US2449450A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

Patentedsept.` 14, 1948 vELEGTRICAL CONNECTOR Vernon E. Carlson, Short Hills, N. J., asalgnor to Aircraft-Marine Products, Inc., a corporation oi' New Jersey Elisabeth. N. J.,

Application April 3, 1943, No. 481,887

l This invention relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to4 an improved multiple plug str-ip connector of the type adapted for connecting together a plurality of electrical conductors. r

Various sorts of plug receptacles, multiple sockets and the like are known to the prior art. Many of the kinds available come in assorted, sizes and in varying arrangements. They ilnd wide application in automobiles, air planes, marine craft, signal arid communication work, etc., and, in short, wherever relatively complicated electrical circuits may be required. Many of these multiple connectors, however, suffer the disadvantage that each individual connector is suited to a relatively narrow field of application. Thus, a multiple receptacle suited, for example, for use in the instrument panel of a given airplane does not lend itself well in establishing corresponding or similar circuits in the control Itower of a naval vessel or even inthe instrument s claims. (c1. 11a-ssi) panel of a different airplane. A result is that a great variety of multiple socketsland receptacles have, by necessity. come into more or less general use.

It has already been proposed and claimed in a copending-application of Stephen N. Buchanan and James 0. Johnson, Serial No. 430,028, iiled February 9,1942, which issued as Patent No.

2,424,966, on August 5, 1947, to make a standard multiple plug connector of indefinite length, by

which groups of conductors can be connected i together. `These are made of indefinite length so that any number of groups can be had for any given application but are provided with standard group connectors so that two. four or some other limited number of plugs can be interconnected in each group.

It is an object of my invention to provide improved multiple electrical connector means of the general type described and claimed in the application of Buchanan and Johnson, aforemen-f cloned, but which will .be more flexible in its adaptation to various uses and various circuits. Another object is the provision of continuous strip means presenting aseries of receptacles for plug type terminals wherein any selected number of the receptacles may be interconnected with one another at will so that, for example, one electrical conductor may be led to the strip and be branched therefrom'to other terminals connected into the receptacles. Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple connector receptacle wherein the several receptacles may the desired number of electrical conductors may be connected in pairs or groups of any desired number and may be divided at will into smaller groups or combined into larger groups at any time by a simple operation. Another object is the provision of receptacle means for interconnecting detachable terminals wherein high electrical conductivity is combined with relatively great resilience, whereby good electrical connections maybe maintained throughout and the terminals can be easily inserted and removed. It is also an object of the invention to provide a structure wherein the vresilience by which good electrical contact is maintained is not impaired by temporary overload of the current conducting parts. vOther objects will be in partpointed out as the description proceeds and will in part become apparent therefrom.

The multiple electrical connector means described and claimed in the copcnding application of Stephen N. Buchanan and James O. Johnson, aforementioned, provides an ideal solution to many installation problems in the electrical eld, especially where space is limited and where circuits must be made, broken, tested and/or rearranged rapidly. There are manyv instances, however, where it becomes desirable to be able'fo connect a series of electrical conductors intol one main or master conductor rather than merely to connect one individual conductor to another individual conductor. I have now found that, by the use of means in accordance with the invention, it is feasible to make an indeiinite series of insulated contact receptacles so that any adjacent receptacles can be quickly and adequately interconnected into one common multiple contact member, whereby, for example, one or `more electrical conductors may be plugged into the multiple contact member to feed any desired number of branch conductors running therefrom. I have also discovered that such a device is much more perfect in operation and more secure against deterioration by temporary overloads if the functions of current conduction and mainte-V In this specication and in the accompanying drawings, I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention and various modiiications thereof; -but it is to be understood 'that 3 these are not intended limiting of the invention, but onthe contrary are given for purposes of Villustration in order that vothers skilled in the art may fully under-` stand the invention and the Dliwllles thelwf v reference charactersrefer to corresponding parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a plan view, with parts broken away and parts in section. of a piece of multiple connector strip :made in accordance with theA present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 2-2 of Figure l inthe direction of the arrows;l t

