GB2031662A - Electrical connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector is provided with non-split sockets 1 of circular section co-operating with pins 4, 5, 6 provided with terminal enlargements of square section. The pins and the sockets are respectively implanted on two coaxial cylinders of slightly different diameters. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements to connectors This invention relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to those of the type having multiple pins and sockets.

There are already known electrical connectors of this kind wherein the sockets and the pins have their axes disposed on two coaxial cylinders of different diameters, the difference of the diameters being greater than the play resulting from mounting, and the sockets having a continuous closed surface, whilst the extremity of the pins is provided with an enlargement of which the principal transverse dimension is substantially equal to that of the socket.

As a result of this different manner of implantation respectively of the sockets and of the pins, and providing that the body of the pin below the yen large ment has a sufficient resilience, the engagement of the pins brings about a flexing of the pins and no noticeable deformation of the sockets. This flexing gives rise to a pressure between the pins and the sockets and ensures at the time of engagement the automatic cleaning of the pins, as well as the establishing of the contact. The contact thus no longer results, as is the case with the prior art devices, from pressure due to the resilience of the blades which make up a split socket, and one thus eliminates the risk of deterioration of the coating of the pin, and of the pin itself, by burrs or seams which are often present on the internal surface of a split socket.

In the known method of construction, the pin is of cylindrical shape and the socket is provided with a hole of square section, as a result of which even in the case of deformation of the pin, the contact is still established on two generatrices, the play between the diameter of the pin and the square hole of the socket being limited to the maximum extent.

Whilst remaining within the field of miniature connectors to which the invention is principally applied, when the nominal current imposed becomes relatively large and, as a consequence, the sections must be relatively large, it has been found, and this is the object of the present invention, that it is more advantageous to use sockets with a circular hole cooperating with enlargements of pins of square section, the pin then advantageously having a flat body obtained by pressing of the mass of metal effected whilst conserving the surface of the section.

The advantages of this arrangement will appear clearly from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 shows the implantation and the shape of the sockets, in an example of construction, and Fig. 2 shows the implantation and the shape of the corresponding pins.

In Fig. 1 there are shown three sockets 1, 2,3, of which the axes are disposed along three generatrices, displaced 1200 with respectto each other, of a cylinder C1 of 10 mm diameter. As can be seen in the partial view of the socket 1, in longitudinal section, the socket is cylindrical and the extremity of the cylindrical hole 10 is bevelled at 11, in such a manner as to facilitate the entry of the pin.

In Fig. 2 there are shown three pins 4, 5, 6, of which the axes are disposed along three generatrices, displaced 1200 with respect to each other, of a cylinder C2 of 10.3 mm diameter. As can be seen in the partial view of the pin 4 in longitudinal section, the pin comprises a terminal enlargement 41 composed of a parallelepipedal portion extended by a frustoconical portion, which facilitates the entry. The transverse section of the parallelepipedal portion, visible at the right hand side of the figure, is of barrel shape milled into square form in such a manner as to retain only four sections of the original diameter, these sections having to rub, (by pairs), on the interior of the bore of the sockets, thus assuring the contact on two generatrices.This enlargement 41 is extended by a body 42 having the form of a blade, obtained by crushing of a cylindrical body, of which the end is conserved to form the enlargement in the direction of the arrow F4 (respectively F5, Foe).

The surface of the initial section is thus retained, whilst the body 42 achieves a greater resilience.

In the example described, the diameter of the enlargement 41 and the diameter of the hole of the socket are such that the pin must enter easily into the socket with a play limited to the maximum extent.

It will be seen that the arrangement of the pins shows, as does that of the sockets, a symmetry of revolution (three in the non-limiting example described) with respect to a common axis 0 0' of the two cylinders C and C2, of which the diameters are slightly different. In a variation, the diameter of C1 could be slightly greater than that of C2.

The construction of the round sockets and of the pins with square ends is particularly simple. It would nevertheless be possible to vary the shape of the sections of the sockets and of the corresponding enlargements of the pins, that of the socket or of the enlargement being generally polygonal, whilst the other is circular.

1. An electrical connector, of the kind comprising a plurality of pins, cooperating with sockets, terminated by enlargements intended to engage into the bores of the sockets, in which the sockets have a continuous closed surface, the sockets and the pins having their axes disposed on two coaxial cylinders of different diameters, the difference of the diameters being greater than the play resulting from mounting and the principal transverse dimension of each enlargement being substantially equal to that of the bore of the corresponding socket, characterised in that the principal section of the enlargements is generally square, and the bores are cylindrical.

2. An electrical connector, as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pin has a body in the form of a resilient blade extended by said enlargement, the resilience being obtained by a crushing of an initial cylindrical body over a part of its length, in such a manner as to present the same surface of section as the said enlargement.

