The invention provides a plug and socket arrangement which includes a plug member (50) having male conductors (51, 52, 53) as earth, neutral and live, and a socket member (55, 56) having complemental female recesses (534) in communication with the conductors corresponding with the male conductors (51, 52, 53); an arched element (62, 64) having feet (62) which are engageable with at least the live and neutral conductors; and clamping means (66, 70) for exerting pressure on the arched element.
This invention relates to an electrical plug and socket arrangement for low cost housing and may also find utility in the provision of additional electrical wiring for existing housing, factories, offices, outdoor use and other applications.
One of the major expenses in large scale low cost housing schemes is that of the electrical circuitry which requires a qualified electrician with concomitant costs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a plug and socket arrangement which can be used by unskilled workers and thereby reduce the cost of the electrical circuitry.
According to the invention a plug and socket arrangement includes a plug member having male conductors as earth, neutral and live, and a socket member having complemental female recesses in communication with the conductors corresponding with the male conductors; an arched element having feet which are engageable with at least the live and neutral conductors; and clamping means is provided to exert pressure on the arched element.
The clamping means is preferably of an insulating material.
In one form of the invention as applied to a single phase supply with the conductors arranged in traditional triangular formation, the means to apply pressure comprises an arched element, the two feet of which abut the live and neutral conductors and the underside of the bridge abuts the earth conductor.
In another form of the invention as applied to a three-phase supply, the means to apply pressure comprises an element which is adapted to abut all of the conductors with clamping means to exert pressure on the element, the latter being of insulating material.
The pairs of contacting conductors may be separated by insulators with means to apply pressure to the insulators.
The pairs of conductors may have interengaging zones to increase the stability of the arrangement.
The clamping means is preferably a screw device which bears on the arched element and applies pressure to the insulators; and in a preferred form of the invention it comprises a frame which encircles the shell of the arrangement with a screw adapted to contact the pressure applying means or the insulators.
The conductors are preferably flat strips of suitable conducting metal arranged in triangular configuration for single phase supply or in line for three phase supply.
A distribution board may include a plurality of either the plug or the socket members; preferably the latter so that individual circuits with a plug member according to the invention may be safely connected to a socket member on the board and led to a desired location in the house or the like.
In a refinement of the invention a three phase supply arrangement for an electric motor, for example, includes separate junctions but the plug has neutral connected to either side conductors, with the socket having a dummy recess on one side. Thus, if the initial connection is incorrect, the plug need only be released (by releasing the clamps) and reversed. The obvious advantages of this arrangement will be apparent to all electricians who generally have to undergo tedious steps to disconnect and relocate the conductors if the initial connections are found to be incorrect.
Three embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
In Figure 1 a straight three phase arrangement 40 is shown with four conductors 42 and an urging arch 43 having four feet 44, while Figure 2 is a reversible three phase arrangement having five conductors 42 and an urging arch 43 with five feet 44.
In Figure 3 a three phase plug 40 is shown with four conductors 42 which corresponds with a socket 43 having five conductors 44 with two neutral strips 44a on either end. All three neutral conductors 42a, 44a are larger than the others so that there can be no incorrect insertion. If the plug is required to be reversed it is merely overturned and re-inserted with the conductor 42a in the correct neutral conductor 44a.
In Figures 4 to 6, a plug 50 has three male conductors 51, 52, 53 which engage in complemental female recesses 54 in a shell 55 of a socket portion 56. The socket portion 56 has conductors 57 which connect to the inlet pins 58.
On insertion of the plug into the socket, the conductors 51, 52, 53 lie over the conductors 57, the recesses 55 being suitably angled for this purpose.
The shell 56 has a slot 60 which receives an element in the form of a straight edged arch whose feet 62 engage the live and neutral male conductors 51, 52 and whose bridge 64 engages the earth 53.
A square frame 66 encircles the shell and is slid thereover to the position of the slot when the screw 70 is tightened, thereby urging the arch against the three conductors 51, 52 53 for excellent electrical contact with the conductors 57.
It will be appreciated that a plurality of plugs and socket arrangements may be included in a switch box into which light switch cables, any other required cables, are connected into the box which also contains suitable circuitry.