Abstract:
A pair of electrical connectors ( 10, 12 ) can be mated by inserting a pair of guide pins ( 50   a,    50   b ) lying on side axes ( 22, 24 ) of a first connector, into a pair of guide sleeve passages ( 70   a,    70   b ) that lie on side axes of a second connector. The first and second connectors each can be adjusted to laterally shift front parts of the guide pins and front parts of the guide sleeves, so the distance A′ between the two pins and the distance B′ between the two sleeves is slightly reduced or slightly increased to prevent one of the connectors from mating with a third connector.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A communications manager, such as a military officer or technician, sometimes must set a particular plug connector and a particular socket connector so they mate only with each other and not with similar connectors. Such setting of mating connectors so only the selected pair of connector mate, sometimes must be done in the field, so the setting should be accomplished as easily as possible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, connectors are provided that can be set to mate only with correspondingly set connectors, Each connector has a pair of side axes that are spaced apart and lie on opposite sides of the connector housing axis. A first connector has a pair of pins with pin front ends projecting forwardly at each of its side axes and a second connector has a pair of sleeves with sleeve front ends projecting forwardly at each of its side axes. The two connectors will mate only if the distance between the forward ends of the pins and the distance between the forward end of the sleeves are precisely equal so the pins easily fit into the sleeves. 
     Each of the pins has a threaded rear end that screws into a pin receiver that is precisely aligned with the corresponding side axis. Each pin also has a forward-projecting part that is offset from the corresponding side axis by a predetermined amount. As a result, the distance between the two pin forward-projecting parts can be adjusted by turning the pins to different rotational orientations. 
     Each of the sleeves has a threaded rear end that screws into a sleeve-receiver that is aligned with the corresponding side axis. Each sleeve also has walls forming a forward-projecting passage with a passage axis that is offset from the corresponding side axis by said predetermined amount. As a result, the distance between the two sleeve forward-projecting parts can be adjusted by turning the sleeves to different rotational positions. Only if the distance between the two pin forward parts and the distance between the two sleeve passages are the same, will the two connectors mate. 
     Each pin receiver has a plurality of radial recesses and each pin has a radial projection that projects into a selected recess. When the pin is turned so its projection projects into a particular recess, this determines the direction of offset of the pin forward part from the side axis. Each sleeve is similarly constructed to determine its direction of offset. 
     The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a pair of connectors that are approaching each other to mate. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a guide pin of one of the connectors of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the guide pin of  FIG. 2 , with the pin receiver of the housing shown in phantom lines. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a guide sleeve of one of the connectors of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is front view of one of the connectors of  FIG. 1   
         FIGS. 6 through 9  are diagrammatic views showing how rotation of guide pins affects their spacing. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an electrical connector system  10  which includes a plug connector  12  and a socket connector  14  that can mate with each other. The plug connector has a housing axis  20  extending in front-and-rear directions F, R relative to the plug connector housing  21 . The plug connector also has a pair of side axes  22 ,  24  that are laterally L spaced apart, that extend parallel to the housing axis  20  and that are preferably substantially equally spaced from the housing axis. The plug connector has a plurality of signal contacts  26  that are arranged in rows and columns. 
     The socket connector  14  has a housing axis  30  and a pair of side axes  32 ,  34  that extend in front and rear longitudinal directions F, R relative to the socket connector housing  36 . The side axes  32 ,  34  are laterally L spaced apart. The lateral directions L for the two connectors coincide when the connectors are mated. The socket connector has a plurality of signal contacts  40  arranged in rows and columns, that are designed to mate with the signal contacts of the plug connector. 
     The plug connector  12  has a pair of guide pins  50   a ,  50   b  with pin front ends  52 .  FIG. 2  shows that each guide pin  50  has a threaded rear mount part  54  that is centered on the corresponding side axis such as  22 . The pin front end  52  has a front axis  56  that is offset a distance C ( FIG. 3 ) radially with respect to the side axis  22 . As a result, the precise position of the pin front end  52 , that is, its distance from the side axis  22 , depends upon the rotational position of the pin. Therefore, the lateral distance A′ ( FIG. 1 ) between pin front ends, depends on the rotational positions of the two pins. 
