GB2225675A

GB2225675A - Circular multi-pin connector adaptors

Info

Publication number: GB2225675A
Application number: GB8825364A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Youngs
Original assignee: New Chapel Electronics Ltd
Current assignee: TT Electronics Fairford Ltd
Priority date: 1988-10-29
Filing date: 1988-10-29
Publication date: 1990-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2008-10-29
Also published as: GB8825364D0; GB2225675B

Abstract

An adaptor 8 is provided for connecting a screened cable to the back of a circular multi-pin connector 1 having an externally screwthreaded outer metal collar 4 surrounding a circular sealing bung 5 through which connection elements extend. The adaptor 8 comprises an internally screwthreaded outer metal sleeve 11 for screwthreaded engagement with the outer metal collar 4 of the connector, connection elements within the sleeve 11 for engagement with the connection elements of the connector 1, and an annular sealing member 14 which is so positioned within the sleeve 11 that, when the adaptor 8 is connected to the connector 1 by screwthreaded engagement of the sleeve 11 with the collar 4, the sealing member 14 engages within an annular gap between the collar 4 and the sealing bung 5 of the connector 1 so as to provide fluid-tight sealing. In this manner reliable fluid-tight sealing of the connection is provided. <IMAGE>

Description

"Circular Multi-Pin Connector Adaptors" This invention relates to circular multi-pin connector adaptors for connecting a screened cable to a circular multi-pin connector having an externally threaded outer metal collar surrounding a circular sealing bung through which connection elements extend.

Circular multi-pin connectors of military specification type are commonly provided on electrical equipment used in the defence industry, such as radar equipment, and generally comprise mating male and female connector portions, each having a metal sleeve surrounding a circular sealing bung through which a plurality of connection elements extend. When the connector portions are connected together, the connection elements of the male portion electrically contact the connection elements of the female portion. Furthermore at least one of the connector portions may have a back part having an externally screwthreaded outer metal collar surrounding the circular sealing bung to which an adaptor may be connected for the purpose of connecting a screened cable to the connector.It is desirable that such a connection should be made fluid-tight so as to prevent penetration of moisture into the connector. To this end it is known for the adaptor to be provided with an O-ring which seals against the outer edge of the collar when the adaptor is in screwthreaded engagement with the collar. However, it is usual for both the collar and the adaptor to be formed with anti-rotation teeth which engage one another when these parts are connected together, and these teeth will prevent reliable sealing of the O-ring against the collar in use, as well as tending to damage the O-ring.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel form of adaptor for this purpose which avoids these problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a circular multi-pin connector adaptor for connecting a screened cable to a circular multi-pin connector having an externally screwthreaded outer metal collar surrounding a circular sealing bung through which connection elements extend, wherein the adaptor comprises an internally screwthreaded outer metal sleeve for screwthreaded engagement with the outer metal collar of the connector, connection elements within the sleeve for engagement with the connection elements of the connector, and an annular sealing member which is so positioned within the sleeve that, when the adaptor is connected to the connector by screwthreaded engagement of the sleeve with the collar, the sealing member engages within an annular gap between the collar and the sealing bung of the connector so as to provide fluid-tight sealing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the sealing member has an inner frustoconical sealing surface which diverges in the direction in which the adaptor is connected to the connector and which engages a peripheral edge of the sealing bung when the adaptor is connected to the connector.

In addition it is preferred that the sealing member has a circular forward edge which sealingly engages a peripheral bond between the sealing bung and the collar when the adaptor is connected to the connector. The forward edge is conveniently radiused. Furthermore it is preferred that an annular recess is formed in the outer surface of the sealing member and extends up to the forward edge.

The sealing member may be a sleeve made of resilient material, such as a rigid polymer, e.g. Nylon (Registered Trade Mark).

Furthermore the outer metal sleeve may comprise a body part for connection to the screen of the cable and an internally screwthreaded part mounted on the body part so as to be rotatable with respect thereto. For example the internally screwthreaded part may be connected to the body part by an annular member received in oppositely facing annular grooves in the two parts.

The inner surface of the body part is conveniently formed with an annular shoulder which serves as a seating for the sealing member.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred adaptor in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows the adaptor in axial section and the connector to which the adaptor is to be connected (which is shown partially in side view and partially in axial section); and Figure 2 shows the parts of Figure 1 connected together, as well as an enlarged view of a detail of the connection.

