IL46431A - Electrical connestor - Google Patents

Description

» a©n nana Electrical connector This invention relates generally to connectors composed of two separable halves or components, and pertains more particularly to an electrical connector in which inadvertent uncoupling or separation of the components is prevented.

Various detent mechanisms have been utilized in the past for preventing connectors from becoming accidentally uncoupled. Inasmuch as the purpose of such connectors is. to minimize the chances of them becoming inadvertently uncoupled, the perform admirably well in this respect. Inasmuch as they resist uncoupling, the resistance must be manually overcome when the. connector is to be deliberately uncoupled. In other words, the detent-type o connector is relatively easy to couple, yet relatively difficult to uncouple. Most detent types have no provision for a detent position to occur at any predetermined torque value. Still urther,, the detent, action is usually initiated well before a complete "lock-up" is effected, thus increasing the likelihood of the connector components being only loosely coupled; this condition is very undesirable in electrical connectors, for it permits wear and early mechanical failure to occur in vibration-prone Other designs have used wedge elements. However, the effort involved is Increased, usually during the coupling operation. The wedging action progressively increases as the wedge element is forced more' tightly between two converging surfaces. Not only is there more coupling effort required, but the uncoupling ef- ; fort Is also increased due to the tight, tapered fit. we are One design with which i^snr acquainted employs two mating connector components: utilizing a plurality of indentations or holes which move over a plurality of balls as the two' components are tightened, it becom¬ ing more and more difficul to move the indentations past the balls with the. consequence that a locked condition is established. Here again, more effort is re- quired, both when coupling and uncoupling the connector, than there should be.

Accordingly, an important object of the pre¬ sent invention is to provide a connector composed of separable parts or components that will remain coupled or mated together until the are intended to be uncoupled so as to not become inadvertently uncoupled due to vibration.

Another object Is to eliminate the need for lock-wiring the connector. In the past, the coupling rin has been mechanicall wired to holes in the mounting flange or to holes in one of the connector components and must be "unwired" before it can be uncoupled, which is a nuisance, especially where the. connector is installed in cramped quarters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector that can be both coupled and uncoupled with a minimum amount of manual effort. In this regard, a certain amount of torque is required in effecting the coupling of any connector utilizing rotative motion and also a certain amount of torque is required in effecting the uncoupling of such a connector, assuming that the uncoupling procedure is the reverse of the coupling procedure and not of the so-called "quick-release" variety. Consequently, an aim of the invention is. to provide a mechanism that will not noticeably increase either the manual effort required to couple or noticeably increase the manual effort needed to uncouple the connector.

A further object is to provide a connector that affords adequate resistance to separation, doing so on a stand-by basis. The capability to resist any loosening, such as from vibration, remains latent until actually needed, and eve then acting only to prevent undesired uncoupling while permitting easy desired uncoupling.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a connector composed of parts that are not apt to break readily. While my connector can be incorporated into a connector embodying the rather, common bayonet and helical groove type of coupling action, it also can, even more readily, be employed in the threaded type which obviates the load or pressure imposed on the bayonets of the first-mentioned type.

. Another object of the invention is to: provide a connector possessing especial utilit as an electrical connector, particularl of the pin and socket variety in which any inadvertent uncoupling is resisted even when the. connector has not been fully coupled or mated. Thus, if the pin contacts are carelessly, only : partially inserted into the socket contacts,' any ten- . dency for the pin contacts to inadvertently retrac from such a partially inserted relationship is effectively resisted in the same manner as when the components are fully mated. Hence, when utilizing the present invention, reliability in such partially coupled situations is not appreciably sacrificed, the par- · tially mated condition not being able to progress into a fully unmated condition where electrical continuity would be lost. Instead, the partially mated condition can only progress in the. direction of a more completely mated condition where vibration Is encountered, this being an important safety attribute. „f_ Yet another object of the invention is to provide a connector that is manipulated in the same manner as other threaded connectors, thereby avoiding having to follow any special precautionary instructions.

Briefly, according to the invention, there is provided a connector comprising first and second components adapted to be mated together along a longitudinal axis, helical coupling means for causing mating and unmating of said components, drive means rotatable about said axis having abutting means movable therewith for abutting against a portion of said coupling means to rotate said coupling means in one rotative direction to effect said mating when said drive means is rotated in said one rotative direction, and wedge means including an arcuate cam block shiftable in a circular path about said axis relative to both said coupling means and said drive means, said coupling means having means therein engageable with said cam block for shifting said cam block in its said circular path in said one rotative direction when said coupling means is rotated in its said .one rotative direction by said drive means and said cam block resisting helical retraction of said coupling means in a rewse rotative direction opposite to said one rotative direction and hence unmating of said components, said abutting means on said drive means abutting said cam block to render said cam block ineffectual when said drive means is rotated in a reverse direction opposite to said one rotative direction.

