US2059008A - Electrical connecter - Google Patents

Description

Oct.'27, 1936. F. MARQUART ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed Aug. 13, 195o m K. w E N ..0 10Q W A. @m w N WM W f SQ m 6 `Patented Oct. 2,7, `1936 i N UNITED STATES PATENT fol-FICE I i ELECTRICAL CONNECTER.

, Frank Marquart, Cleveland, Ohio Application `August 13, 1930, Serial No. 70,911

' 9 claims. (c1. 173-328) My inventionparticularly relates to means of this character adapted to provide water-proof and weather-proof connections which are not subject to injury by dropping or contact with any hard object, which do not expose live wires and, are not otherwisev dangerousor subject to short circuits, which lend themselves to simple and` cheap production and quick attachment or detachment, and which are very durable. My invention also includes .an improved coupling ymember for detachably securing an electrical connecter to a conducting wire, although -no claims are included in this application to4 the particularcoupling improvements. Although my improvements are applicable to all fields where electrical connecters of the described nature are used, these improvements nd their largest ileld of usefulness in activities requiring rather frequent connection and disconnection of connecter parts or rei-arrangement of conductors with which the connecters co-operate, such. as connections for lifting magnets, cranes, electric tractors, addition of new batteries, replacementlof old batteries, etc. Y

The annexed drawing and the `following dev scription 'set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but two of the various forms in which the principle of the invention maybe m illustrated.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a complete connecter embodying the severalelements of my invention and including two of my coupling mem- Figure 2 is a broken axial section, taken in the vplane indicated by the line 2-2, Figure 3, and upon an enlarged scale, of a portion of the elements shown in Figure 1, this view illustrating substantially the entire improvement, inasmuch as the omitted elements lare either duplicates or parts of continuous conducting members which do not diier from those actually shown in this figure;

Figure 3 is a transverse section, taken in the planeindicated by the line 3 3, Figure 2;

Figure' 4 is an axial section of two detached parts of 4the improved coupling member forming part of my invention;

Figure 51s an axial section of the two parts of the improved connecter, the two parts being shown in detached condition;

- Figure 6 is a fragmentary axial section of the cOnnectershOWn in Figure 2, this section being taken, howeverfin the plane indicated by the line 6 0, Figure 3; Figures 7 and 8 are end elevations taken', respectively, from the planesindicated by the lines I 'l-'l ancla- 0, Figure 5; 6

Figure 9 is an end view, similar to Figure 7, of a socket member suitable for a three-wire conductor; and

Figure l0 is a view, similar to Figure 8, of a plug suitable for a three-wirer conductor and 10 adapted to cooperate with the socket member shown in Figure 9, these Figures 9 and 10 embodying thesame improvements as those shown in Figure 5 with the addition of a finder for in# suring that connection of the plug and socket 15 which will bring the proper wires of the threewire system into electrical communication.

Referring to the annexed drawing in which the same parts are indicated by the lsame respective numbers in the several views, conductors l and 20 2 are secured at one end within a brass socket 3 and a brass plug d, respectively. vulcanized to these conductors l and 2, respectively, and to the outer face of the socket 3 and to the inner portion of theplug 0 are a pair of insulating 25 resilient casings 0 and 6 which are composed of soft exible rubber. These casings E and t .extend beyond the ends of t e conductors l and 2; in fact, extend outwardly as far as the outer ends of the socket 0 and plug 0 so as entirely to 30 cover said socket and plug laterally; The extreme outer end of the soft rubber casing 6 is separated from a reduced plug end portion 0 by an annular space] whichis adapted to receive the inner end portion 3 of the socket Il and a reduced male "5 portion `0 extendlngfrom the body portion of the rubber casing 5 and vulcanized to said inner end portion 3 so as to permitthe telescoping together of the two parts of the connecter and their cooperative engagement.' The telescoping portions 40 of the soft rubber casings 5 and 6 are held together by frictlonal engagement inasmuch as the outer diameter of the annular recess 1 in the casing B is slightly smaller thanthe outer diameter ofthe end portion 8 of. the casing 5, the exi'- 45,.

bility of the casing 6, however, permitting the ready telescoping together and separation of the casing ends,V whereby an extremely weatherproof connection is provided between the two casings.

