Electromagnetic detachable connector

• US 6,030,229 A
• Filed: 03/05/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsutsui, Yasumitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US09/035,461
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 439/39, 439/38, 336/90
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet

Abstract

An electromagnetic detachable connector includes a pair of female and male connectors. Each of female and male connectors includes a movable section and a fixed section. Each movable section includes a row of terminals that can be connected with those of another movable section, and a guide that can be fitted with that of the another movable section. The fixed sections are relatively fixed so as to have respective movable sections face each other. A permanent magnet and an electromagnet are arranged at a predetermined position of the female and male connectors. Exerting an electromagnetic force on the permanent magnet so that the movable sections move in a direction so as to come closer to or farther away from each other achieves a drive control for connection and disconnection. With this structure, an electromagnetic detachable connector is provided that can control, automatically and with high precision, the connection and disconnection between the female and male connectors.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic detachable connector arrangement comprising a female connector and a male connector forming a pair, wherein

each of said connectors includes a movable section and a fixed section, each said movable section has a row of terminals that is connectable with said row of terminals of said movable section of the other one of said connectors and a guide that is fittable with said guide of said movable section of the other one of said connectors,

each said fixed section is held in a relatively fixed manner with respect to said fixed section of the other one of said connectors while said movable sections of said connectors face each other,

a first one of said female connector and said male connector further includes a first permanent magnet magnetized in a predetermined direction and a first electromagnet, and

said connectors are so adapted and arranged that connection and disconnection of said movable sections of said connectors with respect to each other are carried out by said movable section of said first one of said connectors being driven so as to move relatively closer to or farther from said movable section of the other one of said connectors due to an electromagnetic force of said electromagnet acting on said permanent magnet.

2. The electromagnetic detachable connector arrangement according to claim 1, wherein

said permanent magnet is arranged on said movable section of said first one of said connectors, and

said electromagnet is fixed on said fixed section of said first one of said connectors so as to surround said permanent magnet.

3. The electromagnetic detachable connector arrangement according to claim 2,

further comprising a cylindrical container fixed to said movable section having said permanent magnet arranged thereon,

wherein said cylindrical container has therein an inner space longer than said permanent magnet in a direction of relative movement of said movable section, and has two closed ends bounding said inner space in said direction, and

wherein said permanent magnet is arranged to be slidable in an axial direction within said inner space of said cylindrical container.

4. The electromagnetic detachable connector arrangement according to claim 3, wherein

a second one of said connectors other than said first connector further includes a second permanent magnet arranged on said movable section thereof, and

each said permanent magnet is magnetized in a direction so as to generate a magnetic attraction therebetween.

5. The electromagnetic detachable connector arrangement according to claim 2, wherein

a second one of said connectors other than said first connector further includes a second permanent magnet arranged on said movable section thereof, and

each said permanent magnet is magnetized in a direction so as to generate a magnetic attraction therebetween.

6. The electromagnetic detachable connector arrangement according to claim 1, wherein

said first electromagnet comprises a coil wound around an iron core and is fixed to said movable section of said first one of said connectors, and

said first permanent magnet comprises an annular permanent magnet that is arranged so as to surround said coil and that is fixed substantially coaxially with said iron core on said fixed section of said first one of said connectors.

7. The electromagnetic detachable connector arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said annular permanent magnet is magnetized in a radial direction relative to a center axis of said iron core.

8. The electromagnetic detachable connector arrangement according to claim 6, wherein

a second one of said connectors other than said first connector further includes a second electromagnet that comprises a coil wound around an iron core and that is fixed to said movable section of said second connector, and a second annular permanent magnet that is arranged to surround said coil of said second electromagnet,

said iron cores of said first and second electromagnets are rod iron cores and are arranged coaxial with each other, and

said first and second permanent magnets are magnetized so as to generate a magnetic attraction therebetween.

9. The electromagnetic detachable connector arrangement according to claim 6, wherein

a second one of said connectors other than said first connector further includes a second electromagnet that comprises a coil wound around an iron core and that is fixed to said movable section of said second connector, and a second annular permanent magnet that is arranged to surround said coil of said second electromagnet,

said iron cores of said first and second electromagnets are rod iron cores and are arranged coaxial with each other,

said first and second permanent magnets are respectively magnetized in directions opposite to each other so as to generate a magnetic attraction between said iron cores of said first and second electromagnets, and

a connection between said movable sections in a connected state is maintained by said magnetic attraction between said iron cores.

10. The electromagnetic detachable connector arrangement according to claim 7, wherein

a second one of said connectors other than said first connector further includes a second electromagnet that comprises a coil wound around an iron core and that is fixed to said movable section of said second connector, and a second annular permanent magnet that is arranged to surround said coil of said second electromagnet,

said iron cores of said first and second electromagnets are rod iron cores and are arranged coaxial with each other, and

said first and second permanent magnets are magnetized radially and so as to generate a magnetic attraction therebetween.

11. The electromagnetic detachable connector arrangement according to claim 7, wherein

a second one of said connectors other than said first connector further includes a second electromagnet that comprises a coil wound around an iron core and that is fixed to said movable section of said second connector, and a second annular permanent magnet that is arranged to surround said coil of said second electromagnet,

said iron cores of said first and second electromagnets are rod iron cores and are arranged coaxial with each other, and

said first and second permanent magnets are respectively magnetized radially and in directions opposite to each other, and are arranged so that a magnetic flux from said permanent magnets is respectively concentrated within said iron cores to generate a magnetic attraction between said iron cores, and a connection between said movable sections in a connected state is maintained by said magnetic attraction between said iron cores.

12. The electromagnetic detachable connector arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a resilient force applying element exerting a biasing force onto one of said movable sections in a direction releasing a connection between said movable sections.