US3629791A

US3629791A - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: US3629791A
Application number: US763568A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard W Normann
Original assignee: Bendix Corp
Current assignee: Amphenol Corp
Priority date: 1968-09-30
Filing date: 1968-09-30
Publication date: 1971-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-21

Abstract

A plug- and socket-type electrical connector having a linearly movable component for quickly engaging and disengaging the mating contacts and for locking and unlocking the connector parts. The connector has novel means for retaining the connector parts in axially aligned relationship after their preliminary assembly by relative transverse movement of said parts, and novel means for selectively securing the linearly movable component in its advanced, connector part mating position and in its retracted, connector part unmated position.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Richard W- N n mn 3,193,790 I 7/1965 Boyle et al. 339/45 M Otego, NY. 3,345,604 /1967 l-lenschen et al. 339/34 X [21] A ppl. No. 763,568 2,955,273 10/1960 Winkler 339/45 M [22] Filed Sept. 30, 1968 3,267,565 8/1966 Stuhler 339/45 M X [45] Patented Primary Examiner StephenJ Novosad I 0 I 1 [73] Ass'gnee eBend'x corpora on Assistant Examiner-Terrell P. Lewis Attorneys-Raymond J. Eifler and Flame, Hartz, Smith & [54] ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Thompson Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 339/ M, ABSTRACT; A plugand socket-type electrical connector 339/34 R, 339/75 M,339/91R,339/1 4M having a linearly movable component for quickly engaging [5 llltand disengaging the mating contaes and for locking and un- Field of Search 339/45, 46, locking the connector parts. The connector has novel means 75, 91 i 83, 34, 186, 184 for retaining the connector parts in axially aligned relationship after their preliminary assembly by relative transverse move- [56] References Cited ment of said parts, and novel means for selectively securing UNITED STATES PATENTS the linearly movable component in its advanced, connector 3,085,221 4/1963 Kelly et al 339/186 M part mating position and in its retracted, connector part unmated position.

3 2 r 86 as 88 27 f- 89 8| 4'! I 82 95 a4 74 3| 8? so as 44 45 29 I03 7 36 66 4 12 u 22 Y K 2| 24 1t"; w I b -1 4 l |'::'l 1: H 1 36 413, 42 1.14s; 9 I? T I -wo: r- 4 r E hi i -43 f 1 5 l6 1. 1 I 1 i iii/ 1"; I III l 9 f 94 92 I 22 24 1 I I 95/ 5o 84 99 3| 8 67 32 7 49 I l I 85 14 9975 19 3 59 s5 6 ATENTEB M021 ram I NVENTOR RICHARD W, NORMANN ATTOR ELECTRICAL CONNEGTOR This invention relates to electrical devices and more particularly to connectors for separably connecting one or a. plurality of electrical conductors.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a novel device for quickly connecting or separating the ends of electrical conductors.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel separable electrical connector of the type wherein the parts of the connector are disposed in longitudinal alignment by relative lateral movement, the parts being then also retained from axial separation.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a seperable connector of the type indicated immediately hereabove, of means for yieldably retaining the connector parts against lateral movement relative to each other after they have been placed in longitudinal alignment.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of novel lever-actuated means for moving a linearly movable component for engaging and disengaging the mating contacts of a separable electrical connector.

Still further object of the invention is the provision in the above connector, of a lever-actuated means which selectively locks the linearly movable component in its advanced, connector part assembled position, and in its retracted, connector part disassembled position,

Still another object is to provide a separable electrical connector wherein the parts may be preliminarily and then finally assembled and locked, and unlocked and disassembled by a one-hand operation.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

FIG. I is a view partially in vertical axial section through an illustrative connector in accordance with the invention, certain of the parts being shown in elevation, the parts of the connector being shown in their fully engaged mating position;

