Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US6196854?oq=5%2C666%2C293
Timestamp: 2018-03-19 05:55:34
Document Index: 638584665

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art.\n17', 'art.\n18', 'art.\n19']

US6196854B1 - Electrical connector - Google Patents
US6196854B1
US6196854B1 US09264324 US26432499A US6196854B1 US 6196854 B1 US6196854 B1 US 6196854B1 US 09264324 US09264324 US 09264324 US 26432499 A US26432499 A US 26432499A US 6196854 B1 US6196854 B1 US 6196854B1
US09264324
The female part of an underwater electrical connector has inner and outer chambers containing non-conductive fluid. Each chamber has an opening sealed by a respective spring loaded ball in the unmated condition of the connector and by a contact pin of the male part in the mated condition of the connector. The balls are displaced transversely to the direction of movement of the contact pin to engage the contact socket and automatically re-seal the openings when the contact pin is withdrawn.
This invention relates to electrical connectors and in particular, though not exclusively, to underwater electrical connectors designed for releasable mating engagement.
In one arrangement, the opening is self-closing to seal the chamber in the unmated condition of the connector. A relatively low force is sufficient to insert the contact pin and engage the contact socket with the result that there is no tendency for the connector to de-mate. However, insertion of the contact pin distorts the opening with the result that sealing efficiency may be reduced on removal of the contact pin. Sealing efficiency may also be adversely affected with temperature, pressure changes in the surrounding water.
In another arrangement, the opening is closed to seal the chamber in the unmated condition of the connector by a slidable, spring loaded piston that is pushed back when the contact pin is inserted to engage the contact socket. A relatively high force is required to overcome the biasing of the shuttle pin when the contact pin is inserted to engage the contact socket with the result that there is a tendency for the connector to de-mate. Furthermore, although there is less distortion of the opening, wear and abrasion from sliding movement of the shuttle pin can result in a reduction in sealing efficiency.
Preferably, the member comprises a ball engageable with a part-spherical seating to close the opening in the unmated condition of the connector. In this way, the opening is not subject to wear and abrasion from displacement of the ball towards and away from the seating.
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section showing an electrical connector embodying the invention in the mated condition;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the electrical connector of FIG. 1 in the unmated condition; and
FIG. 3 is an exploded longitudinal section showing the component parts of the female part of the connector shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The electrical connector 1 comprises a female part 3 having a contact socket 5 for reception of a contact pin 7 of a male part (not shown) in the mated condition of the connector 1 shown in FIG. 1.
The contact socket 5 is provided in a rear section 9 of the female part 3 and a front section 11 houses a pair of seal units 13,15 for retaining a dielectric medium within inner and outer chambers 17,19 in the unmated condition of the connector 1 shown in FIG. 2.
The seal units 13,15 are slidably received within the front section 11 on opposite sides of a partition wall 21 having a central opening 23 connecting the seal units 13,15 and are sealed within the front section 11 by respective pairs of O-rings 25,27.
A leg 49 at the other end of the spring 43 extends through a slot 51 in the insert 41 and carries a ball 53 of metal or plastics. The ball 53 is biased by the spring 43 to engage a part-spherical seating 55 at the end of the bush 35 in the unmated condition of the connector 1 shown in FIG. 2. The ball 53 may be biased by any other suitable means.
An exit end 57 of the through bore 39 is of reduced cross-section smaller than the diameter of the ball 53 and the insert 41 has a transverse bore 59 of similar cross-section to the entry end 37 of the through bore 39. The ball 55 is displaced into the transverse bore 59 by the contact pin 7 in the mated condition of the connector 1 shown in FIG. 1.
The two sections 9,11 are axially secured together so that the contact socket 5 is axially aligned with the through bores 39 in the seal units 13,15 and with the opening 23 in the partition wall 21.
Two sleeves 65,67 with internal grooves 69,71 at opposite ends are engageable with external annular ribs 73,75 on the front and rear sections of the female part 3 to form concentric annular pressure balancing chambers 77,79.
