CN212277524U

CN212277524U - Cluster connector assembly system, cable connector assembly and device connector assembly

Info

Publication number: CN212277524U
Application number: CN202021492216.1U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 吴建平; 张玉俊; 铁雷
Original assignee: Commscope Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Commscope Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2020-07-24
Filing date: 2020-07-24
Publication date: 2021-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 2030-07-24

Abstract

The utility model relates to a connector assembly system tied in a bundle, it includes first and second connector components, first connector component has split ring and a plurality of spheroid, second connector component has the backstop groove, first and second connector component can be in order to push away-draw mode joint and separation, under the engaged state of first and second connector component, when the spheroid is exerted pressure so that the spheroid oppresses along radial and drive the split ring, the split ring overcomes its self elasticity and partly gets into the backstop inslot, thereby establish the auto-lock of first and second connector component. The cluster connector assembly system is characterized by achieving quick push-pull engagement and disengagement of the two connector assemblies and easy self-locking and unlocking. The utility model discloses still relate to cable connector assembly and device connector assembly.

Description

Cluster connector assembly system, cable connector assembly and device connector assembly

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a connector assembly system tied in a bundle and installation and dismantlement method, cable connector subassembly and device connector subassembly thereof.

Background

Bundled connector assemblies are becoming more and more widely used due to their ease of installation.

In the prior art, two cluster connector assemblies can be connected using a threaded connection, but the tightening and loosening of the threads is time consuming for the operator and can result in unwanted self-loosening subsequent to the installation due to incomplete tightening.

In addition, in the prior art, in addition to the threaded connection, the two cluster connector assemblies can be connected by means of a connection aid provided outside the two cluster connector assemblies, which, however, adversely affects the aesthetics.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a cluster connector assembly system, a method of mounting and dismounting the same, a cable connector assembly and a device connector assembly, by which at least one of the above technical problems occurring in the prior art can be solved.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a cluster connector assembly system is provided, wherein the cluster connector assembly system comprises a first connector assembly and a second connector assembly, wherein,

the first connector assembly having a housing having a first portion configured to integrate a plurality of first connectors together and having a second portion radially outward of the first portion, a split ring and a plurality of balls being disposed on the second portion axially captively with respect to the housing, the split ring being elastically expandable and contractible in a radial direction, the balls being disposed circumferentially distributed on a same radial side of the split ring,

the second connector assembly having a housing configured to integrate a plurality of second connectors together, and the housing of the second connector assembly having a stopper groove,

the first and second connector assemblies are capable of being engaged and disengaged in a push-pull manner,

wherein, in the engaged state of the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly, when the ball is applied with pressure to press the ball in the radial direction and drive the split ring, the split ring partially enters the stop groove against its own elastic force, thereby establishing self-locking of the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly.

In some embodiments, when the pressing force is removed, the split ring moves away from the stopper groove with the ball entrained based on its own elastic force, so that the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly are unlocked.

In some embodiments, the balls are circumferentially distributed radially outwardly of the split ring, the split ring being arranged to enter the contracted state when the balls are subjected to said pressure to urge the balls radially inwardly and entrain the split ring, and to enter the released state when said pressure is removed.

In some embodiments, the first connector assembly has a sliding sleeve slidable over an outer circumferential surface of the second portion, wherein the sliding sleeve has a relief groove on an inner circumferential surface thereof, the pressure being cancelled when the sliding sleeve is slid such that the relief groove reaches above the ball, and the inner circumferential surface of the sliding sleeve is capable of applying the pressure to the ball when the sliding sleeve is slid such that the relief groove leaves above the ball.

In some embodiments, the second portion has a base portion and a flange extending axially forward from the base portion, and the stopper groove is open toward an inner circumferential surface of the flange in an engaged state of the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly.

In some embodiments, the flange has a circumferentially extending receiving groove on its inner ring circumference configured to receive the split ring.

In some embodiments, the radial depth of the receiving groove is equal to or greater than the radial height of the split ring.

In some embodiments, the flange has a plurality of receiving pockets for receiving the balls, the receiving pockets being arranged radially outside the receiving groove in a circumferentially distributed manner.

