Universal electrical connection apparatus
Contents
1. al Sid U S Patent FIG ID 31 1983 Sheet 3 of 7 eo gt V L Ye R 5 lt 4 386 333 4 386 333 Sheet 4 of 7 U S Patent 31 1983 p 602 00 913 4 386 333 Sheet 5 of 7 U S Patent 31 1983 ct rei U S Patent 31 1983 Sheet 6 of 7 4 386 333 U S Patent 31 1983 Sheet 7 of 7 4 386 333 4 386 333 1 UNIVERSAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTION APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The invention relates to apparatus for connecting an electrical device to a power source and more particu larly universally adapting a single voltage device to different source voltages 2 Description of the Prior Art Electrical devices such as copiers computers audio components household appliances etc frequently op erate on only one voltage but must be used with differ ent power supply voltages For example a 115 VAC 60 Hz copier wired with a 115 VAC 60 Hz style plug may have to be used where only a 230 VAC 60 Hz power supply outlet is available Substitution of a 230 VAC 60 Hz plug together with appropriate wire reconnections permit 115 VAC copier operation from the 230 VAC outlet However serious hazards to an operator and machine safety are created For example a plug or socket wiring error i2. 3 the 115 VAC line cord set 201 keyed socket 202 FIG 5 could be inserted into the receptacle 103 only after the disc 104 was rotated to position switch rotor 117 at the 115 VAC switch contact 310 This switch contact 310 connects to a transformer 301 secondary 303 output YX1 which provides the same voltage as was applied at transformer 301 primary 302 input Y connected to one of the phase conductors 106 If in stead the 230 VAC line cord set 201 FIG 6 had been used the disc 104 would have positioned the rotor at the 230 VAC contact 312 connected to the same output Y X1 Asa result 230 between phase conductors 106 which is 115 VAC between Y conductor 106 and conductor 107 appears as 115 VAC on the wire in output cable 205 connected to rotor 117 Similarly 105 VAC 115 VAC 209 VAC or 230 VAC between the phase conductors 106 of receptacle 103 always appears as 115 VAC between phase conductor 306 and neutral conductor 307 of output socket 206 because the disc 104 and therefore the rotor 117 must be appropriately moved to enable the receptacle 103 to receive the corre spondingly keyed socket 202 As shown in FIG 3 the receptacle 103 neutral con ductor 107 is connected to the transformer 301 primary 302 The Y conductor 106 connects to the other end of primary 302 while the X conductor 106 is not used The ground conductor 105 may connect via output cable 205 to ground connector 305 of output socket 206 Other voltag
3. for removing electrical potential from unused sockets French Pat No 1 545 854 discloses two sockets one covered alternately selectable connected to a power supply voltage changing switch U S Pat Nos 2 930 019 and 2 989 719 disclose plugs and sockets adjustable for a plurality of power sources However since each must be manually rewired for different volt age sources a voltage mismatch is possible Portable radios provide one receptacle both for 110 VAC tion and specially slotted for 12 VDC automobile eration 12 VDC socket projection switches the power source directly into the radios DC power sup ply In French Pat No 1 503 482 a notched dial rests plug inserted into an electric razor While the dial operates a circuit adapting the razor s voltage operator error connects the wrong power supply voltage 5 10 20 25 30 35 45 50 55 60 65 2 The prior art does not teach a single device recepta cle uniquely mated to each one of a multiplicity of line cord sets and to the device s power supply wherein inadvertent mismatches cannot occur The invention provides plural plug and socket line cord sets usable with a device having a variable power interface for assuring that the plug s supply voltage matches the device s input voltage Each line cord set has two essentially permanently attached end connec tors a keyed socket and a wall plug The keyed socket has a u
