EP0247814A2 - Connecteurs électriques - Google Patents

Connecteurs électriques Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0247814A2
EP0247814A2 EP87304599A EP87304599A EP0247814A2 EP 0247814 A2 EP0247814 A2 EP 0247814A2 EP 87304599 A EP87304599 A EP 87304599A EP 87304599 A EP87304599 A EP 87304599A EP 0247814 A2 EP0247814 A2 EP 0247814A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
insert portion
sprung element
connector
sprung
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP87304599A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0247814A3 (fr
Inventor
Ronald Chard
Donald Leonard Watson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TEC Electrical Components Ltd
Original Assignee
FKI Electrical Components Ltd
FKI Electricals PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by FKI Electrical Components Ltd, FKI Electricals PLC filed Critical FKI Electrical Components Ltd
Publication of EP0247814A2 publication Critical patent/EP0247814A2/fr
Publication of EP0247814A3 publication Critical patent/EP0247814A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/622—Screw-ring or screw-casing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to electrical connectors and to a method of assembling such connectors.
  • a typical connector assembly includes a fixed connector whose insulating insert supports a plurality of pin type female contacts and a free connector whose insulating insert supports a plurality of pin type male contacts.
  • the fixed and free connectors may rapidly connect and disconnect by means of a knurled coupling nut and, once connected, should remain connected under adverse environmental conditions which may include extreme temperature variations and high vibration.
  • British Patent No. 1585438 discloses a connector in which the other surface of the cylindrical shell is provided with an annular shoulder having a number of outwardly extending gear teeth which contact a plurality of substantially straight leaf springs assembled to the inner surface of the coupling nut. Each spring lies tangential to the shoulder and has a central inwardly directed projecting member which engages the gear teeth.
  • British Patent No. GB 2042822B discloses a substantially similar arrangement in which the spring and the projecting member are of a plastics material. such arrangements have a number of practical disadvantages.
  • the spring projecting members are prone to wear if the connector is coupled and decoupled many times while in service and finally, the arrangements illustrated require precisely defined cavities or holes to be formed in an inner surface of an unthreaded portion of the coupling nut into which a spring or a spring fixing pin must be inserted in order that the spring may be properly positioned to engage the gear teeth.
  • the nut is of a metal material, as is commonly the case, the forming of such cavities or holes, in addition to the aforementioned assembly procedure, is likely to be a time consuming and costly process, particularly when manufacturing small connector assemblies.
  • an electrical connector includes a first and second housing each supporting an insert portion including a plurality of electrical contacts, the housings being arranged to threadably engage each other whereby relative rotational movement in a first direction of one housing relative to another housing is arranged to cause relative translational movement of the insert portions to connect the electrical contacts, the connector being characterised in that a rotation inhibiting assembly is provided between one insert portion and the housing which supports that insert portion in order to inhibit relative rotation between that insert portion and the housing, the assembly including at least one sprung element which has been located in one of at least two positions on one of the insert portion and housing in one of which positions at least the sprung element is arranged to co-operate with a series of teeth located on the other of the insert portion and housing, in order to vary the force which inhibits relative rotation between the insert portion and housing.
  • the torque of the rotation inhibiting assembly can be varied either during assembly of the connector by selecting the position of the sprung element or, alternatively or additionally, the torque can be altered on an already assembled electrical connector by selecting a different position for a sprung element.
  • the sprung element may be arranged to co-operate with the teeth in at least two positions with the force which inhibits relative rotational movement between the insert portion and housing varying in dependence upon the position of the sprung element.
  • the selection of the position of the sprung element may be achieved by altering the orientation of the sprung element on the insert portion or housing on which it is located. In one orientation of the sprung element, more teeth may be engaged by the sprung element than at another orientation of the sprung element.
  • Movement in one rotational direction of the sprung element relative to the insert portion or housing on which it is located may be prevented or limited by abutment of one end of the sprung element with a portion of the insert portion or housing on which it is located and movement in the other rotational direction of the sprung element relative to the insert portion or housing on which it is located may be prevented or limited by abutment of the other end of the sprung element with a different portion of the insert portion or housing on which it is located.
  • the sprung element may be held in place by being located in a cavity defined between the teeth, circumferentially spaced portions on the insert portion or housing on which it is located and axially spaced portions on either side of the sprung element.
  • the connector may include a plurality of sprung elements, and the sprung elements may be substantially equally circumferentially spaced from each other.
  • a method of assembling an electrical connector as herein referred to may comprise selecting one of at least two possible positions of the sprung element in one of which positions at least the sprung element co-­operates with the teeth.
