US3596018A - Electrical connection device for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connection device is disclosed for establishing an electrical circuit between a relatively fixed stationary location and a movable vehicle and comprises a directional guide and connection receptacle mounted on the vehicle and an elongated probe carrying electrical conductors movably mounted on a fixed support and incorporating switch means which are actuated by the positioning of the probe relative to its environment and support means as by registry with the directional guide and connection receptacle on the vehicle.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee James 1.. Elmes Youngstown, Ohio 836,355

June 25, 1969 July 27, 1971 Howard Gros Poland, Ohio 1 part interest to ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl ZOO/51.09, 307/l0,320/2 Int. Cl H0lh 33/30 Field of Search 200/5 1 .07-

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,717,467 6/1929 Schleich et al..... 200/51.09 2,020,402 11/1935 Edwards et al. ZOO/51.09 3,059,073 l0/l962 French, Jr. ZOO/51.09 3,115,724 12/1963 Clarke 200161.59 X 3,452,167 6/1969 Fee ZOO/51.09

Primary Examiner- David Smith, Jr.

Attorney-Webster B. Harpman 29 2a L: w

PATENTEUJULZYIQTI 3596'018 FIG. 3 INVENTOR.

JAMES L. ELMES ATTORNEY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates to electrical connection devices for establishing electrical circuits between fixed and movable objects.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior structures of this type have employed various receptacles incorporating connection means and plugs carrying electrical conductors such as for example, telephone and radio jacks. Additionally, electrical couplers for railway cars using fixed receptacles and plugs are known in U.S. Pat. No. 593,965 and an automatic electrical connection device incorporating a probe and a drogue-shaped receptacle are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,396. This invention discloses a probe carrying electrical conductors and arranged in movable relation to a supporting device which in turn is movably mounted on a fixed surface to accommodate variations in the position of the vehicle carrying the directional guide and connection device so as to make possible a satisfactory alignment and electrical connection as the vehicle moves toward the relatively fixed probe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An electrical connection device for vehicles comprises a directional guide and connection receptacle mounted on the vehicle and a probe carrying electrical conductors movably mounted for actuating a switch means in a support device which in turn is movably mounted with respect to a fixed supporting surface. The arrangement of the directional guide and connection receptacle is such that it can be incorporated in the ornamental grill work ofa motor vehicle, for example, and it will provide tolerance for misalignment with the probe when the vehicle is directed there against. The probe itself is supported in a structure which is movably mounted on a fixed supporting surface such as a building wall or the like and provides additional compensating movement as necessary for the alignment of the probe with the directional guide and connection receptacle of the vehicle to overcome ordinary misalignment between the same. An electrical switch incorporating in the probe-mounting structure disconnects the electrical conductors in the probe at such time as the probe moves outwardly of its support structure as when it is disengaged from the guide and connection receptacle on the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view illustrating a portion ofa vehicle with the directional guide and connection receptacle thereon and the connection probe and supporting structure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale on line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In its simplest form the electrical connection device for vehicles comprises a drogue-shaped guide having a connection receptacle II in the smaller end thereof and a closure 12 on the opposite end which closure 12 preferably comprises a pair of hinged doors normally spring loaded to closed position.

adjacent the opposite ends of the probe 13. The probe 13 is itself slidably supported in a tubular guide 18 which is mounted in a receptacle box 19 as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

By referring thereto it will be observed that brushes 20 are mounted in the tubular guide 18 for electrical contact with the rings 17 on the probe 13 when the probe 13 is moved to a first position. A spring 21 in the tubular guide 18 normally urges the probe 13 outwardly of the tubular guide 18 to a second position as illustrated.

Electrical conductors 22 extend by way of a switch 23 exteriorly of the receptacle box 19 and are connected to a suitable source of electrical energy.

A projecting partial collar 24 is positioned on the probe 13 inside the receptacle box 19 so as to limit the travel of the probe 13 relative thereto and so as to engage the actuating member of the switch 23 when the partial collar 24 engages the same as will occur when the probe 13 moves inwardly of the tubular guide 18 and positions the rings 17 in registry with the brushes 20 as heretofore described.

