Universal cable assembly for both parallel and serial component connections

• US 6,500,025 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Moenkhaus, Patrick R., Schwarz, Edward L., McCarthy, Timothy F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, P. Austin
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US10/096,998
• Time in Patent Office: 293 Days
• Field of Search: 439/502, 439/217, 439/218, 439/507, 439/508, 439/509, 439/638
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/005 Intermediate parts for distributing signals

Abstract

A connector cable assembly has first and second plugs wired to permit plugging into a first pair of electrical plugs with a pair of terminals in a first configuration to place the terminals of those plugs in parallel connection, and to permit plugging into a second pair of electrical plugs with a pair of terminals in a second configuration, to place the terminals of those plugs in series connection. In a commercial embodiment, such a cable assembly can be used to provide power to electrical devices such as gas valves connected to receive power in parallel from the first pair of electrical plugs, and to connect in series, safety switches connected to plugs with a pair of terminals in the second configuration. By using an adapter with specialized connections between two sets of terminals it is possible to use additional cable assemblies to connect in excess of two switches in series.

Claims

1. A cable assembly for electrically connecting components in both serial and parallel, comprising:

a) a cable with first and second ends, and having at least first and second conductors;

b) a first connector plug mechanically attached to the first end of the cable and having at least first, second, and third terminals, said first plug'"'"'s first and third terminals electrically connected with each other and the first conductor, and said first plug'"'"'s second terminal electrically connected with the second conductor; and

c) a second connector plug mechanically attached to a second end of the cable and having at least first, second, and third terminals, said first terminal electrically connected to the first conductor, and said second terminal electrically connected to the second conductor.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the first plug includes a surface having therein first through third slots, into each of which may be inserted the respective one of first through third connecting pins, and where each of the first through third terminals is mounted in the respective slot to make electrical contact with an inserted connecting pin.

3. The cable assembly of claim 2, wherein the second plug includes

a) a first surface having therein first through third slots, into each of which may be inserted the respective one of first through third conductive pins and where each of the first through third terminals is mounted in the respective slot to make electrical contact with an inserted connecting pin; and

b) a second surface having first through third conductive pins projecting therefrom, said first through third pins electrically connected to the respective first through third slots.

4. The cable assembly of claim 3, wherein the slots each of the first plug and of the second plug have a predetermined polarized geometry, and wherein the second surface of the second plug faces generally away from the first surface of the second plug, and wherein said pins have the predetermined polarized geometry, thereby allowing said pins to enter slots having the predetermined polarized geometry in a one orientation only.

5. First and second of the cable assemblies of claim 4 in combination with a system having first and second type A components to be connected in parallel by said first cable assembly, each type A component having first and second conducting connection pins with the predetermined polarized geometry mounted to enter the first and second slots of either of the first cable assembly'"'"'s plugs, whereby connecting the first cable assembly to the type A components connects the type A components in parallel with each other and across the first and second pins;

and first and second type B components to be connected in series, each type B component having second and third conducting connection pins with the predetermined polarized geometry, with the second and third pins of each of the type B components mounted to enter the second and third slots of either of the second cable assembly'"'"'s plugs, whereby connecting the second cable assembly to the type B components connects the type B components in series with each other and between the first and third pins.

6. The cable assembly of claim 2, wherein the slots of the first plug are within a surface thereof, said slots in the surface having a predetermined polarized geometry, wherein the slots of the second plug are within a first surface of the second plug, said slots having the predetermined polarized geometry.

7. First and second of the cable assemblies of claim 6 in combination with a system having first and second type A components to be connected in parallel by said first cable assembly, each type A component having first and second conducting connection pins with the predetermined polarized geometry mounted to enter the first and second slots of either of the first cable assembly'"'"'s plugs, whereby connecting the first cable assembly to the type A components connects the type A components in parallel with each other;

and first and second type B components to be connected in series, each type B component having second and third conducting connection pins with the, with the second and third pins of each of the type B components mounted to enter the second and third slots of either of the second cable assembly'"'"'s plugs, whereby connecting the second cable assembly to the type B components connects the type B components in series with each other and between the first and third pins.

8. An adapter suitable for use with two cable assemblies as defined in claim 7 to connect first through third type B components in series, said adapter comprising a plug having

a) a first surface having therein first through third slots having the predetermined polarized geometry, into each of which may be inserted the respective one of first through third conductive pins, where a first terminal is mounted in the first slot to make electrical contact with an inserted connecting pin, and where a third terminal is mounted in the third slot to make electrical contact with an inserted connecting pin;

and

b) a second surface having second and third conductive pins projecting therefrom and having the predetermined polarized geometry of the second and third slots, said second pin electrically connected to the first terminal and said third pin electrically connected to the third terminal.

9. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the first and second surfaces thereof generally face in opposite directions.

10. An adapter suitable for connecting a first cable assembly as defined in claim 4 with a second similar cable assembly, said adapter comprising a plug having

a) a first surface having therein first through third slots having the predetermined polarized geometry, into each of which may be inserted the respective one of first through third conductive pins, where a first terminal is mounted in the first slot to make electrical contact with an inserted connecting pin, and where a third terminal is mounted in the third slot to make electrical contact with an inserted connecting pin;

and

b) a second surface having second and third conductive pins projecting therefrom and having the predetermined polarized geometry of the second and third slots, said second pin electrically connected to the first terminal and said third pin electrically connected to the third terminal.

11. The adapter of claim 10, wherein the first and second surfaces thereof generally face in opposite directions.