GB2039164A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A socket 10, Fig. 1, for use in a vehicle includes a switch 24 so biassed that normally the vehicle battery charger is connected via the switch contacts 26, 30 to the battery, but when a plug 22 is inserted into the socket the vehicle charger is connected via the switch contacts 26, 32 to a lead 42 connected to the plug, the switch being actuated by engagement of the plug pin 20 with a switch operating member 36. In this way, the vehicle charger can be used to charge some other battery. The vehicle battery may also be charged itself from an external source connected via another plug suitable shaped to enter socket connections 12 and 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrical connector units The present invention relates to electrical connector units.

One of the problems associated with the use of heavy goods vehicles or battery operated plant lies in the necessity of having substantially fully charged batteries to enable the vehicles or plant to be started. If the battery is weak then considerable time may be wasted in replacing the battery in addition to the possible risk of the battery being damaged or destroyed by continued attempts to start the vehicle or plant.

The present invention provides an electrical connector unit comprising first and second interengageable members, said first member being connectible in series in a battery charging circuit of a vehicle or plant or the like and said second member being engageable with said first member for electrically connecting said second member to said charging circuit; and a switch connectible in said charging circuit between the battery and said first member for isolating said battery from said charging circuit.

The present invention also provides an electrical connector unit comprising first and second interengageable members, said first member having a switch adapted for connection in a battery charging circuit of a vehicle or plant or the like; and wherein engagement of said members actuates said switch from a first into a second position for electrically connecting said charging circuit to said second member and disengagement of said members returns said switch to said first position for electrically connecting said charging circuit to said battery.

In a preferred embodiment the two members comprise a socket and plug. Preferably two plugs are provided and are electrically interconnected by means such as electric cables. Two sockets are provided, connectible in the charging and battery circuits of respective vehicles or plant or the like to enable the charging circuit of one to be connected to the battery circuit of the other.

The present invention is further described hereinafter, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partial section through a plug and socket of a unit according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a partial section through a further plug of a unit according to the present invention; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the socket of Fig.

1.

The drawings illustrate diagrammatically, partially in section a three-pin socket 10 which has three terminal holes 12, 14, 1 6 for receiving the pins 17, 18, 20, of one of two forms of two-pin plug 22, 23. The socket 10 is mounted in, for example a vehicle, in an accessible location, with the terminals 1 2a and 1 4a connected respectively to the live and earth terminals of the vehicle battery.

Terminal 1 6a is connected via a switch 24 to the vehicle charging current source (not shown), either a generator or an alternator, normally by way of the vehicle voltage regulator control box where one is fitted.

The switch 24 is located internally of the socket 10 and has a movable contact 26 mounted on a switch arm in the form of a spring 28. The switch also has two fixed contacts 30 and 32, one of which, contact 30, is connected to terminal 1 2a and the other of which, contact 32, is connected to terminal 16a.

The connection between contacts 26 and 30 is normally maintained closed, for example by the resilience of the spring 28 connecting the terminal 1 2a and the vehicle battery to the charging current source. Switching of the contact 26 to the contact 32 is effected by the pin 20 of the two-pin plug 22 when the latter is plugged into the terminal holes 14, 16; in the illustrated socket the pin 20 abuts the spring 28 by way of an insulating member 36 to actuate the switch, closing the contacts 26 and 32 to connect the terminal 16a to the charging current source.

The two plugs 22, 23 are interconnected by a cable 39 having wires 40 and 42 interconnecting respectively the pins 1 8 and pins 20. The plug 22 is intended for socket holes 14 and 16 while the plug 23 is intended for socket holes 12, 14 of a corresponding socket 10 connected in the battery charging circuit of another vehicle or plant and the dimensions, shapes, relative locations or spacings etc. of the pins and holes may be chosen to ensure that a plug cannot be inserted in the wrong holes. In the illustrated embodiment the separation of holes 14, 1 6 and pins 18, 20 is greater than that of holes 12, 14 and pins 17, 18. In addition, the pins 1 8 and hole 14 are of rectangular crosssection while the pins 17, 20 and holes 12, 1 6 are of circular cross-section.

It is envisaged that each vehicle in a fleet of vehicles such as heavy goods vehicles, or stationary plant operating on or started by batteries has a respective socket 10 connected in its electrical circuitry. Should either a vehicle or plant fail to start as a result of its batteries being discharged or of low charge, its batteries can be connected to the current charging system of an operative vehicle or plant also fitted with a socket 10, by means of plugs 22, 23 and cable 39. The plug 22 is connected to the socket 10 of the charging vehicle or plant while the plug 23 is connected to the socket 10 of the inoperative vehicle or plant to enable the discharged batteries to be charged by the charging sys tem of the operative vehicle or plant, the latter being used as a battery, booster or charger.

As will be appreciated the construction of the plugs 22, 23 and socket 10 may be varied to suit particular requirements and the form of the switch 24 is not critical.

In a further form of the present invention the switch 24 is omitted from the socket 10 and instead a manually operated switch is included in the iine from the terminal 1 2a to the battery.

Finally, the socket of a unit according to the present invention may also be incorporated on battery powered apparatus to enable the batteries to be charged from a vehicle where desirable or necessary.

Claims (9)

1. An electrical connector unit comprising first and second interengageable members, said first member being connectible in series in a battery charging circuit of a vehicle or plant or the like and said second member being engageable with said first member for electrically connecting said second member to said charging circuit; and a switch connectible in said charging circuit between the battery and said first member for isolating said battery from said charging circuit.

2. An electrical connector unit comprising first and second interengageable members, said first member having a switch adapted for connection in a battery charging circuit of a vehicle or plant or the like; and wherein engagement of said members actuates said switch from a first into a second position for electrically connecting said charging circuit to said second member and disengagement of said members returns said switch to said first position for electrically connecting said charging circuit to said battery.

3. An electrical connector unit comprising a first member in the form of a socket having a switch adapted for connection in a battery charging circuit of a vehicle or plant, and a second member in the form of a plug engageable with said socket to switch said switch from a first position for connecting said battery to said charging circuit to a second position for connecting said charging circuit to said plug, and wherein said plug is disengageable from said socket to return said switch to said first position.

4. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising a third member electrically coupled to said second member and engageable with said first member for connecting said battery to said second and third members.

5. An electrical connector unit as claimed in claim 4 when appendant to claim 3 wherein said third member is a second plug.

6. An electrical connector unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein said socket has three female terminals and each said plug has two pins engageable in a respective one of said terminal and a common female terminal, and wherein said pins and terminals are arranged or adapted such that said engaged plugs are not interchangeable.

7. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 6 wherein said common terminal is connectible to an earth of the battery, the remaining terminals are interconnected through said switch and are connectible respectively to a live terminal of said battery and through said switch to said charging circuit.

8. An electrical connector unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings accompanying patent application number 47525/78.

9. An electrical connector unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.