The present invention relates to an electric connector box which is intended to receive at least one connector element and to hold said element detachably in a desired position.

The need of connector boxes of this kind is found, inter alia, in the caseof test tables for cable hanks or bundles, where it is necessary to be able to place the connector elements in a position such as to be positive that a connection with a plug on the table has truly been made and is held firm.

The present invention relates to a connector box by means of which an electrical connection can be made very positively and can be discon- nected in a simple way either manually or automatically.

The present invention thus relates to a connector box which is intended to receive at least one electrical connection element and to hold this element detachably in a desired position.

The connector box is characterized by a pivotally mounted locking lip which can be swung to one side from a first position by said connection element when inserting said element into the box, and which when occupying a second position, a locking position, exerts a locking action on the connecting element and therewith prevents withdrawal of said element from said box; and in that the locking lip can be moved from said locking position by pivoting said lip in the same direction as that in which said lip pivots upon insertion of the connecting element, such as to enable said connecting element to be withdrawn from said box when the angle between the normal direction of the surface of said connecting element at the position of abutment of the locking lip on one hand and a line which extends between said abutment position and the pivot centre of the locking lip on the other is selected so that self-locking is achieved.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifing embodiment thereof and with reference to the accom¬ panying drawing, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic, central longitudinal, sectional view of a connector box according to the invention, said section including a channel for receiving an electrical connection element and which illustrates a state in which the element can be inserted;

Figure 2 illustrates the box of Figure 1 and shows the functional state of the box subsequent to inserting the connecting element;

- Figure 3 shows the box of Figure 1 in a locking position;

Figure 4 Bhows the box of Figure 1 and illustrates how the locking lip is actuated manually so as to bring the lip away from its locking position; and

Figure 5 illustrates the box of Figure 1 and shows how the locking lip is caused to move from its locking position auto¬ matically, with the aid of hydraulic or pneumatic means.

Figure 1 illustrates a connector box 1 which includes a channel 3 into which an electrical connection element is intended to be inserted and brought into contact with a further electrical connecting element 4, shown in broken lines, located in said channel.

The connector box 1 has pivotally mounted therein a locking lip 5 which is intended to be pivoted from the position illustrated in Figure 1 by said connecting element when inserting said element into said channel, Figure 2, and to exert a locking action on said element in a second position, locking position, Figure 3, so as to prevent withdrawal of the connecting element from said channel, and to move out of its locking position when pivoted in the same direction, Figures 4 and 5, as that in which the lip pivots upon insertion of the element 2, so as to release said element and allow it to be withdrawn.

In the aforesaid locking position, the angle v between the normal direction N of the surface of the connecting element at the abutment position 6 of the locking lip on the one hand and a line L between

the abutment position 6 and the pivot centre 7 of the locking lip on the other hand is chosen so as to achieve self-locking. In this regard, the angle v shall be smaller than about 30*. The end of the locking lip is preferably rounded at and around the relevant abutment position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the locking lip which acts on the electrical connection element 2 extends from the pivot centre 7 towards and into the channel 3, wherein when occupying said first position, the locking lip preferably extends substantially transversely across the longitudinal extension of the channel and therewith sub¬ stantially transversal to the insertion direction of the element 2.

Also mounted in the box 1 is a spring 8 which acts on the locking lip, such that the locking lip is held in said first position by the action of the spring and is moved out of said first position upon contact with the element 2, against a spring force.

Means are provided for moving the locking lip out of its locking position, either manually or automatically. An embodiment is shown in which the locking lip includes, preferably on the other side of the pivot centre 7 relative to the channel 3, with engagement parts 9 for manual actuation and engagement parts 10 for automatic, hydraulic or pneumatic actuation. Also shown is an embodiment in which a hydraul- ically or pneumatically actuated plunger 11 is operative to act against the engagement part 10 of the locking lip, the plunger 11 being returned by means of said spring force which holds the locking lip in said first position.

The locking lip may have the configuration illustration in the draw¬ ings, i.e. a substantially -shaped configuration with two legs 5' , 5" extending substantially at right angles to one another. In said locking position, one leg 5' is intended to act on the connecting element 2 and the other leg 5" is intended to provide engagement parts 9 for manual actuation of the locking lip, and the intermediate corner part 5"' is intended to form an engagement surface 10 for automatic, hydraulic or pneumatic actuation of said lip, said actuating force being intended to cause the locking lip to leave its locking

position, both when actuated manually and automatically.

The manner of operation of the inventive connector box will be under¬ stood in all essentials from the aforegoing. When an electrical connecting element, or pin, is inserted into the connector box, the locking lip is pivoted to an extent in which it defines an angle v with the normal of the element surface, therewith achieving a self- locking effect. This angle is preferably smaller than 30*. An attempt to withdraw the element 2 will also entrain or dog the locking lip, therewith to achieve a locking effect. The connecting element is released, by pivoting the locking lip in the same direction as that in which the lip was pivoted when inserting the element 2.

The connecting element can be released either manually or auto- atically. Many connector boxes are used when testing cable hanks or bundles comprising many cables and connections. When the test shows that all the cables are serviceable, all connector boxes can be unlocked automatically at one and the same time. When cables are found to be faulty, the connector boxes associated therewith can be unlocked manually for the control of individual cableB.

It will be seen from the aforegoing that ₍ the invention provides important technical advantages, inter alia in the form of technical simplicity and high operational reliability.

In the aforegoing, the invention has been described with reference to exemplifying embodiments thereof. It will be understood, however, that other embodiments and minor modifications are conceivable without departing from the concept of the invention.

For instance, the connector box can conceivably be constructed to accommodate more than one electrical connecting element, and may comprise a locking lip which is common to more than cable, or separate locking lips. Furthermore, the electrical connecting element concerned may have many different forms, as can also the channel which receives said element.

The locking lip may also be actuated electrically or magnetically, as

an alternative to said hydraulic or pneumatic actuation.

According to one embodiment, check devices are provided which when the test carried out on the connecting element shows that said element is serviceable, will function to release the locking effect, via the locking lip, automatically.

The invention shall not therefore be considered to be limited to the aforedescribed embodiments, since modifications can be made within the scope of the accompanying Claims.