FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10; rule 13)
1. Title of the invention: SELF ALIGNMENT OF PLUG AND SOCKET TYPE CONNECTORS IN DRAW-OUT ASSEMBLIES
2. Applicant(s):

(a) NAME : LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED
(b) NATIONALITY : An Indian Company
(c) ADDRESS : L & T House, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 001,
State of Maharashtra, India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to electrical switching devices. More particularly the present invention relates to an improved connector assembly for draw out type electrical switching devices.
BACKGROUND AND THE PRIOR ART
The assemblies which receive and deliver electrical power are of two types-
A) Fixed type: In this type of assemblies permanent electrical connections are made e.g. by
bolting. For disconnections, the fixed part has to be electrically isolated.
B) Draw out type assemblies: Assemblies of this type of are divided in two parts- one fixed
part & one moving part. The fixed part can have source and load contacts. The electrical
parts are fixed on the moving part which is also known as withdrawable part. There is
need to connect and disconnect electrical connections between fixed part and moving
part. The connections are made by spring loaded contacts and without using hardware.
This is achieved by two methods:
a) Plug and socket type contacts are used and connections are made and broke manually
when removable part is inserted or removed.
b) By proper mechanical design to ensure connections are made and removed automatically
using the movement of moving parts of assembly.
In the second option it is imperative that moving and fixed contacts are aligned to each other in all axes for proper connections between moving and fixed contact.

This invention is one such design in which connection of communication connectors in the MCC module is done. In MCC modules, connectors like profi-bus, RJ45, etc are used for communication between various equipment. These connector assemblies consist of one male & one female connector. The male & female connectors have to be connected when the module is in service condition. In drawn-out position, they have to be disconnected so that module can be drawn out.
Conventionally, guiding pins and cylindrical bushes are used to align fixed and moving contacts. One of the parts is fixed using rivets/screws and bigger size of holes is provided to allow alignment. In present scenario, the connection of the male & female connector is done using guiding pins. One of the parts is fixed using rivets/screws and bigger size of holes is provided to allow alignment.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A basic object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages/drawbacks of the known art.
Another object of the present invention is an improved connector assembly for draw out type electrical switching devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide appropriate alignment of a male and a female assembly.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide spring means adapted to compensate the tolerance.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided an improved connector assembly for draw out type electrical switching devices.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an improved connector assembly for draw out type electrical switching devices, said assembly comprising a male connector assembly having a fixing bracket and a plurality of guiding pins; a female connector assembly having a fixing bracket, a connector fixing bracket having a guiding cylinder welded thereon, a plurality of spring means and screws; wherein said male and female connector adapted to connect in service condition and disconnect in draw out position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The following drawings are illustrative of particular examples for enabling methods of the present invention, are descriptive of some of the methods, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description.
Fig 1 illustrates the Module fixing bracket.
Fig 2 illustrates the Guiding pins.
Fig 3 illustrates the Male connector assembly.
Fig 4 illustrates the Tray fixing bracket.
Fig 5 illustrates the Female connector fixing bracket.
Fig. 6 illustrates the Guiding cylinders.
Fig 7 illustrates the spring means.

Fig 8 illustrates the Spring-screw connection.
Fig 9 illustrates the Female connector assembly-left view.
Fig 10 illustrates the Female connector assembly.
Fig 11 illustrates the Full connector assembly (male & female)-left view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly in the present invention, when the module is inserted in the panel, there are possibilities of mismatches in all the axes. Guiding pins & cylinders provided will align the two parts in all directions provided one of the parts is able to adjust accordingly.
Spring means acts as a connecting medium & mismatch absorber. In the proposed idea, the fixed connector is fixed to the fixed part of structure using springs. The springs can be fixed to both the plates by crimping or other mechanical means. The spring in this design is using hardware. The turns of the spring are used as internal threads and screw is used for external threads. This arrangement allows the plate to move in depth-wise and also all directions in vertical plane. It also permits tilting of plates. This helps mismatch absorption in all directions.
Assembly & Working:
The male connector assembly will be in the module & the female connector assembly in the panel.
The male connector assembly consists of:
1. Module fixing bracket- component for fixing the male connector

2. Guiding pins- helps in alignment of the male & female assembly The guiding pins are assembled in the module fixing bracket. This is male connector assembly.
The female connector assembly consists of:
1. Tray fixing bracket- component to be fixed on the tray
2. Fixing bracket for the communication cable connector- component for fixing the female connector
3. Guiding cy/inder- helps in alignment of the male & female assemblies along with the pin
4. Spring- for coupling tray fixing bracket & the male connector fixing bracket; helps in mismatch absorption
5. Screw- for connecting spring to the bracket
The female assembly consists of two brackets (1) & (2) connected with each other using springs & screws. One (1) is tray fixing bracket & other (2) is used for the connector. The guiding cylinders (3) are welded in the bracket (2). Threaded holes are provided in the two brackets for the screws (5). After assembling the screws in the brackets, assemble the spring (4) in the screw. The threads in the screw & the turns in the spring are used for connecting the two brackets.
Proper spring will ensure that once the spring is connected to the screw, it will not slip-out. Usage of springs makes the system flexible which helps in more mismatch absorption along with the guiding pins & cylinders.

Since the alignment of the connectors is ensured, the connectors engage. After engagement of the connectors, if the module is over-pressed due to depth wise mismatch, the springs will get compressed to take care of that.
All the brackets shown here are used for accommodating the comiectors that are used in MCC switchboards. The cut-outs & holes provided in the brackets are used for connecting the connectors (connectors are shown in none of the figures). The concept can be extended to any plug & socket type connector in any draw-out assembly. In the present invention Spring means acts as a connector between two brackets. Also spring means is used for compensating the tolerances in the system.
Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the embodiments herein with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the embodiments described herein and all the statements of the scope of the embodiments which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.

WE CLAIM:
1. An improved connector assembly for draw out type electrical switching devices, said
assembly comprising:
a male connector assembly having a fixing bracket and a plurality of guiding pins;
a female connector assembly having a fixing bracket, a connector fixing bracket having a guiding cylinder welded thereon, a plurality of spring means and screws;
wherein said male and female connector adapted to connect in service condition and disconnect in draw out position.
2. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said brackets further comprising a plurality of cut-outs & holes to facilitate joining of said connectors.
3. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring means connected to said screw adapted to compensate the tolerance.
4. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guiding pins adapted to provide alignment to said male and female assembly.
5. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said brackets further comprising a plurality of threaded holes for said screws.
6. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said brackets are connected together using threads in said screws and turns in said spring.

7. An improved connector assembly for draw out type electrical switching device as herein
described and illustrated with reference to accompanying drawings.