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation ofthe separable plug-carrying part of the connector shown in FIG. 4 and in the left hand portion of FIG. I, the view being taken from the right on FIG. 4 and generally from the line 2-2 of FIG. I with the receptacle connector part removed and the plug advanced, contact engaging components in position as seen in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation of the receptacle of wall mounted part of the connector shown at the right in FIG. I, the view being taken generally from the line 33 of FIG. I with the plug-carrying part removed; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in axial section of the plug-carrying part of the connector with the plug component thereof retracted into contact disconnecting position, certain of the parts being shown in bottom plane, the section being taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The connector of the invention has two main parts I and II, part being shown as carrying a plurality of socket contacts 34 and part II as carrying a similar number of pin or male contacts I7 adapted to be received within the sockets. It is to be understood that any number of mating sockets and pins may be employed, and that the sockets and pins may be mounted in the opposite manner from that shown, that is, with the pins on connector part I0 and the sockets on connector part 11.

The connector is on such construction that the two connector parts may be preliminarily mounted or connected in alignment by purely lateral movement of the two connector parts with respect to each other; means are provided to retain the two connector parts in such preliminarily mounted aligned position. One of the connector parts is provided with a means carrying its electrically conducting sockets and/or pins which may be advanced, after the preliminary alignment of the connector parts, toward the other connector part so that the pins and sockets are fully mated. The construction of the connector of the present invention is such that the alignment of the separable connector parts and their final positioning or assembly may be carried out by the use of only one hand. The connector also incorporates means whereby the two connector parts are uniquely related, and thus one connector part cannot be connected to the wrong mating connector part in apparatus wherein a plurality of such connectors are used.

In the illustrative embodiment the connector has a first or plug part generally designated I0, which here carries a plurality of socket contacts 34 and a mating receptacle part II which carries a plurality of pin or plug contacts 17 adapted to be received within the sockets. The part II is provided with a casing 12 of generally cylindrical shape, such cashing having a transverse flange M adjacent 40 the outer end thereof whereby the connector part II may be mounted on a fixed supporting structure such as a wall or a switchboard. Mounted within the casing I2 adjacent 40 the outer or right-hand end thereof (FIG. 1) is an electrically insulating insert I6. A plurality (four shown) of axially directed pin or male contacts 17 are spaced throughout the insert I6 as sown in FIG. 3. The insert I6 may be of relatively nonresilient material; the inner face of such insert is here covered by a resilient insulating plate 19 having frustoconical projections 20 about the roots of the contacts I7 so as to form a seal about the mating contacts, in a manner to be described, with the insert carried by the opposing connector part I0.

The insert I6 is securely retained within the casing 12 by an annular enlargement 2I on the insert mounted in a flange 22 on the inner surface of the casing I2. Specifically, enlargement 2] is thrust against the axially inner wall of an annular groove in flange 22, following which the axially outer radially inner portion of such flange is spun over the enlargement 21. The insert 16 is maintained in accurate position about its axis with respect to the shell I2 by means of ribs on the insert which are received in longitudinal grooves on the inner surface of the shell I2, as indicated at 23. Insulating material 24 is applied to the annular space between the insert 16 and the casing 12 outwardly of the flange 22, as shown in FIG. 1.

The left-hand or inner end of the casing 12 is provided on the lower half thereof as it is shown :in FIGS. 1 and 3 with a semicircular hooklike flange 25 having an inner part-circular groove 26 therein, the upper part of the axially inner end of the casing I2 being provided with a. semicircular flange 27 having a flat axially inner surface 28. As will be apparent hereinafter, the

flange

25 and 27 form parts of the means which retain the two connector parts III and II from axial separation once they have been preliminarily connected or mounted in axial alignment. The casing I2 has a circular cylindrical inner bore 29 in the portion which lies to the left or axially inwardly of the flange 22. The space defined by bore 29 receives the axially inner or right-hand end 37 of the plug shell 31 surrounding the socket-carrying insert of connector part 10 when the parts are fully mated as shown in FIG. I.