The outside diameter of lthe casing portion 8 is such as to provide a substantially smooth joint between the contacting ends of the casings 5 and 6 when the casings are secured together and `the extreme outer end of the casing 6 contacts 65 with the shoulder 5 of the casing 5. The wall of the chamber III of the conducting socket 3 is divided intol a plurality of sections by longitudinal slits I0' and the plug portion 9 of the member 4 cis centrally subdivided by a slit I', so that Athe plug 9 which has a diameter as large or even slightly larger than the diameter of the chamber I0 in the socket 3 will easily enter said chamber but be held therein very tightlyby reason of the frictional engagement-of the members 9 and I0. The telescoping portions of the casings 5 and 6 have a tendency to compress the contractile and expansible socket portion 3', and consequently tend to press the complementary contact elements 3 and 4 together; when these contact elements are connected together. The brass contact elements' 3 and 4, because of their inherent resiliency, also react resiliently on the telescoping portions of the casings 5 and 5. Hence the connecting portions of the casings and the connecting portions of the contact elements mutually contribute to each others effectiveness. The construction thus far described provides a convenient connecter for frequent connection and disconnection of two conductors,

Inl order that this improved connecter may be incorporated with and between severed conductor ends to provide the advantages hereinbefore set forth, or two independent conductors so connected, I have provided improved coupling members for connecting such conductor ends or independent conductors to the two respective parts of the aforesaid improved connecter. 'I'hesecoupling improvements are particularly shown in Figure 4. Assume that a conductor II has been severed, the same being provided with the usual insulation I2, and that the two extreme end portions I I-' of. the severed ends have been stripped of the insulation I2. The connecter conductors I and 2 are stripped for a, short distance at their outer ends of their insulating casings 5 and 6, as,

for example, the outer end I of the conductor Y,

I. Then it is the intention to connect the stripped end II' with the stripped conductor end I by means of my improved coupling member. Two conducting cores, I3 and I1, of substantially the same diameter, are formed with bores I4 and I8, respectively. 4adapted to receive the stripped conductor ends II.' and I. The core I3 is formed with a threaded bore I5, and the core I1 is formed with a cooperating threaded stemJG. These cores I3 and I1 are secured to gether and there is then vulcanized to the core I 'I a soft, pliable, rubber sleeve 2|, which sleeve is of substantially the diameter of the adjacent l portions ofV thesoft rubber casings 5 and 6, and

hence, of considerablysmaller .diameter than the outside diameter of the cores I3 and l1. This Vsleeve 2| can be turnedback upon itself, as shown in Figure 4, to permit the engagement, or dis' engagement', of the stem IB and the bore I5 and, when the cores I3 and I1 have been secured together, .by the engagement of the stem I6 and bore I 5, thefolded-over part of the sleeve 2I can be turned back into the condition shown at the left-hand end of Figure 2 and the coupling conducting cores thus encased in a'weather-proof and water-proof cover. Theconstruction described applies to the left-hand end of Figure 1 and the same construction and operation provides a coupling member between the other severed end II' of ,conductor II and the stripped end of conductor 2. When such acoupling member has been secured to the two endsl of the severed conductor II, the extreme inner ends of these coupling members being formed into co-operating connecter parts, such as shown in Figure 5, I have provided for the proper connections of the severed ends of the conductor, or two independent conductors, to the desired batteries, etc., and for the ready and convenient plugging in and detachment of moisture-proof connecter parts.

If it is desired to incorporate these improvements in multiple conductor systems, such .as a three-wire system illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, I provide a finder plug I9 and a co-operating socket 20 by means of a tongue and groove arrangement, for instance, whereby the two parts of the connecter can not be secured vtogether Without necessarily connecting in each instance those two'terminals which are intended to be in communication with each other. l

What I claim is:

l. A connecter for electrical conductors comprising two intertting casings formed of resilient waterproof material and an electrical contact element embedded in each casing, the electrical contact elements engaging each other when'the casings are tted together, one casing being formed with a male portion having an external surface of revolution, the other casing being formed with a female portionv having an internal surface of revolution which corresponds in shape and size to said external surface of revolution of said male portion and which interts therewith so as to effect a waterproof connection of said casings, and the external surfaces of said casings being so formed'that when the casings are fitted together the connecter has itsvexternal surface continuously smooth lengthwise of the connecter.