4. one end mateable with a predefined supply voltage and a connector at the other end having a unique shape identifying the plug s supply voltage a voltage receptacle connected to the converter input for receiving one line cord connector at a time and mechanical keys attached to the converter s control each positionable to define a connector receivable by the receptacle and bar other connectors whereby operation of the control to permit the re ceptacle to receive a connector varies the input to output voltage to provide substantially the same output voltage for different supply voltages 2 The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the voltage con verter is a multitap transformer connected to a switch moved in accordance with mechanical key positions to select different taps and therefore output voltages 3 Apparatus for connecting an electrical device to a plurality of supply voltages including 4 386 333 5 a voltage converter having a control voltage out put connected to the device and a voltage input the converter being operable by the control to vary the input to output voltage ratio plurality of line cord sets each having a plug at one end mateable with a predefined supply voltage and connector at the other end having a unique shape identifying the plug s supply voltage a voltage receptacle connected to the converter input for receiving one line cord connector at a time and mechanical keys formed on
5. the circumference of a disc attached to the converter s control the disc being rotatable to bring one key at a time into a position to define a connector receivable by the receptacle and bar other connectors whereby rotation of the disc operates the control to permit the receptacle to receive a connector and vaties the input to output voltage to provide sub stantially the same output voltage for different supply voltages 4 Th apparatus of claim 3 wherein the voltage con verter is a multitap transformer connected to a switch moved in accordance with disc rotation to select differ ent taps and therefore output voltages 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 45 50 55 65 6 5 Apparatus for connecting an electrical device to any one of a plurality of supply voltages including a voltage switch having a manual control a voltage output connected to the device and a voltage in put the switch being operable by the manual con trol to vary the input to output voltage ratio a plurality of line cord sets each having a plug at one end with pins mateable with a predefined voltage supply and a connector at the other end having a unique shape identifying the plug a voltage receptacle connected to the switch input for receiving one line cord connector at a time and indentations formed on the circumfer nce of a disc attached to the switch s manual control the disc being rotatable to bring one indentation at a tim
6. 6 Netherlands 339 32 R 323 340 X OTHER PUBLICATIONS IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Copier Collator Apparatus A J Botte J H Hubbard J P Jordan H Kelm R J LeClere and S W Zieg 12 76 pp 2444 2445 IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin Connection Alignment Pin With Selectable Key C R Pettie pp 624 625 7 72 J C Penney Service Manual Black and White Televi sion Model 1038E 7 pp Form No 2812955 1 J C Penney Manual Location and Operation of Cus tomer Controls and Battery Model 1038E 4 pp Form No 2812953 1 IBM Series III Copier Duplicator Service Manual pp 162 163 Form No 241 5928 0 Electronic Design 11 22 80 p 296 Primary Examiner A Grimley Assistant Examiner Susan Steward Attorney Agent or Firm Gunter A Hauptman 57 ABSTRACT Different line cord sets connect an electrical device to different supply voltages assuring that the supply volt age matches the device Each line cord set has a uniquely keyed socket and a wall plug A device recep tacle receives the line cord s keyed socket An adjust able key on the device mates with the socket s key and rejects nonmating sockets to admit the socket into the receptacle and adjusts the device s input voltage to match the supply voltage 6 Claims 9 Drawing Figures U S Patent May 31 1983 Sheet 1 of 7 4 386 333 4 386 333 Sheet 2 of 7 U S Patent 31 1983
7. United States Patent 15 Dillan 54 UNIVERSAL ELECTRICAL CONNECTION APPARATUS 75 Inventor George O Dillan Boulder County Colo 73 Assignee International Business Machines Corporation Armonk N Y 21 Appl 317 108 22 Filed Nov 2 1981 51 Int CL sete HO1F 27 04 52 336 107 323 328 323 340 323 341 336 149 336 150 339 18 P 339 31 M 339 32 R 339 32 M 339 33 58 Field of Search 336 107 150 149 339 18 P 31 M 32 R 32 M 33 323 328 340 341 56 References Cited U S PATENT DOCUMENTS 1 498 146 6 1924 Benjamin i 2 097 257 10 1937 173 361 2 417 928 3 1947 Guernsey 173 361 2 930 019 3 1960 Hubbell 339 31 2 989 719 6 1961 Aarlaht 339 31 3 034 000 5 1962 Todd 336 150 3 082 302 3 1963 Rumble 200 51 03 3 120 985 2 1964 Hubbell 339 31 M 3 802 159 4 1974 Ferdelman 55 139 4 053 788 10 1977 307 11 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 1056222 4 1959 267689 4 1966 2243825 8 1972 1503482 10 1967 1545854 10 1968 Fed Rep of Germany Fed Rep of Germany 336 150 Fed Rep of Germany France France 4 386 333 May 31 1983 11 45 7600749 8 197