  • an electrical connector includes a first and second housing each supporting an insert portion including a plurality of electrical contacts, the housings being arranged to threadably engage each other whereby relative rotational movement in a first direction of one housing relative to another housing is arranged to cause relative translational movement of the insert portions to connect the electrical contacts, the connector being characterised in that a rotation inhibiting assembly is provided between one insert portion and the housing which supports that insert portion in order to inhibit relative rotation between that insert portion and the housing, the assembly including at least one sprung element located on one of the insert portion and housing arranged to co-operate with a series of teeth located on the other of the insert portion and housing, to inhibit relative rotation between the insert portion and housing, movement in one rotational direction of the sprung element relative to the insert portion or housing on which it is located being prevented or limited by abutment of one end of the sprung element with a portion of the insert portion or housing on which it is located and movement in the other rotational direction of the sprung element relative to the insert portion or housing on which
  • Figure 1 shows a typical connector assembly in which a fixed connector 1 includes a dielectric insert 2 supporting a plurality of cylindrical female contacts 3.
  • a free connector 1A includes a substantially cylindrical shell 4 which encloses a dielectric insert 2A supporting a plurality of mating pin type male contacts 3A.
  • Each insert and its pin contacts is supported in the associated connector by means such as are described, for example, in our pending European Patent Application No. 85303548.3.
  • the free connector is provided with splines 5 locating with grooves 6 in the fixed connector to ensure alignment of the male and female contacts when the fixed and free connectors are assembled together, and a knurled coupling nut 7 encircling the free connector shell 4 may be screwed and tightened on to external threads 8 on the fixed connector when the two connectors are assembled, in known manner.
  • a plurality of substantially gull wing shaped, or w-shaped, leaf springs 11 are inserted into cavities 12 lying in an annular cylindrical space between the inner surface of a rear, unthreaded, region of the coupling nut 7 and a ring of radially outwardly facing gear teeth 13 on a raised shoulder in the central region of the outer surface of the cylindrical shell 4.
  • the leaf springs 11 fit loosely into the cavities 12 if inserted before the coupling nut 7 is assembled around the cylindrical shell, as is shown in Figure 2.
  • Figures 3 and 4 shown an assembled free connector having four springs 11 in associated cavities 12. It will be appreciated that the number of springs and cavities provided may vary from two to any desirable number, and the cavities 12 are preferably evenly spaced around the cylindrical shell.
  • each cavity is provided by the gear teeth 13 and the opposite face of each cavity is provided by the inner surface of the coupling nut.
  • the front wall to each cavity is provided by a locating washer 14 resting in a recess in the coupling nut 7, as is shown in Figure 3.
  • a plurality of evenly spaced lugs 14A, Figure 4, with appropriately tapered side walls are provided on the rearward facing surface of the locating washer 14 such that the lugs 14A extend rearward of the gear teeth 13 and the tapered side walls provide side walls to the cavities 12.
  • the locating washer 14 is then inserted around the shell and into the nut from the rear of the connector.
  • One or more locating protrusions extend frontwards of the locating washer into suitably positioned recesses (not shown) in the unthreaded interior of the nut such that, when inserted, the locating washer cannot rotate relative to the nut.
  • the springs 11 are then inserted into the cavities 12 formed by the gear teeth, the side walls of the rearward facing lugs 14A the rearward facing portions of the locating washer lying between the protrusions, and the inner surface of the shell 4.
  • the springs are dimensioned such that, as shown at 11 in Figure 4, one apex of the spring engages the teeth 13 to provide a ratchet mechanism for the coupling nut.
  • a spring may be designed such that two apices engage the teeth, as is shown at 11R in Figure 4.
  • the spring and washer geometry may be so chosen that the springs may be reversible and one or more of the springs may have the apices engaging the teeth or vice-versa.
  • the geometry may be such that in the "normal" position with one apex engaging the teeth, a reversed spring may not physically engage the teeth, but may be stored in its cavity to be re-reversed and increase the overall torque of the ratchet mechanism.
  • a retention washer or a rear support washer 15 and a retaining lock ring or clip 16, Figures 2 and 3 are assembled to the rear of the connector to close the cavities after the springs have been inserted.
  • the washer 15 is a tight fit in the open rear end of the coupling nut 7 and the lock ring is located in a groove of the insert 2A (not shown).
  • the present invention provides a great deal more flexibility in choice of ratchet torque than has hitherto been achievable in providing the option of reversible springs.
  • the locating washer may conveniently comprise a low cost plastics moulding.
  • a range of locating washers, having different lug geometries, may be provided for a shell of a particular size, thereby providing a choice in the number of spring cavities for a given coupling nut design.
  • the coupling nut remains essentially cylindrical, without requiring precisely machined cavities for spring supports, since the necessary precision will occur in the plastics moulding.
  • a further advantage of the present invention lies in using an apex of a w-shaped or gull-­wing shaped leaf spring to engage the gear teeth.
  • the leaf spring would normally be formed of a spring steel material, which is mechanically hard and wear resistant while resilient to the passage of gear teeth. Such a spring is likely to provide improved wear resistance compared with the spring designs disclosed in the aforementioned prior art.
  • the lock ring or clip 16 may be dispensed with and the rear portion of the coupling nut may be swaged or otherwise formed over the rear support washer 15.
  • the rear support washer may alternatively be fixed to the coupling nut by means of suitable screw thread or glue.
  • each cavity may, instead of being provided by the spaced lugs 14A of the separate locating washer 14, be provided by machining out a portion of the coupling.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
EP87304599A 1986-05-28 1987-05-22 Connecteurs électriques Withdrawn EP0247814A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8612963 1986-05-28
GB868612963A GB8612963D0 (en) 1986-05-28 1986-05-28 Electrical connectors