In some embodiments, the receiving pocket communicates radially inward with the receiving groove and opens radially outward.

In some embodiments, each receiving pocket is sized such that one ball can be completely submerged in the receiving pocket.

In some embodiments, the relief groove has a depth less than the radius of each sphere.

In some embodiments, the relief and/or receiving groove is a circumferentially closed annular groove.

In some embodiments, a stop ring is disposed between the base and the sliding sleeve, the stop ring configured to define an axial sliding travel of the sliding sleeve.

In some embodiments, a portion of the stop ring is received in a catch groove provided on an inner circumferential surface of the sliding sleeve, and another portion of the stop ring is received in a slide groove provided on an outer circumferential surface of the base.

In some embodiments, the axial width of the entrainment channel is equal to the axial width of the stop ring, and the axial width of the chute is greater than the axial width of the stop ring.

In some embodiments, the maximum value of the axial sliding travel is designed such that the relief groove is able to reach above and leave above the ball.

In some embodiments, the stop ring has a square cross-section.

In some embodiments, the stop ring is configured as another split ring.

In some embodiments, the slide groove has a deeper section compared to the other sections of the slide groove, the radial depth of which is designed to be greater than or equal to the radial height of the stop ring.

In some embodiments, the flange has a step on its outer circumferential surface against which the front side wall of the relief groove can rest.

In some embodiments, the sleeve has structure on its outer circumferential surface for easy gripping by an operator.

In some embodiments, the split ring has a circular or trapezoidal cross-section.

In some embodiments, the stop groove is a circumferentially closed ring groove.

In some embodiments, the stop groove tapers in cross section in a direction toward the bottom of its groove.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a cable connector assembly is provided which is configured as a first connector assembly of a cluster connector assembly system according to the present invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device connector assembly configured as a second connector assembly of a cluster connector assembly system according to the present invention.

In some embodiments, the second connector assembly further has threads configured to threadably connect with a connector assembly having corresponding threads.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for installing a cluster connector assembly system according to the present invention, the method comprising the steps of:

sliding the sliding sleeve in a first direction so that the release groove of the sliding sleeve reaches above the ball, whereby the ball partially enters the release groove to bring the split ring into the release state,

urging the first and second connector assemblies towards each other so that they engage each other, with the split ring reaching above the stop slot,

sliding the sliding sleeve in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the release groove of the sliding sleeve leaves above the ball, and the split ring enters a contracted state, thereby achieving self-locking of the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for disassembling a cluster connector assembly system according to the present invention, the method comprising the steps of:

sliding the sliding sleeve with the release groove of the sliding sleeve over the ball so that the ball partially enters the release groove and the split ring enters the release state, thereby unlocking the first and second connector assemblies,

the first and second connector assemblies are pulled away from each other to separate them from each other.

Advantages of the respective embodiments, as well as various additional embodiments, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the respective embodiments and by referring to the drawings set forth below.

Drawings

The invention will be further described with reference to the following figures and examples, in which:

figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a cable connector assembly and a device connector assembly of a bundled connector assembly system according to one embodiment of the invention in a state separated from each other,

figure 2 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cable connector assembly in figure 1,

figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a split ring of the cable connector assembly in figure 1,

figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a plurality of spheres of the cable connector assembly of figure 1,

figure 5 shows a schematic exploded view of the cable connector assembly of figure 1,

figure 6a shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cable connector assembly and the device connector assembly of figure 1 in a state of about to engage,

figure 6b shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cable connector assembly of figure 1 in an engaged and self-locking state with a device connector assembly,

figure 6c schematically shows a schematic longitudinal section view of the cable connector assembly of figure 1 in an engaged and unlocked state with a device connector assembly,

figure 6d shows a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cable connector assembly and the device connector assembly of figure 1 in a state of about to be separated,

figure 7a shows a cross-sectional view through the center of a sphere in which the cluster connector assembly system of figure 6b is used in a self-locking state,

fig. 7b shows a cross-sectional view through the center of a sphere in which the cluster connector assembly system of fig. 6c is used in an unlocked state.

