Dual Electrical Connector Having Self-leveling Service Mechanism

Abstract

Electric connector in which a self-leveling mechanism connects independently movable shells with rigidly interconnected shells to move end faces of contact carrying means in the shells into equalized pressure engagement and to lock contact means in position, the mechanism being movable to an unlocked condition to permit insertion, removal and replacement of contacts. The mechanism preferably includes a pair of yoke members on opposite ends of a fulcrum member and each having opposite end portions engaged with side portions of a pair of independently movable shells, actuating means being connected to a central portion of the fulcrum member which is provided with sides suitably angled to provide locking angles to prevent large axial movements of the two independent shells, when subjected to insertion and removal forces.

Description

This invention relates to an electrical connector and more particularly to a dual electrical connector having a self-leveling mechanism which is relatively simple in construction and operation and which permits self-alignment and equalization of the interengagement of parts, without requiring rigid production tolerances.

This invention was evolved with the general object of overcoming the disadvantages of prior art connectors and of providing a dual connector having a mechanism which is relatively simple in construction and easy to operate and which is economically manufacturable.

In an electrical connector according to this invention, contacts are inserted in aligned openings of two pairs of contact carrying members disposed in supporting shells. The contacts are inserted while end faces of the contact carrying members are spaced apart. After insertion, the end faces are brought into pressure engagement to provide a seal and the contacts are locked in position. For servicing of the contacts, the end faces of the contact carrying members are again spaced apart and the contacts may be removed, after which repaired or replacement contacts are inserted in position, the end faces of the contact carrying members being then brought together.

According to an important feature of the invention, connection means are provided interconnecting support means, such as supporting shells for contact carrying means, the connection means being arranged to move end faces of the contact carrying means into equalized pressure engagement, with a self-leveling operation. With this arrangement, the tendency toward any binding action is minimized and reliable operation is obtained while allowing feasible production tolerances.

According to a specific feature of the invention, a pair of independently movable shells are engaged by opposite ends of a yoke member supported by fulcrum means for pivotal movement about an intermediate pivot axis, actuating means being provided for moving the fulcrum means to effect equalized pressure engagement of end faces of contact carrying means within the independently movable shells and the end faces of contact carrying means within a pair of rigidly connected shells. With this arrangement, the self-leveling operation is obtained with a relatively simple mechanism and with a single point actuation.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the self-leveling mechanism comprises a second yoke member similar to the first and disposed along side portions of the shells opposite to side portions among which the first yoke member is disposed, the two yoke members being pivotally supported, for movement about a common pivot axis, at opposite ends of a bar disposed between the movable shells. The actuating means are connected to a central portion of the bar and may preferably comprise a simple screw or the like. Preferably, the points at which each shell is engaged by the yoke members are disclosed in a central plane of the shell, to minimize any binding action in the movement of the shells and to render rigid production tolerances unnecessary.

This invention contemplates other objects, features, and advantages which will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an electrical connector according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a portion of an opposite side elevational view of the connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line IV--IV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line V--V of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line VI--VI of FIG. 1.

Reference numeral 10 generally designates an electrical connector constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. The connector 10 comprises a casting which forms two rigidly interconnected shells 11 and 12 and also comprises two shells 13 and 14 which are movable independently with respect to each other and with respect to the casting which forms shells 11 and 12, shells 13 and 14 being partially inserted into cavities of the shells 11 and 12. The shells 11 and 12 include portions 11a and 12a integrally connected and on one side of a mounting flange 15, cast as an integral part of the casting, and further include portions 11b and 12b projecting from the opposite side of the mounting flange 15. The portions 11b and 12b are arranged for connection to a mating connector assembly, not shown, for interconnection of contacts of the connector 10 with contacts of the mating assembly.

The contacts within the connector 10 are connected to wires, not shown, which project from the shells 13 and 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the shells 11 and 12 have disposed therewithin a relatively large "ground" contact 17 and a plurality of smaller contacts 18 only one of which is shown in FIG. 4. Contact carrying means are provided in the shells 11 and 13 to support the contacts 17 and 18. Such means comprise a block 19 of insulating material, preferably of a relatively soft rubber, within the portion 11b of the shell 11 and a block 20 of insulating material within the portion 11a of the shell 11, the block 20 being contained within a generally cup-shaped member 21, also of insulating material, the blocks 19 and 20 and a wall of the member 21 having aligned passages for receiving the contacts. The contact 17 is formed with an annular shoulder 22 for engagement by portions of a molded cone 23 supported within the members 20 and 21. Each of the contacts 18 is formed with an annular shoulder 24 for engagement by fingers 25 formed as integral parts of the block 20. Preferably, the block 20 and also the member 21 are formed of a resilient plastic material such as, for example, polysulfone.

