Connector assembly

Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a first connector part with a cylindrical wall with at least one locking element and a second connector part with a rotatable ring with a screw thread path for each locking element, said components being integrally made of plastic material. In the coupled position of the connector parts each locking element is in an end position in the screw thread path and each locking element is axially spring-biased against a side wall of the screw thread path. Further, means are provided for signalling the reaching of the end position. Each locking element is made as a rib extending in accordance with the screw thread path and the screw thread path is determined by at least a first lug, wherein the side of the rib cooperating with the lug during coupling the connector parts is provided with a staggered portion.

Description: The invention relates to a connector assembly according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a connector assembly generally indicated as connector with locking of the bayonet type, is known in various embodiments and for example disclosed in EP-A-0 189 857, US-A-3.901.574 and FR-A-2.632.783. EP-A-0 189 857 discloses a connector assembly according to the preamble of claim 1. In this known connector assembly the rib of the first connector part has a staggered portion in its side wall directed towards the ring. The ring is provided with a separate locking element which is slidably mounted and spring-biased towards the side wall of the rib having the staggered portion. In the connector assembly according to US-A-3.901.574 bosses are provided in the screw thread paths on the cylindrical wall of the first connector part, while the ring at its inner wall supports the locking elements adapted to pass these bosses for reaching the end position by deformation of the ring. In the known connector assembly of FR-A-2.632.783 the locking elements consist of lugs which are brought into the end position by deformation of the rotatable ring. In order to facilitate deformation of the ring, Lots and thinned wall parts are provided in the same, whereby manufacturing the ring becomes complicated. The locking elements made as pins are rather vulnerable and are subject to wear. In these known connector assemblies signalling the reaching of the end position is obtained in that the locking elements click into the end position by the spring force of the ring. The invention aims to provide an improved connector assembly of the above-mentioned type, which can be manufactured in a simple manner and wherein reaching the end position of the locking elements does not require any deformation of the ring. To this end the connector assembly of the invention is provided with the characterizing features of claim 1. In this manner a connector assembly is obtained, which can be manufactured in a relatively simple manner, wherein by providing a staggered portion in each of the cooperating side walls of the rib and the lug transverse to the axial direction the spring force operating in axial direction is advantageously used for locking the ring in the end position and for signalling the reaching of this end position. The ribs are relatively solid due to their length and are adapted to take a high load. The invention will be further explained by reference to the drawings in which an embodiment is schematically shown. Fig. 1 shows a side view partially in cross section of an embodiment of the connector assembly according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the first connector part of the connector assembly of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front view of the ring of the second connector part of the connector assembly of Fig. 1. Figs. 4A - 4C schematically show in a development the screw thread paths and locking elements of both connector parts. Fig. 1 shows a connector assembly in its demounted situation, the connector assembly comprising a first connector part 1 and a second connector part 2 with a rotatable ring 3. The first connector part 1 has a cylindrical wall 4 with three locking elements 5 regularly distributed along the circumference and made as a rib located according to a screw thread path and each extending along a substantial length of arc which amounts approximately 78° in the embodiment shown. It is shown in Fig. 2 that the connector part 1 has a number of openings 6 for contact elements not further shown. In a corresponding manner the second connector part 2 has openings not further shown for contact elements. The ring 3 of the connector part 2 is located on this connector part in the assembled position, wherein a bayonet spring ring 7 is enclosed between a collar 8 of the connector part 2 and a collar 9 of the ring 3. The ring 3 comprises three screw thread paths 10 for the locking elements 5, wherein each screw thread path is determined by three lugs 11, 12 and 13 formed on the inner wall of the ring 3. As appears from Fig. 4A in particular, each two first lugs 11 successive in circumferential direction determine an axial inlet slot 14 in which a locking element 5 can be received fittingly. The lugs 12 and 13 are lying on both sides of the lug 11 in circumferential direction, whereas in axial direction the lug 11 and the lugs 12, 13 are lying on both sides of the screw thread path 10. It is indicated in Figs. 1 and 4 that the lugs 13 are bevelled at the side directed towards the connector part 1 so that the bayonet spring ring 7 can be mounted easily in the ring 3. For coupling the connector parts 1 and 2 the locking elements 5 are inserted into the inlet slots 14 in a manner as shown in Fig. 4A and subsequently the ring 3 is rotated into the end position shown in Fig. 4C. During this rotation the side 15 of each locking element 5 is pressed against the side 16 of the corresponding lug 11 by the occurring forces and the operation of the bayonet spring ring 7. As appears from Fig. 4B, the sides 15 and 16 engage each other along a great length so that a relatively high force can be taken. The cooperating sides 15, 16 of the locking elements 5 and lugs 11, respectively, each have an end part 17 and 18, respectively, extending substantially in the circumferential direction. A staggered portion 19 and 20, respectively, is provided in this end part 17, 18, said staggered portion joining the not-staggered end part 17, 18 by a shoulder 21 extending substantially axially. When the ring 3 is rotated from the intermediate position of Fig. 4B into the end position of Fig. 4C, the user in the first place will feel during rotation of the ring that the end parts 17, 18 of the locking elements 5 and the lugs 11 engage each other in that no further axial movement occurs anymore. Subsequently the ring 3 springs back in axial direction due to the operation of the bayonet spring ring 7 as soon as the shoulders 21 do pass each other. Thereby a click sound is caused so that reaching the end position is signalled to the user. Because the shoulders 21 engage each other in the end position of Fig. 4C, the ring 3 cannot come loose unintentionally so that the connectors parts 1, 2 are locked in the coupled position. The described shape of the sides 15, 16 with end parts 17, 18 extending in circumferential direction shows the important advantage that during coupling during which a relatively high force is exerted on the faces 15, 16 caused by the contact elements of the connector parts 1, 2 sliding one into the other, the end parts 17, 18 remain unloaded so that wear of these parts and in particular of the shoulders 21 will not occur. In the fully coupled position in which the end parts 17, 18 of the locking elements 5 and the lugs 11 engage each other, the force maintaining the connector assembly in the coupled position, is distributed along a relatively large surface whereby the ribs 5 and the lugs 11 resist this force well. It can further be seen in Fig. 4C that the lug 13 of each group of lugs 11-13 determines a stop edge 22 for the locking element 5 of a previous group of lugs 11-13 so that the ring 3 cannot be further rotated after reaching the end position. During disengaging the connector parts 1, 2 the side 23 of the locking elements 5 will be pressed against the side 24 of the lugs 12, 13 by the occurring forces, whereby the connector part 2 will be pulled out of the connector part 1 by rotating the ring 3. Therefore also during disengaging the locking elements 5 are engaging the lugs 12, 13 along a relatively great length, so that a relatively high force can be taken. It is noted that the bayonet spring ring 7 also has the usual function to maintain the couple length at a constant value, i.e. the distance along which the contact elements of both connector parts 1, 2 are slided into each other. Manufacturing tolerances and a slight wear will be received by the bayonet spring ring 7. The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiment which can be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims.

