals, and with the shaft in its disconnecting position from
the electrical device;
[0027] FIG. 12 shows an end elevation view of the switch shaft in
the alternative embodiment in conjunction with one of the connector
terminals, and with the shaft in its connecting position from the
electrical device;
[0028] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the sliding actuator of
the alternate embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the sliding switch shaft
of the alternate embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 15 is a perspective cross sectional view of the
alternate embodiment similar to FIG. 10 with a sliding switch
actuator in its disconnecting position from the electrical device;
and
[0031] FIG. 16 is a perspective cross sectional view of the
alternative embodiment view with the sliding switch actuator in its
connecting position when the connector is connected to the
electrical device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0032] Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to
FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention is incorporated in an electrical
connector assembly, generally designated 10, which includes an
electrical connector, generally designated 12, and a mating
electrical device, generally designated 14. Although the invention
has a variety of applications, the mating electrical device 14 is
an electrical meter in the exemplary embodiment. An electrical
current is supplied from a source into and out of the meter 14
through the connector 12 and through a current transformer. If the
transformer secondary circuit is open while a load is connected to
the transformer primary circuit, very high voltage spikes
(kilovolts) induced over the open secondary circuit are likely to
impair human safety and/or transformer isolation. To prevent this
risk it is essential that a continuous closed electrical circuit be
maintained even when the meter is removed.
[0033] The meter, according to this invention, can be very easily
and safely mated and unmated with the connector in the direction of
double-headed arrow "A." As will be seen hereinafter, when the
meter is mated with the connector, an electrical circuit flows
through the connector into and out of the meter. When the meter is
unmated from the connector, the current continues to flow through
the connector with the help from a shorting circuit created by a
shorting terminal. The connector housing 30 and the mating
electrical device 14 have mounting faces 30a, 16a that are
mountable on a support structure in a coplanar relationship. The
mating electrical device is mateable onto the housing in a
direction generally perpendicular to their mounting faces.
[0034] Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrical device 14
includes a non-conductive housing 16 having a generally planar rear
mounting face 16a and a bottom face 16b. A pair of guide bosses 18
project from the bottom face 16b. The guide bosses 18 have
through-holes 18a that extend in the mating direction "A." As best
seen in FIG. 1, a row of blade contacts 20 made from a conductive
material are exposed across the bottom of the housing 16. An
actuator in the form of an actuating lever, generally designated
22, is pivotally mounted at the bottom of the housing 16. The lever
has a pair of pivot arms 22a that is pivotally mounted by means of
a pair of pivot bosses 22b inside a pair of pivot flanges 24 that
project forwardly of the housing 16 at opposite ends of the row of
blade contacts 20. A somewhat elongated latch projection or boss 26
projects inwardly at the distal end of each pivot arm 22a. Pivot
bosses 22b project outwardly at the distal end of each pivot arm
22a. A pair of locks or latch projections 26 is located generally
on the pivot axis. The pivot axis of the actuator lever 22, as
defined by the pivot bosses 22b, is coincidental with the axis 42
of rotation of the switch shaft 40 described below.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows the electrical device 14 moved into full mating
condition with the connector 12. Once the device is mated with the
connector, the actuating lever 22 on the meter can be pivoted in
the direction of arrow "B" until the lever reaches a connecting
position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 6 in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 5, the
connector 12 includes a non-conductive housing 30 (FIGS. 1 and 5)
that mounts a plurality of input and output terminals 32 (FIG. 6).
The housing 30 has a pair of guide projections 34 as best seen in
FIGS. 1 and 5. The guide projections 34 are received within the
guide holes 18a (FIG. 1) of the guide bosses 18 at the bottom of
the housing 16 of the meter 14 as can be seen clearly in FIG. 4.
The terminals 32 are elongated and include terminating portions 32a
(FIG. 6) at one end for termination to a plurality of electrical
wires 36. The terminals have contact portions 32b at the opposite
ends thereof for receiving the blade contacts 20 from the device
14. The contact portions 32b are spring-loaded and are bifurcated
for receiving the blade contacts and clamping the blade contacts
under good contacting forces.
