Patent Description:
Embodiments of the presently disclosed device relate to an apparatus for sealably connecting and/or disconnecting electrical and/or fiber optic conductors underwater or in other hostile environments.

It is often desirable to connect communication and/or power circuits in contaminated environments such as found in sewers, in mines, in dust storms, underwater, and in diverse terrestrial and naval battlefield operations. In many cases, it is not possible to clean the connector contacts at the moment connections are made. Fiber-optic connections are especially vulnerable to contamination. If optical contacts are not clean they will not work well, or possibly not work at all. There is a category of connectors designed primarily for rugged subsea operations that permit the contacts to be cleaned in the manufacturing process, and afterward used repeatedly without subsequent cleaning. This category includes dual-chamber connectors in which plug and receptacle units each house pin and/or socket contacts within one or more closed, oil-filled chambers. When the plug unit and receptacle unit are mated, the contacts can pass from one or more chambers of the first unit into one or more chambers of the second unit wherein each contact engages its respective counterpart without ever having been exposed to the external environment in the process. The chambers are typically substantially filled with a benign mobile substance, such as grease, gel, or oil, hereinafter simply referred to as "oil" or "fluid," and are approximately pressure-balanced to the working environment by way of one or more movable portions of the chamber walls.

Examples of dual-chamber connectors are contained in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; and in <CIT>. All are characterized by the feature that before, during and after mating the plug and receptacle contacts are housed within closed oil chambers. They were all designed primarily for high-pressure underwater systems, and are extremely robust, complex, and expensive. As a result, they are not well suited for general harsh environment use or environments that are at least somewhat less harsh, thereby not requiring the same robustness or complexity or justifying the expense. Such prior art connectors would not serve to quickly and reliably connect optical circuits in a muddy foxhole, in the dark, or in the rain, for instance.

All prior-art dual-chamber connectors function generally as follows. Plug and receptacle units are brought face-to-face and aligned rotationally and axially. When thus positioned, and the units are joined, one or another mechanism creates a passageway between the units, connecting the fluid volume of the plug unit with that of the receptacle unit, thus forming, at least temporarily, one continuous fluid volume. Contacts from the first unit pass through the passageway to engage the respective contacts within the second unit. In some prior art connectors of this category, as the contacts from the first unit pass through the passageway they completely occupy the passageway, thus substantially closing it when the first and second units are completely mated; in others they do not close the passageway. However, in all dual-chamber prior-art connectors during mating and demating there is a free exchange of first unit fluid with the second unit fluid at one or more stages of the process.

In general use, dual-chamber plug and receptacle units are not dedicated pairs; in its lifetime each plug might mate with many receptacles, and vice-versa, just like the plugs and sockets in a residential home. Each time a prior art dual-chamber connector is mated, its fluid, at least temporarily, is freely mixed with the fluid of its mating counterpart. Contamination of the fluid in one connector unit, such as water or silt ingression, for instance, can be undesirably spread like a social disease, thereby degrading performance throughout the local connector population.

Despite the amount of prior art technology represented by the above-listed patents, there still does not exist in the marketplace a small, highly reliable connector that can go anywhere, whose contacts do not need to be cleaned between uses, can be connected and disconnected quickly in most any environment, does not freely exchange fluid between mating units, and yet is simple, efficient, and economical. The presently disclosed technology fulfills that and other needs in the art.

Embodiments of the technology described herein provide for an apparatus which can include a first connector unit (hereafter also called the "plug" or "plug unit") and a second connector unit (hereafter also called the "receptacle" or "receptacle unit"), which can be repeatedly connected and disconnected in a wide variety of harsh, contaminated environments without maintenance or loss of integrity. The described embodiments could be used in myriad applications, wherein pin and socket contacts must remain isolated from the working environment before, during, and after mating and demating. The presently disclosed technology could equally well be suited for optical, electrical, or hybrid electro-optical connectors; however, for simplicity and ease of understanding, the technology is described herein with respect to what is normally the most difficult challenge, namely that of connecting optical conductors.

