Patent Publication Number: US-7914311-B1

Title: Anti-vibration connector coupling with an axially movable ratchet ring and a collar

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to anti-vibration coupling for an electrical connector. More specifically, the coupling prevents counter-rotation of the electrical connector when engaged with its mating connector and subject to vibration or shock. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electrical connector assemblies generally include mating plug and receptacle connectors. Often a threaded nut or collar is used to mate the plug and receptacle connectors. When an electrical connector assembly is subject to vibration or shock, however, the mating connectors of the assembly, often become loose or even decouple. The loosening or decoupling usually occurs because the coupling nut counter rotates, that is it rotates in a direction opposite the mating or locking direction, thereby compromising the integrity of both the mechanical and electrical connection between the plug and receptacle connectors. 
     Examples of some prior art couplings for electrical connector assemblies include U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,595 to Marc et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,563; U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,400 to Fowler; U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,716 to Buckley et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,760 to Miklos; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,399,096 to Quillet et al.; 4,208,082 to Davies et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,373 to Peterson; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,728,895 to Quackenbuash, the subject matter of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention relates to a connector coupling that comprises a connector body, a first collar rotatably coupled to the connector body that has a plurality of teeth extending from an inner surface thereof, a second collar that receives the first collar and is movable axially with respect to the first collar. A ratchet ring is supported by the connector body and has a plurality of teeth corresponding to the plurality of teeth of the first collar. The ratchet ring is axially moveable with respect to the connector body between an engaged position and a disengaged position. A biasing member is supported by the connector body adjacent the ratchet ring. The biasing member biases the ratchet ring in the engaged position. The second set of teeth of the ratchet ring engage the first set of teeth of the first collar when the ratchet ring is in the engaged position, and the second set of teeth of the ratchet ring are spaced from the first set of teeth of the first collar and the ratchet ring engages the second collar when the ratchet ring is in the disengaged position. 
     The present invention also relates to a connector coupling that comprises a connector body and a first collar rotatably coupled to the connector body that has a first set of spaced projections extending inwardly from the first collar and defines a plurality of slots between said projections. A first set of teeth extend from each of the projections of the first collar. A second collar receives the first collar and is movable axially with respect to the first collar and has a second set of spaced projections extending inwardly from the second collar and defines a plurality of slots between the projections. The plurality of slots of the second collar are adapted to receive the projections of the first collar, and the plurality of slots of the first collar are adapted to receive the projections of the second collar. A ratchet ring is supported by the connector body and is axially moveable with respect to the connector body between an engaged position and a disengaged position. A second set of teeth extend from the ratchet ring. The second set of teeth are complementary to first set of teeth of the first collar. A biasing member is supported by the connector body adjacent the ratchet ring which biases the ratchet ring in the engaged position. The second set of teeth of the ratchet ring engage the first set of teeth of the first collar when the ratchet ring is in the engaged position, and the second set of teeth of the ratchet ring is spaced from the first set of teeth of the first collar and the ratchet ring engages the second collar when the ratchet ring is in the disengaged position. 
     A connector coupling that comprises a connector body, a first collar that is rotatably coupled to the connector body, and a second collar that receives the first collar and is movable axially with respect to the first collar. A ratchet means for a one-way ratchet coupling is between the connector body and the first collar so that the first collar is rotatable with respect to the connector body in a first direction and not rotatable in a second direction opposite the first direction. The ratchet means is axially slidable with respect to the connector body between an engaged position and a disengaged position. A biasing member is supported by the connector body, which biases the ratchet means in an engaged position. The second collar engages the ratchet means when the ratchet means is in said disengaged position. 
     Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a coupling according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the coupling disposed on the body of a connector; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the coupling and connector body illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the coupling and the connector body illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an inner collar of the coupling illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an end elevational view of the inner collar illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an outer collar of the coupling illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an end elevational view of the outer collar illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial end perspective view of the coupling illustrated in  FIG. 1 , showing the coupling in an engaged position; and 
         FIG. 9  is a partial end perspective view of the coupling similar to  FIG. 8 , showing the coupling in a disengaged position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , the present invention relates to an anti-vibration coupling  100  for an electrical connector assembly, such as a plug and receptacle. The coupling  100  preferably provides a one-way ratchet engagement such that the connectors of the assembly can only be disengaged manually by moving the coupling  100  between engaged ( FIG. 8 ) and disengaged ( FIG. 9 ) positions. The coupling  100  is preferably disposed on a connector body  102  and may include an inner collar  204 , an outer collar  206 , a ratchet ring  208 , and a biasing member  210 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the coupling  100  coupled to the connector body  102  of the connector assembly. The connector body  102  may be the shell of a plug connector, for example. In the preferred embodiment, the inner collar  204  accepts the connector body  102  and the outer collar  206  receives the inner collar  204 . Both the ratchet ring  208  and the biasing member  210  are preferably disposed between the connector body  102  and the inner and outer collars  204  and  206 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 , the inner collar  204  may include a main body  400  with internal threads  402  for engaging the mating connector (not shown), such as a receptacle, and a first set of teeth  404  for engaging the ratchet ring  208 . The main body  400  may include first and second opposite ends  406  and  408  that define first and second openings  410  and  412 , respectively, through which the connector body  402  extends. 
     Extending from the second end  408  of the main body  400  is a first set of a plurality of projections  420 . The projections  420  define the diameter d of the second opening  412  of the collar&#39;s main body  400  such that the second opening  412  is smaller than the first opening  410 . Each projection  420  includes opposite inner and outer surfaces  422  and  424  where the inner surfaces  422  faces the internal threads  402  of the main body  400  and the outer surfaces  424  faces outside of the main body  400 . Between each of the projections  420  are slots  430 , as best seen in  FIG. 5 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 4 and 9 , the first set of teeth  404  extend from the inner surfaces  422  of each projection  420 . Each tooth of the first set of teeth  404  may include a flat surface  902  that is preferably substantially perpendicular to the inner surface  422  of each respective projection  420 , and an angled surface  904  that is angled with respect to the flat surface  902 . 
     The inner collar  204  is coupled to the connector body  102  such that it is rotatable with respect to the connector body  102 ; however its axial movement relative to the connector body  102  is restrained by a retaining clip  220  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). More specifically, the retaining clip  220  surrounds the connector body  102  and resides in an inner annular groove of the inner collar  204 . An outer flange  230  of the connector body  102  creates a stop to prevent the retaining clip  220  and the inner collar  204  from moving axially forward with respect to the connector body  102 . Retaining ring  320  restrain axial movement of the inner collar  204  in the opposite or back direction. 
     The outer collar  206  surrounds the inner collar  204  to provide a mechanism for manually unlocking the inner collar  204 . The outer collar  206  is designed to slide axially with respect to the inner collar  204  and the connector body  102 . As seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  6  and  7 , the outer collar  206  generally includes a main body  600  opposite first and second ends  602  and  604  that define first and second openings  606  and  608 , respectively. The first opening  606  is sized to receive the inner collar  204 , and the second opening  608  is sized to receive only the connector body  102 . The main body  600  may include an outer gripping surface  610  to facilitate rotational and axial movement of the outer collar  206 . 
     Extending from the second end  604  of the main body  600  is a second set of projections  620  which define the diameter d of the second opening  608  of the main body  600 . The second opening  608  of the outer collar  206  is substantially the same size as the second opening  412  of the inner collar  204 . Slots  630  are defined between the projections, as best seen in  FIG. 7 . Each projection  620  of the second set of projections includes opposite inner and outer surfaces  622  and  624 . Each projection  620  of the second set of projections is shaped to correspond to or match the slots  430  of the inner collar  204 . Likewise, each projection  420  of the first set of projections is shaped to correspond to the slots  630  of the outer collar  206 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the ratchet ring  208  is positioned on the connector body  102  between its outer flange  230  and the outer collar  206 . The ratchet ring  208  may include opposite first and second surfaces  300  and  302 . The first surface  300  is generally flat and is adapted to engage the biasing member  210 . The second surface  302  includes a second set of teeth  304  extending therefrom that are adapted to engage the first set of teeth  404  of the inner collar  204  in a one-way ratchet engagement. Similar to the teeth of the first set of teeth  404  of the inner collar  204 , each tooth of the second set of teeth  304  of the ratchet ring  208  includes a first surface  910  that is generally flat such that it is substantially perpendicular to the first surface  300  of the ratchet ring  208 , and a second surface  912  that is angled relative to the flat first surface  910 . 