The seal unit 13 of the inner chamber 17 is located and retained in the front section 9 when the front and rear sections 9,11 are connected together. The seal unit 15 of the outer chamber 19 is located and retained in the front section 9 by a washer 85 secured by a circlip 87 received in an internal annular groove 89.
In the unmated condition of the connector 1 shown in FIG. 2, the ball 53 of each seal unit 13,15 co-operates with the seating 55 of the bush 35 under the biasing of the torsion spring 43 to seal the chambers 17,19.
In the mated condition of the connector 1 shown in FIG. 1, the ball 53 of each seal unit 13,15 is displaced by the contact pin 7 against the biasing of the torsion spring 43 into the transverse bore 59 and the contact pin 7 extends through the bush 35 of each seal unit 13,15 to seal the chambers 17,19.
The reverse sequence occurs when the male and female parts of the connector 1 are taken apart with each chamber 17,19 being automatically re-sealed by engagement of the ball 53 with the seating 55 of the bush 35 under the biasing of the spring 43 when the contact pin 7 is withdrawn through the bush 35.
As will be appreciated, by displacing the ball 53 of each seal unit 13,15 transversely with respect to the direction of movement of the contact pin 7, there is no axial spring force acting on the contact pin 7 in the mated condition. As a result, insertion of the contact pin 7 is facilitated and there is no tendency for the connector to de-mate.
Furthermore, such transverse displacement avoids the problems of wear and abrasion caused by axial displacement of a shuttle pin in the prior art connectors and enables the overall length of the connector to be reduced.
1. An electrical connector comprising first and second parts, a contact of said first part extending through an opening in said second part when said first and second parts are brought together to engage a contact of said second part in a mated condition of the electrical connector, said second part having a chamber containing non-conductive fluid, said opening communicating with said chamber and being closed in an un-mated condition of the electrical connector by a resiliently biased member arranged so that, when said first and second Darts are brought together, said resiliently biased member is engaged by said contact of said first part during insertion thereof through said opening and is displaced transversely with respect to the direction of movement of said first part to engage said contact of said second part, whereby said opening is closed in the mated condition of the connector by said contact of said first part and the mated condition is substantially unaffected by the biasing, wherein said resiliently biased member comprises a ball resiliently biased to close said opening in the un-mated condition of the connector.
2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said ball is biased to close said opening by a spring.
3. An electrical connector according to claim 2 wherein said spring is a torsion spring.
4. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said opening is provided with a part-spherical seating engaged by said ball in the unmated condition of the electrical connector.
5. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said contact of said first part comprises a pin and said contact of said second part comprises a socket.
6. An electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein said ball is displaced by insertion of said pin through said opening to engage said socket in the mated condition of the electrical connector.
7. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of axially aligned openings are provided for insertion of said contact of the first part with each opening being closed by a respective ball in the unmated condition of the electrical connector.
8. An electrical connector according to claim 7 wherein said contact of said second part is arranged inwardly of the innermost opening.
9. An electrical connector comprising a first part having a male contact, a second part having a female contact engaged by said male contact when said first and second parts are brought together in a mated condition, non-conductive fluid in a chamber containing said female contact, said chamber having an entry opening aligned with said female contact for insertion of said male contact in an axial direction, and a stopper biased to close said entry opening in an un-mated condition of the connector, said stopper being displaced generally sideways with respect to said axial direction of insertion of said male contact whereby said mated condition is unaffected by said biasing of said stopper and said entry opening is closed by said male contact, and a through bore fluidly coupled to said entry opening and having a cross-section for placement of the stopper in an un-mated condition, the through bore including an exit end fluidly coupled thereto having a cross-section smaller than that of the through bore, and a transverse bore fluidly coupled thereto, wherein when the first and second parts are brought together in a mated condition, said stopper is engaged by said contact of said first part and is displaced into said transverse bore.
10. An electrical connector according to claim 9 wherein said stopper is mounted for pivotal movement by a torsion spring biasing said stopper to a first position closing said entry opening, and said stopper is moveable to a second position by engagement with said male contact.
11. An electrical connector according to claim 10 wherein said male contact has a distal end engageable with said female contact in said mated condition, and, spaced from said distal end, said male contact blocks said stopper in said mated condition to prevent said stopper returning to said first position.
