Patent ID: 8079862
Filing Date: 2011-12-20
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
1. A connector part for use underwater or in a wet or severe environment and for interengagement with a second connector part to establish an electrical connection, the connector part having a housing, a plurality of pins, each pin for engagement with a respective electrical contact in the second connector part when the connector parts are interengaged, each pin comprising an axially extending electrically conductive portion and an axially extending electrically insulating sleeve around said conductive portion, and each pin being supported by and projecting axially forwardly from a support radially surrounded by and engaged to said housing, whereby the insulating sleeve of each pin is exposed along a longitudinally extending portion thereof to ambient conditions when the connector parts are disengaged, wherein the insulating sleeve of each pin has a first axial portion with a first diameter in front of a second axial portion with a second diameter greater than the first diameter, and each pin having an individual protective rigid metal sleeve member seated on the outer surface of the insulating sleeve of the respective pin in sealing engagement therewith, each rigid metal sleeve being arranged such that the entire axial extent of the rigid metal sleeve extends axially along the outer surface of the insulating sleeve of the respective pin over at least part of the axial length of the first portion of the insulating sleeve and over at least part of the axial length of the second portion of the insulating sleeve, each rigid metal sleeve extending forwardly of said support to provide mechanical support to said longitudinally extending portion of the respective pin.