Connector part 10 has a housing 30 within which a component including a shell 31 is axially reciprocable from the fully advanced, mated position of FIG. I to a retracted position wherein the axially inner end of the shell 31 and the insert carried thereby lie in the position indicated in FIG. 4. Shell 31 carries an electrically insulating insert 32 within the axially inner end 37 thereof, such insert carrying a plurality of socket contacts 34 (four shown) adapted to receive the pin or plug contacts 17 of the connector part II. Centrally thereof shell 31 is provided with a radially outwardly projecting annular flange 35 which is accurately and slidably received within the circular cylindrical inner surface 36 of the housing 30. The inner end portion 37 of the shell 31 is of circular cylindrical shape and has a diameter such that it is accurately and slidably received within the bore 29 in the casing 12 of connector part II. As shown in FIG. 2, the axially inner end 39 of the inert 32, which may be made of substantially rigid material, has a frustoconical depression 51 in axial alignment with each socket 34 and adapted to receive and form a seal with the frustoconical projections 20 on the plate 19 when the connector parts are fully advanced relatively toward each other as shown in FIG. 1. In order to retain shell 31 in accurate position angularly with respect to the housing 30 about the common axis thereof, the flange 35 is provided with a plurality (two shown) of axially directed slots 40 angularly spaced thereabout, such slots slidingly receiving longitudinally extending ribs 41 on the inner surface of the shell 30. The insert 32 is retained within the shell 31 by having an annular enlargement 42 on the insert received within and gripped by the walls of several annularly spaced indentations 43 in the inner wall of the shell 31.

Housing 30 of the part of the connector is provided on its axially inner face with an upwardly (FIGS. 1 and 2) disposed semicircular flange 44 having a downwardly open semicylindrical annular groove 45 therein. Part 30 has a lower semicircular flange 46, the axially inner surface 47 of flange 46 lying transverse to the axis of the housing 30.

The parts 10 and 11 of the connector are preliminarily assembled in axial alignment when the shell 31 of part 10 is retracted, that is, moved to the left in FIG. 1, so that the inner faces of the shell 31 and insert 32 lie somewhat to the left of the surface 47 of flange 46 as in FIGQ 4. Assuming connector part 11 to be stationarily mounted connector part 10 is disposed above part 11 and is moved downwardly toward it with the surface 28 of flange 27 substantially coplanar with the surface 47 of flange 46. As the part 10 approaches the position relative to part 11 which is shown in FIG. 1, the flange 17 is received within the grove 45 in flange 44 and the flange 46 is received within the grove 26, thereby preventing the parts 10 and 11 from axial separation. Means to be described is provided for releasably retaining the parts 10 and 11 of the connector in such axial alignment with each other. Following this the shell 31 of connector part 10 is advanced to the right so as to cause the pin and socket contacts to mate and also to lock the connector parts 10 and 11 in the mating position shown in FIG. 1. In order to seal the contacts against the intrusion of moisture and the like, there is provided an annular groove 49 in the outer wall of

part

31, 37 there being an annular resilient sealing member 50 disposed in such groove and sealingly engaging the inner surface of the bore 39 in the housing 12. A further seal is provided by frustoconical recesses 51 in the inner end 39 of the insert 32 surrounding the sockets 34, such recesses 51 receiving the frustoconical projections 20 which surround the roots of the male contacts 17. The range of travel of the shell 31 to the right is such that the projections 20 compressed into sealing engagement with the walls of the recesses 51 when the connector parts are fully mated.

The parts of the connector are provided with means whereby they are uniquely related, that is, a receptacle 11 will receive only the intended plug, carrying 10. Such feature is important in installation, for example, wherein a plurality of parts 11 of connectors in different circuits are mounted on a single switchboard and are adapted to be connected only to given circuits through corresponding connector parts 10. For this purpose a notch 54 is provided in the edge of flange 27 and an axially extending pin 57 is provided in flange 25 of connector part 11. A notch 55 is provided in the flange 46 and an axially extending pin 56 is provided in the flange 44. In this case the notch and pin on the respective connector parts are diametrically opposed.

