US2118671A

US2118671A - Shielding assembly and connecter therefor

Info

Publication number: US2118671A
Application number: US100688A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas C Green
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-09-14
Filing date: 1936-09-14
Publication date: 1938-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 1955-05-24

Description

'May 24, 1938. T. c. GREEN SHIELDING ASSEMBLY AND CCNNEGTER THEREFOR Filed Sept. 14, 1936 INVENTOR Fi g. 5

, BY THOMAS C. GRE'EN fiaw a M ATTORNEY My invention relates to an electrically conlPatented May 24, 1938 SHIELDING ASSEMBLY AND CONNECTER THEREFOR Thomas C. Green, United States Marine Corps Application September 14, 1336, Serial No. 100.688

2 Claims. (oi 247-48) (Granted under the act oi. March. 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928.; 370 0. G. 757) With the foregoing preliminary discussion in tlnuous and eiiicient shielding assembly and to a connecter forming part thereof for connecting toill) completely encased 'by a metallic surface; and.

that the enveloping metallic surface be grounded at-its ends and be electrically continuous throughout its length. In the case of the enveloping metallic surface associated withthat portion of an aircraft ignition circuit extending from the magneto to the ring manifoldfeatures of design in addition to those previously enumerated must be observed if an eflicient shielding assembly for this portion of the ignition circuit is to be provided.

The electrically conductive casing element which is associated with the magneto end of the ignition circuit and which forms a part of the shielding assembly extending from the magneto to the ring manifold must be divided or sectionalized so as to permit easy disassembly and hence ready access to the instrumentalities housed and shielded thereby. It is essential, however. that when the divided casing element is assembled that the sections thereof fit together as closely as posof the divided casingelement will be materially impaired and harmful extraneous material such as. for examole. oil. dirt, or water will have access to the interior of the casing element with attendant detriment to the instrumentalities housed therein. Since-the divided casing element associated with the magneto end of the ignition circuit and forming part of the shielding assembly extending from the magneto to the ring manifold is detachably connected with an undivided electrically conductive casing element it is necessary that the connection therefor provide electrical continuity between the casing elements as well as electrical contact between the sections of the divided casing element in conformity with the design requirements previously set forth herein.

viewit is an object of my invention to provide an electrically continuous and efficient shielding assembly comprised of detachably connected undivided and divided casing elements which when assembled are electrically continuous and main tain their electrical continuity unimpaired and wherein the sections of the divided casing element when assembled are in electrical contact.

It is another object of my invention to provide a connecter for connecting an electrically conductive, undivided cas ng element to an electricah 1y conductive, divided casing element wherein the juncture between the connecter parts is sealed against theconnecter exterior whereby electrical continuity through the connecter is insured.

It is another and still further object of my invention to provide a connecter for connecting an electrically conductive, undivided casing element to an electrically conductive, divided casing element wherein the juncture between the connecter parts is maintained by direct and intimate, wedgin'g, metallic contact, the said juncture being sealed against the connecter exterior to thus preserve unaltered the resistance through the connecter and thereby insure an optimum of shielding effect by theshielding casing elements.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. .1. is an assembled vew in section of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in planof the adjustably connected clamping segments adapted to be used with the embodiment of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an assembled view in section of an alternative embodiment of my invention.

My invention seeks to provide an eflicient shielding assembly comprised of detachably connected undivided and divided, electrically conductive casing elements which is not only electrically continuous but whose resistance is preserved substantiallyunaltered, this being accomplished by maintaining electrical contact between the sections of the divided casing element and a direct and intimate metallic contact between an undivided. female and divided male connecter parts formed integrally with or otherwise sutably secured to the respective undivided and divided casing elements by causing a wedging action between the contacting surfaces of the connecter'parts'through the medium of a suitable coupling means. The contact or juncture between the connecter parts occurs within the confines of a compressible, fluid impervious means to thus effectively seal the juncture against the shielding exterior and hence, against the introduction of any extraneous matter such as, for example, oil, gasoline, water or moisture, which would have a tendency to increase the resistance through the shielding assembly or to destroy its electrical continuity. g

The shielding assembly of my invention and the connecter forming a part thereof are intended primarily for use with aircraft ignition circuits and are so described in their specific applications hereinafter. It is to be emphasized, however, that my shielding assembly and the connecter forming a part thereof are not restricted to the aforementioned use but maybe used wherever and whenever. an electrically continuous and efficient shielding assembly and connecter are desired, as well as an assembly and connecter whose resistance is to be preserved substantially unaltered.

