A CONTACT-HOLDER UNIT FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION SOCKET/PLUG

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a contact-holder unit for an electrical connection socket/plug having the characteristics mentioned in the preamble of Claim 1. The invention is applicable both to fixed electrical connection sockets/plugs and to movable or "in line" sockets/plugs which are normally used in the industrial field. A socket/plug of the above-mentioned type is known from patent publication EP-1 178 574 A1.

[0002] The sockets/plugs are connected to the ends of electrical cables and generally comprise a containing housing defining in its interior a generally cylindrical seat for housing a contact-holder unit which carries a plurality of electrical contacts constituted by pairs of blades. Each pair of blades can receive one of the conductors of an electrical cable to be connected. A lever for guiding and clamping a conductor of the cable is mounted on the body of the contact holder in the vicinity of each pair of blades. Each lever generally has an engagement means (such as an annular portion) for favouring the correct positioning of the conductor and is articulated to the body of the contact-holder so as to be able to adopt an open or released position, for example, during an operation to connect/disconnect or replace conductors, in which the conductor held by the lever is removed and disengaged from the pair of blades. To ensure electrical contact between the conductor and the pair of blades, the lever is pivoted to a closure position, forcing the conductor held by the lever to slip between the pair of blades in order to be clamped in a position in which it is inserted between them.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a contact-holder unit in which the operations to clamp and release the levers of the type discussed above can be performed conveniently and easily by hand.

[0004] Another object of the invention is to perform more effective clamping and electrical connection of the conductors, both when they are protected by an insulating sheath and when they are bare.

[0005] These objects are achieved by a contact-holder according to claim 1.

[0006] These and other objects and advantages which will be understood better from the following description are achieved according to the invention by a contact-holder unit having the characteristics defined in the appended claims.

[0007] The structural and functional characteristics of some preferred but non-limiting embodiments of a contact-holder unit according to the invention will now be described; reference is made to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded axial section through a movable socket/plug with a contact-holder unit according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the contact-holder unit of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the contact-holder unit of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a view from above or behind, taken on the arrow IV of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the contact-holder unit of Figure 1 in partial axial section, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to Figure 2 of a variant of the invention.

[0008] With reference initially to Figure 1, a movable electrical connection socket/plug comprises a containing housing 1 in the form of a sleeve defining in its interior a substantially cylindrical seat 2 for housing a contact-holder unit, generally indicated 3. The socket/plug shown in the drawings is of the movable or "in-line" type; naturally, reference to this possible area of application should not be interpreted as in any way limiting of the scope of the patent which is also applicable to fixed sockets/plugs.

[0009] In the embodiment illustrated, the contact-holder unit 3 comprises three pairs of facing blades 4a, 4b constituting electrical contacts to which the conductors c1, c2, c3 of a cable A are connected; the cable A is introduced through an opening 5 formed in the rear portion of the containing sleeve 1. The blades 4a, 4b lie in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis (indicated x) along which the plug is coupled with a corresponding socket. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of Figure 1, a plug with axial pins 6 is shown but the following discussion also applies to a socket.

[0010] Throughout this description and in the appended claims, terms and expressions indicating positions and orientations such as "axial", "longitudinal", "transverse" and "radial" are intended to relate to the central geometrical axis x of the socket/plug which coincides with the axis along which the socket and the plug are coupled with one another; similarly "rear" and "front" should be understood with reference to the direction of coupling of the socket/plug with a complementary plug/socket element.

[0011] The blades 4a, 4b of each pair have facing contact edges 4c, 4d which are oriented in a substantially radial direction in order to house between them a respective electrical conductor c1, c2, or c3.

[0012] The contact-holder unit has a substantially cylindrical body 7 which is inserted and clamped in the seat 2 of the containing sleeve 1 in a manner known per se. The body 7 of the contact-holder unit forms a transverse end wall 8 at the rear and has three peripheral recesses 9 which extend axially and each of which houses a respective lever 10 for guiding and clamping a conductor c. Each lever 10 is articulated to the body 7 of the contact-holder and has an annular portion 11 defining a hole 12 through which the end portion of the conductor c is passed.

[0013] An important characteristic of the solution according to the present invention is that each lever 10 is articulated to the contact-holder body 7 so as to be pivotable in a plane which is defined herein as "axial", between a released position (as shown by the levers indicated 10' in Figures 2 and 4) and a contact position in which the lever occupies the recess 9 and is oriented in a substantially axial direction. In this position, the levers 10 are included within the circular shape of the contact-holder unit 3 which can thus be inserted in the outer containing casing or sleeve 1.