Claims: Connector assembly comprising a first connector part (1) with a cylindrical wall (4) with at least one locking element (5) made as a rib following a screw thread path and having an axially staggered portion (19), and a second connector part (2) with a rotatable ring (3) with a corresponding screw thread part (10) for each locking element, said components being integrally made of plastic material, wherein the side wall (16) of said screw thread part (10) directed towards the first connector part (1) is formed by the side wall of at least one first lug (11), wherein during coupling the connector parts (1,2) said side wall (16) cooperates with an opposite lengthwise side wall (15) of the rib (5) and in the coupled position of the connector parts each rib (5) is in an end position in the screw thread part (10) and each rib (5) with its side wall (15) is axially spring-biased against said side wall (16) of the screw thread path (10), wherin means (19-21) are provided for signalling the reaching of the end position, characterized in that the staggered portion (19) of the rib (5) is provided in the side wall (15) cooperating with the side wall (16) of the lug (11) during coupling and in that said side wall (16) is provided with a corresponding staggered portion (20). Connector assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the staggered portion (19,20) joins said side of the rib (5) and lug (11), respectively, through a shoulder (21) extending substantially axially. Connector assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cooperating sides (15,16) of the rib (5) and the lug (11) include an end part (17;18) extending substantially in circumferential direction and in which the staggered portions (19;20) are provided. Connector assembly according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that each screw thread path (10) is further bounded by two additional lugs (12,13) located in circumferential direction on both sides of the first lug (11) and being separated from the first lug in axial direction by the screw thread path (10). Connector assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that two or more ribs (5) and corresponding groups of three lugs (11-13) are provided, wherein one (13) of the two additional lugs (12,13) of each group (11-13) has a stop edge (22) for the rib (5) of another group. Connector assembly according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that two first lugs (11) successive in circumferential direction determine an axial inlet slot (14) for a rib (5). Connector assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that each rib (5) is fittingly received in an characterized in that each rib is fittingly received in an inlet slot (14). Connector assembly according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that each rib (5) extends along a length of arc of at least 40°.

Inventors: BUEDS MARC, CREELLE EDDY, DEMEULEMEESTER YVES, BUEDS, MARC, CREELLE, EDDY, DEMEULEMEESTER, YVES
Applicants: FRAMATOME CONNECTORS INT, FRAMATOME CONNECTORS INTERNATIONAL
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13