Connector device

A connector device for connecting two electrically conductive contact members (16, 54) with each other comprises two releasably connectable connector members (2, 4), each of the connector members including one of the contact members, the connector device further having parts (20, 40, 42, 44, 58, 82, 84, 86) for sealingly enclosing the contact members (16, 54) in the connector members (2, 4), and a device (20, 22, 58, 26, 62, 30, 32, 34, 36, 64) for selectively establishing electrical contact between the contact members (16, 54) and breaking this contact after the connector members have been connected with each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a connector device for connecting two 
electrically conductive contact members to each other. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The most common type of a connector device of this kind comprises two 
releasably connectable connector members, each including one of the 
electrically conductive contact members which are electrically 
interconnected as a direct consequence of the connection of the connector 
members with each other. Previously known connector devices of this type 
can be adapted to underwater use only by means of complicated additional 
equipment which is difficult to handle. Thus, there does not exist any 
connector device for connecting two electrically conductive contact 
members with each other, which is of a simple and reliable construction 
and per se complies with the requirement for sealing the contact members 
in relation to the environment before as well as after the establishment 
of an electrical contact between the contact members, which requirement is 
necessary to fullfil in a connector device adapted for underwater use. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the invention is to provide a connector device which, by the 
fact that it complies with the above requirements and demands, is 
especially well suited for underwater use and for other applications in 
which it is important that the contact members of the connector device do 
not contact the environment. 
In order to comply with this object the connector device according to the 
invention comprises devices for sealingly enclosing the contact members in 
each connector member and further comprises a device for selectively 
establishing electrical contact between the contact member and 
disconnecting said contact, after the connector members have been 
connected with each other. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the device for selectively 
establishing and disconnecting electrical contact between the contact 
members comprises an electrically conductive connector element which is 
positioned in one of the connector members and is displaceable between a 
position in which the connector element is retracted in said connector 
member and a position in which the connector element partly projects into 
the other connector member, said connector element electrically connecting 
the contact members with each other in said last mentioned position. It is 
suitable that the electrically conductive connector element can be 
controlled by means of an electromagnetic device. 
In a preferred embodiment of the connector device according to the 
invention the contact members are at least partially enclosed by separate 
portions of a sleeve which is axially displaceable in relation to the 
contact members, said portions of the sleeve being adapted endwise to 
engage each other when the connector members are in their interconnected 
position, the connector element being constituted by an electrically 
conductive part of one of the portions of the sleeve. 
Thus, in a connector device according to the invention there is not 
established any electrical contact between the contact members as a 
consequence of the connection of the connector members but the contact is 
established in taking a special action for providing the electrical 
contact between the contact members. 
When using the connector device according to the invention in water the 
construction of the connector device prevents the water from contacting 
the contact members of the connector device when the connector members are 
separated as well as when the connector members are interconnected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The connector device according to the invention and shown in axial section 
in FIG. 1 comprises a male connector member 2 and a female connector 
member 4, the connector members 2 and 4 being connectable with each other. 
In the interconnected position the connector members 2 and 4 are retained 
in said position by means of a collar nut 6 engaging a flange 8 on the 
connector member 2 and cooperating with a thread (not shown0 on the 
connector member 4. 
The connector members 2 and 4 are of substantially cylindrical shape and 
the connector member 2 has an outer end wall 10, an inner end wall 12 and 
a cylindrical wall 14 connecting said end walls. A tap-shaped contact 
member 16 is positioned in the connector member 2, a flange 18 on the 
contact member 16 being enclosed by the inner end wall 12. The connector 
member 2 is symmetrically constructed with regard to its center axis and 
the right part of the connector member 2 is constructed in the same way as 
the left part of the connector member, that is, comprises e.g., a contact 
member of the same kind as the contact member 16. 
The end portion of the contact member 16 positioned adjacent the end wall 
10 is enclosed by a sleeve portion 20 having an electrically conductive 
portion 22 but the other portion consisting of an electrically insulating 
material. The inner end of the sleeve portion 20 has a flange 24 which is 
mounted in an inner portion 26 movable as a piston in the connector member 
2 and having its outer periphery guided against the inner surface of the 
cylindrical wall 14. 
In the center of the connector member 2 there is provided an 
electromagnetic device 28 comprising an electromagnet 30 and a control 
member 32 operated by the electromagnet and positioned in the center 
thereof. At its upper end in the figure the control member 32 has an 
engagement portion 34 extending through a wall of the inner portion 26 and 
having outside this wall an enlarged portion 36 which is adapted to engage 
the inner portion 26 and displace this portion and thereby the sleeve 
portion 20 to a position in which the inner portion 26 contacts the inner 
surface of the end wall 10 and the sleeve portion 20 partially projects 
from the outer surface of the end wall 10, when the control member 32 is 
displaced downwards according to the figure. The displacement of the 
control member 32 and thereby of the inner portion 26 and the sleeve 
portion 20 is provided by activating the electromagnet 30. The control 
member 32 is provided with a control pin 38 which projects from the outer 
surface of the end wall 10 when the control member 32 is displaced 
downwards according to FIG. 1. 
