US1509822A - Separable contact - Google Patents

Description

sept. 3o, 1924. 1,509,822

R.B. BENJAMIN SE'PARABLE CONTACT Filed April 26 1919 i .f/vena r':

Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BE'UBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 BENJAMIN ELECTRIC IMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OIE' ILLINOIS.

snrAnABLE CONTACT.

Application-filed April 26, 1919.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJA- MIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Separable Contacts, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in separable contacts, and particularly to that type of separable contact for making a quick and easily detachable connection between a branch wire and a line wire. Cnc' of the objects of my invention is to provide a structure which, while giving a maximum of contacting surface when thecontacts are in engagement, will at the same time allow the y use of extremely short blades on the plug to permit, among other things, an angular separation of the plug and thereby reduce arcing at the contacts to the minimum. For this reason my invention is particularly adaptable for high tension work.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention I have illustrated one embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, in whichy Fig. 1 is a sectional View of a pair of separable contact members embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the base member with the cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the plug member;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View of the base member;

Fig. V5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one set of contacts; and

Fig. 6 is a disassociated view of one set of contacts.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated I provide an insulating base preferably formed in two sections, the section 1 constituting the base portion and the section 2 constituting a cover. The base section 1 is preferably circularl in,form and has on its top face a pair of recesses adapted to receive the spring contact ingers. As each of these contact lingers is the same, a description of one will suliice. The contact C finger comprises a plate 3 which is secured in the bottom of the recess by means of suit- Serial No. 292,885.

able screws 4 passing up through the bottom of the base and screwing into the screwthreaded openings 5 on the plate. This plate also carries a binding-post 6 by which one of the leading-in wires may be secured to the plate. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the base is provided with a pair of longitudinal channels 7 which, through a restricted neck 8, communicate with the recess containing the plate 2. This permits of the conductor wires to extend through the base, and at the point where the conductor wires pass over the plate they are suitably stripped and clamped to the plate by means of the binding screw 6. The plate is provided with an extension 9 turned at right angles thereto, and this extension is punched out at its center to form the two jaws l0. These two jaws at their upper end are wider, as at 11, than at the center, so that a socket formation is formed between the two jaws. Due to the fact that the plate is made of comparatively thin material, these two jaws 10 will have a certain amount of resiliency and therefore can spring apart. Secured on each side of the extension 9 and covering the jaws 10 are a pair of spring plates 12 which are secured to the extension 9 by means of rivets passing through suitable openings 13 in the side plates and the extension. These two side plates thus form additional jaws or spring lingers and at their tops they 'are provided with transversely extending projections 14 'which form guide members for the blades of the cap. The spring sockets thus formedare covered and separated by means of the base cover 2. This cover is made to t over the base l and has the same general configuration. Onl its under face it is ormed with recesses 15 which fit over the plate 3 and its binding posts, and is also formed with channels 16 into which project the spring socket fingers above described. By thisarrangement, in view of the fact that the center portion 17 of the cover fits Iclosely on the base, the spring socket ngers are thoroughly insulated. one from the other. The cap at its top is provided with openings of just sufficient size to receive the Contact blades 18 of the cap 19. This cap 19 is'preferably formed of insulating material and carries a pair of the contact blades 18. Each of these blades is the same and consists of a flat strip of 'to the binding-posts. The lower end of the blade 18 takes the form of a blunted spearhead and is therefore provided with a taper- `ing end 94, a widened portion 25 and a restricted neck 26. These blades are wide las compared with their thickness.

' The operation of the device is readily apparent. When it is desired to make a connection, the blades 18 are inserted through the restricted openings in the base and are laterally guided by the projections 14, so that the pointed head 24 of the blades will enter between the spring faces 12 and between the spring jaws 10, the spring jaws spreading to permit the widened portion 25 of the blade to pass through the restricted neck between the jaws 10. These jaws then immediately draw together, holding the blades mechanically firmly in position againstaccidental withdrawal, and, due t0 the fact that the blade is engaged on all four sides by spring jaws, a good electrical contact is made with the blade irrespective of the fact that the portion of the blade engaging the spring jaws is comparatively short. Due to the fact that the contact is made on all sides of the blade, the engaging portion of the blade can be made comparatively short, so that in separating the cap from the base a quick break is made and the arcing of the contacts reduced to the It will be also noted that after the jaws have passed the widened portion 25, due to the tapering end of the blade these jaws will tend to act on the end of the blade with a cam-like action to assist in pushing the blade out of the socket.

As stated above, the use of the extremely short blades on the plug permits an angular sepa-ration of the plug and thereby reduces arcing at the contacts to the minimum.

blades.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is A 1. An electrical connector device, comprising a receptacle portion for cooperation with a plug portion, said portions being separable by an angular break, said plug portion comprising a pair of contact blades, said receptacle portion comprising a pair of contact devices for engaging said contact blades respectively, and a cover havin restricted openings through which said b ades extend for engagement with said contact devices, the'walls of said openings being thin to permit angular separations o the plugin device, each of said contact evices comprising a pair of spring fingers embracing a contact blade and engaging its' sides, and a pair of spring contact fingers embracing said contact blade and engaging its edges, the overlapping-engagement between said spring contact gers and said blades being relatively short, to permit angular separation of the plug-in device.

2. An electrical connector device, comprising a contact device for cooperation with a contact blade, comprising a pair of spring contact lingers for embracing said contact blade and engaging its sides and a pair of contact fingers for embracing said contact blade and enga ing its edges, said edge engaging fingers being formed from a single integral piece of sheet material comprising a flat portlon having its central part punched out to provide a llat U-shaped member, the arms of said U-shaped member forming said ed e 'engaging fingers.

n witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my` name.

RE'UBEN B.. BENJAMIN.

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