Patent GB-891431-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to separable contact assemblies
IPC: H01R13/59
Filed: 1960-02-04
Abstract: 891,431. Two-part couplings. AMP Inc. Feb. 4, 1960 [Feb. 9, 1959 (2)], No. 3983/60. Class 38 (1). Contact elements for the two units A, B of a separable connector assembly comprise a base 84 from which extend, side-by-side and with their planes essentially parallel, a contact finger 100 and a contact plate 102. Apertures 8 in panels 6 receive the contact elements and have a wall portion 15 which bears on a plate portion 96 from which the contact finger 100 extends. The element is retained in position by a detent 104 formed on the contact plate 102 and by a shoulder 105 and the forward edge of a plate 94. The detent engages the edge of the aperture 8, and stops 16, 18 formed on the aperture walls engage the shoulder 105 and the plate 94. A wire 12 is crimped to the contact element, and the insulation for the wire is supported at 88. The panels 6, which are identical, have a bead 24 on one face for engagement with a groove 22 of the other panel, and the bead has four pairs of recesses 28 which receive ribs 26 provided on a flange 20 surrounding the groove 22. The spacing of the pairs of ribs and recesses is different to prevent engagement of the connector parts unless the parts are correctly orientated. The panels are provided with keeper plates 34a, 34b slotted at 42 and the panel of the unit A is secured to a housing 2 by a bracket 64 having four guide blocks 66 which fit between shoulders 56 provided on the panel. The unit B may comprise a housing 52 of zinc or aluminium alloy and has ribs 68 on which the panel rests. The panel is clamped by a bolt 78 which passes through the keeper plate 34b and engages an internally threaded member 74 provided on a hollow standard 72. The unit B includes a coupling mechanism for pulling the two units together. A latch 50 is biased by a spring to urge the end 48 downwardly and carries a cam 110 which is keyed to a lever 122 having a handle 130. In bringing the units together, the latch end 48 enters the slot 42 in the keeper plate 34a and a notch 46 in the latch engages the plate. Rotating the handle 130 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 4 first moves the latch rearwardly, and draws the panels together. As the handle approaches the limit of its rotation, the panels are slightly separated and electrical contact between the contact elements is established on a pre-wiped area. To ensure that the contact elements remain disengaged when the units are to remain mechanically coupled, and to ensure axial movement of the panels, a pair of stand-off plates 138 are provided which are driven by the cam 110 and have finger portions 146 which are maintained adjacent to the guide blocks 66 so long as the latch end 48 engages the keeper plate 34a. A cable 4 is introduced into the housing 52 by a bottom cover plate 156 provided with an apertured well 158 which accommodates a resilient annular packing 162. A gland 164 is drawn against the packing by bolts 166, and adapter rings 172, Fig. 18 (not shown), are provided when the cable is small. The unit A may also be portable. A further form of contact element is described, referring to Figs. 20-23 (not shown). The keeper plates may be identical, Fig. 24 (not shown). Specification 891,432 is referred to.