US3189868A

US3189868A - Plug and socket contactor

Info

Publication number: US3189868A
Application number: US232424A
Authority: US
Inventors: John G Hatfield
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1962-10-23
Filing date: 1962-10-23
Publication date: 1965-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-15

Description

June 15, 1965 J. G. HATFIELD 3,189,868

PLUG AND SOCKET CONTACTOR Filed Oct. 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN G. HHT F\ ELD June 15, 1965. J. a. HATFIELD PLUG AND SOCKET CONTACTOR Filed Oct. 25, 1 962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A mm mm VAH m 6 N w J United States Patent 3,189,868 PLUG AND SOCKET CONTACTUR John G. Hatfield, Camp Hill, Pa., assignor to AMI Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Oct. 23,1962, Ser. No. 232,424 3 Claims. (Cl. 339-252) In the use of electrical accounting machines, computers, etc., plugb'oard assemblies are frequently used to provide circuit connections. Such assemblies have the advantage that one plugboard may be fixed and the other movable to close the circuit. In such plugboards, it is possible to prewire the desired circuits by use of patchcords. An example of such an assembly is illustrated in the patent to S-itz, Patent No. 2,975,395.

It is an object of this invention to provide a plug contactor designed to be inserted in a plugboard of the type illustrated in the above-identified patent.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device whereby the contact spring is locked into the plugboard so that the spring emanates from one side thereof. This forms a socket for a pin which is easily inserted into the opposite side of the plugboard and secured to an electrical conductor.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a pin and socket connection to a contact spring, wherein the pin and socket are generally circular in cross-section, and the pin telescopes into the socket and locks therein to provide low-contact resistance.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a series of pin and socket assemblies with the sockets secured to a plugboard (partially cut away);

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken through plane 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken through plane 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an insertion tool adapted to insert the pin into the socket;

FIGURE 5 is a retracting tool adapted to remove the pin from the socket;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a pin being inserted into the socket;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 illustrating a pin being retracted from the socket; and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective, exploded view of the device of FIGURE 1.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a plugboard 10, made of any suitable insulating plastic, has a plurality of apertures 12 extending therethrough adapted to receive a socket member, generally designated 14. The socket member is comprised of a tubular portion 16 which fits into the aperture 12 having an internal flat portion 13. A spring portion 18 is adapted to engage a plug (not shown), as illustrated and described in the above-identified patent.

The socket 14 may be stamped out of sheet metal and rolled into a form simulating a major arc with a chord subtending it, as seen in cross-section in FIGURE 3.

"ice

The portion of the socket formed by chord 15 forms a slot 17 between the chord 15 and the remainder of the tubular portion 16. The socket also has a seam 29 longitudinally disposed thereon, which provides resiliency so that the socket may be flexed radially. A plurality of ears 22 extend laterally from the front edge as shown in FIGURE 1. These ears may be staked onto one side of the plugboard 10 to lock the contact member in place. The socket is precluded against moving in the opposite direction by ferrule-forming portion 24 which may be integral therewith.

The pin member, generally indicated at 26, is also tubular and may be stamped out of sheet metal and rolled up to form an open seam 27. The pin member is also resilient to permit radial fiexure. A first ferruleforming portion 28 is adapted to be crimped onto an electrical conductor, and a second ferrule-forming portion 30 is adapted to be crimped onto the insulation of the conductor in a manner which is well-known in the art. The contact portion 32 of the pin 26 is generally tubular and similar in cross-section to the socket 16. One side of the pin is flattened as at 34, and has a tab 36 struck out of the flattened portion and extending outwardly. A dimple 38 is formed at the front edge of the flattened portion. The pin contracts slightly when it is telescopically inserted in the socket. It then expands outwardly to provide tight engagement and good electrical contact. A pair of outwardly-extending ears 42 project from the other edge of the pin to lock it in the socket.

When it is desired to make an electrical connection between a conductor C and a spring 18, the socket member 14 is inserted into the plugbo-ard 10 so that the chord 15 mates with the fiat portion 13 in the aperture. The spring 18 projects from the board and the cars 22 are staked to the board. The ferrule-forming portions 23 and 38 are crimped to the conductor C and the pin 26 is inserted into the barrel of the contact portion 16, with the flat portion 34 of the pin engaging the portion of the socket. When the pin is being driven into the socket, the lance 36 is retracted as it slides into the socket (FIGURE 2). After it passes the flattened portion of the socket, it again springs outwardly so that the pin 26 is locked against retraction. Any attempt to withdraw the pin will cause the lance 36 to enter a slot 17 between the arcuate portion and the flattened portion of the socket and thereby lock the pin .to the socket. Also the pin 26 expands in the socket, thus retaining the pin and socket securely within the aperture.

A tool for inserting the pin into the socket is shown in FIGURE 4. It comprises a handle member 160 with an arcuate nose 102 with a thin blade 1% projecting therefrom. A right-angle tip 1&6 is disposed on the end of the blade 104. A groove 168 in the handle 1% permits the conductor to be disposed therein during the assembling operation. In assembled position (FIGURE 6), the rightangle tip 106 is inserted into the rear-end of the pin and the handle used to drive the pin into the socket.

