Electromechanical connector

• US 6,966,781 B1
• Filed: 06/21/1997
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Achim Bullinger, Klaus-Dieter Frisch
• Original Assignee: Achim Bullinger
• Inventors: Neidlein, Hermann, Fritsch, Klaus-Dieter, Bullinger, Achim
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US09/214,034
• Time in Patent Office: 3,076 Days
• Field of Search: 439/38, 439/188, 439/289, 439/200, 439/137, 439/146, 335/177, 335/179, 335205-208, 200 11 R- 11 TW, 200 51 R- 5107, 200/303
• US Class Current: 439/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling

Abstract

The electromechanical connector proposed has a switch and an actuator. The switch can be connected by means of contacts to a power supply and has switching magnets with encoded magnetic elements mounted on a carriage. It is fitted in a housing as an enclosed unit. The actuator has actuation magnets with encoded magnetic elements and can be connected to a consumer. The switch can be connected to the actuator, connecting these two devices causing the switching magnets to move, against a restraining force, from an inoperative position to an operating position. The electrical connection between the switch and the actuator is thus established by means of contacts. The ends of the switch and actuator facing each other are fitted with alignment devices designed so that electrical contact between the switch and the actuator can only be made when the contacts are in a particular position with respect to each other.

Claims

1. An electromechanical connecting device having a switching mechanism which can be connected via power supply contacts to a current source, an operating slide including coded magnet parts, a housing enclosing the operating slide in a closed assembly, the switching mechanism connected to a tripping mechanism which includes tripping magnets having additional coded magnet parts, the tripping and switching mechanisms including contact elements adapted to be connected electrically to a consumer, whereby connecting the two mechanisms in axial alignment brings the switching magnets from a rest position into a working position against a retaining force and completing the electrical connection between the switching mechanism and the tripping mechanism through contact elements disposed in the switching mechanism and the tripping mechanism, the switching mechanism and the tripping mechanism each being provided on mutually facing end faces with corresponding centering elements, the switching mechanism and the tripping mechanism toward the switching mechanism, the electical connection between the switching mechanism and the tripping mechanism made in only a specific position of the coded magnet parts and additional coded magnet parts relative to each other;

one of the mechanisms including at least one projection, the at least one projection including an elevation which rises above the projection and is adapted to mate with a correspondingly positioned through in the end face of the other mechanism;

the projection constructed as a bulging partial annular bead disposed on one of the end faces and, when the electrical connection is made, is situated in a partial annular groove disposed on the end face of the other mechanism, and which groove corresponds in shape and position to receive the bulging partial annular bead.

2. An electromechanical connecting device according to claim 1, adapted to carry electrical current in a DC low-voltage range.

3. An electromechanical connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one projection includes an elevation which rises above the projection and is adapted to mate with a correspondingly positioned trough in the end face of the other mechanism.

4. An electromechanical connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the partial annular bead is provided with an elevation, and a trough formed in the partial annular groove.

5. An electromechanical connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the coded magnets and additional coded magnets comprise a plurality of magnet parts with different polarities arranged respectively in a central region of the switching mechanism and in a central region of the tripping mechanism.

6. An electromechanical connecting device according to claim 1 wherein the contact elements of the tripping mechanism are pretensioned by spring devices in the direction of an electrical connection with the switching mechanism.

7. An electromechanical connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the contact parts in the switching mechanism each include two coaxially sequential contact parts for each of a positive pole and a negative pole, wherein one element of one contact part is connected to the power supply and is disposed on the operating slide, and a second element of another contact part is disposed on the end face directed toward the tripping mechanism.

8. An electromechanical connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the tripping mechanism is connected at its circumference to at least one earthing spring which projects beyond the end face directed toward the switching mechanism, and which earthing spring is adapted to contact and earthing ring in the switching mechanism.

9. An electromechanical connecting device according the claim 1, wherein the contact elements are separated from the coded magnets and additional coded magnets.

10. An electromechanical connecting device having a switching mechanism which can be connected via power supply contacts to a current source, an operating slide including coded magnet parts, a housing enclosing the operating slide in a closed assembly, the switching mechanism releasably connected to a tripping mechanism which includes tripping magnets having additional coded magnet parts, the tripping and switching mechanisms including contact elements adapted to be connected electrically to a consumer, whereby connecting the two mechanisms in axial alignment brings the switching magnets from a rest position into a working position against a retaining force and completing the electrical connection between the switching mechanism and the tripping mechanism through the contact elements disposed in the switching mechanism and tripping mechanism, the switching mechanism and the tripping mechanism each being provided on mutually facing end faces with corresponding centering elements, the electrical between the switching mechanism and the tripping mechanism made in only a specific position of the coded magnet parts and additional coded magnet parts relative to each other, centering elements having at least one projection disposed in an end face of one of the switching mechanism, and at least one depression corresponding to the at least one projection in an end face of the other mechanism;

one of the mechanisms including at least one projection, the at least one projection including an elevation which rises above the projection and is adapted to mate with a correspondingly positioned trough in the end face of the other mechanism;

the projection constructed as a bulging a partial annular bead disposed on one of the end faces and, when the electrical connection is made, is situated in a particular annular groove on the end face of the other mechanism, and which groove corresponds in shape and position to receive the bulging partial annular bead.