Figure 3 is'a transverse sectional elevation taken along the broken line 3-3 of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a bus member forming .a part of the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a contact spring member forming a part of the invention;

Figure 6 isa plan view. partly in section, of a modiied type of multiple connector strip embodying the invention;

Figure 7 is a sectional viewtaken along the line 'l--l of Figure 6 in the direction of -the arrows;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 8 8 of Figure 6in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a 'bus member used -in the embodimentillustrated in Figure 6; and

` Figure 10 is a perspective view of a' contact spring member used in the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

Figures 1 and 3 show, respectively, a plan view and a cross-sectional elevation of a piece from a multiple connector strip embodying the invention. Referring to Figure 3, an upper insulating strip and a lower insulating strip 22 (see also Figure 2) are .illustrated held in xed spaced relationship by means of insulating tubular spacers 24 through which rivets 26 are passed. These rivets 26 as shown in this gure are of metal and are insulated with sleeves 24 and caps of insulating material; but instead of this the rivets themselves may be made of a malleable material, e. g., vulcanized ber, as is shown in Figures 6 and '7. Uninsulated metal fastenings can also be used where there is on disadvantage from their conductivity. Strip 20 is covered by a thin cover strip or facing sheet 30, and beneath strip 22,.as shown in Figure 3, is a somewhat wider backing strip 28 (see also Figure 2). Strip 28 is provided with openings to receive mounting screws 32 (see Figures 1 and 2). Strips 20, v22, 20, and are notched, as at 34 to furnish guides for cutting any convenient length for a particular job from long, standard strip connectors. These strips are also provided with coaxial plug receiving holes 36 and pin receiving openings 38, forreasons which will become apparent hereafter.

Figure 4 presents a perspective view of one of to be exhaustive norv of plug contact portions 42, a .pair of pn contact the electrical buses, generally indicated byv 40,

portions 44, and tabs 48 by which it held within the strips 20-22. These buses are held between strips 20 and 22 with each'of the plug contact portions in alignment with a set of coaxial plug receiving holes 36 and with each pin .contact portion 'in registration-with a Aset of pin receiving openings 38, as illustratedln the plan view of Figure l. A contact spring 48 (see Figure 5) isv located over the central portion of each bus, as

shown in Figure 2, to form therewith what may be termed a receptacle elen1ent,`s oV that when a plug 50 (see Figure 2) is inserted into one of the openings 38, the contact portion of the plug is` heid in good conducting engagement with a contact portion 42 ofthe bus by means of contact spring 48.

Figures 1- and 3 show the manner in which interconnecting pins 52 may be inserted into a strip to bridge the gaps between contact portions 44 of adjacent buses A4|) to establish a series of plug receiving'outlets all in good conducting relationship with one another. By inserting the proper number of pins 52, the bus members 40 may be connected to form a bus 'of any desired length and to give the desired number of plug receiving holes which are in common conducting relationship with one another. By omitting a pin at any point, the bus connection is broken and a new group of interconnected receptacles is thus begun. These pins 52 may be simple pins of conducting material serving only -to connect adjacent receptacles or they maybe terminal connector plugs for connecting additional circuits or bus wires into the system.

It will -be'noted that plugs 50 are held in conducting relationship-with the buses by means of contact springs 46. These contact springs are made from a resilient alloy, such as a phosphorbronze, and the provision of these springs assures a good contact whenever a plug is inserted into an opening, even though the plugs may continually be inserted and withdrawn over an extensive period of time. The interconnecting pins 52, however, are held in interconnecting engage ment with adjacent buses primarily through-the inherent resilience of pin contact portions 44.