In one embodiment of the presently disclosed technology, the plug unit can house one or more optical contact assemblies in a fluid contained within a chamber sealed from the exterior environment. Each optical contact assembly can include an elongated shaft on whose end is mounted an optical contact. The receptacle unit can also house, in one or more chambers containing fluid and sealed from the exterior environment, another one or more optical contact assemblies each of which can also include an elongated shaft on whose end is mounted an optical contact. Optical contacts of the plug and receptacle units can be one of various sorts, such as expanded-beam lenses or physical contact ferrules. Furthermore, the physical contact ferrules can be one of several types including flat polished and angle polished ferrules. The one or more receptacle fluid chambers can each also contain a device, hereinafter called an alignment sleeve, for aligning the plug and receptacle contacts. Each alignment sleeve is disposed to receive in axial alignment a receptacle optical contact and a respective plug optical contact. Suitable optical contacts and alignment sleeves are readily available on the market from Kyocera, US Conec, and many other suppliers. Both the plug and receptacle units have resilient end portions including penetrable seals through which conductive elements of the connector units can sealably pass without being exposed to the ambient working environment.

In one embodiment, when the plug and receptacle units are joined, they are first moved face-to-face into axial and rotational alignment. As mating proceeds, resilient end portions of the plug and receptacle units can be pressed snugly against one another forcing out environmental material, and simultaneously sealing the interface between them.

Each plug and receptacle unit can have at least one penetrable seal including a bore and a tap integrally formed with a resilient end wall portion thereof. The bore and the tap can create a sealing engagement therebetween in the absence of an applied force whose magnitude is sufficient to displace the tap.

In one embodiment, when subjected to an applied force on the tap, the resilient end wall portion can be configured to (i) permit each one of the first contacts to sealably pass outward from the resilient bore of the plug unit (ii) to go on to sealably penetrate a respective resilient bore of the receptacle unit, and further onward into the receptacle closed chamber to (iii) engage one of the second contacts within a respective alignment sleeve within the receptacle closed chamber. Passages or movement of each one or more plug optical contacts from its plug chamber into a respective one or more receptacle chambers takes place without permitting fluid to flow through either the plug or receptacle end-seal bores. As a plug optical contact passes or moves from the plug unit into the receptacle unit through the sealed plug/receptacle interface, it is not exposed to the external environment. At least a portion of each closed chamber can be configured to be movable with respect to another portion of the closed chamber to permit at least approximate balancing of pressure within the closed chamber to pressure outside the closed chamber. The optical contacts within the plug and receptacle fluid chambers can remain sealed from the outside environment before, during, and after mating and demating of the plug and receptacle units; furthermore, the plug and receptacle closed chambers remain sealed from each other throughout the process, such that their fluids are never in communication.

A one-circuit embodiment including at least some of the presently disclosed technology's salient features is presented herein in general terms without regard to any specific applications. It will be easily understood that the described apparatus can be readily adapted to a wide variety of housings, circuit numbers, contact types, and arrangements, sizes, materials, and/or exterior configurations.

Other features and advantages of the presently disclosed technology will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers refer to like parts:.

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words "forward" and "rearward" (and derivations thereof) designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms "a," "an" and "the" are not limited to one element but instead should be read as meaning "at least one. " The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

<FIG> illustrate a "one-circuit" or single contact embodiment of the presently disclosed connector, in which plug or plug unit <NUM> (sometimes referred to as "first unit") and receptacle or receptacle unit <NUM> (sometimes referred to as "second unit") are shown in perspective. Plug shell <NUM>, shown partially cut-away in <FIG>, can include front bore <NUM> sized and/or shaped to receive in axial alignment forward end portion 5a of shell <NUM> of receptacle <NUM>. Inward projecting mating alignment key <NUM> of plug shell <NUM> can cooperate with mating alignment keyway <NUM> in portion 5a of receptacle shell <NUM> to maintain or fix plug unit <NUM> and receptacle unit <NUM> in rotational alignment during and after mating. During mating, portion 5a of receptacle shell <NUM> can be inserted into front bore <NUM> of plug shell <NUM> until face <NUM> of portion 5a of receptacle shell <NUM> is stopped by face <NUM> of plug shell <NUM>. Once mated, there are many known devices, such as threaded locking sleeves or opposed movable flange mountings, which could be incorporated to keep units <NUM> and <NUM> coupled together.