The sleeve portion 20 and the control pin 38 extend through openings in the 
end wall 10, and these openings are sealed by means of an insulating peg 
40 and gaskets 42 and 44 consisting of elastic material, for example 
rubber. Because of the fact that the end surface of the sleeve portion 20 
positioned at the outer surface of the end wall 10 consists of 
electrically insulating material the contact member 16 is in electrical 
respect insulated from the environment in the position shown in FIG. 1. 
The connector member 4 has an outer end wall 46, an inner end wall 48, a 
substantially cylindrical wall 50 connecting the end walls and a 
projecting portion 52 adapted to engage the nut 6 and the outer surface of 
the cylindrical wall 14 of the connector member 2. In the connector member 
4 there is mounted a contact member 54 having a flange 56 enclosed by the 
inner end wall 48. The connector member 4 also is symmetrically 
constructed and comprises a further contact member of the same kind as the 
contact member 54. The portion of the contact member 54 positioned 
adjacent the end wall 46 is enclosed by a sleeve portion 58 consisting of 
an electrically insulating material. The sleeve portion 58 has such a 
position and such dimensions that it forms together with the sleeve 
portion 20 of the connector member 2 a continuous sleeve when the 
connector members 2 and 4 are connected with each other. 
The sleeve portion 58 is by means of a flange 60 mounted in an inner 
portion 62 which is displaceable like a piston in the connector member 4. 
A spring 64 acts for maintaining the inner portion 62 in the position 
shown in FIG. 1. 
A ball lock 66 is positioned in the center of the connector element 4 and 
comprises a locking member 68 which is axially displaceable in the 
connector member 4 and has a portion 70 having a small diameter and a 
portion 72 a having larger diameter. Balls 74 are positioned in openings 
in a portion 76 projecting inwardly from the end wall 46. The balls 74 
engage recesses in a part 78 of the displaceable inner portion 62. In the 
position shown in FIG. 1 the portions 76 and 78 are fixed in relation to 
each other thus providing that the inner portion 62 takes a fixed position 
in the connector member 4. The portion 72 of the locking member 68 engages 
the balls in order to retain the balls in the locking position but is 
displaceable downwardly according to FIG. 1 in order to take a position in 
which the portion 70 is opposite to the balls 74 and the balls can be 
displaced from engagement in the recesses in the portion 78. The spring 80 
acts for retaining the locking member 68 in the position according to FIG. 
1. The locking member 68 supports a control pin 81 which is adapted to 
cooperate with the control pin 38 of the control member 32 in order to 
allow operation of the locking member 68 by means of the electromagnetic 
device 28. 
Like the connector member 2 the connector member 4 is sealed by means of an 
insulating peg 82 and gaskets 84 and 86. 
In the position shown in FIG. 1 the contact members 16 and 54 are 
completely disconnected from electrical contact with the environment. When 
the connector members 2 and 4 are connected with each other taking a 
position in which the end walls 10 and 46 contact each other there does 
not take place any change of the condition of the contact members from the 
electrical point of view as a consequence of the connection of the 
connector members. The electrical connection between the connector members 
2 and 4 is selectively provided by activating the electromagnetic device 
28. When the electromagnetic device 28 is activated the control member 32 
is displaced downwards according to FIG. 1, the enlarged portion 36 of the 
engagement portion 34 thereby acting on the inner portion 26 which 
displaces the sleeve portion 20 outwardly from the end wall 10 of the 
connector member 2 into engagement with the end surface of the sleeve 
portion 58. Thus, the sleeve portion 20 is projected from the end wall 10 
of the connector member 2 and the sleeve portion 58 is displaced into the 
end wall 46 of the connector member 4. In the final position the sleeve 
consisting of the sleeve portions 20 and 58 takes a position in which the 
electrically conductive portion 22 electrically connects the contact 
members 16 and 54 with each other. Because of the fact that the sleeve 
consisting of the sleeve portions 20 and 58 has an electrically insulating 
outer surface the sleeve will protect the contact members from electrical 
contact with the environment also in the position in which the contact 
members 16 and 54 are electrically connected with each other. 
The connector device according to the invention is especially well suited 
to be used in water at great depths. Thereby the ball lock 66 has the 
object of obviate the problems which appear because of the fact that there 
is at great depths required great operating forces for the electromagnetic 
device 28. Thus, the ball lock 66 provides that the inner portion 62 and 
thereby the inner portion 26 are locked against displacement during the 
initial period of the displacement of the control member 32. Not until the 
control member 32 has moved so far that the locking member 68 has been 
moved from engagement with the balls 74 through the control pins 38 and 81 
can the balls 74 leave their locking position to allow that the control 
member 32 provides the above described displacement of the inner portions 
26 and 62 of the connector members 2 and 4, respectively. It appears from 
FIG. 1 that the enlarged portion 36 of the engagement portion 34 of the 
control member 32 is positioned at a distance from the outer surface of 
the portion of the inner portion 26 which it shall engage so that the 
engagment does not take place until the locking balls 74 have been 
displaced from their locking position. Thus, since the control member 32 
is in the possession of kinetic energy when the displacement of the 
movable portions of the connector members 2 and 4 is initiated, the 
resistance against displacement is overcome in a simple way. 