[0037] It should be understood that electrical device 14 can take a
variety of configurations or characteristics. In the exemplary
embodiment, for instance, the electrical device 14 is a three-phase
meter requiring four inputs and four outputs. One pair of input and
output terminals is used for each phase with the remaining pair
used for a neutral circuit. In other words, it can be seen that
there are eight electrical wires 36 leading to eight terminals 32
in the connector 12, with the eight terminals being engageable with
eight blade contacts 20 of the meter 14.
[0038] When the meter 14 is mated with the connector 12 in the
connecting position, alternating ones of the electrical
wires/terminals/blade contacts would be inputs from a power source
or load, while the other alternating electrical
wires/terminals/blade contacts would be outputs of the system,
resulting in four pairs of inputs and outputs. Each current circuit
is then closed by a current measuring device (not shown) located
inside the meter housing. When the meter 14 is to be unmated from
the connector 12, short circuits must first be provided between the
inputs and the outputs of each pair in order to prevent each
current circuit from being opened. Therefore, a switch mechanism in
the form of a rotatable switch shaft, generally designated 40 (FIG.
6), is rotatably mounted within the housing 30 of the connector
12.
[0039] In an alternative embodiment, the switch mechanism takes the
form of a sliding actuator generally designated 62 (FIGS. 10, 13,
15, and 16) that is moved within the housing 30 of the connector
12. In either embodiment the switch mechanism can include portions
of the housing (30).
[0040] More particularly, referring to FIG. 7 in conjunction with
FIG. 6, the switch shaft 40 is elongated and is rotatable about its
longitudinal axis indicated at 42. Four switch terminals, generally
designated 44, are mounted on the switch shaft at spaced intervals
longitudinally therealong. As seen by the removed switch terminal
44 in FIG. 7, each switch terminal includes a blade-like body
portion 44a that is press-fit into a respective slot 46 in the
switch shaft 40 in the direction of arrow "C." Each switch terminal
includes a pair of contact portions 44b for engaging a pair of the
input and output terminals 32 related to the same circuit. In other
words, with each adjacent input and output electrical wire 36 and
their respective input and output terminals 32, one switch terminal
44 is provided with two contact portions 44b for shorting out that
respective pair of input and output wires/terminals, as will be
seen hereinafter.
[0041] Still referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the switch shaft 40 may be
fabricated of a non-conductive material such as plastic or the
like, and each opposite end of the shaft is provided with a locking
member or latch slot 48 that is somewhat elongated for receiving
one of the latch projections 26 (FIG. 1) inside one of the pivot
arms 22a of the actuating lever 22. When the elongated latch
projections 26 on the lever 22 are inserted into the elongated
latch slots 48 of the switch shaft 40, a driving connection is
created between the lever and the switch shaft for rotating the
shaft in response to pivoting the lever. As best seen in FIG. 7, a
pair of locking bosses 50a and 50b project radially from the switch
shaft at each opposite end thereof. Referring back to FIG. 2, it
can be seen that the housing of the connector 12 is provided with a
locking recess 52 for receiving either one of the locking bosses
50a or 50b.
[0042] In an alternate embodiment, the switch shaft 40 is replaced
with a sliding shaft 70 that slides in either direction "E" or "F"
in FIG. 10. The switch terminals 74 are mounted at spaced intervals
longitudinally along the actuator 60. The electrical device 14
includes a non-conductive housing 16 having a generally planar rear
mounting face 16a and a bottom face 16b. A pair of guide bosses 18
project from the bottom face. The guide bosses have through-holes
18a that extend in the mating direction "A". An actuator in the
form of an actuating lever, generally designated 62, is slidably
mounted at the bottom of the housing 16. The lever has a pair of
sliding arms 62a that are mounted by means of a pair of sliding
bosses 62b inside an opening 64b in a pair of flanges 64 that
project forwardly of housing 16 at opposite ends. As shown in FIG.
13, the elongated latch slot 66 is directed inwardly at the distal
end of each sliding arm 62a.