<FIG> illustrates one embodiment of unmated plug <NUM> in axial half-section. Plug base <NUM> (see, also, <FIG>) can mount into rear bore <NUM> of plug shell <NUM>. The forward travel of plug base <NUM> within plug <NUM> can be limited by shoulder <NUM> of plug shell <NUM>. Plug base <NUM> can be arrested from rearward motion within bore <NUM> by retainer ring 20a seated in groove 20b of plug shell <NUM>. Plug inner shell <NUM> (see, also, <FIG>) is free to move axially within front bore <NUM> of plug shell <NUM> between a forward extreme limited by shoulder <NUM> formed by a step within front bore <NUM> of plug shell <NUM>, and a rearward extreme limited by face <NUM> of plug base <NUM>. Alternately, in some constructions the rearward extreme of the axial travel of plug inner shell <NUM> can be limited by the solid or compressed height of spring <NUM>. In one embodiment, spring <NUM> can be a compression spring constrained on its rearward end by face <NUM> of plug base <NUM> and on its forward end can be forced against face <NUM> of plug inner shell <NUM>. Front bore <NUM> of plug shell <NUM> acts as a squirm guide or stabilizer for spring <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, plug contact assembly <NUM> of plug shell <NUM> can include conductor <NUM> within elongated shaft <NUM> terminated on its forward end by at least one contact <NUM>. At least a portion of elongated shaft <NUM> of contact assembly <NUM> can be sealably fixed within bore <NUM> of plug base <NUM>. A forward portion of elongated shaft <NUM> can slidably pass through bore <NUM> of plug inner shell <NUM>. In one embodiment, elongated shaft <NUM> can exhibit a predetermined amount of flexibility.

As shown in <FIG>, elastomeric gland seal <NUM> mounted in bore <NUM> of plug inner shell <NUM> can seal to a portion of elongated shaft <NUM> and simultaneously to bore <NUM>. Spaced-apart washers <NUM>, <NUM> can back up or support gland seal <NUM>. Snap ring <NUM> mounted in groove <NUM> of plug inner shell <NUM> can retain washers <NUM>, <NUM> and gland seal <NUM> within bore <NUM> of plug inner shell <NUM>.

In one embodiment, plug bladder <NUM> (see <FIG>, <FIG>) can be made from resilient or elastomeric material. Plug bladder <NUM> can include radial wall portion <NUM>, with radially projecting axial lands <NUM> separated by grooves <NUM>, end wall portion <NUM>, inwardly directed shoulder <NUM> opposite end wall portion <NUM>, and internal groove <NUM> proximate end wall portion <NUM>. Plug bladder <NUM> mounts onto and/or surrounds at least a portion of plug inner shell <NUM>. Shoulder <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM> can fit sealably into and be retained by groove <NUM> on plug inner shell <NUM>. Internal groove <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM> can fit onto and be retained by shoulder <NUM> of plug inner shell <NUM>.