Pins

56 and 57 project axially from

surfaces

47 and 28, respectively, across the

grooves

45 and 26, respectively. The

notches

54 and 55 have inner walls which are disposed substantially vertically as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, that is, parallel to the direction of lateral motion of the parts with respect to each other for effecting the preliminary longitudinal alignment of them. It will be seen that'unless the notch 54 and pin 57 are disposed properly on the connector part 11 they cannot mate with the pin 56 and notch 55 on the connector part 10. In that event the

polarizing pins

56 and 57 would prevent proper intermeshing of

grooves

26 and 45 with flanges 46 and 27. When a plurality of operable connectors are to be employed in one installation, the notches and pins of each connector will be located differently from those of all other connectors, thereby obviating any possibility of misconnecting the connector parts. I

As above indicated, the connector includes means for preliminarily yieldably locking connector parts 10 and 11 in alignment. For this purpose the left or inner end of the housing 12 of connector part 11 is provided with an annular groove 59, there being a locking ring 60 slidably mounted in such groove. The outer, left-hand face 61 of ring 60 is annularly chamfered so as to form a conelike surface 64 which converges to the left (FIG. 1). A plurality (four shown) of equally angularly spaced axially directed bores 65 extend from the bottom of groove 59 as shown in FIG. 1, there being a coil compression spring 66 in each of such bores acting between the bottom of the bore and the inner surface of the ring 60. A pin 67 is provided on an extending axially inwardly from the ring to guide the portion of each spring 66 in annular groove 59 The ring 60 is retained from travel outwardly or to the left beyond the position determined by engagement between a split spring ring 69 snapped into an annular groove in the housing 12 and a radially outwardly annular shoulder 70 on the ring 60. When the shoulder 70 engages the spring ring 69 when the connector parts 10 and 11 are disconnected, the lefthand (FIG. 1) surface of the ring 60 lies a short distance to the left beyond the plane of the surface 28 of the flange 27. When the connector part 10 is moved laterally downwardly, into alignment with connector part 11 as above described, the surface 47 of flange 46 on connector part 10 first engages the face 61 of ring 60 so as to thrust the ring to the right against the opposition of the spring 66 until surface 28 engages surface 47. When the connector part 10 is then moved laterally downwardly and has reached a position of axial alignment with the connector part 11, the ring 60 is moved slightly to the left by springs 66 so that the chamfered edge 64 of wall 61 of the ring lies within a shallow frustoconical seat 71 which is provided by a chamfered radially inner edge on the confronting axially inner or right-hand portion of the housing 30 of connector part 10. As a result, parts 10 and 11 of the connector are yieldability, yet securely held against fortuitous relative lateral motion so that the shell 31 may then be advanced to the right to mate the sockets and pins and to lock the two connector parts in mated relation.

The shell 31 within the housing 30 is selectively moved by mechanical means into a fully advanced, mated position shown in FIG. 1 or into the retracted unmated position shown in FIG. 4. Such mechanical means includes a sleeve 74 which is telescoped over the shell 31 and is slidable longitudinally within the housing 30. Oppositely disposed bosses 75 on the sleeve 74 extend through longitudinally disposed slots 76 through the wall of the housing 30. A spacer sleeve 77 also telescoped about the shell 31 and within the housing 30 is interposed between the sleeve 74 and the flange 35 on the shell 31. A first wavy generally annular spring 79 is positioned between the

sleeves

74 and 77, there being a second similar spring 80 between the sleeve 77 and an annular filler member 81 which abuts the axially outer surface of the flange 35. Axially outwardly of or to the left of the sleeve 74 and between it and threaded bushing 82 which is snapped into an annular groove on the shell. A third wavy spring which is telescoped about the shell 31 is positioned between the spring ring 84 and the axially outer end surface of the sleeve 74. The sleeve 74 is thrust to the right (FIG. 1) thereby compressing

