U.S. patent number 3,794,957 [Application Number 05/325,448] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-26 for plural-poled, genderless electrical connector.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Anderson Power Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Edward D. Winkler.
United States Patent |
3,794,957 |
Winkler |
February 26, 1974 |
PLURAL-POLED, GENDERLESS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
Abstract
A plural-poled, genderless electrical connector having main and
auxiliary contacts which telescopically engage with counterpart
contacts on an identical connector. The contacts are arranged to
provide a make first-break last electrical connection sequence for
the main contacts and a make last-break first electrical contact
sequence for the auxiliary contacts. A staggered peak insertion
force load is obtained from a predetermined physical placement of
the contacts within the connector.
Inventors: |
Winkler; Edward D. (Reading,
MA) |
Assignee: |
Anderson Power Products, Inc.
(Boston, MA)
|
Family
ID: |
23267918 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/325,448 |
Filed: |
January 22, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/295; 439/170;
439/679 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/28 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/02 (20060101); H01R 13/28 (20060101); H01r
025/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/47-49,45,46,184,186,31-33 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Champion; Marvin A.
Assistant Examiner: Lewis; Terrell P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Chittick, Thompson & Pfund
Claims
What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United
States is:
1. A plural-pole, genderless electrical connector comprising:
1. a first hollow insulated housing means having:
a. first and second rigid terminal members positioned within said
first housing means and carried in detached relation to the walls
thereof, said first and second rigid terminal members being adapted
for telescopic engagement with corresponding first and second rigid
terminal members of a duplicate genderless electrical connector;
and,
b. means for spring biasing said first and second rigid terminal
members
2. a second hollow insulated housing means having:
a. a third rigid terminal positioned within said second housing
means and carried in detached relation to the walls thereof, said
third rigid terminal member being adapted for telescopic engagement
with a corresponding third rigid terminal member of a duplicate
genderless electrical connector; and,
b. means for spring biasing said third rigid terminal member
3. means for securing said second hollow housing means with respect
to said first hollow housing means with said rigid terminal members
being positioned to provide a make first-break last sequence for
said first and second rigid terminal members and a make last-break
first sequence for said third rigid terminal when said rigid
terminals are telescopically engaged with corresponding rigid
terminals in a duplicate, genderless electrical connector.
2. The electrical connector of claim 1 further comprising:
1. a third hollow insulated housing means having:
a. a fourth rigid terminal positioned within said third housing
means and carried in detached relation to the walls thereof, said
fourth rigid terminal member being adapted for telescopic
engagement with a corresponding fourth rigid terminal member of a
duplicate genderless electrical connector; and,
b. means for spring biasing said fourth rigid terminal member
2. means for securing said third hollow insulated housing means
with respect to said second hollow insulated housing means.
3. The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein said second and
third hollow insulated housing means are secured with respect to
each other so that said third and fourth rigid terminals make and
break together when said rigid terminals are telescopically engaged
with corresponding rigid terminals in a duplicate genderless
electrical connector.
4. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein at least a portion
of said second insulated housing means is positioned within said
first insulated housing means.
5. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said first hollow
insulated housing means comprises detachable inner and outer
housings and means for detachably securing said housings together
and wherein at least a portion of said second hollow insulated
housing means is positioned within and between said inner and outer
housings and held thereby when said housings are secured
together.
6. The electrical connector of claim 3 wherein said second and
third insulated housing means are secured with respect to each
other in superposed relation.
7. The electrical connector of claim 3 wherein said second and
third insulated housing means are secured with respect to each
other in side-by-side relation.
8. The electrical connector of claim 1 further comprising:
1. a third hollow insulated housing means having:
a. a fourth rigid terminal positioned within said third housing
means and carried in detached relation to the walls thereof, said
fourth rigid terminal member being adapted for telescopic
engagement with a corresponding fourth rigid terminal member of a
duplicate genderless electrical connector; and,
b. means for spring biasing said fourth rigid terminal member
2. means for securing said third hollow insulated housing means
with respect to said first hollow insulated housing means.
9. The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein said second and
third hollow insulated housing means are secured with respect to
the first hollow insulated housing so that said third and fourth
rigid terminals make and break together when said rigid terminals
are telescopically engaged with corresponding rigid terminals in a
duplicate genderless electrical connector.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electrical connectors in general,
and more particularly, to a plural-poled, genderless electrical
connector.