Radially spaced-apart lands <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM> can keep plug bladder <NUM> centered with respect to the longitudinal axis of front bore <NUM> of plug shell <NUM>, while ventilation of gas and/or liquid is permitted between plug bladder <NUM> and front bore <NUM> via grooves <NUM>. Similarly, one or more radially spaced-apart axial slots <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) in outer diameter <NUM> of plug base <NUM> can permit ventilation between plug base <NUM> and rear bore <NUM> of plug shell <NUM>. Further ventilation through the interior of plug shell <NUM> is provided by radially spaced-apart slots <NUM> in outer diameter <NUM> of plug inner shell <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, fluid chamber <NUM> can be sealed (i) by shoulder <NUM> of bladder <NUM> stretched into slot <NUM> of plug inner shell <NUM>, (ii) by gland seal <NUM> acting against elongated shaft <NUM> of plug contact assembly <NUM>, and (iii) by resilient end wall portion <NUM> of bladder <NUM>. Port <NUM> (see <FIG>) through wall <NUM> of plug inner shell <NUM> can fluidly connect the interior of plug inner shell <NUM> with the main portion of chamber <NUM>, thereby resulting in a single extended fluid chamber. In one embodiment, when fluid chamber <NUM> is sealed it is at least substantially filled with fluid <NUM> (see <FIG>). For many applications, the fluid can be Silicone oil such as Dow Corning DC <NUM>, which is benign, dielectric, transparent, and has an index of refraction close to that of many optical fibers. Other fluids or mobile fillers such as grease or gel are certainly possible. Radial wall portion <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM> can be flexible and can be exposed to the ambient environment via the abovementioned ventilation paths, and therefore can approximately balance, adjust, or equal the pressure of fluid <NUM> within chamber <NUM> to that of the ambient environment.

As shown in <FIG>, end wall portion <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM> can have at least one penetrable end seal <NUM> including one or more perforations <NUM> therein or therethrough. In one embodiment, the perforation <NUM> can be crescent-shaped, thus forming tap <NUM> and bore <NUM>. Details of the fabrication and operation of embodiments of such a tap-and-bore seals as well as some of their applications are disclosed in co-pending <CIT>, International Patent Application No. <CIT>, and <CIT>. <FIG> is a perspective view of one embodiment of plug bladder <NUM> showing on face <NUM> the outline of crescentic perforation <NUM>. In one embodiment, perforation <NUM> can cut axially through the entire thickness of end wall portion <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM>, not necessarily with a circular or uniform diameter, thereby resulting in tap <NUM> and bore <NUM>. End wall portion <NUM>, tap <NUM>, and bore <NUM> (see <FIG>) together can form integral or monolithic, penetrable end seal <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM>. Seal <NUM> and its integral parts may be easier to visualize in <FIG> in which, for purposes of better understanding, a portion <NUM> is shown cut away axially from end seal <NUM> along lines <NUM>, <NUM>, which radiate outwardly from the ends of crescentic perforation <NUM>. Cutaway portion <NUM> is displaced radially in <FIG> for clarity. Tap <NUM> can include central portion <NUM> having flared segment <NUM> on one end, and flared segment <NUM> on the other opposing end. Tap <NUM> can remain attached to the main portion of end seal <NUM> by uncut portion <NUM> of perforation <NUM>. Uncut portion <NUM> can provide a substantial elastic force to retain tap <NUM> in its initial or at-rest position within bore <NUM> when end seal <NUM> is not penetrated. Flared end segments <NUM>, <NUM> of tap <NUM> can aid in centering the tap axially within bore <NUM> when end seal <NUM> is not penetrated, and can enhance both the wiping and sealing functions of the tap during the mating and un-mating operations.

Plug base alignment key <NUM> (<FIG>) in cooperation with one of slots <NUM> in plug base <NUM> and in further cooperation with keyway <NUM> of plug shell <NUM> can lock plug base <NUM> and plug shell <NUM> in rotational alignment (i.e., prevent plug base <NUM> from rotating with respect to plug shell <NUM>). Optical connections can sometimes be improved by rotationally "tuning" or slightly repositioning the contacts. Multiple slots <NUM> in plug base <NUM> can allow multiple rotational alignment positions between plug base <NUM> and contact assembly <NUM> relative to plug shell <NUM>, thereby providing multiple tuning positions. Inward projecting mating alignment key <NUM> of plug shell <NUM> in cooperation with mating keyway <NUM> (see <FIG>) in portion 5a of receptacle shell <NUM> can maintain rotational alignment of plug shell <NUM> and receptacle shell <NUM>.