These buses are made from sheets 'of relatively tion. 'This strip diiers from the first embodiment described primarily in the conguration oiv the bus 40a, shown in Figure 9, and the contact spring 45a, shown in Figure 10, whereby the contact spring of each receptacle element aids in maintaining the bus contacts at 44a as well as the circuit contacts at 42a. Each bus 40a is provided with tabs 48a which are-received in recesses in strip 20a (see, Figuresy 6, 7, and 8) to hold the buses against lateral movement with respect to strips 20a and 22a. Other means for holding these members in position may be sub-y stituted, as will be evident to those skilled in this art. t

As many embodiments of the invention may be made and as variations in the embodiments illustrated are easily possible, the invention is not intended to be limited to anything presented in the accompanying specification and drawing or as .setV forth by example but is intended to be limited solely by the scope ,of the accompanying claims. i

I claim: l Y 1. An electrical conductor comprising an insulating body. a bus of high conductivity metal,

said body surrounding said bus, said bus having `a plurality of contact faces, and integral projec- 2. An electrical conductor comprising an insu.

Llating body a plurality of connector units, said body surrounding said units, each unit having a plurality of contact faces, integral projections of each unit connecting the unit and the insulating body closely adjacent at least two of the contact faces so that those faces are ixed relative to the body, at least one face of each unit being remote from the connecting projections oi' that unit and being resiliently connected to the other faces of that unit by a bend, said units being arranged in closely spaced relationship with the remote face of each unit in position to coact with a bridging connector bridging one unit and another, said body having access apertures registering with each of the faces of each of the units.

3. A continuous strip connector of the multiple plug type. said connector including a plurality of plug receiving receptacles each adapted to accom- .modate a'. pair of conductors, whereby a series of pairs of conductors may be plugged into the connector, each said receptacle lincluding a bus adapted to carry a high electric current and a contact spring for maintaining good electrical contact with the bus, each said bus being generally 8shaped in plan view with the upper and lower parts of the S each forming a plug contact portion, and each said contact spring being generally w-shaped in elevational view with the central part of the w straddling and embracing the central part ot the 8 of the associated bus. whereby each outer part of the w is in position to hold an inserted plug in good conducting relationship with the adjacent plug contact portion of the associated bus.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein each plug contact portion is extended to form a pin contact portion, whereby an interconnecting pin may be used with the connector between adjacent receptacles Ato form, a direct short circuit between the buses thereof.

' 5. The invention of claim 3 wherein each plug contact portion is yextended to form a pin' contact portion and wherein clearance is provided in the strip connector between adjacent receptacles, whereby an interconnecting pin may be used with the connector between adjacent receptacles to form a direct short circuit between the buses of the adjacent receptacles land wherein adjacent pairsoi' conductors may be mutually interconnected, or whereby without an interconnecting pin good insulating characteristics are maintained between the adjacent receptacles, or whereby the connector may be severed between adjacent receptacles to give self-sustaining connector strips for independent use.

6. A continuous strip connector ofthe multiple plug type, said connector including a plurality of pairs of plug receiving receptacles each adapted to accommodate a pair of conductors, whereby a series of pairs of conductors may be plugged into the connector, each said pair of receptacles including a common bus adapted to carry a high electric vcurrent and a contact spring for maintaining good electrical contact with the bus, each said bus being generally U-shaped in plan view with each of the upper parts of the U curving arcuately outwardly and forming an individual plug contact portion, and each contact spring being generally of an inverted -U--shape in plan view with each of the lower parts of the inverted U curving arcuately inwardly, the associated busA and spring of each receptacle being assembled with` the legs of the inverted U of the spring straddling and embracing the ends of the legs of the U ofthe bus and with the inwardly curving parts of the spring cooperating with the plug contact portions of the bus.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein' each. bus includes an extension forming a short-circuiting pin contact portion. 4

` 8. The invention of claim 6 wherein each bus includes an extension forming a short-circuiting pin contact portion and wherein a clearance space is provided in the strip c'onnector between adjacent pairs oi receptacles.

VERNON E, CARLSON.

asFEaENcEs crrEp The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED sTA'rEs PATENTS 2,149,196 Surprenant ----.V Feb. 28, 1,939

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