GB2049308A

GB2049308A - Waterproof electrical plug and socket

Info

Publication number: GB2049308A
Application number: GB8006369A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: CANNELL M
Current assignee: CANNELL M
Priority date: 1979-02-26
Filing date: 1980-02-26
Publication date: 1980-12-17

Abstract

A waterproof electrical plug and socket assembly is described wherein ingress of water is prevented by radial sealing means such as an o-ring 18. The housing 1 is of nylon or glass-loaded polymer and has a synthetic rubber seal 7 and grip 8. The contact compression ring 12 may be of synthetic rubber. A ply-retaining screw 19 is included. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Waterproof electrical plug and socket The present invention relates to a waterproof electrical plug and socket assembly.

Electrical plug and socket assemblies for use in damp and particularly those for use in marine environments traditionally suffer from corrosion.

This has been especially troublesome with assemblies using dissimilar metals due to galvanic effects. It would clearly be desirable to provide a plug and socket assembly that prevents ingress of water into the operating area of the assembly. Such an assembly has now been discovered and which can be adapted to provide further benefits such as the provision of a watertight seal by a simple linear movement without the use of any clamping device or screwed ring to provide compression. Also the assembly does not need to employ metal springs or the like to effect electrical contact. The present invention provides a waterproof electrical plug and socket assembly wherein ingress of water into the assembly is prevented by radial sealing means. The sealing means is normally resiliant and annular, for example it may comprise one, two or more O-rings or like toroidal sealing means.

The plug and socket bodies are most suitably made out of thermo plastics materials that are unaffected by sea water. Any suitable polymeric or glass filled material may be employed but it is presently preferred to use thermo plastic glass filled nylon that allows for fabrication by injection moulding. The sealing means will be made of a resilient material such as a rubber, for example a resilient synthetic rubber.

The sealing means may be mounted on the plug or the socket. It is preferred to mount the sealing means on the socket as this then allows for the inclusion of a cap which can seal the socket when the plug is not in use.

In one form of this invention the socket is provided with a barrel which has one or two O-rings of different sizes in grooves thereon.

The barrel of the socket when the assembly is in use is sheathed by the skirt of the plug. The opposite configuration, that is where the plug is sheathed by a skirt of the socket, also falls within the scope of the invention but is a less preferred feature.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that in a favoured aspect this invention provides a waterproof electrical plug and socket assembly wherein the plug is adapted to sheath the barrel of the socket by means of a skirt and ingress of water into the assembly is prevented by at least one radial protruberance.

One, two or more protruberances may be employed but one or two are more suitable than a greater number and one is preferred.

The protruberances may take the form of O-ring as hereintofore described.

The plug and socket assembly may be of a type containing 2 or more pins. A compression ring may be employed to ensure a good contact between the conductor pin and the conductor socket. The compression ring may advantageously be made from a non-conducting material such as a synthetic rubber.

The plug and socket each have a plastics body.

The waterproof seal between the two components comprising two "o" rings of different sizes in grooves on the barrel of the socket. An anular groove on the perifory of the base retains the seal between the socket and its mounting.

A knurled gland nut retains the packing at the cable entry on the plug. A blank sealing cap is included to protect the socket when the plug is not in use. The unit is designed for exterior use, in particular for marine applications.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing: The plug body (1) is plastic and houses a plastic plug core (2) into which are moulded the brass conductor pins (3). Screw (4) and washer (5) are for the attachment of electric cable. The plug core (2) is secured in the plug body (1) with self tapping screws (6). The cable gland assembly (7), (8) and (9) secures the cable into the plug: (7) is a synthetic rubber seal and (8) is a plastic cable clamp. The seal (7) and cable clamp (8) are compressed with the plastic gland nut (9) to grip the cable and make a waterproof seal.

Brass conductor sockets (10) are moulded into plastic socket body (11). Each conductor socket (10) has a toroidal ring (12) located in an external groove situated close to the slotted open end. The toroidal ring (12) compresses socket (10) providing a positive electrical contact when conductor pin (3) is inserted.

The screw (13) and washer (14) make the electrical connection between the supply cable and conductor socket (10) in the base of socket body (11). The socket body (11) is adapted to be secured to a flat surface and a waterproof joint is obtained with synthetic rubber washer (15). A blank cap (16) is provided to keep moisture out of the socket assembly when the socket assembly is not in use. The blank cap (16) is attached to the socket assembly by a polyester cord (17). Atoroidal seal (18) (an "0" ring) located in an external groove on the socket body (11) makes the unit watertight when either the plug assembly or the blank cap (16) are fitted to the socket. Screw (19) may be tightened to prevent accidental removal of either the plug or blank cap (16) from the socket. The drawing shows a three pin assembly but the device may be provided for different numbers of pins.

1. A waterproof electrical plug and socket assembly wherein ingress of water into the assembly is prevented by radial sealing means.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 where the sealing means is resilient and annular.

3. An assembly as claimed in claims 1 and 2 where the sealing means comprises and o-ring.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sealing means is an o-ring.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sealing means is two o-rings.

6. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the sealing means is mounted on the socket.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Waterproof electrical plug and socket The present invention relates to a waterproof electrical plug and socket assembly. Electrical plug and socket assemblies for use in damp and particularly those for use in marine environments traditionally suffer from corrosion. This has been especially troublesome with assemblies using dissimilar metals due to galvanic effects. It would clearly be desirable to provide a plug and socket assembly that prevents ingress of water into the operating area of the assembly. Such an assembly has now been discovered and which can be adapted to provide further benefits such as the provision of a watertight seal by a simple linear movement without the use of any clamping device or screwed ring to provide compression. Also the assembly does not need to employ metal springs or the like to effect electrical contact. The present invention provides a waterproof electrical plug and socket assembly wherein ingress of water into the assembly is prevented by radial sealing means. The sealing means is normally resiliant and annular, for example it may comprise one, two or more O-rings or like toroidal sealing means. The plug and socket bodies are most suitably made out of thermo plastics materials that are unaffected by sea water. Any suitable polymeric or glass filled material may be employed but it is presently preferred to use thermo plastic glass filled nylon that allows for fabrication by injection moulding. The sealing means will be made of a resilient material such as a rubber, for example a resilient synthetic rubber. The sealing means may be mounted on the plug or the socket. It is preferred to mount the sealing means on the socket as this then allows for the inclusion of a cap which can seal the socket when the plug is not in use. In one form of this invention the socket is provided with a barrel which has one or two O-rings of different sizes in grooves thereon. The barrel of the socket when the assembly is in use is sheathed by the skirt of the plug. The opposite configuration, that is where the plug is sheathed by a skirt of the socket, also falls within the scope of the invention but is a less preferred feature. From the foregoing it will be appreciated that in a favoured aspect this invention provides a waterproof electrical plug and socket assembly wherein the plug is adapted to sheath the barrel of the socket by means of a skirt and ingress of water into the assembly is prevented by at least one radial protruberance. One, two or more protruberances may be employed but one or two are more suitable than a greater number and one is preferred. The protruberances may take the form of O-ring as hereintofore described. The plug and socket assembly may be of a type containing 2 or more pins. A compression ring may be employed to ensure a good contact between the conductor pin and the conductor socket. The compression ring may advantageously be made from a non-conducting material such as a synthetic rubber. The plug and socket each have a plastics body. The waterproof seal between the two components comprising two "o" rings of different sizes in grooves on the barrel of the socket. An anular groove on the perifory of the base retains the seal between the socket and its mounting. A knurled gland nut retains the packing at the cable entry on the plug. A blank sealing cap is included to protect the socket when the plug is not in use. The unit is designed for exterior use, in particular for marine applications. The invention is illustrated in the drawing: The plug body (1) is plastic and houses a plastic plug core (2) into which are moulded the brass conductor pins (3). Screw (4) and washer (5) are for the attachment of electric cable. The plug core (2) is secured in the plug body (1) with self tapping screws (6). The cable gland assembly (7), (8) and (9) secures the cable into the plug: (7) is a synthetic rubber seal and (8) is a plastic cable clamp. The seal (7) and cable clamp (8) are compressed with the plastic gland nut (9) to grip the cable and make a waterproof seal. Brass conductor sockets (10) are moulded into plastic socket body (11). Each conductor socket (10) has a toroidal ring (12) located in an external groove situated close to the slotted open end. The toroidal ring (12) compresses socket (10) providing a positive electrical contact when conductor pin (3) is inserted. The screw (13) and washer (14) make the electrical connection between the supply cable and conductor socket (10) in the base of socket body (11). The socket body (11) is adapted to be secured to a flat surface and a waterproof joint is obtained with synthetic rubber washer (15). A blank cap (16) is provided to keep moisture out of the socket assembly when the socket assembly is not in use. The blank cap (16) is attached to the socket assembly by a polyester cord (17). Atoroidal seal (18) (an "0" ring) located in an external groove on the socket body (11) makes the unit watertight when either the plug assembly or the blank cap (16) are fitted to the socket. Screw (19) may be tightened to prevent accidental removal of either the plug or blank cap (16) from the socket.The drawing shows a three pin assembly but the device may be provided for different numbers of pins. CLAIMS

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sealing means is an o-ring.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sealing means is two o-rings.

7. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the plug and socket bodies are made of thermoplastic material.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the socket has a barrel and two o-rings are of different sizes in grooves on the barrel of the socket.

9. A waterproof electrical plug and socket assembly wherein the plug is adapted to sheath the barrel of the socket by means of a skirt and ingress of water into the assembly is prevented by at least one radial protruberance.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ingress of water is prevented by one protruberance.

11. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein the ingress is prevented by two protruberances.

12. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11 wherein the protruberance is an o-ring.

13. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein ingress is prevented by and o-ring in a groove on the barrel of the socket.

14. Awaterproof electrical plug and socket assembly substantially as shown in the drawing herein.