[0043] FIG. 10 shows the electrical device 14 moved into full
mating condition with the connector 12. Once the device is mated
with the connector, the actuating lever 62 on the meter can be slid
in the direction of arrow "E" until the lever reaches a connecting
position.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 10 in conjunction with FIGS. 11 and 12,
the connector 12 includes a non-conductive housing 30 that mounts a
plurality of input and output terminals, generally designated 32.
The housing has a pair of guide projections 34 that is received
within the guide holes 18a of the guide bosses 18 at the bottom of
the housing 16 of the meter 14, as can be seen clearly in FIG. 10.
The terminals 32 are elongated and include the terminating portions
32a at one end for termination to a plurality of electrical wires
36. The terminals have contact portions 32b at the opposite ends
thereof for receiving blade contacts from the device 14. The
contact portions 32b are spring-loaded and bifurcated for receiving
the blade contacts and clamping the blade contacts under good
contacting forces.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 14 in conjunction with FIGS. 11, 12, and
14, the switch shaft 70 is elongated and is slidable within the
housing 16. Four switch terminals, generally designated 74 (FIGS.
11 and 12), are mounted on the switch shaft at spaced intervals
longitudinally therealong. Each switch terminal includes a
blade-like body portion 74a that is press-fit into a respective
slot 76 in the switch shaft 70. Each switch terminal includes a
pair of contact portions 74b for engaging a pair of the respective
input and output terminals 32. In other words, with each adjacent
input and output electrical wire 36 and their respective input and
output terminals 32, one switch terminal 74 is provided with the
two contact portions 74b for shorting out that respective pair of
input and output terminals.
[0046] Referring to FIGS. 13, 14, 15, and 16, the switch shaft 70
may be fabricated of a non-conductive material such as plastic or
the like, and each opposite end of the shaft is provided with a
latch projection 78 that is somewhat elongated for being received
in one of the latch slots 66 inside one of the sliding arms 62a of
actuating lever 62. When the elongated latch slots 66 on the lever
22 are inserted into the elongated latch projections 78 of the
switch shaft 70, a driving connection is created between the lever
and the switch shaft for sliding the shaft in response to sliding
of the lever. As seen in FIGS. 15 and 16, a pair of locks or
locking bosses 68 project outwardly from the actuator lever 62 at
each opposite end thereof FIG. 15 shows the electrical device 14
and the connector 12 when they are first moved together but prior
to their being locked together. This corresponds to FIG. 11 where
the switch terminals 74 are in the shorting position with the input
output terminals 32. In FIG. 16 the actuator lever 62 has been
moved in the direction "E" that is where the electrical device 14
and the connector 12 are locked together. In this position, the
locking boss 68 slides under the locking member or the locking
shoulder 16d. This corresponds to FIG. 12 where the switch
terminals 74 are slid out of their shorting position with the input
output terminals 32.
[0047] The operation of the electrical connector assembly 10 now
will be described, particularly in relation to the function of the
switch shaft 40 as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 and the sliding actuator
62 in FIGS. 10-16. In particular, after proper calibration, the
meter 14 is mated with the connector 12 as described above in
relation to the sequential depictions in FIGS. 2 and 3. It should
be noted that the connector, in the disconnected position as seen
in FIGS. 1 and 2, have fewer areas of exposed terminals that can be
contacted by other conductive parts or by an operator's hands. This
makes the connector safer than the prior art connectors.
[0048] For mating to occur, the actuating lever 22, 62 must be in
the position shown on FIGS. 2 and 10 respectively with respect to
the meter housing 16. At the electrical connectors side, the switch
shaft 40 is in a shorting position wherein the contact portions 40b
of the switch terminals 44 are establishing short circuits between
the input and output terminals 32 and their respective input and
output electrical wires 36, and wherein the latch slots 48 at
opposite ends of the shaft open upwardly or the latch projections
78 open downwardly (see FIGS. 15, 16). It can be seen that locking
bosses 50a at opposite ends of the shaft are locked within the
locking recesses 52 to hold the shaft in this position.