In one embodiment, plug unit <NUM> can include one or more elements that, once assembled, remain fixed in relative position to plug shell <NUM>. The fixed element(s) can include plug base <NUM>, snap ring 20a, plug contact assembly <NUM>, and alignment key <NUM>. Spring <NUM> is fixed on its rear end against face <NUM> of plug base <NUM>, but can be compressed or extended axially. In one embodiment, all of the other components of plug unit <NUM> are attached to plug inner shell <NUM> and are movable axially as a unit within plug shell <NUM>.

<FIG> is an axial cross-section of plug unit <NUM> in which all of the elements are in the position as if plug unit <NUM> and receptacle unit <NUM> were mated. Receptacle unit <NUM> is not shown. The movable elements of plug unit <NUM> are displaced rearwardly within front bore <NUM> of plug shell <NUM>. The forward portion of plug contact assembly <NUM> including at least a portion of elongated shaft <NUM> and contact <NUM> emerge or extend outward through end seal <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM> as the movable elements of plug unit <NUM> are displaced rearwardly therein during mating with receptacle unit <NUM>. As at least a portion of contact assembly <NUM> penetrates or extends out through plug end seal <NUM>, it displaces tap <NUM> (see <FIG>) from its initial, closed, or sealed position. The displaced material of tap <NUM> causes portion <NUM> of tap <NUM> to extrude or extend backwards into chamber <NUM>.

It may seem counter-intuitive that a portion of tap <NUM> moves in the same direction as the movable elements or against the direction of penetrating contact assembly <NUM>. Consider that the interface between contact assembly <NUM> and plug end seal <NUM> is bathed in oil, and hence well lubricated, and that face <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM> is pressed tightly against the corresponding face <NUM> (see <FIG>) of receptacle unit <NUM> during mating. As face or tip <NUM> of plug contact assembly <NUM> is forced against tap <NUM> of plug end seal <NUM> there is no place for the displaced tap to go but backwards. Face <NUM> can be flat or angled. Mating face <NUM> of receptacle unit <NUM> blocks forward travel of the displaced tap, and the oil facilitates at least portion <NUM> of tap <NUM> slipping or moving back into chamber <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates one embodiment of unmated receptacle unit <NUM> in axial half-section. Receptacle base <NUM> can mount into rear bore <NUM> of receptacle shell <NUM>. The forward travel of receptacle base <NUM> within receptacle <NUM> can be limited by shoulder <NUM> of receptacle shell <NUM>. Receptacle base <NUM> can be arrested from rearward motion within bore <NUM> by retainer ring <NUM> seated in groove <NUM> of receptacle shell <NUM>. Receptacle base <NUM> is rotationally locked to receptacle shell <NUM> by alignment key <NUM>, which is captured in slot <NUM> of shell <NUM> and in slot <NUM> of receptacle base <NUM> by snap ring <NUM>. O-ring <NUM>, seated in groove <NUM> of receptacle base <NUM>, can seal the interface between receptacle base <NUM> and bore <NUM> of receptacle shell <NUM>.

Receptacle inner shell <NUM> mounts onto the forward end of receptacle base <NUM>. Receptacle inner shell <NUM> is captured in place on inner shell <NUM> by rearward projecting tabs <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) on the rear end on receptacle inner shell <NUM>. Tabs <NUM> can snap into groove <NUM> of receptacle base <NUM> (see <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>).