2. A connecter for electrical conductors comprising two waterproof casings, a male electrical contact element carried in one casing, a contractible and expansible female` electrical contact element carried in the other casing and adapted to receive and to engage said male contact `ele ment when the casings are connected together, and meansfor connecting said casings with a fluid tight seal and also for exerting a force tending to compress said female contact element on said f resilient portions having complementary sealing surfaces, the external surface of the first-mentioned resilient portion being peripherally somewhat larger than fthe internal surface of the other resilient portion before the casings are connected together, and said external and internal surfaces being in close engagement about said )contact elements when the casings are connected together. Y

3. A connecter for electrical conductors com--I prising two interfitting casings formed of resilient' waterproof material and an Aelectrical contact element embedded in each casing, one casing being formed with a male portion extending from the body of the casing, the other casing being formed with a female portion havingan internal sur- Lface whichcorresponds 4in shape and size to the external surface of said male portion and which inter-nts therewith so as to effect a waterproof connection of said casings, and the external surfaces of said casings being so formed that when the casings are fitted together the external surface of the connecter is continuously smooth lengthwise of the connecter.

4. Alconnecter for electrical conductors having waterproof insulating covering, said connecter comprising .two soft rubber casings, a conducting plug secured within one of( said casings, a conductingrsocket secured within the other casing and adapted to receive said plug 'for electrical contact therewith when the' casings are fitted together', and conductors secured to saidl plug and socket, respectively, and extending through said casings, one of said casings having an open recessed end and the other casing having a pro-- Jecting eid which has an external surface cor'.

responding in shape and-size to the internal surf ace of said recessed end so thata close waterproof detachable telescopic connection of the two casings is' had, said casings at their telescopic connection being substantially larger in crosssection than the covering ofthe conductors and at the liunction of their-external 'surfaces being of the same external shape 2and size, 'said casingsv when connected together having an entirely interntting sea smooth external surface and having portions diminishing in cross-section toward the'covering of the conductors in such manner that the connecter throughout its length has al smooth flowing external surface, and said casings having waterproof connection with the coveringsfof their respective conductors. f

\ 5. A connecter for electrical conductors comprising two conductors, soft rubber casings hav-y ing waterproofl connection with said conductors'. one end of each casing extending. beyond one end of a conductor and being formed with a longl` tudinal recess, a conducting plug secured in the recessof one casing and having electrical contact with one conductor, and a conducting socket. secured in the recess of the other casing and` havingv electrical contact with the other conductor, said socket being adapted to have electrical contact with said plug, said casings having, telescopic surfaces adapted to effect a waterproof detachable connection of said casings, the external telescopic surface of one calling` corresponding in shape and size to the internal telef scopic surface of the other casing, and the cas` ings beingso formed that when ntted together they provide a-continuously smoothiiowing ex ternal surface lengthwise of the connecter. 6. A connecter for electrical conductors comprising two conductors, a soft rubber casing vulcanized to each conductor, one end of each casing. extending beyond one end of the conductor vulcanized thereto and being formed with a longitudinal'recess, a conducting plug vulcanized to one of the' casings in the recess thereof and having electricalcontact with the 'conductor vulcanized thereto, and a conductingr socket,

vulcanized to v thereof andhaving electrical contact with the conductor vulcanized thereto, the extending end of one casing being of smaller external diameter than the extending end of the other ycasing and being adapted t0 fit telescoplcally therein with a' close waterproof flt to secure the casings to.

gether, said socket being adapted/ to receive said plug in electrical contact when the casings are secuced together, andsaid connecter having a ,length '1.-A connecter for electrical conductors `corn- L prising two casings detachably connected together and contact hlements which' are carried by said casings and w ch are detachablyconnected together.' said- .having means forming a nuid tight seal about said contact-elements and ,also tending to compress said contact elements together, said means including telescopically lsurfaces. at least' one of which is resilient, 'and said casings when connectedttogether having .a continuously smoothy external surface.

8. A connecter for electrical-conductors comprislng two fcaslngs adapted to be` detachably connected together and complementary co'ntact elements whichare carried by said casings and which are adapted' to interfit resiliently when the casings'are forced together into connected relation, one of said contact elements being .resiliently contractible andsexpansible, said casings having means for forming a uid tight seal about Lthe contact elements when the casings are connected together, and' said means including close'- ly interiltting resilient rubber portions tending to T3' the other casing inf the recess compress the complementary contact elements X in closely interfittingsrelation when connected together f and having' complementary resilient' sealing surfaces. v

9. A. connecter for electrical conductors comprising two waterproof casings. complementary FRANK ICAR'QUART.4

1o" smooth flowing-external surface throughout its

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