springs

79 and 80 and thrusting the shell 31 to the right when the connector parts are fully connected and mated. When the connector parts are disengaged, the sleeve 74 and the shell 31 are positioned relatively to each other as shown in FIG. 4 and spring 85 is compressed between sleeve 74 and an internal shoulder 103 in housing 30. Sleeve 74 is releasably locked in both its fully advanced and fully retracted positions in a manner to be described.

The -mechanism for actuating the sleeve 74 as above described includes a bale or lever 86 which has two similar side members 89 of inverted T-shape, the side members 89 lying on opposite sides of the housing 30. The side members 89 of the lever are connected by a bail 87 disposed above the housing, there being a handle 88 on top of the bail to enable to the lever to be readily grasped. The side members 89 of the lever 86 are provided with opposed slots 90 along the length of the stem of the lever, there being heads of rivet formations 91 disposed outwardly of the slots 90 to retain the lever in place upon the bosses 75 while permitting it to pivot and slide with respect thereto.

The lower portion of the lever 86 has similar outer or rear arms 92, the rear ends of which are connected to rear links 94 by pivotal connecting means such as rivets 95. The rear ends of inks 94 are connected to oppositely outwardly directed bosses 97 on the housing 30 by a pivotal connecting means 96. The lever 86 has two parallel forward arms 99 which are pivotally connected at 100 to the ends of forward links 101, the forward ends of such links being pivotally connected to the housing 30 at 102. When the parts and 11 of the connector are mated and locked as shown in FIG. 1, the lever 86 lies with its stem in an upwardly and axially inwardly inclined position. When the lever means associated with connector part 10 is in its retracted position, it lies with the stem of the side members 89 inclined upwardly and to the left with the arms and the rear and forward links 94, 101 disposed in the position shown in FIG. 4 and by phantom lines in FIG. 1.

When the lever is in the position shown in FIG. 1, the lower ends of the slots 90 in the side member 89 thereof lie close to the bosses 75. The toggle composedof the rear arms 92 of the lever and the rear links 94 lies upwardly past its dead center, whereas the toggle composed of the forward lever arms 99 and of the forward links 101 lies markedly downwardly below its dead center. The thrust imposed upon the shell 31 by the lever system to move and maintain it into the right-hand position shown in FIG. 1 proceeds from the housing 30, the pivotal connections 96, the links 94, the arms 92 of the lever the pivotal connection 91 to the sleeve 74; spacer 77, spring 80, and filler 81 thrusts the shell 31 to the right as described.

When the parts of the connector are disposed as shown in FIG. I, the axially inner end of insert 32 forcibly engages resilient plate 19 on insert 16 and effects an end seal therewith, as above explained. Such engagement between insert 32 and plate 19 also serves to stop further movement of shell 31 to the right; the

toggle

92, 94 of the lever means 86 is thus stably held in the extended but past dead center position shown in FIG. 1. The slots 90 in the side members 89 of the lever 86 provide the necessary freedom of movement of the lever 86 up and down with respect to the pivotal connections 91 as the lever 86 up is moved between its right-hand (FIG. 1) mating position and its left-hand (FIG. 4) retracted position.

When the lever 86 is in its retracted position (FIG. 4), the toggle composed of the lever arms 92 and the links 94 is down past dead center whereas the toggle composed of the lever arms 99 and the links 101 is up past dead center, the bosses 75 then lying adjacent the rear end of the slots 76 through the wall of the housing 30. The thrust to retract the shell 31 to the left is then from the housing 30 through the pivots 102 through the

toggle

99, 101, the bosses 75, the sleeve 74, the third spring 85, the spring ring 84, to the shell 31. In the retracted position of the connector part 10 the wavy spring 85 is under axial compression between ring 74 and the internal shoulder 103, and holds the

toggle

99, 101 in an extended past dead center position. In both the mated and unmated positions the rivets 91 engage the bottom of slot 90 to prevent movement by the wavy springs then under compression.