The contacts 18 in the illustrated connector are filter pin contacts having inductance and capacitance means formed on a central part thereof in a manner such as to filter out high-frequency noise components, the capacitance means including an outer electrode 27 engaged by spring finger portions 28 of a ground plate 29. The plate 29 also has spring finger portions 30 engaging the ground contact 17.

The contact carrying means also includes a block 31 of insulating material, such as soft rubber, and a block or plate 32 of insulating material preferably a relatively harder material such as a glass-filled diallyl phthalate, both disposed in the shell 13 and having aligned passages for receiving the contacts. The contact 17 is provided with an annular projection 33 to be locked in place between one face of the plate 32 and the block 31. Similarly, each of the contacts 18 is provided with a projecting portion 34 resiliently locked between block 31 and plate 32. The contact 17 has an end portion 35 arranged to receive the end of a connecting wire and also arranged to be crimped, soldered or otherwise connected thereto. Similarly, each of the contacts 18 has an end portion 36 arranged to be crimped, soldered or otherwise connected to the end of a connecting wire from which the insulation has been stripped.

Part of the shell 13 is preferably telescoped within a part of the portion 11a of the shell 11, as shown in FIG. 4, and the shell 13 is formed with an annular groove which may receive a conventional O-ring-type seal member 38.

It will be understood that contacts and contact carrying means are provided in the shells 12 and 14 in a manner similar to the manner in which they are provided in the shells 11 and 13.

The parts are illustrated in FIG. 4 in a contact locked position in which an end surface 40 of the shell 13 and a coplanar end surface 41 of the plate 32 are firmly engaged with the ground plage 29. With the parts in such positions, it would be very difficult if not impossible to remove the contacts for repair or replacement and it is highly desirable that the shell 13 and also the shell 14 be movable a substantial distance to the right, for contact servicing. When the shells 13 and 14 are so moved, the contacts can be removed by moving them to the right as viewed in FIG. 4. Preferably, a suitable tool may be inserted from the left and a pulling force may be exerted on the connecting wires which project from the shells 13 and 14. After removal of a contact, a new or repaired contact may be inserted from the right, after which the shells 13 and 14 are moved to the left, to engage surfaces 40 and 41 with the ground plate 29 and to engage similar surfaces within the shell 14 with a ground plate within the shell 12. It is highly desirable that there should be sufficient flexibility in the locking movement to avoid bending of the contacts and that the end surface or faces of the contact carrying means be interengaged with equalized pressures. In accordance with this invention a mechanism is provided for so moving the shells 13 and 14 as to achieve such results.

The connecting mechanism comprises a first yoke member 42 having opposite end portions 43 and 44. End portion 43 is disposed between opposed side surfaces 45 and 46 of a groove in the shell 13 and end portion 44 is disposed between opposed side surfaces 47 and 48 of a groove in the shell 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, a second yoke member 50 is provided along the opposite side of the shells 13 and 14, having opposite end portions 51 and 52. End portion 51 is disposed between opposed side surfaces 53 and 54 of a groove in the shell 13 while end portion 52 is disposed between opposed side surfaces 55 and 56 of a groove in the shell 14.

As shown in FIG. 5, the opposite side surfaces of the portion 44 are angled and the surfaces 47 and 38 are correspondingly angled to provide a dovetail fit, a similar dovetail fit being provided with respect to end portions 43, 51 and 52.

The yoke members 42 and 50 are connected to opposite ends of a bar 58 by means of pins 59 and 60, for pivotal movement of the yoke members 42 and 50 about a common axis midway between the opposite ends of the yoke members. A screw 62 is provided having a head portion 63 and having a shank portion 64 extending through an opening 65 in the bar 58, the shank portion 64 being threaded through an integral interconnecting portion 66 between the shells 11 and 12. Upon rotation of the screw 62 in one direction, the bar 58 is moved toward the portion 66 and the end portions 43 and 44 of the yoke member 42 engage the surfaces 45 and 47 while the end portions 51 and 52 of the lever 50 engage the surfaces 53 and 55 to move the shells 13 and 14 to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4. Due to the fact that the yoke members 42 and 50 are pivotally connected to the ends of the bar 58, the forces applied to the shells 13 and 14 are equalized. It is also noted that there may be some degree of flexibility in the movement of the bar 58, as by providing a clearance between the internal surface of the opening 65 and the external surface of the shank 64 so as to equalize the forces applied to opposite sides of each of the shells 13, 14. As a result of the equalization of the forces, the shells 13 and 14 are moved smoothly into the locked position without imposing undue bending stresses on the contacts and without appreciable binding action. In addition, the pressure is exerted between the interengaging end faces of contact carrying means in the shell are equalized. Another important feature is that by means of a common actuating device, the screw 62, both shells 13 and 14 are moved into position. Further, the mechanism is quite compact.