Referring to the drawing the military specification circular multi-pin connector 1 shown therein comprises connector portions 2 and 3 which are connected together in known manner. The connector portion 3 has an externally screwthreaded outer metal collar 4 surrounding a circular sealing bung 5 which is fixed within the collar 4 by a'peripheral adhesive bond 6. The bond 6 extends around the complete circumference of the annular space between the collar 4 and the bung 5 but does not extend as far as the end face of the bung 5 so that an annular gap 7 is left surrounding the end face of the bung 5. The connection elements which extend through the bung 5 are not shown in order to render the drawing easier to read.

The adaptor 8 has an outer metal sleeve 9 through which connection elements extend. These connection elements are connected to the individual conductors of a screened multicore cable in known manner, the screen of the cable being connected to the outer metal sleeve 9.

Furthermore the sleeve 9 comprises a body part 10 and an internally screwthreaded part 11 mounted on the body part 10 so as to be rotatable with respect thereto by means of a metal annular member 12 received in oppositely facing annular grooves in the two parts 10 and 11.

The inner surface of the body part 10 is formed with an annular shoulder 13 which serves as a seating for a sealing member or insert 14 in the form of a Nylon sleeve. The sealing insert 14 has an inner frustoconical sealing surface 15 which diverges in the direction in which the adaptor is connected to the connector, a radiused forward edge 16 and an annular recess 17 formed in the outer surface of the insert 14.

When the adaptor 8 is connected to the connector 1 the connection elements of the adaptor are first connected to the connection elements extending through the bung 5 of the connector 1. The internally screwthreaded part 11 on the body part 10 of the adaptor 8 is then screwed on to the externally screwthreaded collar 4 of the connector 1. When the part 11 is fully screwed on to the collar 4 anti-rotation teeth 18 on the periphery of the body part 10 engage with anti-rotation teeth 19 on the periphery of the collar 4 so as to prevent relative rotation between the body part 10 and the collar 4. At the same time the annular forward portion or flange of the insert 14 engages within the annular gap 7 between the bung 5 and the collar 4 so as to provide fluid-tight sealing. More particularly a primary seal is established by sealing of the frustoconical sealing surface 15 against the peripheral edge of the bung 5, and a secondary seal is formed by sealing of the forward edge 16 against the adhesive bond 6.

It will be appreciated that, since the insert 14 engages the connector 1 radially inwardly of the antirotation teeth 19, the fluid-tight sealing will not be prejudiced by the presence of the teeth 19 and in particular the insert 14 will not be damaged by the teeth 19. Also, by virtue of the shape of the sealing surface 15 of the insert 14, the insert 14 will be capable of providing reliable fluid-tight sealing with different types of connector in which the face of the sealing bung may be positioned forwardly or rearwardly of the forward edge of the collar to varying extents.

Claims

1. A circular multi-pin connector adaptor for connecting a screened cable to a circular multi-pin connector having an externally screwthreaded outer metal collar surrounding a circular sealing bung through which connection elements extend, wherein the adaptor comprises an internally screwthreaded outer metal sleeve for screwthreaded engagement with the outer metal collar of the connector, connection elements within the sleeve for engagement with the connection elements of the connector, and an annular sealing member which is so positioned within the sleeve that, when the adaptor is connected to the connector by screwthreaded engagement of the sleeve with the collar, the sealing member engages within an annular gap between the collar and the sealing bung of the connector so as to provide fluid tight sealing.

2. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member has an inner frustoconical sealing surface which diverges in the direction in which the adaptor is connected to the connector and which engages a peripheral edge of the sealing bung when the adaptor is connected to the connector.

3. An adaptor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing member has a circular forward edge which sealingly engages a peripheral bond between the sealing bung and the collar when the adaptor is connected to the connector.

4. An adaptor according to claim 3, wherein the forward edge is radiused.

5. An adaptor according to claim 3 or 4, wherein an annular recess is formed in the outer surface of the sealing member and extends up to the forward edge.

6. An adaptor according to any preceding claim, wherein the sealing member is a sleeve made of resilient material.

7. An adaptor according to claim 6, wherein the resilient material is a rigid polymer.

8. An adaptor according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer metal sleeve comprises a body part for connection to the screen of the cable and an internally screwthreaded part mounted on the body part so as to be rotatable with respect thereto.

9. An adaptor according to claim 8, wherein the internally screwthreaded part is connected to the body part by an annular member received in oppositely facing annular grooves in the two parts.

10. An adaptor according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the inner surface of the body part is formed with an annular shoulder which serves as a seating for the sealing member.

11. A circular multi-pin connector adaptor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.