GB1116194A - Quick-disconnect electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

1,116,194. Two-part couplings. NORTHROP CORPORATION. 31 Jan., 1967, No. 4729/67. Heading H2E. An electrical connector has a locking mechanism comprising respective forward and rearward rings 33, 42 located on its socket part 16, the rearward ring 42 being forwardly biased by a spring 44 and having three keys 43 located in respective axial slots 36 which separate three internal helical grooves 37 in the forward ring 33. On mating the connector parts, radial pins 31 on the plug part enter respective slots 36 and on slight rotation of the forward ring 33 are engaged in respective helical grooves 38 by camming action of the keys 43, Fig. 4. The connector parts are rapidly released by relative movement of the rearward ring 42 to withdraw its keys 43 from the slots 36 sufficiently to release the pins 31 from the helical grooves. Plug-and-socket contacts 23, 24 are moulded into respective resilient inserts 22, 21 which form a water-tight seal between the coupled connector parts and which are located in respective outer shells 19, 18, the connector parts being polarized by complementary grooves and ribs (32, Fig. 5, not shown) in the shells 19, 18. A screw-threaded retaining nut 46 for the biasing spring 44 is located on the socket part 16 and, if desired, a screw-threaded cap is located on the rear of the plug part 17. The socket and plug parts may be mounted respectively on the body (12, Fig. 1, not shown), of an aircraft and, by means of a flange 26, on a missile (11).