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a sectional view of my electrical connector when the parts or components thereof are fully coupled together; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken in the direction of line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional detail taken in the direction of line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional detail taken in the direction of line 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken generally in the direction of line 5-5 of Figure 1, the view showing the coupling nut devoid of any cooperable parts; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken generally in the direction of line 6-6 of Figure.1, this, 'view show ing the drive ring devoid of cooperable parts; Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the wedge blocks utilized when, practicing the teachings of my invention, this embodiment employing a coil spring, as shown in Figure 2 Figure 8 is an elevational view of a modified wedge block, this embodiment employing a resilient rubber button appearing at the left end thereof, and Figure 9 is a top plan view of the modified wedge block depicted in Figure 8.

The illustrated electrical connector is designated gener.- · ally b the reference numeral 10 in Figure 1. As is customary, an electrical connector is composed of two ha'lves or components which have been labeled 12 and l4, respectively. The. component 12 shown at the left in Figure 1 includes a metallic shell 16 provided with a mounting flange 18 having holes 20 therein via which the x¾SffiiS¾¾i 12 can be attached to another member.

The shell 16 has an annular Internal groove 22. which accommodates therein a resilient 0-ring 2k. Within the shell 16 is a rubber front insulator 25 > a rigid plastic retention disc 26. and a rubber grommet.27 in which are held a number of socket, contacts 28, only one of which Is shown. The shell 16 has an internal shoulder at 29 which extends into a circumferential groove formed around the grbmmet 27. For a. purpose presently to be explained, there is a longitudinal key way 30 extending inwardly from the right end of the shell 16. Additionally, it will be observed that external threads 3 are provided throughout the end portion through which the keyway. 30 extends. "· Describing now the connector component 14, it likewise includes a rigid, shell 34. In this instance, the shell 3 is illustTated with a rubber front insulator 36", a rigid plastic retention disc 38 and a rubber grommet..40. therein, the rubber insulator being formed with a forwardly directed lip or rabbet 44, these members all being fixedly retained in the shell 3*1. The several members 36, 38 and 40 encompass and hold in place any preferred number of pin contacts 46. corresponding to the number of socket contacts 28 utilized in the component 12. The shell 34 is formed with external threads at 48 for the attachment of a protective shroud or sleeve portion of a cable clamp 52. A key 56 extends radially, from the shell 3 and is slidably received in the previously mentioned key-way 30. The shell 34 has formed thereon an outwardly directed flange 8 which abuts the right end of the shell 16 when the. components 12 and.14 are fully mated there being a cylindrical surface portion 60 extending roarwardly from the flange 58. At the rear of the cylindrical surface portion 60 is an annular external groove 62 whi ch receives therein a split rin 64 which performs a function presently to: be referred to.

A coupling nut denoted generally by the reference numerai: 66 has Internal threads 68 that engage the external threads 32 on the shell 16. Inse rom the right end of the coupling nut 66 is an inwardly dir.ec-ted flange 70 intended to bear in a sliding fashion against the outwardly directed flange 58 so as to pull the shell 3^ to the left ,in Figure 1 when the coupling nut 66 is advanced helically to the left.