[0014] For articulation to the body 7, each of the levers 10 forms, at its end which is defined herein as the "front" end, a pair of opposed pins 13 (only one of which is visible in Figure 3) which are inserted in corresponding articulation seats 14 formed in the front portion of the contact-holder body 7.

[0015] In order to connect a conductor c1 (or c2 or c3) electrically to the socket/plug, a lever 10 must first of all be moved to the open or outwardly inclined position 10'. The conductor is then inserted in the hole 12 in the lever; the conductor remains lying along the side 10a of the lever which, in the condition of normal use, faces towards the centre of the contact-holder unit. On this side 10a, each lever 10 preferably has a fork-shaped portion 15 which projects radially towards the central axis x and which serves as a support to stabilize the conductor and hold it in an engaged position which forces it to be inserted between the blade contacts as shown in Figure 5.

[0016] The lever 10 is pushed manually from the open or outwardly-pivoted position 10', causing it to enter the recess 9 and thus forcing the conductor c to be inserted between the edges 4c, 4d of the blades 4a and 4b which cut the insulating sheath of the conductor, thus making the electrical contact.

[0017] In this embodiment, resilient locking teeth 16 (Figure 2) are provided in pairs in each recess 9 of the contact-holder body 7 to snap-lock the lever 10 in the closed position. The locking teeth 16 are preferably disposed at the level of the rear wall 8 of the body 7 and engage corresponding recesses 17 constituting locking seats formed in the lever 10.

[0018] In the embodiment of Figure 6, the resilient locking teeth 16' are arranged in pairs for engagement in corresponding recesses 17' formed on two opposite sides of the lever 10.

[0019] Again according to the invention, in the closure or normal operation position of the contacts, that is, with the conductor c engaged between the blade contacts 4a and 4b and with the lever 10 locked parallel to the axis x of the socket/plug, an appreciable portion of the lever 10 (as indicated 10b) projects rearwardly beyond the transverse rear wall 8 of the contact-holder body 7. This enables an operator to release each lever easily by exerting a thrust with his fingers.

[0020] Once the contacts of the various conductors are secured by the respective blade contacts, the levers are oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the socket/plug and the contact-holder unit can be inserted in the containing sleeve and locked therein.

[0021] The cable A projects from the rear opening 5 of the sleeve 1 and is clamped with the use of a rear threaded ring nut 18 which engages on a thread 19 formed at the rear end of the sleeve 1. The screwing-on of the ring-nut 18 brings about axial sliding of a cable-clamping element 20 with resilient teeth 21 which engages on the frustoconical wall 22 of the rear opening 5 with the interposition of a frustoconical sealing element 23 and is tightened radially onto the cable, preventing movements thereof in an axial direction.

[0022] The present invention affords the following advantages.

[0023] The levers 10 can be locked in and released from the contact-closure position manually, requiring a minimal effort. The invention utilizes the geometry of the lever to obtain a convenient and advantageous grip in order to exert with the fingers the effort which is necessary to open and close the electrical contact.

[0024] The arrangement of the resilient locking means for the levers enables the operator to be confident that locking has taken place since he can easily check, by pulling the lever in the opening direction, to ascertain whether locking has taken place correctly or not.

[0025] The support portion 15 forces the conductor to adopt a bent shape inside the contact-holder unit (as shown schematically in Figure 5) which ensures contact with the fork-shaped contact elements even if the conductor has no insulating sheath on its end portion. Naturally, the fork-shaped contacts are effective in cutting the insulating sheath if it also covers the end portion of the conductor.

[0026] Finally, when a lever 10 is moved to the open position 10', the space between the contact blades and the articulation region of the lever enables any resides of insulating sheath left by previous connections to be removed from the recess 9 easily and quickly.

[0027] Naturally, the details of construction and forms of embodiment of the invention may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated. For example, the number of conductors for each cable to be connected may vary according to requirements.