A retracting device, as shown in FIGURE 5, includes a body member having a nose portion 121 projecting therefrom. The body member 120 also has a blade 122 slidably positioned therein. The blade 122 is secured to a rod having a button 124 on the end of it. Spring means 126 between the button and the body member causes the blade 122 to be spring-loaded into a position whereby it fits into the body member 120. When it is de sired to release the pin member (FIGURE 7) the nose 121 is fitted into the socket 16 to force the lance 36 inwardly, thus releasing it. Depressing the spring 126 causes the blade 122 to move deeper into the socket against the pin member so that continual pressure causes the pin to be retracted from the socket.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in greases the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made Without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by Way of illustration only.

I claim:

11. A device of the character described including: a socket member adapted to be secured to an aperture in a plugboard, said socket being circular throughout a portion of its length, and non-circular throughout the remaining portion of its length, said non-circular portion having a minor axis which is less than the diameter of the circular portion and an aperture in the socket sepa-,

rating the circular and the non-circular portions, and a pin member adapted to fit into said socket, said pin member having an arcuate cross-sectional configuration adapted to fit into said socket and match the circular por: tion of said socket to provide good electrical conductivity, and locking means on said pin adapted to engage the noncircular portion of the socket to lock the pin member in the socket but permit unlocking to disengage the pin from the socket, and the pin member and socket each having an open seam longitudinally disposed therein to permit radial rlexure.

2. A device of the character described including: a socket member adapted to be secured to an aperture in a plugboard, said socket having a circular portion and a non-circular portion, said non circular portion having a minor axis which is less than the diameter of the circular portion, and an aperture in the socket separating the circular and the non-circular portions, and a pin member adapted to fit into said socket, said pin member having an arcuate cross-sectional configuration adapted to fit into said socket and match the circular portion of said socket to provide good electrical conductivity, and locking means on said pin member adapted to engage the non-circular portion of the socket to lock the pin member in the socket but capable of being unlocked to disengage the pin member from the socket, said locking means comprising a resilient lance projecting from the outer surface of the pin member, said lance adapted to be'depressed during the insertion of the pin member into the socket.

3. In a pin and socket connector adapted to be secured into an opening in a plugboard, the combination comprising a terruledike member havinge an open seam, a portion of said ferrule having a cross-sectional configuration shaped to match the opening in the plugboard in which said member is intended to be secured, another portion of said ferrule having a cross-sectional configuration which simulates an arc subtended by its chord, and a slot between the chord and the adjacent portion of the ferrule, a pin shaped member having an open seam adapted to telescopically fit into the ferrule like member, means on said pin-shaped member for securing it to a conductor, and locking means on said pin-shaped member normally projecting beyond the periphery of the pin-shaped memier but adapted to be radially retracted when the pinshaped member is telescoped into the ferrule-like member, and adapted to' engage-the slot in the ferrule-like member to lock the pin-shaped member to the ferrule-like member.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED, STATES PATENTS 921,846 5/09 Kerley 24230 2,188,530 1/40 Del Camp 330-258 2,318,648 5/43 Penfold 339-205 2,427,182 9/47 Bergan 339-258 X 2,691,771 10/54 Burtt et a1. 339-2173 2,715,215 8/55 Flora 339-258 X 2,724,311 11/55 Poupitch 339-498 2,912,669 11/59 Fitz Gerald 339-253 X 2,942,230 6/60 Gluck 339-253 X 2,975,395 3/61 Sitz 339252 3,066,275 11/ 62 Hammell 339 -258 X FOREIGN PATENTS 758,099 10/33 France.

1,128,085 8/56 France,

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED INCLUDING: A SOCKET MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO AN APERTURE IN A PLUGBOARD, SAID SOCKET BEING CIRCULAR THROUGHOUT A PORTION OF ITS LENGTH, AND NON-CIRCULAR THROUGHOUT THE REMAINING PORTION OF ITS LENGTH, SAID NON-CIRCULAR PORTION HAVING A MINOR AXIS WHICH IS LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE CIRCULAR PORTION AND AN APERTURE IN THE SOCKET SEPARATING THE CIRCULAR AND THE NON-CIRCULAR PORTIONS, AND A PIN MEMBER ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID SOCKET, SAID PIN MEMBER HAVING AN ARCUATE CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID SOCKET AND MATCH THE CIRCULAR PORTION OF SAID SOCKET TO PROVIDE GOOD ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY, AND LOCKING MEANS ON SAID PIN ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE NONCIRCULAR PORTION OF THE SOCKET TO LOCK THE PIN MEMBER IN THE SOCKET BUT PERMIT UNLOCKING TO DISENGAGE THE PIN FROM THE SOCKET, AND THE PIN MEMBER AND SOCKET EACH HAVING AN OPEN SEAM LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED THEREIN TO PERMIT RADIAL FLEXURE.