The illustrative embodiment of connector may be quickly and surely assembled and locked in mated position by the use of one hand alone. The lever means is such that only a relatively low force is required to lock the connector parts together and to unlock them. Such lever means also eliminates the necessity of separate means for locking the shell 31 in its mated and unmated positions. The detent means 60, 71 for retaining the connector parts in preliminarily assembled aligned relationship is automatically operated upon the movement of the connector parts relatively laterally into and out of aligned position.

The connector provides for the secure sealing of the mating contacts from the atmosphere by sealing means 50 and 20, SI. Sealing means 50 becomes effective immediately upon its engagement with the wall 29 of the bore in casing 12 as the shell 31 is moved to the right. This takes place before contacts l7 and 34 engage. The connector may thus be coupled and fully mated with the electric power on, and in an oxygen rich air mixture.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be expressly understood that various changes, such as in the relative dimensions of the parts, materials used and the like, as well as the suggested manner of use of the apparatus of the invention, may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property, or privilege, is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An electrical connector device: comprising first and second main supporting members, an insulating contact supporting member for selective engagement with each other, interlocking means on said main supporting members for locking them against relative axial movement after they have been assembled in axial alignment, said means comprising mating elements on the confronting en ds'of the main supporting members having engaging surfaces: lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the assembled main supporting members, means for retaining the main supporting members in axial alignment after they have been thus assembled, said retaining means comprising detent means mounted on one of said main supporting members and resiliently biased toward a position in which a part thereof protrudes axially beyond the said transverse surface of said one main supporting member and a seat in the confronting end of the other main supporting member adapted to receive said protruding part of the detent means when the main supporting members are thus assembled in axial alignment, and means for moving one said contact supporting member axially relative to the assembled main supporting members and the other contact supporting member for moving said contacts into and out of engagement.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim I wherein the first and second main supporting members are tubular casings, the contact supporting members are inserts within the respective casings, and the said part of the detent means protrudes from the said transverse surface of its respective casing radially outwardly of the insert in such casing.

3. Apparatus as defined in claimv 2, wherein the detent means is in the form of a ring disposed transversely to the axis of its respective casing and coaxial thereof, the said part of the detent means is annular axially outer edge thereof, and the seat is a frustoconical surface of said other casing.

4. An electrical connector device comprising first and second main supporting members, an insulating contact supporting member mounted on each said main supporting member, a contact mounted on each said contact supporting member for selective engagement with each other, interlocking means on said main supporting members for locking them against relative axial movement after they have been assembled in axial alignment with said contacts out of engagement, means for retaining the main supporting members in axial alignment after they have been thus assembled with said contacts out of engagement, and means for moving one said contact supporting member axially relative to the thus assembled main supporting members and the other contact supporting member for moving said contacts into and out of engagement, said last-named means comprising lever means including toggle joint means mounted on one said main supporting member for selectively stably retaining said one contact supporting member therein in its terminal advanced and its terminal retracted positions by overcenter toggle joint action. Whereby said contacts are retained respectively in engaged and disengaged positions.

5. An electrical connector device comprising first and second main supporting members, an insulating contact supporting member mounted on each said main supporting member, a contact mounted on each said contacts supporting member for selective engagement with each other upon relative axial movement of said contact supporting members, interlocking means on said main supporting members for locking them against relative axial movement when they have been assembled in axial alignment by relative movement thereof transversely of said axial movement, automatically operable means for yieldably holding the main supporting members in interlocked axial alignment when they have been thus assembled with said contacts out of engagement, and means for moving one said contact supporting members axially relative to the main supporting members and the other contact supporting member for moving said contacts into and out of engagement while said main supporting members are thus yieldably held in interlocked axial alignment.