Claims

1. A contact-holder unit for an electrical connection socket/plug which can be coupled with a corresponding plug/socket along a given coupling direction (x), the contact-holder unit (3) comprising:

- a body (7) which is housed in a containing housing (1),

- a plurality of electrical contacts mounted on the body (7) and constituted by pairs of blades (4a, 4b) lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the given direction (x), the blades of each pair having facing contact edges (4c, 4d) oriented in a substantially radial direction for housing between them an electrical conductor (c1 or c2 or c3) of a cable (A) to be connected,

- a corresponding plurality of levers (10) for guiding and clamping respective conductors, each lever having an engagement means (11, 12) for restraining a respective conductor (c1-c3), wherein each lever (10) is mounted pivotably on the body (7) in the region of a respective pair of blades in order selectively to adopt:

a first, open or released position (10') in which the conductor is released from the pair of blades, and

a second, closed or locked position on the body (7) in which the conductor is inserted between the facing edges of the pair of blades in order to ensure electrical contact,

- releasable locking means/seats (16, 17) disposed on the body (7) and on each lever (10) for holding the levers in the second position,

characterized in that each lever (10) is articulated to the body (7) for pivoting between the first and second positions in a plane substantially parallel to the direction (x), and in that, in the second, closed position, at least a portion (10b) of the lever projects axially beyond a portion (8) of the body (7) so that the lever can be released manually from the second position.

2. A contact-holder unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that, in the second position, at least a portion (10b) of the lever (10) projects axially beyond an end wall (8) of the body (7).

3. A contact-holder unit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that, in the second position, the lever (10) is oriented substantially parallel to said direction (x).

4. A contact-holder unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (7) has a generally cylindrical shape and has a plurality of peripheral recesses (9) which extend axially and each of which can at least partially house a respective lever (10) in the second position.

5. A contact-holder unit according to Claim 4, characterized in that, in the second position, the levers (10) are included within the peripheral contour of the body (7).

6. A contact-holder unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each lever (10) is articulated to the contact-holder body (7) and has an annular portion (11) defining a hole (12) through which the end portion of a conductor (c1-c3) is passed.

7. A contact-holder unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each lever (10) has a pair of pins (13) at one of its ends for articulation in a corresponding pair of seats (14) formed in the body (7) in a position axially spaced from the contact blades (4a, 4b).

8. A contact-holder unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each lever (10) has, on the face (10a) which faces towards the centre of the contact-holder unit in use, a radially projecting portion (15) which can urge the conductor (c1-c3) towards and between the contact blades (4a, 4b), forcing the conductor to adopt a bent shape.

9. A contact-holder unit according to Claim 8, characterized in that the radially projecting portion (15) is spaced axially from the annular portion (11, 12) so that, in the second position of the lever (10), the blades (4a, 4b) are in an axially intermediate position between the projecting portion (15) and the annular portion (11, 12).

10. A contact-holder unit according to Claim 9, characterized in that the radially projecting portion (15) is fork-shaped.

11. A contact-holder unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the releasable locking means/seats (16, 17) comprise resilient locking teeth (16) which project from the body (7) and can engage in recesses (17) formed in the levers (10).

12. A contact-holder unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the releasable locking means/seats comprise resilient locking teeth (16') arranged in pairs for engagement in corresponding recesses (17') formed on two opposite sides of each lever (10).

Ansprüche

1. Kontakthalter-Einheit für die Steckerweibchen/Steckermännchen einer elektrischen Verbindung, die mit einem entsprechenden Steckermännchen/Steckerweibchen entlang einer vorgegebenen Kupplungsrichtung (x) verbunden werden können, wobei die Kontakthalter-Einheit (3) enthält;

- einen Körper (7), der in einem Gehäuse (1) aufgenommen wird,

- eine Vielzahl von elektrischen Kontakten, die am Körper (7) befestigt sind und von Paaren von Messern (4a, 4b) gebildet werden, die in einer Ebene liegen, die im Wesentlichen senkrecht zur vorgegebenen Richtung (x) verläuft, wobei die Messer eines jeden Paars einander gegenüber liegende Kontaktschneiden (4c, 4d) besitzen, die im Wesentlichen radial ausgerichtet sind, um zwischen sich einen elektrischen Leiter (c1 oder c2 oder c3) eines Kabels (A) aufzunehmen, das verbunden werden soll,

