Patent Abstract:
A multiple cable connector for use with multiple remote control devices requiring multi-poled contact connectors for each device. The connector of the invention allows for control of multiple parallel or independent devices to reduce the number of control cables required back to a central controller. Each connector is provided with a multi-pole control unit with a remote pass through interface connector head between a single female connector and associated male contact device.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to multi-poled cabling systems in which a plurality of plug-in valving devices are used that require multi-wire cables to extend from the individual devices back to a remote central control switch for electrical activation. 
   2. Description of Prior Art 
   In modern manufacturing facilities numbers of electrically controlled electro-magnetic actuators are used in the manufacturing process. Such actuators require a multi-pole contact units including an independent ground contact and control contacts. Typically each unit has a separate multi-connector cable extending to a central activation controller. Such electromagnetic actuators are used, for example, to control multiple solenoid valve assemblies in a variety of environmental enclaves, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,858 on a solenoid valve assembly connector fastener. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,177 a solenoid activator with electrical connection modules is disclosed in which a number of interchangeable connection modules can be selectively connected between encapsulated solenoid and electrically controlled inputs. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,331 a cabling arrangement is illustrated in which multi-lead cables and multi-poled plug-in units for connecting terminals of a central terminal box with at least two adjoining multi-poled contact units of electrically controlled activators is illustrated. Separate connector fittings interconnect to adjacent control units requiring only one four lead main cable connection sending back to a central control unit. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A multiple cable connector to provide separate and/or parallel control of interconnected independent solenoid actuators. The cable connector has a pass through female head interface that allows the male connector elements from one solenoid unit to interconnect with the corresponding common female connectors from a second solenoid via the interconnected multi-poled plug-in unit interconnected to the interface by a three lead cable there between. The connector also acts as a resilient sealing gasket between the components isolating the connectors from environmental contamination associated with its environment. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the connector of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the connector illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the base portion of connector illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of multi-connectors on a multi-solenoid control valve assembly; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of interconnected independent control valves utilizing a multi-control connector of the invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the interconnected parallel control solenoid valves using multiple control connectors of the invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of multiple alternate pass through connector elements of the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  of the drawings, a multi-control connector  10  of the invention can be seen having a pass through interface portion  11  and a base connector portion  12 . The pass through interface portion  11  has three female pass through contacts  13 ,  14 , and  15  and a male connector pin  16  extending there from. An electrical conductive connection is established between the contacts  13 - 16  and the appending base connector portion  12  by means of a three lead cable C extending there between. In the primary application of the invention, two of the connectors are interconnected. 
   The base connector portion  12  has multiple female contact receptacles  12 A of a standard DIN connector which corresponds to and provides electrical contact with a control solenoids S having corresponding three poled contact connectors  18 ,  19  and  20  as noted in  FIG. 5  of the drawings and will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, a circuit configuration is illustrated for independent control of multiple solenoid activated valving devices in which alternate activation is required. Accordingly multi-controlled solenoids  17 A and  17 B having respective three poled contact connectors  18 - 20  define specifically as ground connector  18 , a safety connector  19 , and a control connector  20 . The base connector portion  12  of the MC connector  10  of the invention is plugged onto the control solenoid  17 A with the interconnector interface portion  11  engaged over the corresponding contacts  18 - 10  of the solenoid  17 B. The pass through design of the interface  11  allows the respective pole contact connectors  18 - 20  of the solenoid  17 B to interconnect with both respective corresponding contact pole connectors  18  and  20  of the solenoid  17 A, via the base connector  12  and a standard DIN connector  22  which in turn has a four cable lead  23  extending back to a switch box controller CL as will be well known and understood to those skilled in the art. 
   As noted, the pass through interface  11  of the invention has pass through female connectors  13 ,  14  and  15 , each of which has a conductive engagement contact retainer element  13 ′,  14 ′ and  15 ′ within on an integral circuit board support  26  as seen in  FIG. 2  of the drawings which allows the respective three poled contact connectors  18 - 20  of solenoid  17 B to “pass through” along with the corresponding male connector pin  16  registerably connected with the hereinbefore described DIN connector  22 . 
   The interface  11  also acts as a sealing gasket providing an environmental isolated enclosure for interengaged connectors by its resilient composition coupled with the interdisposed pass through connectors. 
   Selective control of the respective solenoid  17 A and  17 B can therefore be achieved by the central controller CL in which a contact  22 D is ground, a contact  22 A is common and contacts  22 B and  22 C are activation control for the respective solenoid  17 A and  17 B. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6  of the drawings, a parallel i.e. simultaneous solenoid arrangement SA is illustrated in which multiple solenoids  24 ,  25  and  26  can be activated. (Note, since simultaneous control is desired the destination contact pin  16  of the designated interface  11  is not used as an independent control activation terminal). In  FIG. 6  of the drawings, a graphic circuit illustration can be seen in which the solenoids  24 ,  25  and  26  each have three pole control connectors indicated respectively as connectors  27 ,  28  and  29 ; connectors  27 ′,  28 ′ and  29 ′; and connectors  27 ″,  28 ″, and  29 ″ for explanation purposes. In operation, a first control connector  10 ′ of the invention interconnects solenoids  25  and  26  in the following manner. A base connector  12 ′ is registerably engaged on the solenoid  26  pole connectors  27 ″,  28 ″ and  29 ″, interconnecting them with its associated pass through interface  11 ′. The interface  11 ′ is registerable on the respective pole connectors  27 ′,  28 ′ and  29 ′ of the solenoid  25  passing accordingly there through. The pole connectors  27 ′,  28 ′and  29 ′ are then registerable with a base  12 ″ of a contact connector  10 ″ of the invention and passed through interface  11 ″ of the contact connector  10 ″ is registerably engaged on the solenoid  24  with corresponding contact poles  27 ,  28  and  29  passing there through and registering within a control DIN connector  22 ′. Accordingly, the control connectors  27 ,  28  and  29  become the control and activation elements for all three solenoids  24 ,  25  and  26  as hereinbefore described. 
   Since simultaneous control is desired in this example, control pin  16  of the respective interfaces are not activated. The DIN connector  22 ′ is in turn connected to a switch box controller CL″ as hereinbefore described. 
   In this circuit configuration, the DIN connector  22 ′ a single three lead control cable  30  extends back to the remote switch controller CL″ reducing the physical requirement of multiple return cables (not shown) heretofore required. Referring to  FIG. 7  of the drawings, a variety of alternate interface ground orientation configurations are illustrated. The interface  11 ′ as hereinbefore described illustrates a ground up orientation while alternate interfaces  31  shows a ground down at  32 . Alternate interface  33  illustrates a dual ground  34  and  35 . 
   It will be evident that the respective connecting cables C can be of varied length dependent on the application required. It will be apparent from reviewing the above referred to descriptions and examples of the invention that the contact connector  10  of the invention in its primary form will allow for a variety of single control connector configurations for either independent or parallel or simultaneous solenoid contact operation by simply its arranged orientation in relation to the solenoids and the appropriate remotely located switch controller.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5