The insetting of the flange, 70 from the right end provides space that is divided into several angularly spaced recesses. 72 » there being lugs or block portions 7^ between the recesses 72 that extend into close proximity to the cylindrical surface 60 that has been previously mentioned. Actually, it is the cylindrical surface that, forms the inner wall of each recess 72. It will help to consider each recess 72 as composed of three compartments or sections 76 , . 78 and 80 . A radially directed shoulder 82 constitutes the end wall of the compartment. 76 . The Intermediate compartment. 8 has an Inwardly sloping cam surface identified by the reference numeral 8 . The remaining compartment 80 has a shoulder 86 at the end thereof remote from the intermediate compartment 78. For a purpose soon to be explained, there is still another.. shoulder 88. formed interiorly of the coupling nut 66 . Thus, it is important :to appreciate that each recess 72 has ¾ larger compartment 76 > an intermediate compartment.78 that provides, the. cam surface 84, and an additional compartment 80. The shoulders 82 and 86 are really the walls of the lugs 4. While the. word "compartment": has been used, the. void formed could be termed a chamber or groove, being open at the right end of the coupling nut 66 as can be appreciated, from Figure 5 · Playing an important role is a drive ring denoted generally by the reference numeral 90. The drive ring 90. loosel encircles the. coupling nut 66 , and as with the coupling nut can be of composite construction. Initially, the drive ring 90 has a cylindrical or cup-shaped configuration that permits it to be loosely fitted over the coupling nut 66. The rim or lip thereof is swaged as indicated at 9 to prevent the drive ring 90. from moving to the right as viewed in Figure 1. Any number of flutes or ribs 94 can be disposed around the. circumference of the drive ring to permi a twisting thereof. As perhaps best: understood from the sectional views shown in Figures 3 and although reference can also be' made to Figure 6, there is an .in'turned radial flange 96. engageable against the right end of the coupling nut 66 as can be seen in Figure 1. The. swaged lip 92 prevents, the drive ring 90. from moving to the right, and the flange 96 prevents, the. drive ring 90 from moving to the left. More importantly is the fact that the. flange 96 supports angularly spaced shoes 8» the shoes 98 being movable with the drive ring 90. when it is rotated in either direction.

The ends of the shoes 98 labeled 100. abut . against the previously mentioned internal shoulders 86 on the coupling nut .66. Hence, when the drive ring 90. is rotated in a clockwise direction, the ends 100 of the several shoes 98 abut against the shoulders 86 so as to forcibl rotate the coupling nut 66 in a clockwise direction, such rotation of the coupling nut 66 causing its axial advancement by reason of the internal threads 66 that are engaged with the external threads 32. The shoes 98 are notched as can be seen in Figures 2 and 6. Thus,' a shoulder is formed at 102 for a purpose soon to be described. This results in a reduced radial thickness 104. throughout the major portion of each shoe 98, the reduced section terminating in a tapered end 106..

The convergence of the reduced section will be explained shortly. At this time, reference will be made to a coil spring 108 that is interposed between the internal shoulder 88 on the coupling nut 66 and the shoulder 102 on the particular shoe. The. several coil springs 108 resiliently bias the shoes 98 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. · However, the biasing ac- : tlon provided by the various coil springs 108 can easily be overcome when the drive ring 90 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

While the various shoes 98 are disposed within the compartments or chambers labeled 8 ,. the larger compartments 7 have contained therein, there being one for each compartment, a plurality of wedge (Fig. 2) blocks or pawls 110/. One form of wedge block 110 is at 110a shown /in Figure 7. Having mentioned the tapered cam surface 84 on the interior of the coupling nut 66, it villi be perceived that a complemental sloping or tap¬ ered cam surface 112 is formed adjacent one end of each of the wedge blocks 110. The end of the wedge block 110 nearer its shoe 98 is notched at 11J. Thus, the end of the shoe 98 that is labeled 106 can extend into the notch ll'J when the shoes 98 are to kick or shift the various wedge blocks 110 when the drive ring 90 is rotated in a countere lockv.'ice direction.

Extending inwardly from the other end 115 of each wedge block 110 is a bore or assage 116 that con¬ tains therein a coll spring 118, the projecting end of the coil spring 118 abutting the shoulder 82 on the in¬ terior of the coupling nut 66. The. various coil springs 118 bias their respective wedge blocks 110 in a clock- i wise direction in Figure 2,. thereby, tending to. cause the tapered or cam surface 112 on each wedge block 110 . to bear against the complementally .configured cam sur¬ face 84. formed on the interior of the coupling nut 66.

The shoes 8 can ver easil overcome the biasing action of the individual coil springs 118 to cause the wedge blocks 110 to be forced in a counterclockwise direc¬ tion so that the cam surface 112 thereon is moved away from the cam surface 84 on the coupling nut 66. To enable the wedge block 110 to be used for different sizes of connectors 10, that is, different diameters of the portion 66, the section thereof intermediate its ends 114, 115 is arced or concaved upwardly as indicated by the reference numeral 120. In this way, rounded portions 122, 12 are formed and these rounded portions are the only portions that contact or ride on the surface 60.

The use of springs 118, especially the form¬ ing of the bores 116, is relatively costly. Therefore, the fabrication costs can be reduced by employing modified wedge blocks 110a, one of which is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9. Instead of the coil spring 118, a resilient rubber pad,.ll8a is utilized, the end of the block 110a being slightly notched at ll6a (see Figure. 9) to accommodate this resilient element.. As with, the coll spring 118, the pad 118a compresses to allow dis-lodgment.

