GB1116143A - Improvements in or relating to electrical connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

1,116,143. Two-part couplings. AMPHENOL CORPORATION. 14 June, 1965 [15 June, 1964], No. 25118/65. Heading H2E. In a two-part coupling of the kind in which each part comprises a cylindrical shell enclosing a dielectric body portion, a plurality of contacts being inserted into bores in the body portion from the rear and being retained therein by latching collets located in the bores, the part containing the socket contacts has, at the front of its body portion, a section made of hard, rigid insulating material in the face of which apertures are formed which limit the size of the plug pins on the other part which can pass through the apertures in order to engage the socket contacts; and at least one keyway is provided adjacent each aperture which, while it will allow a latch-releasing tool to be inserted to permit removal of the socket contact, will not permit an oversize plug pin to pass through. As shown, each part 10, 11 of a coupling comprises a tubular metal shell 12, 13 enclosing a dielectric insert comprising a rigid disc, 27, 51, a resilient member 29, 54, and a resilient grommet 30, 53, retained in shells 12, 13 by spring rings 31, 52. Each insert has a plurality of bores 32, 71 therethrough, in each of which a latching collet 28, 61 is disposed, a flange at one end of the collet being embedded in the rigid disc 27, 51. The socket contact carrying part 11 also comprises a hard, rigid body member 55 held against, or bonded to, the front of resilient member 54 and having, in its forward face, tapered pin-entry apertures 73 which are coaxial with counterbores 78 of greater diameter in the member 55, which are aligned with the bores 71. Socket contact elements having wires 83 connected into sleeve terminal portions 84 thereof, as by crimping, are inserted in the bores 71 from the rear until annular shoulders 89 engage latching teeth on collets 61, at which point pin-receiving sleeves 90 are located within counterbores 78. A latch-releasing sleeve 92, also located in each counterbore 78 around sleeve 90, has a bevelled rear edge which engages trigger portions of the latching teeth on the collet 61, and an inwardly projecting spring finger 99 which frictionally engages sleeve 90. Pin contacts, inserted from the rear into the other coupling part 10, are similar to the socket contacts except that they terminate in pin portions 44. To remove a socket contact from part 11, a tool 95, Fig. 4, is inserted into an aperture 73, fins 97 on the tool passing through radial slots 94, Fig. 2, adjacent aperture 73 and pushing sleeve 92 against the triggers on collet 61 to release the latching teeth; and a centrepin 96 on the tool 95 is extended to force the socket contact out of bore 71. The parts 10, 11 are held together when engaged by a screwring 17, the tightening of which causes material of resilient member 29 on part 10 to sealingly enter cavities 73 in rigid member 55 on part 11, and to sealingly co-operate with a peripheral flange 77 on member 55. The parts are polarized by means of keys 22 on part 11 which enter corresponding keyways 21 in part 10.