Electrical connectors – Adapted to cooperate with duplicate connector – With coupling movement retaining means in addition to...
Patent
1994-01-31
1996-01-30
Abrams, Neil
Electrical connectors
Adapted to cooperate with duplicate connector
With coupling movement retaining means in addition to...
439353, 439701, 439737, 439949, H01R 13627, H01R 2327
Patent
active
054876770
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a hermaphrodite electrical connector for electrical installations, comprising at least one female contact part fitted with a socket, at least one male contact part with a contact pin arranged to fit longitudinally into the socket of the female contact part of another similar connector, and an oblong insulating case which laterally surrounds the said contact parts and which, close to the pin and the socket, has male and female sections arranged to fit into and onto the corresponding sections of the said similar connector. The invention also relates to a connection block comprised of several of these connectors.
The publication FR-A-2 501 918 describes a hermaphrodite connector of this type, for a multiconductor cable used for signal transmission purposes. A male electrical block fitted with several parallel pins and a female electrical block fitted with several parallel sockets are mounted side by side in a case. They have complementary forms. When two of these hermaphrodite connectors are connected together, they can be locked by means of a swivel fitted on one of them. Such a connection system can not be used in a electric power supply network, in particular because it fails to meet the safety standards generally imposed.
For instance, in very low-voltage domestic installations, generally used for lighting purposes by means of halogen lamps placed according to requirements in a showroom, saleroom or on domestic premises, the very low-voltage power supply is provided by means of cables of all types, adjusted on the spot and connected using screwed flanges. Tightening the latter may cause problems and the screws are not protected. The user often fits them himself and adjusts them to adapt the lighting installation as requirements change. Consequently, wirings of this type are not always done under optimum safety conditions with the guarantee that the standards in force will be complied with. If the screws are not sufficiently tightened or back out in time, this causes loose contacts, voltage drops, localised heating or even conductor displacements which might result in short circuits. Furthermore, there is nothing to prevent pole reversal when mounting or transforming the installation. Similar problems arise in low-voltage electric power supply installations (e.g. 110 volts or 220 volts) and higher voltage installations. What is more, some connection boxes do not fully comply with standards in force.
The purpose of this invention is to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks and enhance the safety of connections, due to a connector which can be connected easily and safely, ensures the correct positioning of the contacts matching up with the respective poles and withstands a pull-out strength (fixed at 50 N by some standards), capable of disconnecting it accidentally. Using such a connector must in particular make it possible to make a very low-voltage, low-voltage or medium-voltage electrical supply network by means of two-pole insulated cables, fitted with a hermaphrodite connector at each end.
With this aim in mind, one of the features of the connector according to the invention is that the case has, on the male and female sections, locking members which are comprised of a flexible (resilient) tab with a lug in one side wall of the case and a lateral recess in the opposite side wall of the case, to receive the said lug of the other similar connector.
Thus, the connector's contact parts are well insulated from one another and from the outside by the case, the male and female sections of the case prevent a pole reversal due to the connector being incorrectly connected, and the case's integrated locking members prevent any risk of accidental disconnection.
In one advantageous implementation of the connector according to the invention, each contact part is crossed by a lateral orifice opposite which the case presents a lateral opening. These lateral orifices are capable of each receiving a transversal pin which ensures both a mechanical and electrical connection on the connector.
REFERENCES:
patent: 398769 (1889-02-01), Currie
patent: 2384267 (1945-09-01), Anderson
patent: 3676833 (1972-07-01), Johnson
patent: 4089579 (1978-05-01), Steinbach
patent: 4364626 (1982-12-01), Price
patent: 4575704 (1986-03-01), Pezold
Abrams Neil
Maxi System International S.A.
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