Detailed Description

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the invention. It should be understood, however, that the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, the embodiments described below are intended to provide a more complete disclosure of the present invention and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. It is also to be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in various ways to provide further additional embodiments.

It should be understood that like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views. In the drawings, the size of some of the features may be varied for clarity.

It is to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. All terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the specification have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art unless otherwise defined. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

As used in this specification, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The terms "comprising," "including," and "containing" when used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features. The term "and/or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The terms "between X and Y" and "between about X and Y" as used in the specification should be construed to include X and Y. The term "between about X and Y" as used herein means "between about X and about Y" and the term "from about X to Y" as used herein means "from about X to about Y".

In the description, when an element is referred to as being "on," "attached" to, "connected" to, "coupled" to, or "contacting" another element, etc., another element may be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled to, or contacting the other element, or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly attached to," directly connected to, "directly coupled to," or "directly contacting" another element, there are no intervening elements present. In the description, one feature is disposed "adjacent" another feature, and may mean that one feature has a portion overlapping with or above or below an adjacent feature.

In the specification, spatial relations such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "high", "low", and the like may explain the relation of one feature to another feature in the drawings. It will be understood that the spatial relationship terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, features originally described as "below" other features may be described as "above" other features when the device in the figures is inverted. The device may also be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the relative spatial relationships may be interpreted accordingly.

Referring to fig. 1, a cluster connector assembly system 1 of the present invention may include a cable connector assembly 2 and a device connector assembly 3 that may be engaged and disengaged in a push-pull manner and may be easily self-locked and unlocked after engagement. The devices using the device connector assembly 3 may be, for example, base station antennas, remote radio units, fiber optic terminals, etc. The cable using the cable connector assembly 2 may be, for example, an electric cable, an optical cable, or a hybrid cable.

One embodiment of the cluster connector assembly system 1 of the present invention is described in conjunction with the schematic fig. 1-7 b, wherein a usage scenario with a remote radio unit and a cable as examples is illustrated.

Referring to fig. 1, a bundled connector assembly system 1 may include a cable connector assembly 2 on the left and a device connector assembly 3 on the right. In the following description, the left-to-right direction of the cable connector assembly 2 corresponds to the rear-to-front direction thereof, and the right-to-left direction of the device connector assembly 3 corresponds to the rear-to-front direction thereof.

The two

connector assemblies

2, 3 may be cylindrical in their entirety and have four connectors 5, 5 'with cables 4, 4' respectively integrated therein. In other embodiments, the two

connector assemblies

2, 3 may be rectangular parallelepiped shaped, cross-shaped arrangement or other shapes, and may be integrated with other numbers of connectors 5, 5' than four.

Referring to fig. 2, the cable connector assembly 2 may have a housing 6, which housing 6 may have two functional parts 7, 8: a radially inner portion 7 located radially inward of the housing 6 that may integrate the plurality of connectors 5 of the cable connector assembly 2 together and a radially outer portion 8 located radially outward of the housing 6 configured for connection with the device connector assembly 3.

The radially inner portion 7 of the housing 6 may have a generally cylindrical shape and have a plurality of (here four) through-holes 9, each through-hole 9 may receive one connector 5 of the cable connector assembly 2. Each connector 5 can be accommodated axially floating in a through-opening 9, for example by means of a helical spring 10. The radially inner portion 7 of the housing 6 may be any type of functional portion known for integrating a plurality of connectors 5 of a cable connector assembly 2 together.

The radially outer portion 8 of the housing 6 may have a base portion 11, and the base portion 11 may extend radially outward from substantially a middle of an axial direction of an outer circumferential surface of the radially inner portion 7. The radially outer part 8 of the housing 6 may also have a flange 12, which flange 12 may extend axially forward from the outer periphery of the front end face of the base 11 and may extend beyond the front end face 13 of the radially inner part 7. The portion of the flange 12 overlapping the radially inner portion 7 may form an annular slot 14 with the radially inner portion 7.

