Patent ID: 8292645

Claim:
A harsh environment connector, comprising: a plug unit containing a contact pin having a forward end, a rear end, and an outer surface having a plurality of stepped portions of increasing diameter towards the rear end of the pin, each stepped portion including a respective annular electrical contact; a receptacle unit defining at least one contact chamber, a tubular receptacle contact module in said contact chamber having a rear end, an open forward end configured to receive the plug contact pin and an inner surface having a plurality of stepped portions of decreasing diameter towards the rear end of the contact module which are of diameters configured for mating engagement with corresponding stepped portions of the pin, whereby the pin is a close sliding fit in said contact module, each stepped portion having a contact seat and a respective annular electrical contact secured in said seat; the plug and receptacle units being movable between an unmated condition and a mated condition in which they are in releasable mating engagement with the contact pin in mating engagement in the contact module and each electrical contact on the contact pin in electrical communication with a corresponding electrical contact in the receptacle contact module to form a respective mated contact pair; the receptacle unit having an opening communicating with the contact chamber which receives the plug pin as the units are moved into mating engagement; and a seal assembly in the opening which is configured to seal the contact chamber in the unmated condition of the units and to form a seal against at least the outer surface of the plug pin in the mated condition of the units.