To unlock the connector, so as to permit servicing of contacts, the screw 62 is rotated in the reverse direction to allow movement of the shells 13 and 14 to the right as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4. In the illustrated arrangement, there is no positive actuation of the shells 13 and 14 in the unlocking direction. However, if desired, suitable abutment means could be provided on the shank 64 of the screw 62, to engage the bar 58, whereupon the end portions 43, 44, 51 and 52 would positively engage the surfaces 46, 48, 54, 56, respectively, again with an equalized application of forces.

It is important to note that the end portions 43 and 51 of the yoke members 42 and 50 engage the surfaces 45 and 53 at points aligned with a central plane of the shell 13, to minimize canting of the shell 13. Similarly, the end portions 44 and 52 engage the surfaces 47 and 55 at points aligned with a central plane of the shell 14. Preferably, the end portions 43, 44, 51 and 52 are rounded, as illustrated.

To limit rotation of the screw 62 in the unlocking direction, a washer 68 is preferably fixedly secured to the end of the shank portion of the screw 62, to engage the portion 66.

Preferably, means are provided for limiting canting movement of the shells 13 and 14 relative to the bar 58. As shown the bar 58 has opposite side surfaces 69 and 70 which are angled and which are in spaced facing relation to angled side surfaces 71 and 72 of the shells 13 and 14 in the illustrated locked condition of the connector. In addition, the bar 58 is formed with grooves 73 and 74 which receive projections 75 and 76 of the shell 13 and grooves 77 and 78 which receive projections 79 and 80 of the shell 14. As shown in FIG. 6, the inner surfaces of the grooves 73 and 77 are angled and are in spaced facing relation to angled end surfaces of the projections 75 and 79, in the illustrated locked condition of the connector, a similar relationship existing between angled inner surfaces of grooves 74 and 78 and angled end surfaces of the projections 76 and 80.

With this arrangement, interengageable surfaces are provided to limit canting movement of the shells 13 and 14, to obviate undue bending of contacts and to allow application of force to only one of the shells in the initial portion of the movement of bar 58 in a locking direction. Both shells 13 and 14 can be brought into partially locked and properly aligned positions before the force equalizing action takes place in the final portion of the movement of bar 58 in the locking direction.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

Claims

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electrical connector, first and second contact carrying means disposed in side-by-side relation and having end faces in generally coplanar relation, third and fourth contact carrying means having end faces respectively engageable with said end faces of said first and second contact carrying means, support means for each of said contact carrying means, and connection means interconnecting said support means and arranged to move said end faces of said third and fourth contact carrying means toward equalized pressure engagement with said end faces of said first and second contact carrying means, said support means comprising first, second, third and fourth shell means respectively supporting said first, second, third and fourth contact carrying means therewithin, and a rigid connection between said first and second shell means, said third and fourth shell means being independently movable.

2. In an electrical connector as defined in claim 1, said connection means comprising a yoke member having first and second end portions at opposite ends thereof respectively engageable with said third and fourth shell means, fulcrum means supporting said yoke member for pivotal movement about an intermediate pivot axis, and actuating means for moving said fulcrum means to effect said movement of said end faces of said third and fourth contact carrying means toward equalized pressure engagement with said end faces of said first and second contact carrying means.

3. In an electrical connector as defined in claim 2, said first and second portions of said yoke member being engageable with aligned side portions of said third and fourth shell means, said connection means further including a second yoke member having first and second portions at opposite ends thereof engageable with opposite aligned side portions of said third and fourth shell means, said second yoke member being supported by said fulcrum means for pivotal movement about an axis aligned with said pivot axis of the first yoke member.

4. In an electrical connector as defined in claim 3, said fulcrum means comprising a bar between said third and fourth shells and connected at opposite ends thereof to said first and second yoke members.

5. In an electrical connector as defined in claim 4, said actuating means being connected to a central portion of said bar.

6. In an electrical connector as defined in claim 5, said actuating means comprising a screw connecting said central portion of said bar and said rigid connection between said first and second shells.

7. In an electrical connector as defined in claim 3, said first portions of said first and second yoke members being located in a central plane of said third shell member and said second portions of said first and second yoke members being located in a central plane of said fourth shell means.

8. In an electrical connector as defined in claim 1, said connection means comprising means for limiting canting movement of said third and fourth shell means.

9. In an electrical connector as defined in claim 4, said bar and said third and fourth shells having interengageable angled surface means effective for limiting canting movement of said third and fourth shells relative to said bar.