Electrical Switch Connector Assembly And Method Of Connecting An Electrical Device To An Electrical Switch Assembly

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly ( 10 ) incorporates a connector ( 12 ) with a switch and is designed to electrically and mechanically connect and disconnect to a mating electrical device ( 14 ) while maintaining a closed circuit continuously through the connector. The mating electrical device includes a plurality of conductive contacts ( 20 ). The electrical connector includes an insulating housing ( 30 ) with at least a pair of input and output terminals ( 32 ) mounted on the housing. The terminals include contact portions ( 32 b ) for engaging the contacts of the mating electrical device. A switch mechanism ( 40; 60 ) is movably mounted on the housing for movement between a connecting position and a disconnecting position. The switch mechanism includes a latch member ( 48; 17 ) and at least one switch terminal ( 44 ). In the connecting position, the latch member is interengaged with a latch ( 26; 62 ) on the mating electrical device with the switch terminal out of engagement with the input and output terminal. In the disconnecting position, the latch member ( 48, 17 ) is disengageable from the latch ( 26, 62 ) on the mating electrical device so that the device can be removed from the assembly with the switch terminal ( 44 ) in engagement with the input and output terminals ( 32 ) to maintain a closed circuit through the connector ( 12 ) when the mating electrical device ( 14 ) is removed.

1 . A mating connector system, comprising:
 a mating electrical device ( 14 ) including a latch ( 26 ;  62 ) and at least a pair of conductive contacts ( 20 ); and   an electrical connector assembly ( 10 ) including an insulating housing ( 30 ),   at least a pair of conductive input and output terminals ( 32 ) mounted on the housing, the terminals including contact portions ( 32   b ) for engaging contacts ( 20 ) of the mating electrical device, and   a switch mechanism ( 40 ;  62 ) movably mounted on the housing for movement between a connecting position and a disconnecting position, whereby in the connecting position a closed circuit flow is maintained through the electrical device ( 14 ), and in the disconnecting position a closed circuit flow is maintained through the input and output terminals with a shorting circuit,   wherein the switch mechanism includes a shaft ( 40 ;  70 ) and a locking member ( 48 ;  16   d ), the shaft including at least one switch terminal ( 44 ;  74 ), wherein in the connecting position the locking member ( 48 ;  16   d ) is interengaged with a lock ( 26 ;  68 ) on the mating electrical device where the switch terminal ( 44 ;  74 ) is out of engagement with the input and output terminals, and in the disconnecting position the locking member ( 48 ;  16   d ) is disengageable from the lock ( 26 ;  68 ) on the mating electrical device so that the device can be removed from the assembly where the switch terminal ( 44 ;  74 ) is in engagement with the input and output terminals ( 32 ) forming the short circuit to maintain a closed circuit flow through the connector ( 12 ) when the mating electrical device ( 14 ) is removed, the switch mechanism designed so that the switch terminals ( 44 ;  74 ) engage the appropriate input and output terminals ( 32 ) before the locking member ( 48 ; 16   d ) is disengaged from the lock ( 26 ;  68 ).   
     
     
         2 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 1  wherein said switch mechanism comprises a shaft ( 40 ) rotatably mounted on the housing ( 30 ), with said switch terminal ( 44 ) being disposed at an outer circumferential periphery of the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 2  wherein said shaft ( 40 ) is elongated and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis ( 42 ), the input and output terminals ( 32 ) are spaced longitudinally of the shaft, the switch terminal ( 44 ) extends longitudinally of the shaft, and the switch terminal extends longitudinally for shorting the input and output terminals in the rotatable disconnecting position of the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 1  wherein said mating electrical device ( 14 ) includes an actuator ( 22 ) for moving the switch mechanism ( 40 ) between said positions. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 4  wherein said actuator ( 22 ) includes said latch ( 26 ) for interengagement with the latch member ( 48 ) on the movable switch mechanism ( 40 ). 
     
     
         6 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 5  wherein said actuator comprises a lever ( 22 ) pivotally mounted on the mating electrical device ( 14 ). 
     
     
         7 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 1  wherein said connector housing ( 30 ) and said mating electrical device ( 14 ) have mounting faces ( 30   a ; 16   a ) mountable on a support structure in a coplanar relationship, the mating electrical device being mateable onto the housing in a mating direction (A) generally perpendicular to their mounting faces. 
     
     
         8 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 7 , including a plurality of guide projections ( 34 ) on the connector housing ( 30 ) extending in said mating direction (B) for receipt in a corresponding plurality of guide apertures ( 18   a ) in the mating electrical device ( 14 ). 
     
     
         9 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 1 , including locking means ( 50   a , 50   b , 52 ) for holding the switch mechanism ( 40 ) in either of its connecting or disconnecting positions. 
     
     
         10 . The electrical connector assembly of  claim 5  wherein said actuator  60  is slidably mounted on the mating electrical device ( 14 ). 
     
     
         11 . An electrical connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrical device is a watt-hour meter. 
     
     
         12 . A method of connecting an electrical device ( 14 ) to a connector assembly ( 10 ) incorporating a connector ( 12 ) with a switch while maintaining a closed circuit flow through the connector, comprising the steps of:
 moving an electrical device ( 14 ) into electrical engagement with the connector assembly ( 10 ) so that at least a pair of input and output terminals ( 32 ) from one circuit mounted on the housing ( 30 ) of the connector assembly ( 10 ) engages contacts  20 ) of the mating electrical device and so that a lock ( 26 ;  68 ) on the mating electrical device is inserted into locking member ( 48 ;  16   d ) on a switch mechanism movably mounted on the housing for movement between a connecting position and a disconnecting position, whereby in the connecting position, a closed circuit flow is maintained through the electrical device ( 14 ), and in the disconnecting position a closed circuit flow is maintained through the input and output terminals with a shorting circuit, held in the connector, the switch mechanism including at least one switch terminal ( 44 ,  74 ) that is in engagement with the pair of input and output terminals ( 32 ) forming the short circuit to maintain a closed circuit thought the connector ( 12 ); and   moving the switch mechanism to the connecting position that first engages the lock ( 26 ;  68 ) to the locking member ( 48 ;  16   d ) and then disengages the switch terminal ( 44 ;  74 ) from the pair of input and output terminals ( 32 ) removing the short circuit and allowing current to flow through the meter.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of moving the switch mechanism includes sliding movement of the switch mechanism in relation to the connector housing. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of moving the switch mechanism includes rotating movement of the switch mechanism in relation to the connector housing.