Optical alignment sleeve <NUM> (see <FIG>) seats in bore <NUM> of receptacle inner shell <NUM>. Spaced-apart tines <NUM> on the forward portion of inner shell <NUM> can spring apart or at least slightly outwardly to permit insertion of optical alignment sleeve <NUM> into bore <NUM>. Once optical alignment sleeve <NUM> is in place, inward projecting cleats <NUM> on the forward end of inner shell <NUM> can retain alignment sleeve <NUM> in axial position. When receptacle inner shell <NUM> is mounted in position on the forward end of receptacle base <NUM>, bore <NUM> of receptacle inner shell <NUM> can keep tines <NUM> of inner shell <NUM> from springing apart, thus capturing alignment sleeve <NUM> in diameter <NUM> of receptacle inner shell <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, receptacle contact assembly <NUM> can include conductor <NUM> within elongated shaft <NUM> terminated on its forward end by contact <NUM>. At least a portion of elongated shaft <NUM> of contact assembly <NUM> extends into and can freely move along a longitudinal axis of receptacle unit <NUM> within rear bore <NUM> and front bore <NUM> of receptacle base <NUM>. Elastomeric gland seal <NUM> mounted in bore <NUM> of receptacle base <NUM> can seal to a portion of elongated shaft <NUM> and simultaneously to bore <NUM>. Spaced-apart flanges <NUM>, <NUM> of elongated shaft <NUM> can retain gland seal <NUM> in axial position on shaft <NUM>. Contact or biasing spring <NUM> acting against and/or contacting flange <NUM> biases contact assembly <NUM> forward. Spring backup washer <NUM> is restrained from backward movement by retainer ring <NUM> seated in groove <NUM> of receptacle base <NUM>.

It is often desirable to keep contact assembly <NUM> rotationally aligned in a fixed position with respect to receptacle shell <NUM>. Note that plug contact assembly <NUM> is rotationally fixed with respect to plug shell <NUM>, which is described above. In that case, optical contacts <NUM> and <NUM> of the plug and receptacle units, respectively, always come together with the same rotational orientation when the plug and receptacle units are mated. That is particularly important when the optical contacts are of the angle-polished type. As shown in <FIG>, flats <NUM> radially opposed on either side of elongated shaft <NUM> of receptacle contact assembly <NUM> can cooperate with flats <NUM> of spring backup washer <NUM> to keep contact assembly <NUM> and spring backup washer <NUM> rotationally aligned. Spring backup washer <NUM> can be a snug fit into bore <NUM> so that it resists or prevents rotation of receptacle contact assembly <NUM> with respect to bore <NUM> of receptacle base <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, receptacle unit <NUM> can have an inner penetrable seal <NUM>, which can be made of elastomeric material. Inner penetrable seal <NUM> can mount in seat <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) of receptacle inner shell <NUM>, and can be fixed therein, for instance, by adhesive bonding or by other means. Inner penetrable seal <NUM> can be a monolithic tap-and-bore seal which can be constructed to function in the same way as end seal <NUM> of <FIG> described above.

Receptacle bladder <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) can be made from elastomeric or other resilient material. Receptacle bladder <NUM> can include radial wall portion <NUM>, inwardly projecting shoulder <NUM> at a back end of the bladder <NUM>, groove <NUM> at or proximate a front end of bladder <NUM>, inwardly projecting ring portion <NUM> between and spaced-apart from shoulder <NUM> and groove <NUM>, and penetrable end seal <NUM> formed in or at forward end portion <NUM>. Penetrable seal <NUM> can be a monolithic tap-and bore seal constructed in the same manner to function in the same way as end seal <NUM> of <FIG> described above.

In one embodiment, receptacle bladder <NUM> mounts onto and/or surrounds at least a portion of both receptacle inner shell <NUM> and receptacle base <NUM>. Shoulder <NUM> of receptacle bladder <NUM> can fit sealably into and be retained by groove <NUM> on receptacle base <NUM>. Internal groove <NUM> of receptacle bladder <NUM> can fit onto and be retained by shoulder <NUM> of receptacle inner shell <NUM> (see <FIG>, <FIG>).

Referring now to <FIG>, in one embodiment of the receptacle unit <NUM> in which there is no inner seal <NUM>, fluid <NUM> (indicated by small circles in <FIG>) can be found in one connected space extending from just within (i.e., rearward of) end seal <NUM> of receptacle bladder <NUM>, through ports <NUM> in receptacle inner shell <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>), and into areas or spaces 312a and 312b. For clarity, areas 312a and 312b are called out in several places on <FIG>. Space 312b extends rearward through space <NUM> between bore <NUM> of receptacle base <NUM> and elongated shaft <NUM> of receptacle contact assembly <NUM>, and on rearwardly to gland seal <NUM>.