The flange 12 may have a receiving groove 15 on its inner circumferential surface 17, which receiving groove 15 may extend in the circumferential direction of the flange 12 and may open radially inward. The receiving groove 15 can be provided on a section of the flange 12 axially offset from the radially inner part 7. In other embodiments, receiving groove 15 may be provided on a section of flange 12 that axially overlaps radially inner portion 7.

The cable connector assembly 2 may have a split ring 16. The receiving groove 15 can receive the split ring 16. Referring to fig. 3, the split ring 16 may be made of a resilient material, such as stainless steel, and may have an opening in its circumferential direction, so that the split ring 16 can elastically contract radially when its outer circumference is compressed and expand after the compression is removed. The diameter of the split ring 16 may be 41mm to 42mm, and the actual size may be determined by the size of the receiving groove 15 that matingly receives the split ring 16. The split ring 16 may have a circular cross-section and the diameter of the circular cross-section of the split ring 16 may be 0.5mm to 1.0mm, the actual size being determined by the size of the cross-section of the receiving groove 15 that matingly receives the split ring 16. In other embodiments, the split ring 16 may have a trapezoidal cross-section or other suitable cross-sectional shape.

The circumferential length of the receiving groove 15 may be equal to or greater than the length of the split ring 16, and may be, for example, a closed ring groove. The radial depth of the housing groove 15 may be equal to or greater than the radial height of the split ring 16.

The split ring 16 can have two states in the accommodation groove 15, namely a radially released state and a contracted state. In its radially released state, the split ring 16 can be completely recessed in the receiving groove 15, i.e. can not project radially inward beyond the inner circumferential surface 17 of the flange 12, see fig. 2. In its radially contracted state, the split ring 16 can then be partially inserted into the receiving groove 15 and partially project radially inwards beyond the inner circumferential surface 17 of the flange 12, see fig. 6 b.

The released state of the split ring 16 may be an initial state of the split ring 16, that is, a relaxed state in which the split ring is not subjected to an external force in the radial direction, or a state in which the split ring is slightly contracted by a radially inward prestress. The contracted state of the split ring 16 may be a state in which it is subjected to an additional force radially inwards (in addition to a possible radially inwards pre-stressing force), i.e. a state in which it is contracted more radially inwards than in the released state.

The flange 12 can have a plurality of (here six) receiving pockets 18 on its radial outer side, and these receiving pockets 18 can be arranged distributed in the circumferential direction on the radial outer side of the receiving groove 15. The receiving pocket 18 may communicate radially inward with the receiving groove 15 and may open radially outward.

The cable connector assembly 2 may have a ball 19 (see fig. 4). Each receiving pocket 18 may receive a ball 19, such as a steel ball, with the ball 19 being free to move within the receiving pocket 18. The diameter of the sphere 19 may be 1.9mm to 2.0 mm. The radially outward opening of each receiving pocket 18 may be sized larger than the diameter of the ball 19 to allow the ball 19 to fit into the receiving pocket 18 from outside the housing 6. The radial depth of each receiving pocket 18 may be sufficiently large so that the entire ball 19 may be submerged into the receiving pocket 18, i.e. may not protrude beyond the outer circumferential surface 20 of the flange 12.

The balls 19 can always rest in the receiving pockets 18 on the split rings 16 located radially inside them. When each entire ball 19 is immersed in the respective receiving cavity 18, the ball 19 can urge the split ring 16 radially inwardly and can bring the split ring 16 into its contracted state.

The axial width of the split ring 16 may be less than the diameter of the ball 19. In other embodiments, the axial width of the split ring 16 may be equal to or greater than the diameter of the ball 19.

As can be seen, the cable connector assembly 2 may have a sliding sleeve 21, which sliding sleeve 21 may slide axially back and forth over the outer circumferential surface of the housing 6, in particular over the outer circumferential surface 22 of the base 11 and the outer circumferential surface 20 of the flange 12.

