Smiths Industries Public Limited Company

Derek A Rush

Roger D Swadling

An electrical connector pin for insertion into a socket of circular section is machined from a single piece of metal. The forward part of the pin has a constant cross-section along the major part of its length, being circular with two parallel flats which extend along its length. A slot extends across the forward part of the pin between opposite flats, dividing the pin into two prongs. The diameter of the socket is less than the diameter of the pin across its circular part but more than the width of the pin between the flats. In use, as the pin is inserted in the socket, it contacts the open end of the socket at four points between the flat and circular regions of the pin, gradually closing the slot at the tip until it is just open when inserted to its full extent.

Electrical connectors and connector elements

Heat dissipation from electronic modules is improved by clamping their edges against heat-conducting fins in a housing by means of two expanding jackscrews. Each jackscrew has a shaft mounted in bearings in the module and carries a row of alternate closed rings and split rings. The closed rings are smaller in diameter than the split rings and have a circular section. The split rings are of tubular shape, having ends of circular section which engage the closed rings. The forward end of the shaft is screw-threaded to engage a fixed nut in the housing. When the shaft is screwed into the fixed nut, it pulls a connector on the module into engagement with a cooperating connector in the housing. At the same time, the closed rings are forced against the split rings, causing them to expand radially and exert a clamping force against the edges of the modules, forcing them into thermal contact with the fins in the housing.

Clamping means, and modules and units including clamping means

A surface-mounted electrical connector, or other contact assembly, has an insulative housing which supports one end of contact pins, in two rows, one above the other. The other end of each contact pin is bent back beneath itself to extend along the lower surface of the housing in channels separated from one another by walls. The lower end of each pin has an enlarged spherical knob which contacts a respective conductive region on the surface of a printed circuit board. The roofs of the channels are rounded to receive the knobs, the height of the channels being substantially the same as the diameter of the knobs. The rear end of each contact pin is inclined downwardly, in its natural state, to project below the housing, so that it is urged resiliently into contact with the conductive region during mounting. A bolt helps secure the connector to the board.

Electrical contact assemblies and components

An electrical connector for surface mounting on a printed circuit board has a rectangular plastics housing with two rows of contact pins. The pins are each in the form of a turned metal wire of circular section having an enlarged spherical knob at its rear end. Each pin extends parallel to the base of the housing, having its rear end bent downwards so that, in its natural state, the knob lies below the housing. When mounted on the circuit board, each knob is resiliently urged into contact with a respective printed contact pad on the board and is secured thereto by solder. The forward end of each pin provides a male member that makes connection in a socket in a cooperating connector.

Electrical contact elements, connectors and assemblies

An electrical contact element for a backplane connector is of unitary construction. The element has a compliant portion of generally cylindrical shape with tapered ends and is formed with at least three radial slots equally spaced around the element, the slots intersecting one another within the element and extending axially along the element. The radial slots open into one another within the compliant portion and form three sector-shaped limbs that are urged inwards towards one another when the contact element is inserted into a plated hole in a circuit board. Below the compliant portion projects a narrower stem with flattened sides for a wire wrapped connection. The other end of the contact element is formed with a female mating portion in which may be mounted spring-wire contacts for engaging an inserted pin.

Electrical contact elements, connectors and methods of manufacture

An optical displacement transducer for providing a digital output representative of the displacement of a variable from a datum value comprises a light beam emitter and a light beam receiver disposed on a common optical axis, a digital encoding element comprising an optical grating disposed between the light beam emitter and receiver, the grating extending in a circular path with the grating lines extending substantially radially of the path, means for causing relative rotation between the light beam and the grating about the center of the circular path whereby the light beam as seen by said receiver is in the form of a series of light pulses, a first reference position at a stationary position on the circular path, a second reference position on the circular path and angularly displaced about the center of the circular path from the first reference position whereby a predetermined light pulse count is produced during the relative rotation through the angle between the first and second reference positions, and control means for adjusting the second reference position relatively to the first reference position in response to displacement of the variable whereby to vary the pulse count in response to the displacement.

Growing community of inventors

London, United Kingdom

Derek A Rush