It will thus be seen that when the probe 13 is in the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is no electrical energy present in the rings 16 and that the same are energized only at such time as the probe 13 has entered the drogue-brushes 20 and the switch 23 has been closed.

It will occur to those skilled in the art that simultaneously the rings 16 will engage brushes 25 in the connection receptacle II which brushes 25 are in turn electrically connected with a pair of conductors 26 in the vehicle carrying the device so that electrical apparatus in the vehicle may be operated either directly or by remote control as desired. Such electrical apparatus may include an electrically operated space heater for the passenger compartment of the vehicle an engine heater for the engine therein and starting means and any or all of these devices may be subject to timed control either directly or remotely. Additionally, battery charging equipment may be electrically connected to maintain the storage battery in the vehicle in charged condition.

In the case of electrically driven vehicles, the storage batteries providing the propulsion power will be recharged through the electrical connection disclosed and in internal combustion engine driven vehicles the auxiliary electrical devices such as hereinbefore referred to may be actuated by the electrical connection device.

By referring again to the drawing and FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it will be observed that the receptacle box 19 is flexibly mounted on a supporting surface such as a wall 27 by suitable means which may comprise a plurality of springs 28 attached to the outer surfaces of the box 19 and supporting the same in movable relation with respect to a cross-shaped bracket 29 which has out turned arms 30 to which the springs 28 are attached. The flexible mounting of the receptacle box 19 is necessary and desirable to accommodate variations in the positioning of the directional guide and connection receptacle on the motor vehicle and it will be observed that the mounting illustrated and described herein permits the receptacle box 19 and the probe 13 to move vertically and/or horizontally as necessary to properly align with the drogue-shaped guide 10 and the connection receptacle 11 thereof.

Variations in the flexible mounting means for the receptacle box 19 will occur to those skilled in the art and may comprise a substitution of resilient and/or yielding movable means for the springs 28 as will occur to those skilled in the art.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and having thus described my invention.

What I claim is:

1. An electrical connection device for vehicles including a directional guide and connection receptacle mounted thereon, electrical contacts in said connection receptacle, an elongated probe and a movable support device therefor including guide means therein movably mounting said elongated probe, electrical conductors in said probe and electrical contacts on said probe in connection with said conductors and means in said support device normally urging said probe outwardly therefrom, said electrical contacts in said connection receptacle arranged for engagement with some of the electrical contacts on said probe, secondary electrical conductors and contacts in said support device arranged for registry with other of said electrical contacts on said probe and switch means in said support device controlling said secondary electrical conductors and arranged for actuation by said probe when said probe is moved relative to said support device.

2. The electrical connection device of claim 1 including means mounting said movable support device for vertical and horizontal movement whereby said probe may move so as to suitably engage said directional guide and connection recepta-

Claims (4)

1. An electrical connection device for vehicles including a directional guide and connection receptacle mounted thereon, electrical contacts in said connection receptacle, an elongated probe and a movable support device therefor including guide means therein movably mounting said elongated probe, electrical conductors in said probe and electrical contacts on said probe in connection with said conductors and means in said support device normally urging said probe outwardly therefrom, said electrical contacts in said connection receptacle arranged for engagement with some of the electrical contacts on said probe, secondary electrical conductors and contacts in said support device arranged for registry with other of said electrical contacts on said probe and switch means in said support device controlling said secondary electrical conductors and arranged for actuation by said probe when said probe is moved relative to said support device.

2. The electrical connection device of claim 1 including means mounting said movable support device for vertical and horizontal movement whereby said probe may move so as to suitably engage said directional guide and connection receptacle on said vehicle.

3. The electrical connection device of claim 1 wherein resilient means urges said probe outwardly of said support device.

4. The electrical connection device of claim 2 and wherein said means mounting said movable support device consists of pairs of oppositely disposed springs.

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