8. e into a position to mate with a connector shape receivable by the receptacle and to bar other con nector shapes whereby rotation of the disc permits the receptacle to receive one mating connector and varies the input to output voltage to provide substantially one output voltage for different voltage supplies 6 The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the voltage switch includes a transformer ks
9. e conversion devices may be used in place of transformer 301 For example the transformer 301 may be omitted or replaced a Delta wound transformer using both X and Y conductors 106 In FIG 4 an autotransformer winding 401 connects to transformer 301 input wires 304 and output wires 308 in place of the device in FIG 3 0 15 35 45 50 55 60 65 4 FIGS 5 and 6 illustrate two line cord set 201 designs usable in the invention In both FIGS 5 and 6 keyed socket 202 and a wall plug 203 are connected together by a line cord 204 It is important that the socket cord and plugs 202 204 be integrally formed as by molding to bar tampering In FIG 5 the wall plug 203 is in tended for insertion into a 115 VAC wall socket not shown requiring a wall plug 203 with three connectors 705 707 arranged as shown The corresponding keyed socket 202 115 VAC key 510 identifies the potentials present at conductors 505 507 115 VAC between the Y phase conductor 506 and the neutral conductor 507 In the case of the line cord set 201 in FIG 6 230 VAC appear between the Y and X phase conductors 606 In operation electrical device 101 is installed by choosing the line cord set 201 that has a voltage desig nation matching the power supply voltage available and a wall plug 203 which fits into the wall socket provided for that power supply voltage The disc 104 is then rotated to line up the keys 109 112 corr
10. esponding to the selected voltage and the keyed socket 202 is inserted into the receptacle 103 The selected position of disc 104 provides a rotary switch 113 position that maintains the voltage at output socket 206 the same for widely different wall socket power supply voltages If for example the wall plug 203 in FIG 5 connects to 115 V AC this voltage appears across conductors 706 707 506 507 and 106 Y 107 FIG 3 With rotor 117 in the position shown in FIG 3 115 VAC at the Y and neutral inputs of primary 302 of transformer 301 appears as 115 V AC at conductors 306 307 If instead wall plug 203 in FIG 6 connects to a 230 VAC power supply this volt age appears in connectors 806 606 and 106 However rotor 117 now will be at contact 312 and 115 still will appear at conductors 306 307 While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention What is claimed is 1 Apparatus for connecting an electrical device to a plurality of supply voltages including a voltage converter having a control a voltage out put connected to the device and a voltage input the converter being operable by the control to vary the input to output voltage ratio a plurality of line cord sets each having a plug at
11. lectrical device 101 operates on a supply voltage of 115 VAC Therefore physically distinguishable connectors associated with supply voltages of for example 105 VAC 115 VAC 209 VAC and 230 VAC are insert able into the receptacle 103 depending upon the disc 104 position As the disc 104 is rotated the different connectors become insertable Simultaneously the de vice 101 is conditioned for the correspondingly differ ent supply voltages Actual voltage applied to circuits inside the device 101 therefore remains at by way of example approximately 115 VAC The electrical connector 102 of FIG 1A appears in more detail in FIG 1B The receptacle 103 includes a grounding conductor 105 two phase conductors 106 and a neutral conductor 107 connectable to a mating socket arranged to receive the conductors 105 107 The disc 104 rotates peripheral keys 109 112 and a switch 113 when an operator turns a screwdriver slot 108 or otherwise grasps and turns the disc 104 One of keys 109 112 locks into position adjacent the receptacle 103 to mate with one socket and bar others For example in the position shown in FIG 1B a socket designed for a 105 VAC power supply mates with key 109 Additional power supply values appear on the view of disc 104 in 4 386 333 3 FIG 1C FIG 10 which is section 1D through FIG 1C shows how disc 104 rotation operates rotary switch 113 A shaft 114 connects disc 104 to switch rotor 117 which completes contact