In another possible embodiment, receptacle unit <NUM> can include or be outfitted with inner seal <NUM>. In this embodiment, space 312a can be fluidly sealed from space 312b by inner seal <NUM> and by inwardly projecting ring portion <NUM> of receptacle bladder <NUM> acting against outer diameter or wall <NUM> of receptacle inner shell <NUM>. In this embodiment, spaces 312a and 312b are essentially two separate fluid chambers within receptacle unit <NUM>: forward chamber 312a and rearward chamber 312b. Receptacle contact <NUM> and alignment sleeve <NUM> can both be within innermost space 312b. Vent ports <NUM> through wall <NUM> of inner shell <NUM> provide a path for fluid flow between the portions of chamber 312b that are within and outside of wall <NUM>. There is at least one other embodiment of the presently disclosed technology involving a third variation of fluid chambers or areas within receptacle unit <NUM>. In this third embodiment, as in the previously described one, there is inner seal <NUM>, and an inward projecting ring portion <NUM> of receptacle bladder <NUM> acting in cooperation with outer diameter or wall <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) of receptacle inner shell <NUM>. But in this third embodiment, inner ring portion <NUM> of receptacle bladder <NUM> can fit loosely to or against an outer surface of wall <NUM>, thereby forming a leaky barrier against wall <NUM> of inner bladder shell <NUM>. In this embodiment, fluid from spaces 312a and 312b can migrate past the leaky barrier between the two spaces, but cannot flow freely. The advantage to this embodiment is that if one of spaces 312a, 312b has a fluid pressure different from the other, as might occur if some pumping of fluid through inner seal <NUM> occurs during mating and/or demating operations, the pressure differential can be equalized through the leaky barrier. Any contamination that might be introduced into space 312a through mating and/or demating will still not have a freely flowing path into space 312b where the junction of receptacle contact <NUM> and plug contact <NUM> can take place (see, e.g., <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, ventilation port <NUM> in forward end portion 5a of receptacle shell <NUM> can allow pressure within space <NUM> (see <FIG>) surrounding flexible radial wall portion <NUM> of receptacle bladder <NUM> to equilibrate to the ambient pressure outside of receptacle shell <NUM> and thereby approximately balance, adjust or equal the pressure of fluid <NUM> to the ambient environmental pressure.

<FIG> illustrates fully mated plug unit <NUM> and receptacle unit <NUM> of one embodiment of the presently disclosed technology in axial half-section. As mating of the two units begins, forward end portion 5a of receptacle shell <NUM> enters front bore <NUM> of plug shell <NUM>. Close conformance of forward end portion 5a of receptacle shell <NUM> with front bore <NUM> of plug shell <NUM> aligns the plug and receptacle units axially. As mating of the plug and receptacle units proceeds, plug alignment key <NUM> enters receptacle alignment keyway <NUM>, thereby rotationally aligning the units. Further insertion of the receptacle unit into the plug unit causes face <NUM> of penetrable end seal <NUM> of receptacle bladder <NUM> to press against face <NUM> of penetrable end seal <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM>.