Genderless electrical connectors are well known in the electric
connector art. Representative examples of such connectors are shown
in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,091,746; 3,218,599; 3,259,870;
and 3,654,586. The genderless type electrical connector has gained
wide acceptance in the batterymotive industry for connecting and
disconnecting the battery pack cables. Currently available
genderless connectors include those manufactured and sold by
Anderson Power Products, Inc., 145 Newton Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02135, under the United States Registered Trademarks
SB and POWERPOLE.
In the batterymotive industry, electrical charging of the vehicle's
battery pack is a relatively frequent and routine operation. The
charger is electrically connected to the battery pack through the
battery cable connectors. After the connection is made, the charger
is turned on for a predetermined period of time or until the
battery pack reaches a fully charged state. The charger is then
turned off and disconnected from the battery cable connector.
It is desirable to make and break the electrical connections
between the charger and the battery pack during a zero current or
de-energized condition. Although the de-energized making and
breaking of the charger-battery cable electrical connections can be
achieved through manual operation of the charger, such an operation
is susceptible to human error. It is, accordingly, one of the
objects of the present invention to provide an electrical connector
having main and auxiliary or control contacts which can be employed
to control the operation of a battery charger. The sequence of
operation for connecting the charger to its battery pack is as
follows: (1) the main contacts close in a de-energized condition;
(2) the auxiliary contacts close; (3) a relay within the charger
controlled by the auxiliary contacts closes; and (4) the charger is
energized and connected to the battery pack through the previously
closed main contacts. The sequence for disconnecting the charger is
as follows: (1) the auxiliary contacts open; (2) the relay
controlled by these contacts opens; (3) the charges is
de-energized; and, (4) the main contacts open in a de-energized
condition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a
plural-poled, genderless electrical connector having main and
auxiliary contacts which telescopically engage with counterpart
contacts in an identical connector.
It is a specific object of the present invention to provide a
plural-poled, genderless electrical connector in which the main
contacts are arranged to provide a make first-break last electrical
connection sequence while the auxiliary or control contacts are
arranged to provide a make last-break first electrical connection
sequence.
It is another object of the invention to provide a plural-poled,
genderless electrical connector in which the contacts are
positioned to provide a staggered peak insertion force load.
It is a feature of the invention that the electrical connector of
the present invention comprises a combination of two presently
existing electrical connectors.
It is another feature of the present invention that the components
of the electrical connector can be assembled easily and that the
electrical contacts can be electrically secured to the connector
cables before the contacts are inserted into the electrical
connector.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality
of electrical connectors of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,218,599 and 3,259,870 are positioned within and held by a
modified electrical connector of the type described in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 3,091,746.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects and features of the present invention set forth above
and other objects and features of the invention will best be
understood from a detailed description of a preferred embodiment
thereof, taken for purposes of illustration and shown in the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of identical, genderless,
plural-poled electrical connectors in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inner-housing portion of one of the
identical connectors of FIG. 1 showing the spring biasing means for
two rigid electrical contacts, one of which is illustrated in FIG.
2;
FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c, are plan and end elevation views,
respectively, of the inner-housing portion of one of the identical
connectors shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, are plan and end elevation views,
respectively, of the outer-housing portion of one of the identical
connectors shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of two sets of mating electrical
contacts showing the relative position of the electrical contacts
in each set;
FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation partially broken away showing
two electrical contacts in the fully inserted, closed position;
and
FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of three electrical contacts
illustrating their relative positions to achieve a common contact
closed center line.
Turning now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof,
there is shown in perspective view a pair of identical, four-pole,
genderless, electrical connectors indicated generally by the
reference numerals 10 and 12. The connectors 10 and 12 are exact
counterparts adopted for longitudinal telescopic engagement of
their connecting ends indicated at 14 and 14', respectively. In the
preferred embodiment of the invention, the plural-poled, genderless
electrical connectors 10 and 12 comprise a combination of the
electrical connectors shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,091,746 and 3,259,870. The electrical connector described in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,259,870 is identified in FIGS. 1 through 4 of the
drawings at 16, generally. The electrical connectors 16 are
positioned within a modified housing 18 of the electrical connector
described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,746. Reference to these two United
States Letters Patents should be made in connection with the
following description of a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
The connectors 10 and 12 each have a pair of electric cable
terminals or contacts 20 which are electrically secured to
corresponding cables 22. The connectors also contain a pair of the
previously mentioned separate connectors 16 each of which in turn
contains a cable terminal or contact 24 which is electrically
secured to a corresponding cable 26.