The annular groove 62 formed around the shell 3' of the component 14 has already been mentioned. The purpose of this groove 62 is to receive therein the spli ring 4 that projects radially therefrom to a sufficient degree so as to be engaged by the flange 96 on the drive ring 90 when the. drive ring is rotated in a counterclockwise direction.

The manner in which my electrical connector 10 operates should be readily understood from the preceding description. In the. following summary it must be remembered that a principal object of the invention is to prevent separation of the components 12 and 14 when installed in environments where a considerable amount of vibration is encountered.

Assuming now that the component l'l is to be mated or coupled with the Component 12, it should be recognized that at this time the' coupling nut' 66 is completely separated from the shell 16 of the component 12. To effect a matin,g of the contacts 46, the operator merely aligns the ke 56 with the keywa 30,. moves the component .forward, and then starts to twist the drive ring 90 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2.

By rotating the drive ring 90 in a clockwise direction, the several shoes 98, which are integral portions of the drive ring 90, move in unison in a clockwise direction, the ends labeled 100 of the shoes abutting the shoulders 86 of the coupling nut 66.

This provides a metal-to-metal contact between the drive ring 90 and the coupling nut 66, the shoes 98 serving as intermediaries that transmit the rotational motion of the drive ring 90 to the coupling nut 66. With the internal threads 68 of the coupling nut 66 engaged with the external threads 2 of the shell l6 of the component 12, the coupling nut 66 is advanced axially along the shell l6 of the component 12, the key 56 simply moving longitudinally in the keyway 30 of the shell 16.

During this rotative step, the wedge blocks 110 are moved circumferentially around the cylindrical surface 60 of the shell 3 of the. component 14.. It will be recognized from Figure 2 that the coupling nut 66 is being rotated in a clockwise direction, this causing the several shoulders 82 to be rotated clockwise also. Inasmuch as the projecting ends of the coil springs 118 bear against the shoulders 82 of the coupling nut 66, a gentle force is transmitted to the various wedge blocks 110 so as to move them along with the coupling nut 66 as it rotates. O course, the sloping cam surface 84 on the coupling nut 66 is continuall moving in a clockwise direction, always being spaced the same distance from the shoulders 82; the sloping cam surface 84 never under these circumstances interferes with the movement of the several wedge blocks.110.

Continued rotation of the drive ring 90 in a clockwise direction causes the axial advancement of the coupling nut 66 with respect to the component 12.. As the coupling nut 66 is advanced, this being due to the helical configuration of the threads 68 and 32, the inwardly directed flange 70 on the coupling nut 66 rota-tively and slidably bears against the outwardly directed flange 58 on the shell 34 of the component 14. In this way, the forward side of the flange 70 acts against the rear side of the flange 58, resulting in an advancing of the shell 34 progressively more into a fully telescoped relation with the shell 16. When a full coupling or mating is effected, then the flange 53 of the shell 34 abuts against the right end o the shell 16, Figure 1 showing this condition. The. coupling nut 66 cannot now be..further advanced. . · When the connector 10 is Installed in an environment where a considerable amount of vibration is encountered,, it can be expected that the coupling nut 66 will tend to vibrate in a counterclockwise di¬ rection. If not restrained or prevented, continued vibration would cause the coupling nut 66 to retract axially and ultimatel the component 14 will become completely separated from the. component 12. the present However, this cannot happen with- my- inven¬ tion, for as soon as any vibration tendency to rotate in a counterclockwise direction results, the cam sur¬ face 84 on the interior of the coupling nut 66 simply acts against the cam surface 112 on the wedge block 110, doing so with respect to all three wedge blocks 110. When this happens, the portions 122 and 124 of the. various wedge blocks 110 are forced inwardly against the cylindrical surface 60.. The greater the vibration, the tighter the wedging. No rotative effort or torque is being applied to the drive ring 90 at this time. In other words, the connector 10 is unattended and simpl performing its function as a connector, and under, these circumstances the unmating of the. components 12 and Ik simply cannot be tolerated.