In one embodiment, in order for the receptacle unit to proceed further into the plug unit, penetrable end seal <NUM> of receptacle bladder <NUM> must press against penetrable end seal <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM> with enough force to overcome the pre-load of spring <NUM> within plug <NUM>. Once the preload has been overcome, receptacle unit <NUM> and the movable portions of plug unit <NUM> can push deeper into front bore <NUM> of plug shell <NUM> thereby causing contact <NUM> and the forward portion of elongated shaft <NUM> of plug contact assembly <NUM> to penetrate outward through penetrable end seal <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM>, and thence through penetrable end seal <NUM> of receptacle bladder <NUM>. As penetrable end seal <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM> is penetrated, portion <NUM>, which can be relatively small, of tap <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM> extrudes back into fluid chamber <NUM> of plug <NUM>. Similarly, as shown in <FIG>, as the forward portion of elongated shaft <NUM> and contact <NUM> penetrate receptacle end seal <NUM> a portion <NUM>, which can be relatively small, of receptacle tap <NUM> (see <FIG>) is pushed into receptacle outer fluid chamber 312a (i.e., the opposite direction that portion <NUM> of tap <NUM> is drawn). Tap portion <NUM> is pushed in the direction of penetration because there is nothing to prohibit it moving in the direction of the force applied by the penetrating elements, whereas portion <NUM> of tap <NUM> of plug bladder <NUM> squirms backwards into chamber <NUM> of plug <NUM>, contrary to the direction of the penetrating force as explained earlier. As face <NUM> of plug contact <NUM> passes through penetrable end seals <NUM>, <NUM>, face <NUM> is wiped clean as a result of contact with the penetrable end seals <NUM>, <NUM>.

Further engagement of the plug and receptacle units causes the forward portion of elongated shaft <NUM> and plug contact <NUM> to enter into fluid chamber 312a of receptacle unit <NUM>, where it is bathed in fluid. If the device is a configuration that contains receptacle inner penetrable seal <NUM>, additional engagement of the plug and receptacle units causes contact <NUM> and the forward portion of elongated shaft <NUM> of plug contact assembly <NUM> to first pass through forward, or outer fluid chamber 312a of receptacle unit <NUM>, thence to pass through receptacle inner penetrable seal <NUM> and on into second, rearward, or inner fluid chamber 312b, where plug contact <NUM> is once again bathed in fluid.

In one embodiment, in the final stage of engagement of the plug and receptacle units, plug contact <NUM> enters alignment sleeve <NUM>, in which face <NUM> of plug contact <NUM> presses against face <NUM> of receptacle contact <NUM>, thereby forcing receptacle contact assembly <NUM> backward while at least slightly compressing biasing spring <NUM> in receptacle unit <NUM>. Biasing spring <NUM> provides a small, controlled axial force to keep contact faces <NUM>, <NUM> pressed together and in full contact. The steps involved in demating connector units <NUM> and <NUM> are just the reverse as those of mating the units. Note that at all times in the mating and demating operations, the fluid volumes of the plug and receptacle units remain sealed from each other and from the working environment due to the structural features shown and described herein.

The presently disclosed technology has been described herein as an example for connecting optical circuits; however, as mentioned earlier, the presently disclosed technology can equally well be used to connect other devices, such as electrical circuits. Pin-and-socket electrical junctions suitable for incorporation into the presently disclosed technology are readily available.

The preceding description relates to a one-circuit connector, but clearly the components of one circuit connectors, such as those described herein, can be grouped as modules within larger shell structures to create multiple circuit connectors. Furthermore, optical and electrical modules can be mixed in the same larger shell structures to create multiple-circuit, hybrid connectors.

Claim 1:
A connector for sealably engaging and disengaging contacts therein, the connector comprising:
a first unit (<NUM>) having one or more fluid chambers (<NUM>) therein, each fluid chamber of the first unit surrounding at least a portion of one or more first contacts (<NUM>); and
a second unit (<NUM>) having one or more fluid chambers (312a, 312b) therein, each fluid chamber of the second unit surrounding at least a portion of one or more second contacts (<NUM>), each second contact being configured to engage one of the first contacts, the second unit being movable with respect to the first unit between an unmated position and a mated position,
wherein, upon moving the first and second units from the unmated position to the mated position, the one or more first contacts contained within the one or more fluid chambers of the first unit sealably penetrate into the one or more fluid chambers of the second unit to engage the one or more second contacts therein,
wherein, upon moving the first and second units from the mated position to the unmated position, the one or more first contacts sealably withdraw from the one or more fluid chambers of the second unit,
characterised in that
the one or more fluid chambers of the first unit remain sealed from the one or more fluid chambers of the second unit throughout mating and demating of the first and second units.