Patent ID: 7988488

Claim:
An underwater vehicle comprising: a bulkhead to form a watertight compartment; a propulsion system to control movement of the underwater vehicle; at least one data sensor to collect data; and at least one connector assembly to connect one or more cables to the propulsion system and the at least one data sensor through the bulkhead, each of the propulsion system and the at least one data sensor having an electrical connector located within the watertight compartment; wherein each of the at least one connector assemblies comprises: an electrical connector having a connector threaded section with threads along a length of an external surface of the connector threaded section; and a barrel nut comprising: a nut threaded section having threads along an internal surface of the nut threaded section, wherein the nut threaded section is cylindrically shaped having a length and a diameter; a fastening section coupled to the nut threaded section, the fastening section having a length and a non-circular shape comprising a plurality of sides; and a nut circular opening extending through the entire length of the fastening section and the entire length of the nut threaded section; wherein the diameter of the nut threaded section is larger than a diameter of the connector threaded section and smaller than a diameter of an opening in the bulkhead such that the nut threaded section engages the connector threaded section within the bulkhead opening when the connector threaded section and the nut threaded section are inserted into the bulkhead opening.