The sliding sleeve 21 may have a relief groove 23 at its front portion, which is open toward the housing 6, the axial width of the relief groove 23 being greater than or equal to the radially outward opening width of the receiving pocket 18. When the sliding sleeve 21 is slid to a position where the release groove 23 covers the receiving pocket 18 or overlaps the receiving pocket 18, the split ring 16 can partly push the ball 19 radially outward into the release groove 23, based on the elastic force of the split ring 16, while the split ring 16 can be released into its release state. The depth of the relief groove 23 is less than the radius of the ball 19. The portion of each ball 19 that enters the relief groove 23 therefore cannot exceed half of the ball 19, so that when the sliding sleeve 21 is pushed forward, the ball 19 can be smoothly pressed into the receiving cavity 18 by the rear side wall of the relief groove 23 to bring the split ring 16 into its contracted state.

In order to limit the axial sliding travel of the sliding sleeve 21 on the housing 6 to a certain extent, a stop ring 24 can be provided between the sliding sleeve 21 and the housing 6, for example the base 11, a part, for example half, of the stop ring 24 being receivable in a corresponding catch groove 25 provided on the inner circumferential surface of the sliding sleeve 21, and another part, for example half, of the stop ring 24 being receivable in a corresponding slide groove 26 provided on the outer circumferential surface 20 of the base 11.

The driving groove 25 can synchronously drive the stop ring 24 when the sliding sleeve 21 slides. For this purpose, the axial width of the entrainment groove 25 can be slightly greater than or equal to the axial width of the stop ring 24.

The axial width of slide groove 26 may be greater than the axial width of stop ring 24 so that stop ring 24 may slide along slide groove 26 as sliding sleeve 21 slides. The stop ring 24 can abut against the front or rear side wall of the slide groove 26, so that the maximum sliding travel of the sliding sleeve 21 can be limited. Therefore, the maximum sliding stroke of the sliding sleeve 21 is equal to the axial width of the sliding groove 26 minus the axial width of the entraining groove 25.

The maximum sliding travel of the sliding sleeve 21 may be large enough so that the release groove 23 can enter a position covering the receiving pocket 18 and leave the receiving pocket 18. In particular, when the sliding sleeve 21 is slid backwards until the stop ring 24 comes to rest against the rear side wall of the sliding groove 26, the release groove 23 can cover the receiving recess 18, the snap ring 16 can, on account of its spring force, press the ball 19 partially into the release groove 23, the snap ring 16 thus being brought from the collapsed state into the released state, see fig. 2. In the released state of the open ring 16, the elastic force of the open ring 16 itself may be 5N to 10N. When the sliding sleeve 21 is slid forward until the stop ring 24 rests against the front wall of the sliding groove 26, the release groove 23 can be moved forward out of the receiving recess 18, and the inner circumferential surface of the sliding sleeve 21 behind the release groove 23 can press the ball 19 completely into the receiving recess 18 against the spring force of the snap ring 16, so that the snap ring 16 can be brought from the released state into the retracted state, see fig. 6 b. In the contracted state of the open ring 16, the elastic force of the open ring 16 itself may be 15N to 20N.

Stop ring 24 may have a square cross section, so that a secure abutment of stop ring 24 is achieved. Other suitable cross-sectional shapes are of course also contemplated.

In order to be able to easily mount stop ring 24 in slide groove 26 of housing 6, stop ring 24 may be configured as a split ring (see fig. 5).

In order to be able to easily mount stop ring 24 in driver groove 25 of sliding sleeve 21, sliding groove 26 may have a deeper section 27 at its front, the radial depth of deeper section 27 being able to be designed to be greater than or equal to the radial height of stop ring 24.

During the installation of the sliding sleeve 21, the entire stop ring 24 can first be pressed into this deeper section 27, and then the sliding sleeve 21 can be slipped onto the housing 6 from the front to the back until the entrainment groove 25 of the sliding sleeve 21 overlaps the stop ring 24, so that the stop ring 24 can partially enter the entrainment groove 25 due to its own elasticity, and the installation of the sliding sleeve 21 is completed.