- eine entsprechende Vielzahl von Hebeln (10), um die entsprechenden Leiter zu führen und einzuklemmen, wobei jeder Hebel eine Eingreifeinrichtung (11, 12) besitzt, um einen entsprechenden Leiter (c1-c3) einzuspannen, wobei jeder Hebel (10) am Körper (7) im Bereich eines entsprechenden Paars von Messern verschwenkbar befestigt ist, um wahlweise einzunehmen:

eine erste offene oder entriegelte Stellung (10'), in der der Leiter von dem Paar von Messern freigegeben ist, und

eine zweite geschlossene oder verriegelte Stellung auf dem Körper (7), in der der Leiter zwischen die einander gegenüber liegenden Schneiden des Paars von Messern eingesetzt wird, um die elektrische Verbindung sicher zu stellen,

- freigebbare Sperreinrichtungen/Sitze (16, 17), die am Körper (7) sowie auf jedem Hebel (10) angeordnet sind, um die Hebel in der zweiten Stellung zu halten,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jeder Hebel (10) im Körper (7) gelenkig so gelagert ist, dass er sich zwischen der ersten und der zweiten Stellung in einer Ebene verschwenken kann, die im Wesentlichen parallel zur Richtung (x) liegt, und dass in der zweiten geschlossenen Stellung zumindest ein Teil (10b) des Hebels axial über einen Teil (8) des Körpers (7) hinaus so vorspringt, dass der Hebel aus der zweiten Stellung händisch freigegeben werden kann.

2. Kontakthalter-Einheit gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in der zweiten Stellung zumindest ein Teil (10b) des Hebels (10) axial über eine Endwand (8) des Körpers (7) hinaus vorspringt.

3. Kontakthalter-Einheit gemäß Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in der zweiten Stellung der Hebel (10) im Wesentlichen parallel zur Richtung (x) ausgerichtet ist.

4. Kontakthalter-Einheit gemäß irgendeinem der bisherigen Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Körper (7) eine im Allgemeinen zylindrische Form besitzt und mit einer Vielzahl von am Umfang verlaufenden Ausnehmungen (9) versehen ist, die axial verlaufen, wobei jede Ausnehmung einen entsprechenden Hebel (10) zumindest teilweise aufnehmen kann, der sich in der zweiten Stellung befindet.

5. Kontakthalter-Einheit gemäß Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Hebel (10) in der zweiten Stellung innerhalb des äußeren Umrisses des Körpers (7) eingeschlossen sind.

6. Kontakthalter-Einheit gemäß irgendeinem der bisherigen Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jeder Hebel (10) im Kontakthalter-Körper (7) gelenkig gelagert ist und einen ringförmigen Teil (11) besitzt, der eine Öffnung (12) bildet, durch die der Endteil eines Leiters (c1-c3) läuft.

7. Kontakthalter-Einheit gemäß irgendeinem der bisherigen Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jeder Hebel (10) an einem seiner Enden ein Paar von Zapfen (13) besitzt, die in einem entsprechenden Paar von Sitzen (14) gelenkig gelagert sind, die im Körper (7) an einer Stelle ausgebildet sind, die von den Kontaktmessern (4a, 4b) axial beabstandet ist.

8. Kontakthalter-Einheit gemäß irgendeinem der bisherigen Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jeder Hebel (10) auf der Fläche (10a), die im Betrieb zur Mitte der Kontakthalter-Einheit gerichtet ist, einen radial vorspringenden Teil (15) besitzt, der den Leiter (c1-c3) zu den und zwischen die Kontaktmesser (4a, 4b) drücken kann, wodurch der Leiter gezwungen wird, eine gekrümmte Form einzunehmen.

9. Kontakthalter-Einheit gemäß Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der radial vorspringende Teil (15) vom ringförmigen Teil (11, 12) axial so beabstandet ist, dass die Messer (4a, 4b) dann, wenn sich der Hebel (10) in der zweiten Stellung befindet, in einer axialen Zwischenstellung zwischen dem vorspringenden Teil (15) und dem ringförmigen Teil (11, 12) liegen.

10. Kontakthalter-Einheit gemäß Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der radial vorspringende Teil (15) gabelförmig ausgebildet ist.

11. Kontakthalter-Einheit gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die freigebbare Sperreinrichtungen/Sitze (16, 17) elastische Verriegelungszähne (16) enthalten, die vom Körper (7) vorspringen und in Ausnehmungen (17) eingreifen können, die in den Hebeln (10) ausgebildet sind.

12. Kontakthalter-Einheit gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die freigebbaren Sperreinrichtungen/Sitze elastische Verriegelungszähne (16') besitzen, die paarweise angeordnet sind, um in entsprechende Ausnehmungen (17') einzugreifen, die an zwei gegenüber liegenden Seiten eines jeden Hebels (10) ausgebildet sind.

