CONNECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC SHORTING OF CURRENT TRANSFORMER SECONDARY WINDING ON DISCONNECTION

摘要

Each contact of a connector receptacle is electrically connected to a separate lead from the secondary winding of a current transformer. In the disconnected condition, the socket contacts are shorted together by means of individual spring loaded actuators which make electrical contact with both the socket contact and a metal shorting plate which is common to all socket contact actuators. A measuring instrument or other device which is to be connected across the current transformer secondary is connected to the pin contacts of a complementary connector plug. When the connector plug is inserted into the receptacle, the pin contacts of the plug force the spring loaded actuators out of engagement with and away from the shorting plate thereby electrically isolating the socket contacts from each other. At the same time, the pin contacts engage the socket contacts, by means of the actuators, thereby establishing electrical continuity through the connector. The instrument is therefore electrically connected across the secondary winding of the current transformer. Upon disengagement of the connector, the socket contacts are automatically shorted together due to the spring loaded feature and the shorting plate, thus preventing the secondary winding of the current transformer from being accidentally in an open condition.