Patent Application
20050266718
This invention relates to the field of electrical cable coupling assemblies, and in particular, to a hermaphroditic coupling mechanism for a cable contact arrangement. The coupling mechanism is hermaphroditic, however, once the pin or socket contacts are installed it becomes gender specific.
It is well known to provide electrical cables with contacts which can be easily fitted together to electrically connect the cables. An example of an especially convenient cable contact is the pin and socket contact. The pin and socket contact permits connection of two cables by simply sliding a pin on one cable into a socket on the other. One type of widely used pin and socket contact, is the in-line insertion type.
Electrical apparatuses of various types are often required to include a convenient, simultaneous connection/disconnection for a plurality of in-series conductors. Automotive vehicles for example, represent a typical environment wherein it is desired to provide for the quick assembly of a plurality of conductors in series. As is well known, today's automobiles employ a rather sophisticated electrical system containing many wiring harnesses involving hundreds of circuits transmitted throughout the engine compartment, the vehicle interior and the trunk. To facilitate not only the initial assembly of the vehicle, but also to accommodate subsequent repair, and testing and replacement, it is important that releasable connectors be utilized throughout the numerous involved wiring harnesses. With the influx of computer control systems, it becomes necessary to allow for the in-line insertion of electronic instruments for checking the digital circuits, not only in vehicles but in an assortment of various other apparatus. It is most desirable that an improved conductor termination be provided, not only to insure the highest possible amperage rating, but also to permit quick and positive insertion and retention of the terminations within a connector housing. A RADSOK® termination provides such a termination.
RADSOK® is the trademark for a patented high performance hyperboloid socket and pin-style electrical contact system for applications 30 amps and above. The hyperboloid connectors offer superior performance when compared with standard pin and socket connectors. In the RADSOK® terminal, multiple contacting elements are hyperbolically arrayed around the inner diameter of the socket. In addition, each of the contact elements is skewed with respect to the axial direction of the terminal. The result is multiple contact surfaces that comprise a contact grid. The hyperbolic configuration results in a mechanical interference between an inserted pin and the contact elements. When a pin is inserted into the socket, the contacting elements of the grid mechanically wrap around the pin providing pressure necessary for superior electrical connection.
Because it is desirable to design pin and socket contacts to be as simple as possible, many of the conventional contact arrangements lack any sort of durable, but simple latching mechanism. Continuous use in which strain is placed on the cables in a direction that would cause the contacts to pull apart is prevalent in the industry. Current methods of providing a latching mechanism by trapping the contacts inside an elaborate connector have been lacking in structural integrity. One solution has been to combine the mating and un-mating mechanism with the latching mechanism combined.
Thus, a need exists in the industry to provide an in-line cable assembly which has a pin end and a socket end, and allows a higher current rating such as that provided with a RADSOK® socket, and provides an adequate latching mechanism.
The present invention provides a system and method for electrically coupling a pin contact to a socket contact for in an hermaphroditic electrical cable assembly.
Briefly described, in architecture, a preferred embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A pin contact terminal is provided and is removably attached within a first coupling sleeve. Two latch arms are provided, integrally molded to an exterior surface of the coupling sleeve. A latch ear is provided at one end of each latch arm to engage with two grooves in the coupling sleeve to form ramp surfaces. A RADSOK® socket terminal is removably attached within another coupling sleeve and will subsequently couple to the first coupling sleeve upon installation. The second coupling sleeve is structured as described above. The first and second coupling sleeves are interlocked by inserting the pin contact terminal into the RADSOK® socket terminal and rotating the latch arms in a clockwise rotation. The twisting movement mates the latch ears of the first coupling sleeve to the grooves in the second coupling sleeve, and the latch ears of the second coupling sleeve to the grooves of the first coupling sleeve.
In another embodiment of the present invention the electrical cable assembly with hermaphroditic coupling is structured in a welding receptacle pin or socket assembly. Numerous socket and contact retention methods may be used to retain the wire conductors within the receptacles.
In one embodiment the electrical cable assembly with hermaphroditic coupling is disposed in a welded handle pin or socket assembly. In that embodiment, various pressure screw wire terminations may be used to secure the conductors within the cable assembly.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views.
In
Two grooves 109 are present on the exterior surface at one end of the coupling sleeve 102 and extend around the circumference of the sleeve between the latch arms. The grooves 109 form a ramp surface 111 to accept the latch ears 107 of a second coupling sleeve 102. A raised detent 113 is positioned on the ramp surface 111 to resist rotational movement of the latch ear 107 within the groove 109 when the coupling sleeves are latched together.
A pin contact terminal 104 is inserted and held on with a screw 208 within an interior cavity 115 of the one end of the coupling sleeve 102. A contact retention/locator screw 208 locates and secures the pin contact terminal 104 within the cavity 115 of the coupling sleeve 102. In this embodiment, the coupling sleeve 102 includes one pressure screw 210 to secure a wire conductor when positioned in the other end of the coupling sleeve 102. At least one pressure screw 210 is used to secure the wire conductor to the contact terminal.
To couple the coupling sleeve 102 with the pin contact terminal 104, to the coupling sleeve 102 with the hyperboloid socket terminal 412, the pin contact terminal 104 is urged into the hyperboloid socket terminal 412. The latch ears 107 of the two coupling sleeves 102 inserted into grooves 109 through openings 110 and are aligned with the grooves 109. Once aligned, a clockwise rotational movement of the opposing coupling sleeves interlocks the latch ears 107 within the grooves 109 along the ramp surfaces 111. The rotational movement of the two coupling sleeves is impeded when the latch ears 107 encounter the raised detents 113. The raised detents 113 present an obstacle to further rotational movement of the latch ears 107 within the grooves 109, and can be overcome with forceful urging of the latch ears 107 within the grooves 109. The raised detents 113 are a resistive obstacle to overcome when uncoupling the coupling sleeves 102. The raised detents 113 also hamper any unwanted loosening of the coupled coupling sleeves 102.
In
In
With regard to coupling, the coupling sleeves illustrated in
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any preferred embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without the departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention, and protected by the following claims.
