Patent ID: 8226303

Claim:
A connector set comprising: a plug having a front oil chamber and a secondary oil chamber having electrical or optical contacts; a receptacle having a front oil chamber and a secondary oil chamber having electrical or optical contacts, the receptacle being adapted to receive the plug, wherein the front oil chamber in the plug and the front oil chamber of the receptacle are used for mechanically engaging the plug and the receptacle, and the secondary oil chamber in the plug and the secondary oil chamber in the receptacle are used for isolation and contact engagement of the electrical or optical contacts of the plug with the electrical or optical contacts of the receptacle, wherein the front oil chamber of the plug is isolated from the secondary oil chamber of the plug and the front oil chamber of the receptacle is isolated from the secondary oil chamber of the receptacle, and wherein the front oil chamber of the plug and of the receptacle are each separated respectively from the secondary oil chamber of the plug and receptacle by an interface valve, providing sealed isolated mechanical engagement chambers in the plug and the receptacle prior to engagement of the plug and the receptacle.