Revendications

1. Système porte-contacts pour prise femelle/mâle de connexion électrique pouvant être accouplé avec une prise mâle/femelle correspondante dans une direction d'accouplement donnée (x), le système porte-contacts (3) comprenant :

- un corps (7) logé dans un logement (1),

- une pluralité de contacts électriques montés sur le corps (7) et constitués par des paires de lames (4a, 4b) se trouvant dans un plan sensiblement perpendiculaire à la direction donnée (x), les lames de chaque paire ayant des bords de contact face à face (4c, 4d) orientés dans une direction sensiblement radiale pour recevoir entre eux un conducteur électrique (c1 ou c2 ou c3) d'un câble (A) à connecter,

- une pluralité correspondante de leviers (10) servant à guider et serrer des conducteurs respectifs, chaque levier ayant un moyen d'engagement (11, 12) pour retenir un conducteur respectif (c1-c3), chaque levier (10) étant monté de façon à pouvoir pivoter sur le corps (7) dans la région d'une paire respective de lames, afin de prendre sélectivement :

une première position d'ouverture ou de libération (10') dans laquelle le conducteur est libéré de la paire de lames, et

une seconde position, de fermeture ou de retenue sur le corps (7), dans laquelle le conducteur est inséré entre les bords face à face de la paire de lames afin d'assurer un contact électrique,

- des moyens/sièges de verrouillage libérables (16, 17) disposés sur le corps (7) et sur chaque levier (10) pour maintenir les leviers dans la seconde position,

caractérisé en ce que chaque levier (10) est articulé par rapport au corps (7) pour pivoter entre la première et la seconde positions dans un plan sensiblement parallèle à la direction (x), et en ce que, dans la seconde position, de fermeture, au moins une partie (10b) du levier fait saillie axialement au-delà d'une partie (8) du corps (7) de façon que le levier puisse être amené manuellement à quitter la seconde position.

2. Système porte-contacts selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que, dans la seconde position, au moins une partie (10b) du levier (10) fait saillie axialement au-delà d'une paroi d'extrémité (8) du corps (7).

3. Système porte-contacts selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que, dans la seconde position, le levier (10) est orienté sensiblement parallèlement à ladite direction (x).

4. Système porte-contacts selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le corps (7) a une forme globalement cylindrique et comporte une pluralité d'évidements périphériques (9) qui s'étendent axialement et dont chacun peut loger au moins partiellement un levier respectif (10) dans la seconde position.

5. Système porte-contacts selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que, dans la seconde position, les leviers (10) sont intégrés dans le pourtour du corps (7).

6. Système porte-contacts selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que chaque levier (10) est articulé par rapport au corps porte-contacts (7) et possède une partie annulaire (11) définissant un trou (12) par lequel est amenée à passer la partie d'extrémité d'un conducteur (cl-c3).

7. Système porte-contacts selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que chaque levier (10) comporte, à l'une de ses extrémités, une paire de pivots (13) permettant une articulation dans une paire correspondante de sièges (14) formés dans le corps (7) dans une position d'espacement axial par rapport aux lames de contact (4a, 4b).

8. Système porte-contacts selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que chaque levier (10) a, sur la face (10a) orientée vers le centre du système porte-contacts pendant l'utilisation, une partie radialement saillante (15) capable de pousser le conducteur (cl-c3) vers et entre les lames de contact (4a, 4b), en obligeant le conducteur à prendre une forme incurvée.

9. Système porte-contacts selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que la partie radialement saillante (15) est espacée axialement de la partie annulaire (11, 12) de façon que, dans la seconde position du levier (10), les lames (4a, 4b) soient dans une position axialement intermédiaire entre la partie saillante (15) et la partie annulaire (11, 12).

10. Système porte-contacts selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce que la partie radialement saillante (15) a une forme fourchue.

11. Système porte-contacts selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens/sièges de verrouillage libérables (16, 17) sont constitués par des dents de verrouillage élastiques (16) qui dépassent du corps (7) et peuvent s'engager dans des évidements (17) formés dans les leviers (10).

12. Système porte-contacts selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens/sièges de verrouillage libérables sont constitués par des dents de verrouillage élastiques (16') disposées par paires pour s'engager dans des évidements correspondants (17') formés sur deux côtés opposés de chaque levier (10).

Drawing