IL35979A - Electric connector device - Google Patents

Description

Electric connector device THE BUHKER-RAMD CORPORATION C: -34132 This invention relates to a detent lock for connectors and more particularly to a detent lock which is highly effective and reliable, which can be readily released and which is comparatively simple in design, economical to manufacture, and rugged and durable.

Connectors and couplings, especially those using threads, oftentimes become loose and may become disconnected when subjected to stresses such as shocks and vibrations. Where reliability is an important factor, as in electrical connectors, loosening or disengagement is a serious problem. It has been a common practice to wire couplings and connectors together which, however, creates servicing problems.

This invention was evolved with the general object of overcoming the disadvantages of prior art devices and of providing a coupling lock which is highly effective and reliable while being readily releasable for servicing.

A further object is to provide a coupling lock which is economically manufacturable while being rugged and durable.

According to this invention, a leaf detent spring is disposed between spaced facing annular surfaces of first and second relatively rotatable coaxial rings, an inner end portion of the detent spring being secured to one of the rings and an outer end portion of the leaf spring being biased axial ly to lockingly engage in a key slot in the annular surface of the other ring, to lock the rings against relative rotation. The outer end portion of the leaf spring is manually movable axial ly out of the key slot to allow relative rotation of the rings. With this combination, the rings are securely locked against relative rotation while being readily re-leasable, when desired.

Preferably, the outer end portion of the leaf spring pro-jects radially outwardly at least a short distance beyond the outer periphery of the ring to facilitate engagement therewith for release. The outer end portion of the leaf spring is also preferably curled function while providing a smoother contour and facilitating engagement by a f i ngerna i I or too I .

According to a specific feature, both rings have key slots, the leaf spring being movable out of the key slot in one ring and into the key slot in the other, in the release direction. This feature is important in combination with the feature in which the outer end portion is curled, to provide more space while allowing close spacing between the facing annular surfaces of the rings.

According to another specific feature, the leaf detent spring is formed as an integral part of a flat ring and a second leaf detent spring projects outwardly from the flat ring to engage in a slot in the other ring.

Another important feature relates to the incorporation of the rings and the detent spring in a connector or coupling including a pair of generally cylindrical members in coaxial relation to each other and to the rings, one of the rings being in the form of a coupling ring threaded on one of the cylindrical members and the other of the rings being in the form of a lock ring fixedly disposed on the other cylindrical member. Preferably, the coupling ring and the second cylindrical member have interengaging shoulders to move the second member axial ly in response to rotation of the cou ling ring.

In accordance with a further specific feature, rotation of the coupling ring to the position in which the detent lock operates, functions to apply a certain pressure to sealing means within the coupling and to effectively lock contact means within an insulating body in the connector. Upon release of the detent spring, the coupling ring may be rotated in a reverse direction to allow removal and replacement of the contacts.

This invention contemplates other objects, features and advantages which will become more fully apparent from the following FIGURE I Is a top plan view of an electrical connector structure Incorporating a detent lock according to the principles of this invention; FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along line 11-11 of Figure I; FIGURE 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing parts in positions for servicing of contacts of the structure; and FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on a reduced scale, taken substantially along line IV-IV of Figure I.

Reference numeral 10 generally designates an electrical connector structure incorporating a detent lock constructed in accordance with the principles of this Invention. The illustrated structure 10 is a receptacle portion of an electrical connector to which a plug portion may be connected to interconnect contacts within the plug and receptacle portions.

The structure 10 comprises a rotatable coupling ring II and a coaxial non-rotating lock ring 12, respectively having annular surfaces 13 and 14 in planes transverse to the axis of the rings, the coupling ring II being formed with a key slot 15 in the annular sur-face 13. A leaf detent spring 16 is disposed between the surfaces 13 and 14 and has an inner end portion 17 secured to the lock ring 12 and an outer end portion 18 biased axial ly to lockingly engage in 'the key slot 15 in a certain relative angular positioning of the rings II and 12, as shown in Figures I and 2. To allow rotation of the coupling ring II, the outer end portion 18 may be moved manually, by engaging It with a fingernail or a suitable tool, to move it out of the key slot 15.

Preferably, the outer end portion of the leaf spring has a terminal end 19 which projects radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the coupling ring II, to facilitate the release operation. Although not essential, the terminal end portion 1 may be curled inwardly as shown, to facilitate engagement therewith, to present spring with respect to its locking function.

To provide a more compact arrangement and to minimize the required length of the detent spring 16 while providing space for the curled outer end portion 19 in the unlocking position, the lock ring 12 is preferably provided with a key slot 20 which is aligned with the key slot 15 in the locked position of the rings, the outer end portion 18 with its curled terminal end 19 being movable into the slot 20 in the unlocking position.

The inner end portion 17 of the detent spring 16 is preferably in the form of a flat ring, as shown in Figure 4, which is disposed against an inner portion of the surface 14. A second leaf detent spring 21 projects from the flat ring 17 in angularly spaced relation to the spring 16 and is biased to firmly engage in a slot 22 in the ring 12, to provide securing means which locks against rotation relative to the ring 12.