The position described above in which the connector members 2 and 4 are 
connected with each other and the contact members 16 and 54 are 
electrically connected with each other is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
When the connector members 2 and 4 shall be disconnected the current to the 
electromagnetic device 30 is switched off, the spring 64 thereby returning 
the portions 20 and 58 of the sleeve to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 
2 through the inner portion 62 of the connector member 4, the electrical 
contact between the contact members 16 and 54 being broken in this 
position because of the fact that the electrically conductive portion 22 
of the sleeve portion 22 has been displaced out of contact with the 
contact member 54. 
After that, the connector members 2 and 4 can be disconnected by loosening 
the nut 6, the contact members 16 and 54 being thereby protected against 
electrical contact with the environment. 
In FIG. 5 there is shown a modified embodiment of the connector device 
according to the invention, in which the connector device further 
comprises a device 88 for relieving the pressure of the water which is 
enclosed between the connector members when the connector members are 
connected with each other below the water surface. 
The pressure relieving device comprises a housing 90 having a chamber 92 
which is connectable with the space defined between the opposing surfaces 
of the end walls 10 and 46 when the connector members 2 and 4 are 
connected with each other. The chamber 92 is connectable with said space 
through a channel 94 in the projecting portion 52 of the connector member 
4 and an inlet 96. The housing 90 has an outlet 98 having a connection 
with the chamber 92 which is controlled by a ball valve member 100 which 
is loaded by means of a spring 102. A piston 104 is displaceably 
journalled in the housing 90. The piston 104 is supported by means of a 
carrier 106 which is loaded by a spring 108 so that it is urged downwardly 
as shown in FIG. 5 and comprises a control pin 110 cooperating with the 
ball member 100. The carrier 106 has a catch hook 112 cooperating with the 
collar nut 6. The collar nut has been modified to provide a tapered ledge 
116 engageable with outer surface 118 on catch hook 112. Tapered ledge 120 
is also provided on part 52 of connector member 4 engageable with surface 
122 on catch hook 112. Catch hook 112 is pivotably connected to carrier 
106 at 124 bu suitable means. When the connector members are being 
connected, collar nut 6 is adjusted downwardly as viewed in FIG. 5, and 
passes over catch hook 112 tapered surface 120. Collar nut 6 is adjusted 
sufficiently downwardly so that after the surface 116 thereof has passed 
over catch hook 112 the latter can pivot clockwise to engage surface 122 
with tapered surface 120, whereafter adjustment of collar nut 6 upwardly 
engages tapered surface 116 thereof with surface 118 on catch hook 112. 
When the connector members 2 and 4 are connected with each other the water 
enclosed between the end surfaces of the end walls 10 and 46 of the 
connector members 2 and 4 escapes through the channel 94, the inlet 96, 
the chamber 92 and the outlet 98. After that, the outer water pressure 
remains between the connector members 2 and 4 which is not desirable. 
Relief of the pressure is provided by rotating the collar nut 6 in the 
loosening direction by about one revolution to disengage tapered surface 
116 from surface 118 so that catch hook 112 is pivotable and the piston 
104 and carrier 106 are displaced so far upwards that the ball 100 closes 
the connection between the chamber 92 and the outlet 98 and the volume of 
the chamber 92 which is thereby closed is increased by the fact that the 
piston is moved a further distance upwardly providing a relief of the 
pressure. After that the electrical connection of the contact members 16 
and 54 with each other can be established without the necessary movement 
being resisted by a high pressure. 
When the connector members 2 and 4 are to be separated from each other the 
contact between the contact members 16 and 54 is first switched off as 
described above whereupon the collar nut 6 is loosened by downward 
movement as previously described so that the engagement between the collar 
nut 6 and the catch hook 112 is broken allowing catch hook 112 to pivot 
counterclockwise so that the lower end of the collar nut can move upwardly 
over catch hook 112 in the reverse manner to that described above during 
connection of members 2 and 4. The spring 108 and the outer pressure acts 
on the piston 104 moving it downwardly as shown in FIG. 5 whereby the 
piston is returned to the position in which the control pin 110 of the 
piston 104 forces the ball 100 from its sealing position against the 
action of the spring 102. When the displacement of the connector members 2 
and 4 from each other is continued the water will flow into the space 
between the connector members 2 and 4 through the outlet 98, the chamber 
92, the inlet 96 and the channel 94. 
The invention can be modified within the scope of the following claims.