The interrelationship between the superposed electrical connectors
16 and the electrical connector housing 18 can best be understood
by referring to FIGS. 2 through 4 in conjunction with the
perspective view of the connectors shown in FIG. 1. In the
preferred embodiment of the invention, the connector housing 18
comprises an insulated housing which is split longitudinally into
two sections: an inner housing 28 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; and, an
outer housing shown in FIG. 4. The two housings are detachably
connected together by means of bolts 32 and nuts 34 as shown in
FIG. 1.
The insulated housings 28 and 30 are arranged to support two
identical rigid contact or terminal members 20. For purposes of
clarity, one contact member 20 has been removed from the inner
housing 28 depicted in FIG. 2. Each contact 20 is provided with a
cylindrical end portion 36 which is bored to receive the end of an
electrical cable, such as, cable 22. The contacting end of each
terminal 20 comprises an elongated flat portion 38 substantially
rectangular in cross section and provided with a rounded or convex
end portion 40 projecting from one surface thereof. The opposite
face of the contacting end of each terminal is provided with a
laterally extended shoulder portion forming a notch 41 (see FIG. 5)
arranged to be engaged by the inner end of an elongated, U-shaped
leaf spring 42 (see FIG. 6). The U-shaped spring 42 is held within
the housing in opposed grooves 44 formed within the housing. Each
housing also has two hollowed out, semicircular body portions 46
which form circular opening in the assembled connector through
which the cables 22 exit from the connector.
The inner housing 28 is provided with two spaced, forwardly
extending terminal receiving pockets 48 and 50 which are
substantially U-shaped in cross section and closed at their outer
end. The pockets 48 and 50 are aligned with their respective cable
openings formed by the semicircular grooves 46.
The outer housing portion 30 is provided with a corresponding,
forwardly extending portion 51 that is coextensive with the body
portion of the housing and shaped to provide two inverted U-shaped
sockets 52 and 54. The dockets are open at their outer ends and
closed at their inner ends by transversely extending wall protions
56. A longitudinally extending wall portion 58 separates the two
sockets.
When the two housings are assembled as shown in FIG. 1, the socket
forming extension of the outer housing 30 extends over the terminal
receiving pockets 46 and 48 of the inner housing 28. The sockets 52
and 54 are sized to snugly receive the corresponding pockets 48 and
50 of a second and identical connector. Thus, in the assembled form
the contacting end of each terminal is enclosed in its respective
pocket except for the engaging face thereof which is resiliently
urged by the leaf spring 42 toward the cooperating terminal. When
the two connectors are telescoped together in longitudinal
engagement as indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 1, the
insertion distance is limited by the engagement of the outer
housing end portion 60 with a shouldered portion 62 in the inner
housing 28.
The preceding description has been directed to the components of
the present invention which are common with the components of the
electrical connector described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,746. It has
already been mentioned that the preferred embodiment of the present
invention comprises a combination of the electrical connector shown
in U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,870, and the connector shown in the
previously mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,746. However, in order to
accommodate the electrical connectors 16 within the connector
housing 18, the inner and outer housings 28 and 30 have been
modified with respect to the corresponding housings shown in said
U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,746.
Referring to said patent and the drawings of the present
application, it can be seen that the central portion of the inner
and outer housing 28 and 30 has been altered to accommodate the
electrical connectors 16. Specifically, the transverse distance
between the extensions which form the terminal receiving pockets 46
and 48 has been increased to provide room for the electrical
connectors 16. In the modified version, each housing has a socket
54 which has the same configuration and size in plan view as the
electrical connector 16.
Looking at FIG. 2, it can be seen that the inner housing 28 has a
pair of transversely extending projections 66 which cooperate with
corresponding notches 68 in the connector 16. The combination of
the housing projection 66 and notches 68 serve to accurately
position the connector 16 for telescopic engagement with an
identical connector and hold the connector within the inner housing
28.
Each of the housings 28 and 30 has a longitudinally extending,
semicircular cable receiving groove 70 for the connector cables 26.
The main contact cable receiving grooves 46 and the auxiliary
contacts cable receiving groove 70 greatly simplify the assembly of
the plural-poled connector of the present invention.
A number of different assembly sequences are possible given the
split half configuration of the electrical connectors 10 and 12.
For example, the connectors 16 can be positioned within each of the
respective inner and outer housings 28 and 30 before the housings
are bolted together by means of bolts 32. Thereafter, the
pre-assembled main connector contacts 20 and cables 22 can be
inserted into the connector from the rear through the annular
passageways defined by the semicircular grooves 46. In a similar
manner, an auxiliary contact cable assembly comprising contacts 24
and cables 26 can be inserted into the electrical connectors 16
through the passage formed by the semicircular grooves 70.