The coupling ring II is threaded on an externally threaded portion 24 of a generally cylindrical connector shell generally designated by reference numeral 25. Disposed within the connector shell 25 is an insulating body which includes a pair of members 27 and 28 of a suitable relatively rigid insulating material having a plurality of aligned passages therethrough, one pair of passages 29 and 30 being shown. In the illustrated arrangement, a filter pin contact unit 31 is installed having an intermediate filter section 32 which includes inductance and capacitance means for filtering out high frequency components, the outer surface of the portion 32 being of a conductive material and defining one late or electrode of the capacitance means. Such outer surface is engaged by contacts 33 formed at an opening in a ground plate 34 through which the central filter portion 32 of the unit 31 extends. The ground plate 34 is sandwiched between the insulating members 27 and 28 and a peripheral edge portion thereof engages an internally extending annular shoulder functions to hold the contact units in tight assembly in the insulating members 27 and 28 with the outer surface of the central portion 32 in firm engagement with the contacts 33 of the ground plate 34. In particular, an insert member 37 of generally cylindrical form is provided having an end face 38 engageable with the ground plate 34, having an inwardly extending annular shoulder 39 engageable with an outer annular edge portion of the member 28 and having an inward annular projection 40. A seal member 41 of a suitable relatively soft elasto-meric material, may be disposed between the projecting portion 40 and the ground plate 34. An 0-ring seal member 42 is disposed ?n a groove 43 in the internal surface of the connector shell 25, to engage the outer surface of the insert member 37.

A cylindrical block 44, preferably of a relatively soft compliant elastomeric material, is disposed within the insert member 37 and has passages for the contact units and for connecting wires thereto, a wire 45 being shown connected to a terminal end portion 46 of the unit 31, in the illustrated arrangement.

The lock ring 12 is rigidly secured to the insert 37, as by means of a series of set screws 48 threaded radially through the lock ring 12 and having inner ends engageable in an annular recess 49 of the insert 37.

The insert 37 additionally has a radially outwardly extending annular portion 50 engageable by a radially inwardly projecting annular surface 51 of the coupling ring II, surface 51 having a sloping face to provide a self centering action of the insert 37. When the coupling ring II is rotated in one direction, the shoulder 51 engages the portion 50 to move the insert 37 to the left, as viewed in Figure 2 , to tightly engage the ground plate 34 between the shoulder 35 and the surface 38, to compress the seal 41 and to clamp the member 28 between the ground plate 34 and the shoulder 39.

The ground plate, insulating members and contact units are then locked in firm assembly. In the event that it is desired or replacement, it is desirable to release the parts from the firmly assembled condition illustrated in Figure 2. To do so, the detent spring 16 is flexed to the right, as viewed in Figures 2 and 3 and toward the plane of the paper as viewed in Figure 4, to move it out of the key slot 15 and to allow rotation of the coupling ring II in the reverse direction. After such rotation of the ring II, the parts may assume the positions illustrated in Figure 4 in which the contact units may be readily removed, through the use of a suitable removal tool. To limit such reverse rotation of the ring II, the ring II may be provided with a plurality of resilient retaining tines 55 having in-turned end portions 56 which engage an outwardly projecting annular stop 57 of the shell 25. In the initial assembly of the structure, or should complete disassembly be desired, the tines 55 may be simultaneously moved outwardly to clear the stop 57.

After servicing of contact units, the ring II may be again rotated in the forward direction to move the parts to a condition as shown in Figure 2 at which time the detent spring 16 springs into the key slot 15. It is noted that in the initial assembly of the structure, and prior to installation of the lock ring 12 with the detent spring 16 thereon, the ring II may be rotated to the desired extent and the ring 12 may then be installed in a position to align the detent spring 16 with the key slot 15, after which the set screws 48 may be tightened to affix the ring 12 to the insert 37. Thereafter, the engagement of the detent spring 16 in the key slot 15 will indicate that the dc red condition exists.

The end lock ring 12 is thus capable of being set in an infinite number of positions so that grounding may be achieved by factory setting, this being the purpose of the set screws 48. After the factory setting, any opening and closing of the connector always returns the grounding plate to the same pressure position necessary for optimum operation.

The illustrated arran ement is articularl advanta eous in which include relatively brittle ferrite or similar magnetic materials and which are quite fragile. It will be understood, however, that the detent lock of this invention may be used in other types of connector or coupl ing devices.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention. 35979/2 - 8 ~

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS an electrical connector first and second generally cylindrical in coaxial relation to each insulating body means within said first cylindrical electrical contact means said insulating a coupling ring threaded on said first cylindrical said second cylindrical member said coupling having surfaces to move said second cylindrical member toward said first cylindrical member with rotation of said coupling ring in one said electrical contac means being locked in said insulating body when said coupling ring is rotated in said one direction to a certain position to said cylindrical member and being removable from said insulating body upon rotation of said coupling ring to a certain extent in the reverse a lock ring fixedly disposed on said second cylindrical and detent spring means acting between said coupling and lockrings for releasably locking said coupling ring in said certain said coupling and lockrings having annular surfaces in planes transverse to the axis thereof and in facing one of said rings being formed with a key slot in the annular surface said detent spring means comprising a leaf spring member between said annular surfaces having an outer end portion biased axially to lockingly engage in said key slo in said certain and securing means securing an inner end portion of said leaf spring member against rotation relative to the other said outer end portion manually movable axially out of said key slot to allow rotation of said In an electrical connector device as in Claim said outer end portion said spring member having a terminal end projecting radially outwardly beyond the outer periphery of said one of said rin In an electrical connector as in Claim terminal end being curled In an electrical connector device as defined in Claim said other of said rings having a key slot in said annular surface thereof with said key slot of said one of said rings in said certain said outer end portion of said spring member being manually out of said key slot of said one of said rings and into said key slot of said other of said rings to allow relative rotation of said In an electrical connector device as defined in Claim a fla ring disposed between inner portions of said annular said inner portion said spring member being integral with said flat In an electrical connector device as defined in Claim said securing means comprising a second leaf spring member integral with said flat ring and radially outwardly therefrom in angularly spaced relation to the spring said other of said rings having a slot therein receiving said second spring For the Applicants insufficientOCRQuality