The flange 12 can have a thinner section 28 at its front, and a step 29 can be formed at the transition of the outer circumferential surface of this thinner section 28 and the outer circumferential surface of the section behind it. The part of the sliding sleeve 21 in front of the release groove 23 can slide on this thinner section 28. When stop ring 24 abuts against the rear side wall of slide groove 26, the free end of the front side wall of release groove 23 can simultaneously abut against the step surface of step 29. This abutment may assist in the abutment of the stop ring 24 against the rear side wall of the slide groove 26. In other embodiments, the thinner section 28 may be eliminated.

The sliding sleeve 21 may have a structure 30, such as a convex-concave structure, on its outer circumferential surface for easy grasping by an operator.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic exploded view of the cable connector assembly 2. Referring to fig. 5, the cable 5, the housing 6, a plurality of balls 19 arranged circumferentially, a split ring 16 cooperating with each ball 19, a stop ring 24 and a sliding sleeve 21 are shown in sequence from left to right.

Referring to fig. 1 and 6a to 6d, the device connector assembly 3 may have a mounting plate 31, which mounting plate 31 may have threaded holes 32 on its circumferential edge, by means of which threaded holes 32 the mounting plate 31 may be mounted to a device, such as a remote radio unit. The mounting plate 31 may have one central opening 32 ', which central opening 32 ' may be penetrated by all (here four) connectors 5 ' of the device connector assembly 3.

The housing 33 of the device connector assembly 3 may be provided on the mounting plate 31 and extend from the mounting plate 31 toward the front (left side in the drawing). The housing 33 may be formed by injection moulding, for example with the mounting plate 31, but may of course also be manufactured by conventional machining.

Referring to fig. 6a, the housing 33 of the device connector assembly 3 may have a main body portion 35. The radially inner portion of the body portion 35 may integrate the plurality of connectors 5' of the device connector assembly 3 together and the radially outer portion may be configured for connection with the cable connector assembly 2.

The body portion 35 of the housing 33 may have a generally cylindrical shape and have a plurality (here four) through-holes 36, each through-hole 36 may fixedly receive one connector 5' of the device connector assembly 3. The body portion 35 of the housing 33 may be any type of functional portion known for integrating multiple connectors 5' of a device connector assembly 3 together.

The housing 33 may also have a flange 38, and the flange 38 may extend axially forward from the outer periphery of the front end face of the main body portion 35.

Referring to fig. 6b and 6c, in the engaged state of the cable connector assembly 2 and the device connector assembly 3, the flange 38 of the device connector assembly 3 may protrude into the slot 14 of the cable connector assembly 2, and the front end face 43 of the main body portion 35 of the device connector assembly 3 may abut against the front end face 13 of the radially inner portion 7 of the cable connector assembly 2. In order to cushion the abutment and to seal the abutment region during engagement, a receiving groove 39 which is open toward the front can be provided on the front end face 43 of the body part 35, and this receiving groove 39 can receive an elastic sealing ring.

Threads 40 (see fig. 1) may be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the flange 38 to enable threaded connection of the device connector assembly 3 with a conventional internally threaded cable connector assembly, but threads are not required for push-pull engagement and disengagement of the present invention.

The body portion 35 may have a stopper groove 41 on the outer circumferential surface. In other embodiments, the stopper groove 41 may be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the flange 38.

In the contracted state of the split ring 16, the portion of the split ring 16 projecting beyond the inner ring periphery of the flange 12 can be accommodated in the stop groove 41 and can therefore stop against the front side wall of the stop groove 41 to prevent separation of the two

connector assemblies

2, 3, i.e. to achieve self-locking of the two

connector assemblies

2, 3.

The circumferential length of the stop groove 41 may be equal to or greater than the circumferential length of the split ring 16, for example the stop groove 41 may be a closed ring groove. The axial width and radial depth of the stop groove 41 may be sufficiently large to accommodate the portion of the split ring 16 that projects beyond the inner ring peripheral surface 17 of the flange 12 in the contracted condition.

The stop groove 41 may have a cross section that tapers in the direction towards its groove bottom, for example a trapezoidal cross section, which can facilitate the entry of the split ring 16 into the stop groove 41. In other embodiments, the stop groove 41 may have a square or other suitably shaped cross-section.