[0049] The meter 14 is moved into mating position with the
connector in the direction of arrow "A" whereby the blade contacts
20 of the meter 14 are pushed into the bifurcated contact portions
32b of terminals 32 as seen in FIG. 6. As seen in FIG. 3, the latch
projections 26 (FIG. 1) on the lever 22 will move into the latch
slots 48 or, as seen in FIGS. 15 and 16, the latch projection 78
will move into the latch slots 66 in the sliding lever 62 to
establish a driving connection between the actuation lever 22, 62
and the shaft 40, 70. Also the guide projections 34 are received
within the guide holes 18a, which helps to prevent movement between
the electrical device 14 and the connector 12 in either direction
"E" or "F". In this pre-existing position, the switch shaft 40, 70,
as seen in FIGS. 8 and 11, the contact portions 40b, 70b of the
switch terminals 44, 74 are still establishing short circuits
between the input and output terminals 32 and their respective
input and output electrical wires 36. However, additional current
circuits provided by the meter in parallel to short circuits will
now exist, making it possible to remove the short circuits with out
any risk of an open circuit.
[0050] The actuating lever 22 then is pivoted in the direction of
arrow "B" (FIG. 3) to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 or the
actuator lever 62 is slid in the direction of arrow "E". Pivoting
of the lever 22 correspondingly rotates the switch shaft 40 in the
direction of arrow "D" as seen in FIG. 9. Moving the sliding
actuator 62 in the direction of arrow "E" slidably moves the switch
shaft 70, as seen in FIG. 12. This moves the contact portions 44b,
74b of the switch terminals 44, 74 out of shorting engagement with
the input and output terminals 32. The movement of the switch
terminals 44, 74 over the input and output terminals 32 will remove
some of any non-conductive material that may build up on either of
the contact surfaces between the switch terminals 44, 74 and the
input and output terminals ensuring a better electrical
connection.
[0051] With the blade contacts 20 of the meter 14 inserted into the
contact portions 32b of the terminals 32, circuits now are closed
with electrical current flowing into and out of the meter 14. In
the shorting condition of the switch shaft 40, the locking bosses
50a are snapped into the locking recesses 52 as seen in FIG. 2 to
hold the switch shaft in its shorting position. When the lever
rotates the shaft to the position of FIG. 9, the locking bosses 50a
snap out of the locking recesses 52 and the locking bosses 50b snap
into the locking recesses to hold the shaft and the lever in the
connecting position of the meter and the connector.
[0052] Other features that should be noted include the fact that
the meter 14 cannot be disconnected from the connector 12 when the
rotating lever 22 is in the position of FIGS. 4 and 5 or when the
sliding actuator 62 is in the position as seen in FIG. 16. In other
words, the interengagement of the latch projections 26 on the lever
within latch the slots 48 on the shaft or of the locking boss 68 of
the sliding actuator 62 under the locking shoulder 16d will provide
latch means to help hold the meter and the connector in a mated
condition. FIG. 8 represents a disconnecting position of the switch
shaft 40 whereby the latch projections 26 can be easily moved out
of the latch slots 48 and further whereby the switch terminals 44
engage the input-output terminals 32. FIGS. 10 and 15 also
represent a similar disconnecting position. FIGS. 9 and 12
represent a connecting position of switch shaft 40, 70 with the
meter and connector connected to each other. This locking occurs
because the latch projections 26 can not be removed from the latch
slots 48 or the locking boss 68 cannot be removed from under
locking shoulder 16d along with the interaction between the guide
projections 34 and the guide holes 18a. In this connecting position
the switch terminals 44, 74 are out of engagement with the input
and output terminals 32.
[0053] As seen in FIGS. 4 and 10, the housing 30 of the connector
12 has a rear mounting face 30a that is coplanar with the rear
mounting face 16a of the housing 16 of the meter 14, whereby the
connector assembly 10 can be mounted on a flat or generally planar
support surface. To that end, as seen in FIG. 5, the housing of the
connector has a mounting flange 30b projecting out of each opposite
side thereof for receiving appropriate fasteners to mount the
connector to the support surface. The meter 14 has a mounting
flange 16c for receiving appropriate fasteners to mount the meter
to the support structure.
[0054] It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in
other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central
characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments,
therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and
not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the
details given herein.
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