3. An electrical connector substantially as described herein with reference to the accompany ing drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements to connectors This invention relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to those of the type having multiple pins and sockets. There are already known electrical connectors of this kind wherein the sockets and the pins have their axes disposed on two coaxial cylinders of different diameters, the difference of the diameters being greater than the play resulting from mounting, and the sockets having a continuous closed surface, whilst the extremity of the pins is provided with an enlargement of which the principal transverse dimension is substantially equal to that of the socket. As a result of this different manner of implantation respectively of the sockets and of the pins, and providing that the body of the pin below the yen large ment has a sufficient resilience, the engagement of the pins brings about a flexing of the pins and no noticeable deformation of the sockets. This flexing gives rise to a pressure between the pins and the sockets and ensures at the time of engagement the automatic cleaning of the pins, as well as the establishing of the contact. The contact thus no longer results, as is the case with the prior art devices, from pressure due to the resilience of the blades which make up a split socket, and one thus eliminates the risk of deterioration of the coating of the pin, and of the pin itself, by burrs or seams which are often present on the internal surface of a split socket. In the known method of construction, the pin is of cylindrical shape and the socket is provided with a hole of square section, as a result of which even in the case of deformation of the pin, the contact is still established on two generatrices, the play between the diameter of the pin and the square hole of the socket being limited to the maximum extent. Whilst remaining within the field of miniature connectors to which the invention is principally applied, when the nominal current imposed becomes relatively large and, as a consequence, the sections must be relatively large, it has been found, and this is the object of the present invention, that it is more advantageous to use sockets with a circular hole cooperating with enlargements of pins of square section, the pin then advantageously having a flat body obtained by pressing of the mass of metal effected whilst conserving the surface of the section. The advantages of this arrangement will appear clearly from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 shows the implantation and the shape of the sockets, in an example of construction, and Fig. 2 shows the implantation and the shape of the corresponding pins. In Fig. 1 there are shown three sockets 1, 2,3, of which the axes are disposed along three generatrices, displaced 1200 with respectto each other, of a cylinder C1 of 10 mm diameter. As can be seen in the partial view of the socket 1, in longitudinal section, the socket is cylindrical and the extremity of the cylindrical hole 10 is bevelled at 11, in such a manner as to facilitate the entry of the pin. In Fig. 2 there are shown three pins 4, 5, 6, of which the axes are disposed along three generatrices, displaced 1200 with respect to each other, of a cylinder C2 of 10.3 mm diameter. As can be seen in the partial view of the pin 4 in longitudinal section, the pin comprises a terminal enlargement 41 composed of a parallelepipedal portion extended by a frustoconical portion, which facilitates the entry. The transverse section of the parallelepipedal portion, visible at the right hand side of the figure, is of barrel shape milled into square form in such a manner as to retain only four sections of the original diameter, these sections having to rub, (by pairs), on the interior of the bore of the sockets, thus assuring the contact on two generatrices.This enlargement 41 is extended by a body 42 having the form of a blade, obtained by crushing of a cylindrical body, of which the end is conserved to form the enlargement in the direction of the arrow F4 (respectively F5, Foe). The surface of the initial section is thus retained, whilst the body 42 achieves a greater resilience. In the example described, the diameter of the enlargement 41 and the diameter of the hole of the socket are such that the pin must enter easily into the socket with a play limited to the maximum extent. It will be seen that the arrangement of the pins shows, as does that of the sockets, a symmetry of revolution (three in the non-limiting example described) with respect to a common axis 0 0' of the two cylinders C and C2, of which the diameters are slightly different. In a variation, the diameter of C1 could be slightly greater than that of C2. The construction of the round sockets and of the pins with square ends is particularly simple. It would nevertheless be possible to vary the shape of the sections of the sockets and of the corresponding enlargements of the pins, that of the socket or of the enlargement being generally polygonal, whilst the other is circular. CLAIMS

1. An electrical connector, of the kind comprising a plurality of pins, cooperating with sockets, terminated by enlargements intended to engage into the bores of the sockets, in which the sockets have a continuous closed surface, the sockets and the pins having their axes disposed on two coaxial cylinders of different diameters, the difference of the diameters being greater than the play resulting from mounting and the principal transverse dimension of each enlargement being substantially equal to that of the bore of the corresponding socket, characterised in that the principal section of the enlargements is generally square, and the bores are cylindrical.

2. An electrical connector, as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pin has a body in the form of a resilient blade extended by said enlargement, the resilience being obtained by a crushing of an initial cylindrical body over a part of its length, in such a manner as to present the same surface of section as the said enlargement.

3. An electrical connector substantially as described herein with reference to the accompany ing drawing.