Alternatively, each of the respective contact-cable assemblies can
be formed and inserted into the respective housings before the
inner and outer housings 28 and 30 are bolted together.
Although the preceding description has been directed to the split
housing configuration of the preferred embodiment, it should be
understood that the present invention is not limited to an
electrical connector having separate inner and outer housings 28
and 30. For example, the two housings can be combined into a single
molded unit as depicted in FIG. 6. However, a different contact
biasing spring and spring holding arrangement must be employed in
the single housing version of the present invention.
One suitable configuration for the contact biasing springs 46 and
48 for a single housing version of the present invention is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,259,870. In that patent, the spring is
T-shaped in plan view and slides into the single housing from the
rear through the cable receiving channel. Means disclosed in the
patent are provided for securing the contact spring in position
within the housing. This arrangement is suitable for use in the
present invention and is the preferred embodiment thereof for a
single piece housing.
If a single piece housing is used, the receiving sockets 64 are
modified by eliminating the projection 66 so that the electrical
connector 16 can be inserted into the housing from the contacting
end 14. The electrical connectors 16 are held within the single
piece housing by staking or by using a pin member (not shown) which
extends through the housing and is positioned within the connector
notches 68.
It has already been mentioned that one of the objects of the
present invention is to provide a plural-poled, genderless
electrical connector having make first-break last main contacts and
auxiliary contacts which make last and break first. This particular
electrical sequence is obtained in connectors 10 and 12 by means of
the configuration of the main and auxiliary electrical contacts and
by relative positions of the contacts with respect to each other
and to the connector housing 18 and the connector 16.
The relative positions of the contacts 20 and 24 can best be
understood by looking at FIGS. 2, 4a, 5, 6 and 7. Referring first
to FIG. 2, the distance from the connecting end 72 of the forward
extension which forms pockets 46 and 48 back to the shoulder 62 is
identified by the small letter a. The dashed line in FIG. 2
indicates a distance from shoulder 62 equal to one-half the
distance a. The distance a equals the insertion distance for the
connectors 10 and 12 when they are inserted together in telescopic
engagement. It should be noted that the a/2 distance dashed line
does not intersect the center portion of the convex or crowned area
40 of the contact 20.
Looking now at FIG. 4, the outer housing 30 has similar distance
relationships for its components. Thus, the distance from the outer
housing forward end 60 to the forward surface of the transverse
wall 56 is equal to the previously mentioned distance a. The center
line A--A is positioned at a distance of a/2.
A similar configuration is also employed for the smaller connector
16. The distance from the forward end 74 back to shoulder 76 (see
FIG. 1) is equal to a distance b which corresponds to the insertion
distance for the connectors 16. The center line A--A is located at
a distance b/2 from the shoulder 76.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the center line of the crowned
convex portion 40 of each contact 20 is indicated by the dashed
line B--B. It should be noted that the contact crown center line
B--B does not correspond to the housing center line A--A which is
located back from the connecting end of each housing by distance
equal to one-half the connector insertion distance, i.e., distance
a/2 . In FIG. 5, the smaller contact 24 has been moved upwardly
from the dotted position to the solid line position for purposes of
clarity. It can be seen from an inspection of FIG. 5 that the
smaller contact 24 is located behind the crown center line B--B of
the larger contact 20.
When the two connectors are inserted into each other in
longitudinal telescoping engagement as shown in FIG. 6, the final
contact point for the two connectors 20 is defined by the center
line A--A which is located exactly one-half of the distance a from
the forward end 60 to the transverse wall 56. If a plurality of
different size contacts are arranged as shown in FIG. 7 with their
respective closed contact positions being defined by the line
A'--A', this line will be located with respect to each individual
connector at a distance equal to one-half of the insertion distance
for the particular connector.
If three different size connectors are employed as shown in FIG. 7
in side-by-side or superposed relationship, the making electrical
sequence will be in order, connector 20, connector 20' and
connector 24. Conversely, the breaking sequence will be connector
24, connector 20' and finally connector 20. In the four-pole
version of the present invention, the main contacts 20 make first
and break last while the auxiliary contacts 24 make last and break
first. The sequential making and breaking of the electrical
connectors, each of which is spring biased as discussed above,
provides for a staggered peak insertion force thereby facilitating
the insertion of one connector into another connector and the
subsequent separation of the mated connectors.
Having described in detail a preferred embodiment of my invention,
it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous
modificatons can be made thereto without departing from the scope
of the following claims. For example, more than two main contacts
20 can be employed as well as other numbers of auxiliary contacts
24 and the current carrying capacities of each can also be varied
to accommodate a particular situation.
* * * * *