     When assembling the coupling  100  to the connector body  102 , the connector body  102  extends through the first and second openings  410 ,  606  and  412 ,  608  of the inner and outer collars  204  and  206 , respectively, with the outer collar  206  surrounding the inner collar  204 . A retaining clip  320  may be provided on the connector body  102  outside of the outer collar  206 , thereby retaining the inner collar  204 , the outer collar  206 , the ratchet ring  208  and the biasing member  210  on the connector body  102 . The retaining clip  220  restricts the axially movement of the inner collar  204  relative to the connector body. A grounding band  340  may be provided between the connector body  102  and the inner collar  204 . 
     The biasing member  210 , which may be a wave spring, for example, biases the coupling  100  into the engaged position, as seen in  FIG. 8 . In the engaged position, the inner collar  204  can be rotated in only one direction to couple to the mating connector via its inner threads  402 . The shaped of the teeth of the first and second sets of teeth  404  and  304  of the inner collar  204  and the ratchet ring  208 , respectively, allow for rotation or ratcheting in one direction only, e.g. counter-clockwise when viewed from front end  104 , and not in the opposite direction, i.e. a counter rotation. This arrangement generally prevents decoupling of the mating connectors due to vibration. More specifically, the angled surfaces  904  and  912  of the teeth of the first and second sets of teeth  404  and  304  allow the inner collar  204  to rotate or ratchet, for example clockwise with respect to the ratchet ring  208  and the connector body  102 . Because the flat or substantially perpendicular surfaces  902  and  910  of the teeth of the first and second sets of teeth  404  and  304  abut one another, the inner collar  204  is prevented from rotating or ratcheting back in the opposite direction. 
     In the engaged position, illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the first set of teeth  404  of the inner collar  204  are engaged with the second set of teeth  304  of the ratchet ring  208 . In addition, the projections  420  of the inner collar  204  are received in the slots  630  of the outer collar  206 . Similarly, the projections  620  of the outer collar  206  are received in the slots  430  of the inner collar  204 . The outer surfaces  424  and  624  of the inner collar projections  420  and the outer collar projections  620 , respectively, are substantially flush. Also, the inner surfaces  622  of the projections  620  of the outer collar  208  abut some of the teeth  304  of the ratchet ring  208 , as best seen in  FIG. 8 . 
     The coupling  100  may be manually unlocked to allow the inner collar  204  to rotate in the opposite direction, e.g. clockwise when viewed from front end  104  of the connector body  102 . The manual unlocking allows decoupling the inner threads  402  of the inner collar  204  from the mating connector. To unlock the coupling  100 , the outer collar  206  is moved axially relative to the inner collar  204  and the connector body  102  in the forward direction, i.e. towards the forward end  104  of the connector body  102 . The outer collar  206  moves against the biasing of the biasing member  210  to separate the first and second sets of teeth  404  and  304 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the coupling  100  in the disengaged position after the coupling  100  is manually unlocked. As the outer collar  206  is moved forward, the inner surfaces  622  of the projections  620  of the outer collar  206  push against the teeth of the ratchet ring  208  and against the bias of the biasing member  210  to separate the teeth  304  from the teeth  404  of the inner collar. As seen in  FIG. 9 , the outer surfaces  624  and  424  of the outer collar&#39;s projections  620  and the inner collar&#39;s projections  420 , respectively, are no longer flush and axially moved forward. Because the teeth  304  of the ratchet ring  208  and the teeth  404  of the inner collar  204  are now spaced from one another, the inner collar  204  may freely rotate in either direction relative to the connector body  102 . 
     While a particular embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, any number of projections  420  on the inner collar  204  and any number of projections  620  on the ratchet ring  208  may be employed. Also, the biasing member is not limited to a wave spring and may be any type of biasing mechanism, such as a compression spring.