12. An electrical connector according to claim 11 wherein said non-conductive fluid is contained in a plurality of chambers having co-axial entry openings for insertion of said male contact, each entry opening being closed by a stopper in said un-mated condition, and said male contact sequentially engaging and moving said stoppers during insertion to engage said female contact.
13. An electrical connector according to claim 12 wherein each chamber is connected to pressure balancing means.
14. An underwater electrical connector comprising a first part having a male contact, a second part having a female contact engaged by said male contact when said first and second parts are brought together in a mated condition, said female contact being arranged in a chamber containing non-conductive fluid, said chamber having an entry opening for insertion of said male contact, said entry opening being aligned with said female contact to define an insertion axis and being closed by a stopper to seal said chamber in an un-mated condition, said stopper being biased by a spring to close said entry opening and being movable to one side of said insertion axis by engagement with said male contact during insertion of said male contact to engage said female contact such that said biasing does not act to de-mate said male and female contacts in the mated condition in which said opening is closed by said male contact to seal said chamber, and a through bore fluidly coupled to said entry opening and having a cross-section for placement of the stopper in an un-mated condition, the through bore including an exit end fluidly coupled thereto having a cross-section smaller than that of the through bore, and a transverse bore fluidly coupled thereto, wherein when the first and second parts are brought together in a mated condition, said stopper is engaged by said contact of said first part and is displaced into said transverse bore.
15. An electrical connector comprising first and second parts, a contact of said first part extending through an opening in said second part when said first and second parts are brought together to engage a contact of said second part in a mated condition of the electrical connector, said second part having a chamber containing non-conductive fluid, said opening communicating with said chamber and being closed in an un-mated condition of the electrical connector by a resiliently biased member arranged so that, when said first and second parts are brought together, said resiliently biased member is engaged by said contact of said first part during insertion thereof through said opening and is displaced transversely with respect to the direction of movement of said first part to engage said contact of said second part whereby said opening is closed in the mated condition of the connector by said contact of said first part and the mated condition is substantially unaffected by the biasing, and a through bore fluidly coupled to said opening and having a cross-section for placement of the resiliently biased member in an un-mated condition, the through bore including an exit end fluidly coupled thereto having a cross-section smaller than that of the through bore, and a transverse bore fluidly coupled thereto, wherein when the first and second parts are brought together in a mated condition, said resiliently biased member is engaged by said contact of said first part and is displaced into said transverse bore.
16. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the resiliently biased member is displaced both in the direction of movement of the first part and transverse with respect to the direction of movement of the first part.
17. An electrical connector according to claim 9, wherein the stopper is displaced both in the direction of movement of the first part and transverse with respect to the direction of movement of the first part.
18. An underwater electrical connector according to claim 14, wherein the stopper is displaced both in the direction of movement of the first part and transverse with respect to the direction of movement of the first part.
19. An electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is an underwater connector.
US09264324 1998-03-14 1999-03-08 Electrical connector Expired - Fee Related US6196854B1 (en)
GB9805366 1998-03-14
US6196854B1 true US6196854B1 (en) 2001-03-06
US09264324 Expired - Fee Related US6196854B1 (en) 1998-03-14 1999-03-08 Electrical connector
EP0048601A2 (en) 1980-09-22 1982-03-31 Lockheed Corporation Underwater coaxial connector
EP0124987A2 (en) 1983-04-07 1984-11-14 Lockheed Corporation Underwater connector
EP0251655A1 (en) 1986-06-23 1988-01-07 Tronic Electronic Services Limited Underwater electrical connector
US5171158A (en) 1990-04-11 1992-12-15 Cairns James L Underwater multiple contact electrical connector
GB2335314A (en) 1999-09-15 application
Owner name: HAWKE CABLE GLANDS LIMITED, UNITED KINGDOM
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HAND, EDWARD;REEL/FRAME:009823/0471
Owner name: HUBBELL LIMITED, UNITED KINGDOM
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HAWKE CABLE GLANDS LIMITED;REEL/FRAME:015571/0372