6. An, electrical connector device comprising first and second main supporting members, an insulating contact supporting member mounted on each said main supporting member, a contact mountedon each said contact supporting member for selective engagement with each other, interlocking means on said main supporting members for locking them against relative axial movement after they have been assembled in axial alignment, means for retaining the main sup porting members in axial alignment after they have been thus assembled, means for moving one said contact supporting member axially relative to the assembled main supporting members and the other contact supporting member for moving said contacts into and out of engagement, said last-named means comprising lever means including toggle joint means mounted on one said main supporting member for selectively stably retaining said one contact supporting member therein in its terminal advanced and its terminal retracted positions, a movable member carried by said one main supporting member, the movable member being reciprocable along the axis of and with respect to said one main supporting member and said one contact supporting member, and resilient means operative in both directions between said one contact supporting member and the movable member, and wherein the toggle joint means is connected between the said one main supporting member and the movable member.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the toggle joint means comprises two toggles having links connected in series, the outer ends of the outer links being pivotally connected to said one main supporting member, and the inner ends of the inner links being rigidly connected together and pivotally connected to the movable member.

8. An electrical connector device comprising first and second main supporting members, an insulating contact supporting member mounted on each said main supporting member, contact mounted on each said contact supporting member for selective engagement with each other upon relative axial movement of said contact supporting members, interlocking means on said main supporting members rendered operative by relative movement thereof tranversely of said axial movement for locking them against relative axial movement after they have been assembled in axial alignment, automatically operable means for yieldably holding the main supporting members against such transverse movement relative to each other after they have been thus assembled, means for moving one said contact supporting member axially relative to the assembled main supporting members and the other contact supporting member for moving said contacts into and out of engagement, and interfitting formations on said main supporting members comprising a pin on and extending parallel to the axis of one main supporting member and a notch in the peripheral surface of the other main supporting member positioned to receive the pm when the main supporting members are assembled in interlocked axial alignment and predetermined angular orientation, the formations being such that they prevent such assembly of mismated main supporting members.

9. An electrical connector device comprising a tubular housing, a contact supporting assembly in said housing including a tubular sleeve concentric with and axially slidable within said housing, a tubular shell slidable axially within said sleeve, means on saidshell for limiting axial movement of the sleeve thereon and resilient means for resisting movement of said sleeve in opposite directions on the shell, and a lever system for moving said assembly axially relative to said housing between predetermined limiting positions comprising two overcenter type toggle joints alternatively operable in conjunction with said resilient means for yieldably holding said assembly in one or the other of said limiting positions.

10. A device as defined in claim 9 wherein said resilient means comprises a spring at each end of said sleeve and compressible by relative movement of the sleeve on the shell for yieldably holding the toggle joints in overcenter positions.

11. An electrical connector device comprising a tubular housing, a contact supporting assembly axially slidable in said housing including a tubular shell, a sleeve surrounding said shell intermediate the ends thereof and having limited axial movement thereon and resilient means at each end of said sleeve for resisting axial movement of the sleeve on the shell in opposite directions, and lever means for reciprocating said assembly axially in the housing comprising a lever having diverging arms, means including a pin on said sleeve engageable in a slot in said lever for pivotally connecting said lever and sleeve, a first link pivotally connected to the outer end of one said lever arm and to said housing and a second link pivotally connected to the outer end of another said lever arm and to the housing, said pin being constrained to move in a line between the pivotal connections of said links to the housing, whereby pivotal movement of said lever about said pin effects axial movement of said assembly in said housing.

12. A device as defined in claim 11 wherein said pin moves in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the housing and the pivotal axes of the connections between said links and the housing.

13. A device as defined in claim 11 wherein-said resilient means at one end of the sleeve is a wavy annular spring captured between said sleeve and stop means on said shell.

14. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said spring is engageable with stop means on the housing to limit movement of the sleeve in one direction relative to the housing.

15. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said resilient means at the other end of the sleeve is interposed between said

Claims

1. An electrical connector device comprising first and second main supporting members, an insulating contact supporting member for selective engagement with each other, interlocking means on said main supporting members for locking them against relative axial movement after they have been assembled in axial alignment, said means comprising mating elements on the confronting ends of the main supporting members having engaging surfaces lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the assembled main supporting members, means for retaining the main supporting members in axial alignment after they have been thus assembled, said retaining means comprising detent means mounted on one of said main supporting members and resiliently biased toward a position in which a part thereof protrudes axially beyond the said transverse surface of said one main supporting member and a seat in the confronting end of the other main supporting member adapted to receive said protruding part of the detent means when the main supporting members are thus assembled in axial alignment, and means for moving one said contact supporting member axially relative to the assembled main supporting members and the other contact supporting member for moving said contacts into and out of engagement.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second main supporting members are tubular casings, the contact supporting members are inserts within the respective casings, and the said part of the detent means protrudes from the said transverse surface of its respective casing radially outwardly of the insert in such casing.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the detent means is in the form of a ring disposed transversely to the axis of its respective casing and coaxial thereof, the said part of the detent means is annular axially outer edge thereof, and the seat is a frustoconical surface of said other casing.

6. An electrical connector device comprising first and second main supporting members, an insulating contact supporting member mounted on each said main supporting member, a contact mounted on each said contact supporting member for selective engagement with each other, interlocking means on said main supporting members for locking them against relative axial movement after they have been assembled in axial alignment, means for retaining the main supporting members in axial alignment after they have been thus assembled, means for moving one said contact supporting member axially relative to the assembled main supporting members and the other contact supporting member for moving said contacts into and out of engagement, said last-named means comprising lever means including toggle joint means mounted on one said main supporting member for selectively stably retaining said one contact supporting member therein in its terminal advanced and its terminal retracted positions, a movable member carried by said one main supporting member, the movable member being reciprocable along the axis of and with respect to said one main supporting member and said one contact supporting member, and resilient means operative in both directions between said one contact supporting member and the movable member, and wherein the toggle joint means is connected between the said one main supporting member and the movable member.

8. An electrical connector device comprising first and second main supporting members, an insulating contact supporting member mounted on each said main supporting member, contact mounted on each said contact supporting member for selective engagement with each other upon relative axial movement of said contact supporting members, interlocking means on said main supporting members rendered operative by relative movement thereof tranversely of said axial movement for locking them against relative axial movement after they have been assembled in axial alignment, automatically operable means for yieldably holding the main supporting members against such transverse movement relative to each other after they have been thus assembled, means for moving one said contact supporting member axially relative to the assembled main supporting members and the other contact supporting member for moving said contacts into and out of engagement, and interfitting formations on said main supporting members comprising a pin on and extending parallel to the axis of one main supporting member and a notch in the peripheral surface of the other main supporting member positioned to receive the pin when the main supporting members are assembled in interlocked axial alignment and predetermined angular orientation, the formations being such that they prevent such assembly of mismated main supporting members.

9. An electrical connector device comprising a tubular housing, a contact supporting assembly in said housing including a tubular sleeve concentric with and axially slidable within said housing, a tubular shell slidable axially within said sleeve, means on said shell for limiting axial movement of the sleeve thereon and resilient means for resisting movement of said sleeve in opposite directions on the shell, and a lever system for moving said assembly axially relative to said housing between predetermined limiting positions comprising two overcenter type toggle joints alternatively operable in conjunction with said resilient means for yieldably holding said assembly in one or the other of said limiting posItions.

13. A device as defined in claim 11 wherein said resilient means at one end of the sleeve is a wavy annular spring captured between said sleeve and stop means on said shell.

15. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said resilient means at the other end of the sleeve is interposed between said sleeve and stop means on said shell.