US-12627100-B2 - Electrical connector with interlock

Abstract

An electrical connector including at least one locking member movably engageable with at least one locking feature provided on a second electrical connector, at least one latch rotatably movable between a locked position for preventing movement of the at least one locking member and an unlocked position for allowing movement of the at least one locking member and a sensor for sensing a voltage level on the electrical connector, wherein when the voltage level is sensed to be above a defined level, the at least one latch is moved to the locked position and when the voltage level is sensed to be below the defined level the at least one latch is moved to the unlocked position.

Inventors

• John Brower
• Zhenhong Li

Assignees

• HUBBELL INCORPORATED

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231208

Claims (20)

1. 1 . An electrical connector comprising: at least one locking member movably engageable with at least one locking feature provided on a second electrical connector; at least one latch rotatably movable between a locked position for preventing movement of the at least one locking member and an unlocked position for allowing movement of the at least one locking member; and a sensor for sensing a voltage level on the electrical connector, wherein when the voltage level is sensed to be above a defined level, the at least one latch is moved to the locked position and when the voltage level is sensed to be below the defined level the at least one latch is moved to the unlocked position.
2. 2 . The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein when the at least one latch is in the lock position, it is not possible to disconnect or connect the electrical connector and the second electrical connector.
3. 3 . The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor senses a voltage level of a voltage being provided to the electrical connector, the defined level being a voltage level where arcing is not likely to occur when the electrical connector and the second electrical connector are connected or disconnected.
4. 4 . The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor senses a residual voltage on the electrical connector when the voltage is not being provided to the electrical connector.
5. 5 . The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one latch comprises at least one of a DC motor, servo, stepper and generic gear motor.
6. 6 . The electrical connector according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one latch further comprises at least one of a rotatable cam member and a screw-driven latch plate.
7. 7 . The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking member comprises a slide mechanism movable between first and second positions.
8. 8 . The electrical connector according to claim 7 , wherein when the at least one latch is in the locked position, the slide mechanism is prevented from moving between the first and second positions and when the at least one latch is in the unlocked position, the slide mechanism is free to move between the first and second positions.
9. 9 . The electrical connector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking member comprises a button movable between first and second positions.
10. 10 . The electrical connector according to claim 9 , wherein when the at least one latch is in the locked position, the button is prevented from moving between the first and second positions and when the at least one latch is in the unlocked position, the button is free to move between the first and second positions.
11. 11 . The electrical connector according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one latch comprises two latches.
12. 12 . An electrical connector assembly comprising: a first electrical connector comprising, at least one locking feature; and a second electrical connector comprising, at least one locking member movably engageable with the at least one locking feature, at least one latch rotatably movable between a locked position for preventing movement of the at least one locking member and an unlocked position for allowing movement of the at least one locking member, and a sensor for sensing a voltage level on the first electrical connector, wherein when the voltage level is sensed to be above a defined level, the at least one latch is moved to the locked position and when the voltage level is sensed to be below the defined level the at least one latch is moved to the unlocked position.
13. 13 . The electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein when the at least one latch is in the lock position, it is not possible to disconnect or connect the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector.
14. 14 . The electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the sensor senses a voltage level of a voltage being provided to the second electrical connector, the defined level being a voltage level where arcing is not likely to occur when the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are connected or disconnected.
15. 15 . The electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the sensor senses a residual voltage on the second electrical connector when the voltage is not being provided to the second electrical connector.
16. 16 . The electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one latch comprises at least one of a DC motor, servo, stepper and generic gear motor.
17. 17 . The electrical connector assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one latch further comprises at least one of a rotatable cam member and a screw-driven latch plate.
18. 18 . The electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one locking member comprises a slide mechanism movable between first and second positions.
19. 19 . The electrical connector assembly according to claim 18 , wherein when the at least one latch is in the locked position, the slide mechanism is prevented from moving between the first and second positions and when the latch is in the unlocked position, the slide mechanism is free to move between the first and second positions.
20. 20 . The electrical connector assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one locking member comprises a lock button movable between first and second positions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/431,284 filed Dec. 8, 2022 entitled ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH INTERLOCK the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. BACKGROUND Field The present disclosure relates to electrical connectors and, in particular, to electrical connectors with interlocks. Description of the Related Art Various types of electrical connectors exist for interconnecting wires or cables. These electrical connectors generally include a female connector which can be joined to a male connector. In many operating environments, the male and female connectors can be made to attach and detach from each other in a relatively simple manner. For example, generally, the male connector includes prongs which are dimensioned and positioned in the male connector and are received in correspondingly dimensioned and positioned receptacles in the female connector. The male prongs and or the female receptacles may be dimensioned and designed to provide a snug secure fit which keep the male and female connectors together. However, the male and female connectors can generally be easily separated by pulling the male and female connectors apart. In certain operating environments, it is important that the male and female connectors be joined in such a manner that it is not easy to connect and/or disconnect them. For example, when the cables being joined by the male and female connectors carry high voltages and/or currents, it may be ill-advised to connect and/or disconnect the connectors when power is applied to the cable, since arcing can occur. Such arcing can cause damage to the connectors and may present an issue for users connecting and/or disconnecting the connectors. In fact, even after power is removed from the cable, the cable and connectors may still maintain high levels of residual voltage/current which can be released in the form or arcing if the male and female connectors are disconnected too soon after power is removed. The user should not be able to join or separate the male and female connectors while power is supplied and/or immediately after power is removed to avoid this arcing condition. An example of such a high voltage and/or high current operating environment involves the use of strong electromagnets. Electromagnets are used in many types of systems including, for example, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, particle accelerators, magnetic separation and/or moving equipment, magnetic levitation, etc. just to name a few. These types of devices often operate at very high voltages and/or currents and require the utmost care be taken by the operators. A need exists for connectors that can only be joined and disconnected when a voltage/current in the connector is at a level where arcing will not occur. In particular, the connectors should be capable of being joined and/or disconnected without the operator having to know when power is on and/or if or when power was removed. SUMMARY According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, an electrical connector includes at least one locking member movably engageable with at least one locking feature provided on a second electrical connector, at least one latch rotatably movable between a locked position for preventing movement of the at least one locking member and an unlocked position for allowing movement of the at least one locking member and a sensor for sensing a voltage level on the electrical connector, wherein when the voltage level is sensed to be above a defined level, the at least one latch is moved to the locked position and when the voltage level is sensed to be below the defined level the at least one latch is moved to the unlocked position. According to another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, an electrical connector assembly includes a first electrical connector having at least one locking feature and a second electrical connector having at least one locking member movably engageable with the at least one locking feature, at least one latch rotatably movable between a locked position for preventing movement of the at least one locking member and an unlocked position for allowing movement of the at least one locking member and a sensor for sensing a voltage level on the second electrical connector, wherein when the voltage level is sensed to be above a defined level, the at least one latch is moved to the locked position and when the voltage level is sensed to be below the defined level the at least one latch is moved to the unlocked position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1A is a block dia