The situation is quite different, though, when a deliberate uncoupling of the component ' Ik from the component 12 is desired. In this situation., the drive ring 90 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 2. Should vibration have occurred so as to cam the wedge blocks 110 against the cylindrical surface 60, then the rotation of the drive ring 90 immediately moves the various shoes 98 in a counterclockwise direction to cause the tapered ends 106 to engage in the notched ends ll of the wedge blocks 110, the coil springs 118 compressing or yielding sufficiently to permit this. Continued rotation in a counterclockwise direction forcibly dislodges the. various wedge blocks 110. The shoes 8 thus "kick" the blocks 110 in a counterclockwise direction, the icoil springs 118 associated with these wedge blocks 110 yielding to permit the dislodgment to occur. Even if there has been no camming action which has resulted in a tight fit be-tween the surfaces 84 and 112, rotation of the drive ring 90 in a counterclockwise direction will cause the shoe3 98 to urge the. various wedge blocks 110 in a counterclockwise direction with the. consequence that . the coil springs 118 associated therewith are compressed to. the degree necessary to permit the ends 13.5 of the wedge blocks 112 to abut against the shoulders 82 of the coupling nut 66. Thus, there is a positive, drive in a direction to uncouple the. components. 12, '14, for the wedge blocks 110 would transmit the rotative torque under these circumstances via the shoes 98 and the wedge blocks 110 to the coupling nut 66. Such action simply unscrews, the coupling nut 66, the threads 68 traveling helically with respect to the threads 32.. During this uncoupling procedure, the inturned flange 9 on the drive ring 90 bears against the radially projecting portions of the split ring 64. Consequently, a pres-sural action is applied to the split ring which is transmitted to the rigid shell. 3'J, thereby forcing the rigid shell 34 to the right as viewed in Figure 1, the key 5 traveling longitudinally to the right, in the keyway 30. Sufficient rotation will completel detach the coupling nut 66. from the shell 16, this resulting when the contacts 46, 28 are completely disengaged.

While it is not planned that only a partial coupling of the components 12,..14. occur, such could happen if the operator is careless. From Figure 1, it will be seen that the socket contacts 46 receive therein a considerable length of the pin contacts 28 when the components 12 and 14 are fully coupled together.

However, if only a partial couplin of the components occurs, then each pin -contact 28. has, say, only its tip received in the socket contact 46 with which it is to be received. V/here small electrical currents are involved, this is not a serious disadvantage other than that one might expect the. connector 10 .to be" more :. likely to becoming completely uncoupled when subjected to. vibrational conditions. However, the same wedging action takes place that occurs when the connector 10 is full coupled,, for an tendenc for the coupling nut 66 to rotate, in a counterclockwise direction when not actuated by the drive ring 90 causes the camming surfaces 84 to bear against the camming surfaces 112 '. on the wedge blocks 110. Therefore, a fully mated relationship of the components 12 and 14 need not be attained in order, for my invention to be effective. While an uncoupling is prevented under these operational circumstances, any tendency, to tighten or to become more fully coupled can, and will, take place, this being very advantageous. Stated somewhat differently, there can never be an "inadvertent" uncoupling but there can be an "inadvertent" coupling which progresses in the. direction of. a fully mated condition of the components but not in the other direction.

It has been, explained that the shoes 8 "kick" the blocks 110 in a counterclockwise direction and that the coil springs 118 yield to permit :the blocks to be dislodged. When utilizing the modified blocks 110a (as shown in Figures 8 and 9)j the rubber pads yield to permit such dislodgment.

Claims (5)

P.A. 46431/2 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS;

1. . A connector comprising first and second components adapted to be mated together along a longitudinal axis, helical coupling means for causing mating and unmating of said components, drive means rotatable about said axis having abutting means movable therewith for abutting against a portion of said coupling means to rotate said coupling means in one rotative direction to effect said mating when said drive means is rotated in said one rotative direction, and wedge means including an arcuate cam block shiftable in a circular path about said axis relative to both said coupling means and said drive means, said coupling means having means therein engageable with said cam block for shifting said cam block in its said circular path In said one rotative direction when said coupling means is rotated in its said one rotative direction by said drive means and said cam block resisting helical retraction of said coupling means in a reverse rotative direction opposite to said one rotative direction and hence unmating of said compoents, said abutting means on said drive means abutting said cam block to render said cam block ineffectual when said drive means is rotated in a reverse direction opposite to said one rotative direction.

2. A connector in accordance with Claim 1 including resilient means for biasing said cam block in the direction of said complementally configured cam surface.

3. A connector in accordance with Claim 2 in which said abutting means for rendering said cam block ineffectual includes a shoe element integral with said drive means for acting against said cam block to urge said block in a P.A. 46431/2 direction away from said complementally configured cam surface when said drive means is rotated in said reverse direction.

4. A connector in accordance with Claim 3 including resilient means for biasing said shoe element in a direction away from said cam block.

5. A connector substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. ey,