GB1292363A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

1292363 Two part couplings COAL INDUSTRY (PATENTS) Ltd 20 April 1971 [28 April 1970] 20283/70 Heading H2E [Also in Division E2] A plug and socket connector has a means for mutual coupling, the plug and socket each having a main contact and a pilot contact, adapted so that when the plug and socket are coupled together the main contacts make contact before the pilot contacts and on disconnection the pilot contacts break connection before the main contacts, the coupling means introducing a time delay between the making of the respective contacts and between the breaking of the respective contacts. The plug 2 has four main contacts 6 and the pilot contact 10 rigidly mounted therein while the socket 4 has four main contacts 8 and the pilot contact 12 mounted resiliently on springs 66 and 78 respectively. The contacts, the socket housing 52 and the plug casing 16 are dimensioned so that when the plug and socket are coupled, the housing and casing meet first to form a flameproof enclosure, the main contacts 6, 8 then mate and finally the pilot contacts mate to energize a remote relay solenoid which supplies power to the socket main contacts. In order to provide sufficient time for the relay solenoid to operate during uncoupling, the coupling means comprises a ring 90 rotatably mounted on the socket, the ring having two pins 92 which travel in tortuous slots 94 in the plug casing 16. The connector is retained in the coupled condition by a spring catch (96) on the socket engaging a key (99) on the plug. In another embodiment (Figs. 4 to 6, not shown) the coupling means comprise pins (104) on the plug which co-operate with a pivotally mounted cam mechanism (100) on the socket. The connector is intended for a three-phase supply and the power may be reversed by uncoupling the plug 2, rotating through 180 degrees and recoupling.