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0247814A2 true EP0247814A2 (fr) 1987-12-02
EP0247814A3 EP0247814A3 (fr) 1988-11-09

Family

ID=10598563

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87304599A Withdrawn EP0247814A3 (fr) 1986-05-28 1987-05-22 Connecteurs électriques

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0247814A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB8612963D0 (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2243035A (en) * 1990-04-11 1991-10-16 Kembrey Ind Limited Connector cable fitting accessories
EP0546657A2 (fr) * 1991-12-11 1993-06-16 General Electric Company Connecteur électrique réparable avec enveloppe
EP0708496A3 (fr) * 1994-10-19 1997-09-10 Whitaker Corp Assemblage de connecteur électrique avec mécanisme de découplage avec retardement amélioré
US7905741B1 (en) 2009-11-06 2011-03-15 Amphenol Corporation Anti-vibration connector coupling with an axially movable ratchet ring
US7914311B1 (en) 2009-11-06 2011-03-29 Amphenol Corporation Anti-vibration connector coupling with an axially movable ratchet ring and a collar
US8579644B2 (en) 2012-03-13 2013-11-12 Amphenol Corporation Anti-vibration connector coupling with disengagement feature
EP2993739A1 (fr) * 2014-09-04 2016-03-09 Conesys, Inc. Connecteurs circulaires

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2448237A1 (fr) * 1979-02-02 1980-08-29 Bendix Corp Connecteur electrique muni d'un mecanisme perfectionne pour empecher son desaccouplement
GB2069248A (en) * 1980-02-11 1981-08-19 Akzona Inc Electrical connectors

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2448237A1 (fr) * 1979-02-02 1980-08-29 Bendix Corp Connecteur electrique muni d'un mecanisme perfectionne pour empecher son desaccouplement
GB2069248A (en) * 1980-02-11 1981-08-19 Akzona Inc Electrical connectors

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2243035A (en) * 1990-04-11 1991-10-16 Kembrey Ind Limited Connector cable fitting accessories
GB2243035B (en) * 1990-04-11 1994-09-21 Kembrey Ind Limited Backshell assemblies
EP0546657A2 (fr) * 1991-12-11 1993-06-16 General Electric Company Connecteur électrique réparable avec enveloppe
EP0546657A3 (en) * 1991-12-11 1993-12-15 Gen Electric Repairable electric cable connector with backshell
EP0708496A3 (fr) * 1994-10-19 1997-09-10 Whitaker Corp Assemblage de connecteur électrique avec mécanisme de découplage avec retardement amélioré
US7905741B1 (en) 2009-11-06 2011-03-15 Amphenol Corporation Anti-vibration connector coupling with an axially movable ratchet ring
US7914311B1 (en) 2009-11-06 2011-03-29 Amphenol Corporation Anti-vibration connector coupling with an axially movable ratchet ring and a collar
US8579644B2 (en) 2012-03-13 2013-11-12 Amphenol Corporation Anti-vibration connector coupling with disengagement feature
EP2993739A1 (fr) * 2014-09-04 2016-03-09 Conesys, Inc. Connecteurs circulaires
US9531120B2 (en) 2014-09-04 2016-12-27 Conesys, Inc. Circular connectors

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0247814A3 (fr) 1988-11-09
GB8612963D0 (en) 1986-07-02

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