Hot-line plug terminal

Details Hot-line plug terminal Hot-line plug terminal

2000-03-21

2001-09-04

Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Including arc suppressing or extinguishing means

C439S862000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06283774

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hot-line plug terminals and electrical connector having such a terminal.
2. Related Art
A terminal of this type is disclosed by, for example, Japanese UM patent application Kokai No.
62-70371.
As shown in
FIG. 8
, this terminal is made by bending a metal strip. The terminal
50
comprises a pair of contact pieces
51
making a substantially U-shaped form and a connection piece
52
extending downwardly from the contact pieces
51
. The contact pieces
51
are curved so as to provide throat portions
51
A and
51
B at two different positions in the plugging direction of a mating pin
53
.
Where the terminal
50
is used in a hot-line plug electrical connector, the first throat portion
51
A makes an initial arc contact portion while the second throat portion
51
B makes a steady state contact portion. In the hot-line plug electrical connector, the terminal is usually used as a power terminal. When a mating pin
53
is brought to the initial arc contact portion
51
A, it makes an arc and then contact with the steady-state contact portion
51
B. The arc carbonizes carbon containing matter in the atmosphere, and the carbonized matter adheres to the initial arc contact section
51
A and the pin
53
. The carbonized matter is brought to the steady-state contact section
51
B by the plugged pin
53
, making a poor contact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a hot-line plug terminal capable of preventing adverse effects of the arc upon the steady-state contact section and an electrical connector having such a terminal.
According to the invention there is provided a hot-line plug terminal comprising a steady-state contact section having a first front edge portion; and an initial arc contact section having a second front edge portion which extends forwardly more than the first front edge portion. The initial arc contact section is provided at a position offset to a side of the steady-state contact section.
When the terminal of a mating connector is brought to the initial arc contact terminal, an arc is produced between them. Then, the terminal makes stable contact with the steady-state contact section. The carbonized matter produced by the arc adheres to the mating terminal. However, according to the invention, the initial arc and steady-state contact sections are offset laterally so that the carbonized matter is not brought to the steady-state contact section by the initial arc contact section.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first and second front edges form a step-like shape. The first and second front edges are tapered toward tips so as to facilitate plugging with the mating terminal. The initial arc contact section is provided on each side of the steady-state contact section so that if the mating terminal is inserted at an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the terminal, the production of an arc at the initial arc contact section is ensured. The steady-state contact section is provided with a protruded portion so that even if carbonized matter flies around the protruded portion, the stable contact with the steady-state contact section is maintained. It is preferred that the protruded portion is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the terminal.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a hot-line plug electrical connector comprising such a terminal as described above.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2625576 (1953-01-01), Gilbert
patent: 3275765 (1966-09-01), Ferdon et al.
patent: 3474380 (1969-10-01), Miller
patent: 3663930 (1972-05-01), Henschen et al.
patent: 4734060 (1988-03-01), Kawawada et al.
patent: 5643013 (1997-07-01), Weidler
patent: 5971809 (1999-10-01), Ho
patent: 6113426 (2000-09-01), Lin
patent: 1105022 (1959-12-01), None
patent: 900332 (1967-07-01), None
patent: 62-70371 (1987-05-01), None
patent: 0071087 (1989-03-01), None

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