     The socket connector has a pair of guide sleeves  60   a ,  60   b  with sleeve front ends  62 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , each guide sleeve has a threaded rear mount part  64  that is centered on the corresponding side axis such as  32 . Each sleeve front end  62  has a passage  70  (preferably cylindrical) centered on a front axis  72  that is offset by a distance D from the corresponding side axis  32 . As in the case of the plug connector, the lateral distance B′ ( FIG. 1 ) between the sleeve passages depends upon the rotational positions of the two guide sleeves. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the plug connector housing has a pin receiver or receiver part  80  for receiving the rear parts  54 ,  55  of the guide pins (or the rear parts  64 ,  65  of the guide sleeves). The receiver parts includes a cylindrical section  86  that closely receives the threaded rear mount part or shank  54  of the guide pin, and includes a rear part  91  with four radial recesses  81 - 84  that are equally angularly spaced about the side axes  22 . The spacing can be 90°, 120° or other part of a circle. The guide pin has a radial projection  88  that fits into a selected one of the four radial recesses. A cutout  89  allows a person to see the projection  88  and to see a radial recess such as  81  in the housing. 
     Each guide pin is held in its housing by a nut  90  ( FIG. 3 ) that is threaded onto the threaded rear mount part  54  until the guide pin is fixed in position. The nut can be loosened, the guide pin pulled forward and turned to a selected rotational position and then pushed rearward to move the radial projection  88  into a radial recess such as  82 . The nut is tightened again. The guide pin radial projection  88  that fits into one of the radial recess  81 - 84 , fixes the rotational orientation of the guide pin. 
       FIG. 5  shows a guide sleeve  60  installed in the socket housing, showing the side axis  32  and showing the sleeve axis  72  of the guide sleeve offset from the side axis. The radial projection  94  of the sleeve is shown lying in the uppermost radial recess  81  so the sleeve axis  72  is offset upwards from the corresponding side axis  32  The radial recesses  81 - 84  and radial projection  94  are each part of a cylinder.  FIG. 6-9  show the results of installing the guide sleeve in different rotational positions.  FIG. 6  shows a case where the distance A between side axes  22 ,  24  is 1.000 inch. 
       FIG. 7  shows a situation similar to that of  FIG. 6 , but with the guide sleeves each turned 90° in opposite directions so each sleeve axis  72  is closer to the housing axis  30 . Where the offset C between the side axis and the sleeve passage axis is 0.020 inch, this results in the distance A in  FIG. 7  between the two sleeve axes being decreased from 1.000 inch to 0.960 inch. This spacing of 0.960 inch prevents the socket connector from mating with a plug connector whose spacing between the pin front parts is 1.000 inch. To allow such mating, the pins must be turned 90° and be reinstalled.  FIG. 8  shows an orientation of the sleeves to increase the distance between the pair of pin front part axes from 1.000 inch to 1.040 inch. 
     Applicant notes that in  FIG. 6  both sleeve front parts have been raised by 0.020 inch, and in  FIG. 9 , only one of the sleeve front parts has been lowered by 0.02 inch, while increasing the lateral distance between sleeve front parts by 0.020 inch. In most cases this such slight raising or lowering will not interfere with mating of the signal contacts of the two connectors. 
     Thus, the invention provides a connector system that allows a precise change in the spacing between pin guide front ends and between sleeve guide front ends. Each guide front end has a pin front part or sleeve front part with an axis that is offset from a mount shaft on which a side axis lies. Each pin guide also has a radial projection that fits into one of a plurality of recesses to fix the orientation of the guide, to thereby fix the spacing between pin or sleeve guide front parts. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.