The position of the split ring 16 on the flange 12 and the position of the stop groove 41 on the body part 35 or the flange 38 can always correspond such that in the coupled state of the two

connector assemblies

2, 3, i.e. in the state in which the radially inner parts 7 of the two

connector assemblies

2, 3 and the front end faces 13, 43 of the body part 35 abut against one another, the split ring 16 can be brought into a contracted state, i.e. can partially protrude into the stop groove 41, in order to achieve self-locking of the two

connector assemblies

2, 3.

The push-pull engagement and disengagement and self-locking and unlocking processes of the cable connector assembly 2 and the device connector assembly 3 are described next with the aid of fig. 6a to 6 d.

The push-pull engagement and self-locking process of the cable connector assembly 2 and the device connector assembly 3 will be described first. Fig. 6a shows the two

connector assemblies

2, 3 in a state of imminent engagement. Here, the ball 19 may be partially received in the release slot 23, and the split ring 16 may thus be in a released state, thus allowing the flange 38 to freely enter the slot 14.

The operator can now grip the cable 5 of the cable connector assembly 2 or the area of the housing 11 not covered by the sliding sleeve 21 and manually push the entire cable connector assembly 2 forward until the radially inner portions 7 of the two

connector assemblies

2, 3 and the front end faces 13, 43 of the body portion 35 abut each other into engagement.

The operator can then grasp the sliding sleeve 21, manually pushing the sliding sleeve 21 forwards, the sliding sleeve 21 can thus be moved forwards relative to the housing 11 and can thus press the ball 19 completely into the accommodation pocket 18, while the ball 19 presses the split ring 16 radially inwards, the split ring 16 can be brought from the released state into the contracted state against its spring force, a part of the split ring 16 can thus project into the stop groove 41, thus reaching the state shown in fig. 6b, i.e. the engaged and self-locking state of the two

connector assemblies

2, 3. In this state, the two

connector assemblies

2, 3 cannot be separated from each other.

Next, the unlocking and push-pull separation process of the cable connector assembly 2 and the device connector assembly 3 will be described. The operator can manually pull the sliding sleeve 21 backwards, moving the sliding sleeve 21 backwards with respect to the housing 11 until the release groove 23 covers the accommodation cavity 18, the ball 19 can thus enter the release groove 23, while the split ring 16, due to its elastic force, enters the release state from the contracted state and completely leaves the stop groove 41, thus reaching the state shown in fig. 6c, i.e. the engaged but unlocked state of the two

connector assemblies

2, 3.

The operator can then grip the sliding sleeve 21 or the cable 5 pulls the entire cable connector assembly 2 backwards and the flange 38 can freely leave the slot 14, thereby reaching the ready-to-separate state of the two

connector assemblies

2, 3 shown in fig. 6 d.

Fig. 7a shows a cross-sectional view through the centre of the sphere 19 of the cluster connector assembly system 1 in the self-locking state shown in fig. 6 b. As can be seen from fig. 7a, the ball 19 can be pressed completely into the receiving recess 18 of the flange 12 by the sliding sleeve 21, and the split ring 16 partially enters the stop groove 41. Here it can be seen that there is a gap 42 between the split ring 16 and the groove bottom of the receiving groove 15.

Fig. 7b shows a cross-sectional view through the centre of the sphere 19 of the cluster connector assembly system in the unlocked state shown in fig. 6 c. As can be seen from fig. 7b, the ball 19 can partially enter the release groove 23 of the sliding sleeve 21 and thus release the split ring 16. The split ring 16 can be brought into the released state based on its own elasticity, and the split ring 16 can be completely removed from the stopper groove 41. It can be seen here that the split ring 16 can rest against the groove base of the receiving groove 15, the gap 42 already being absent.

The present invention is distinguished by the fact that a quick push-pull engagement and disengagement and an easy self-locking and unlocking of the cable connector assembly 2 and the device connector assembly 3 is achieved. Furthermore, the flange 38 of the device connector assembly 3 in the present application may additionally be provided with threads 40 by means of which the device connector assembly 3 may be connected with an existing threaded cable connector assembly.