12. nique predetermined configuration for the one supply voltage to which the wall plug at the other end is designed to connect A device receptacle connected to the device s power interface receives the line cord s keyed socket An adjustable key on the device mates with the keyed socket s configuration and rejects non mating line cord sockets Adjusting the receptacle s key to mate with the keyed socket plug admits the line cord socket into the receptacle and b varies the de vice s power interface to match the device s input volt age to the supply voltage for which the wall plug is designed BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG 1A illustrates a device incorporating the inven tion FIGS 1B 1D show mechanical aspects of the device receptacle FIG 2 shows the invention schematically FIG 3 details the variable voltage converter of FIG 2 A second voltage converter embodiment appears in FIG 4 FIGS 5 and 6 illustrate two line cord sets usable in the invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG 1A an electrical device 101 such as a com puter amplifier household appliance etc carries an electrical connector 102 for receiving electrical power supply voltage when an appropriate connector is in serted into a receptacle 103 A rotatable disc 104 defines insertable connectors barring other connectors in ac cordance with the particular supply voltage for which the device 101 is conditioned by the disc 104 Typically e
13. ntroduces 230 VAC to copier parts designed for 110 VAC The reverse situation creates analogous problems In addition to the hazards of rewir ing a 230 VAC device for 110 VAC outlets the lower supply voltage will probably not effectively operate most 230 VAC devices Electrical devices incorporate solutions to some of these problems The 115 VAC IBM Series III copier connects directly to 230 VAC power supply voltage through appropriate wiring between its internal compo nents and a 230 VAC plug A line cord adapter when placed between the 230 VAC plug and a 115 VAC power supply socket provides essential wiring inter connections but does not affect the copier s voltage requirements Voltage switches advertised in ELEC TRONIC DESIGN Nov 22 1980 page 296 permit different power supply voltage connections but do not insure that the switch positions match the connected voltages IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BUL LETIN December 1976 pages 2444 and 2445 describe a special circuit for protecting a copier collator from being inadvertently plugged into the wrong line Keyed mating plugs and sockets appear in IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN July 1972 pages 624 and 625 and German Publication No 2 243 825 Mar 14 1974 Alternatively separate device mounted sockets for each possible power supply voltage and matching removable line cord sets for each power source voltage may be provided with the device The latter solution requires circuits
14. s in a well known manner as it steps through positions held by a ball detent 115 and spring 116 FIG 2 illustrates an electrical device 101 carrying an electrical connector 102 Receptacle 103 receives a mating keyed socket 202 connected to a wall plug 203 via a line cord 204 of a line cord set 201 Receptacle 103 also connects to output cable 205 and output socket 206 through rotary switch 113 An output plug 207 is in serted into output socket 206 to ultimately connect cable 208 and utilization circuit 209 to power supply voltage at wall plug 203 The actual voltage applied to the utilization circuit 209 depends upon the position of disc 104 and the mating keyed socket 202 on line cord set 201 The receptacle 103 and disc 104 in FIG 3 are ar ranged to receive a mating keyed socket 202 connected toa 115 wall plug 203 as shown in FIG 5 Rota tion of the disc 104 two steps in either direction rear ranges the receptacle to receive instead a socket 202 connected to a 230 VAC wall plug 203 as shown in FIG 6 The choices of keys 109 112 and the corre sponding voltages are arbitrary In FIG 3 the rotary switch 113 rotor 117 connects one at a time of switch contacts 309 312 to one wire in output cable 205 as disc 104 rotates switch shaft 114 Receptacle 103 phase con ductors 106 supply power supply voltage in this exam ple 115 VAC from wall plug 203 to transformer 301 connected to rotary switch 113 In the example of FIG
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