Receptacle with interlocking assembly
A receptacle includes a housing having a port for receiving a plug. An interlock assembly is provided for locking and unlocking the plug to the housing and includes a unitary main shaft having a first end and a second end. The second end is contoured to extend radially from a longitudinal axis of the main shaft. A spring is coaxial with the longitudinal axis and is configured to engage the second end of the main shaft. The spring is configured to apply a rotational biasing force to the main shaft to bias the main shaft toward a locked position wherein a locking bar attached to the first end of the main shaft engages and locks the plug to the housing. A tab is attached to the first end of the main shaft and is configured to rotate the main shaft between the locked position and an unlocked position.
1 . A receptacle for receiving a plug, the receptacle comprising:
a housing having a port for receiving the plug; and
an interlock assembly for locking and unlocking the plug to the housing, the interlock assembly comprising:
a unitary main shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end contoured to extend radially from a longitudinal axis of the main shaft,
a spring coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the main shaft and configured to engage the second end of the main shaft, the spring configured to apply a rotational biasing force to the main shaft to bias the main shaft toward a locked position wherein a locking bar attached to the first end of the main shaft engages and locks the plug to the housing; and
a handle attached to the first end of the main shaft and configured to rotate the main shaft between the locked position and an unlocked position.
2 . The receptacle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a spring attached to the first end of the main shaft for biasing a locking bar attached to the main shaft into an unlocked position.
3 . The receptacle according to claim 1 , wherein the second end is contoured to have a constant bend radius.
4 . The receptacle according to claim 1 , wherein the second end extends at a right angle from the longitudinal axis of the main shaft.
5 . The receptacle according to claim 1 , wherein the second end includes a hole or slot configured to engage the spring.
6 . An interlock assembly for locking and unlocking a plug to a receptacle, the interlock assembly comprising:
a unitary main shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end contoured to extend radially from a longitudinal axis of the main shaft,
a spring coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the main shaft and configured to engage the second end of the main shaft, the spring configured to apply a rotational biasing force to the main shaft to bias the main shaft toward a locked position wherein a locking bar attached to the first end of the main shaft engages and locks the plug relative to the receptacle; and a handle attached to the first end of the main shaft and configured to rotate the main shaft between the locked position and an unlocked position.
7 . The interlock assembly according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a spring attached to the first end of the main shaft for biasing a locking bar attached to the main shaft into an unlocked position.
8 . The interlock assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the second end is contoured to have a constant bend radius.
9 . The interlock assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the second end extends at a right angle from the longitudinal axis of the main shaft.
10 . The receptacle according to claim 6 , wherein the second end includes a hole or slot configured to engage the spring.