The invention may comprise any feature or combination of features disclosed herein either implicitly or explicitly or any generalisation thereof and is not to be limited in any way by the scope of the foregoing list. Any of the elements, features and/or structural arrangements described herein may be combined in any suitable manner.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A bundled connector assembly system comprising a first connector assembly and a second connector assembly, wherein,

2. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 1, wherein, when the pressing force is removed, the split ring moves away from the stopper groove with the ball entrained based on its own elastic force, so that the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly are unlocked.

3. The bunched connector assembly system of claim 2, wherein said balls are circumferentially spaced radially outwardly of the split ring, the split ring being arranged to move into the contracted condition when said pressure is applied to the balls to urge the balls radially inwardly and thereby move the split ring, and to move the split ring into the released condition when said pressure is removed.

4. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 3, wherein the first connector assembly has a sliding sleeve that is slidable over an outer circumferential surface of the second portion, wherein the sliding sleeve has a relief groove on an inner circumferential surface thereof, wherein the pressure is removed when the sliding sleeve causes the relief groove to reach above the ball, and wherein the inner circumferential surface of the sliding sleeve is capable of applying the pressure to the ball when the sliding sleeve causes the relief groove to exit above the ball.

5. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 4, wherein the second portion has a base and a flange extending axially forward from the base, the stop groove opening toward an inner circumferential surface of the flange in the engaged state of the first and second connector assemblies.

6. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 5, wherein the flange has a circumferentially extending receiving groove on an inner ring periphery thereof, the receiving groove configured to receive the split ring.

7. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 6, wherein the radial depth of the receiving groove is equal to or greater than the radial height of the split ring.

8. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 6, wherein the flange has a plurality of receiving pockets for receiving the balls, the receiving pockets being circumferentially distributed radially outward of the receiving slot.

9. The bundle connector assembly system of claim 8, wherein the receiving pockets communicate radially inwardly with the receiving slots and open radially outwardly.

10. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 9, wherein each receiving pocket is sized such that a ball can be fully submerged in the receiving pocket.

11. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 4, wherein the relief groove has a depth less than a radius of each ball.

12. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 6, wherein the relief and/or receiving groove is a circumferentially closed annular groove.

13. The bundle connector assembly system of claim 5, wherein a stop ring is disposed between the base and the sliding sleeve, the stop ring configured to define an axial sliding travel of the sliding sleeve.

14. The bundle connector assembly system according to claim 13, wherein a portion of the stop ring is received in a catch groove provided on the inner ring peripheral surface of the sliding sleeve and another portion of the stop ring is received in a slide groove provided on the outer ring peripheral surface of the base.

15. The bundle connector assembly system according to claim 14, wherein the axial width of the driver slot is equal to the axial width of the stop ring and the axial width of the runner is greater than the axial width of the stop ring.

16. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 13, wherein the maximum value of the axial sliding travel is designed such that the relief groove can reach above and away from above the ball.

17. The bundle connector assembly system of claim 13, wherein the stop ring has a square cross-section.

18. The bundle connector assembly system according to claim 14, wherein the stop ring is configured as another split ring.

19. The bundle connector assembly system according to claim 18, characterized in that the chute has a deeper section compared to the other sections of the chute, the deeper section having a radial depth designed to be greater than or equal to the radial height of the stop ring.

20. The bundle connector assembly system of claim 5, wherein the flange has a step on its outer circumferential surface against which the front side wall of the relief groove can abut.

21. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 4, wherein the sliding sleeve has structure on its outer circumferential surface for easy gripping by an operator.

22. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 1, wherein the split ring has a circular or trapezoidal cross-section.

23. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 1, wherein the stop groove is a circumferentially closed ring groove.

24. The cluster connector assembly system of claim 1, wherein the stop groove tapers in cross section toward its groove bottom.

25. A cable connector assembly configured as the first connector assembly of the bundled connector assembly system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 24.

26. A device connector assembly configured as a second connector assembly of the bundled connector assembly system according to any one of claims 1 to 24.

27. The device connector assembly of claim 26, wherein the second connector assembly further comprises threads configured to threadably engage a connector assembly having corresponding threads.