Turning now to the drawing there is .shown a depicted in Fig. 1 thereof an undivided casing clement I detachably connected to a divided casing element! by means of a connecter identified in general by the numeral 3, the said connecter consisting of a female connecter part 4 integral with the casing element l, a divided or sectionalized male connecter part 5, a deformable and compressible gasket 6 which serves as a fluid impcrvious sealing means interposed between the connecter parts and a coupling 1 for maintaining a direct and intimate metallic contact between the connecter parts and for causing the connecter parts to compress the gasket 6, whereby to seal the surface of contact between the connecter parts against the connecter exterior.

The female and male connecter parts 4' and 5 are apertured as shown to permit the passage of ignition cables from one casing element to the other. In addition, the female connecter part 4 is provided with a conical recessed surface 8 with which a corresponding conical surface 9 of the divided male connecter part 5 is adapted to contact to thereby insure electrical continuiiy' through the connecter. While the connecting sur faces of the male and female connecter parts are shown as conical in shape, I do not desire to be restricted thereto since' other inclined contact surfaces may be employed within the purview of my invention and will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, hemi-spherical and pyramidal surfaces being illustrative but not restrictive of such other inclined surfaces.

The female and male connecter parts 4 and 5 are furthermore provided with bearing faces l and II, respectively, extending outwardly of the connecter from adjacent the outermost edges of the conical or inclined surfaces 8 and 9, these bearing faces being adapted to abut against the sides of the deformable, fluid impervious gasket 6 interposed therebetween to compress the same and thereby seal the surfaces of contacts 8 and 9 between the connecter parts or members I and against the connecter exterior.- The gasket 6 is' preferably although not necessarily annular in shape and is placed about and supported by the annular projection I! on the female connecter part. This gasket or washer 6 may be fabricated from synthetic rubber, rubber, special gasket Paper, or any other suitable compressible material so long as the material chosen is fluid impervious, will withstand the weather and be reasonably resistant to fluids, such as, for example, gasoline, oil and water. In order to insure a direct and intimate metallic contact between the contacting surfaces 8 and 9 of the connecter parts and a compression of the gasket 6, the female and male connecter parts 4 and 5 have been provided with inclined surfaces l3 and M respectively which are adapted to contact with complemental recessed surfaces in a plurality of adjustably connected clamping segments i5 and I 8, which constitute portions of the coupling I. The recessed surfaces of these coupling or clamping segments are brought into intimate wedging contact with the complemental surfaces I3 and ll of the connecter parts by means of the nuts I! and bolts i8, or other suitable means, connecting adjacent ends of the coupling segments together. The coupling 1 in addition to holding the contact surfaces 8 and 9 of the connecter parts in intimate and direct metallic contact, and causing a compression of the gasket 6, serves also to furnish some protection to the sealing gasket 6 and to provide a secondary, electrically conductive path between the male and female parts of the connecter.

The undivided electrically conductive casing element i is shown as an adaptor which is in turn adapted to be connected to the conduit through which the ignition wires or cables are carried to the ring manifold. This adaptor may be in any form necessary for the particular installation in question. In some cases it will be merely a straight connecter fitting; while in others it will have an elbow shape of any required angle. The undivided casing element or adaptor is shown with one outlet at I! but may have any desired number, each of the outlets being provided with an electrically continuous connecter for connecting the adaptor to the conduit leading to the ring manifold. The connecter used for this purpose is preferably that described inmy application Serial No, 100,687, filed September 14, 1936. As an alternative mode in completing the shielding path to the ring manifold I may connect the shielding conduit directly to the divided casing element thus dispensing with the intervening adaptor.

The divided .casing element identified in gen= eral by the reference character 2 in Fig. 1 is formed in two sections 20 and 2|, which serve as magneto covers. These covers are fabricated by separately stamping each from sheet metal and then assembling the same with their respective sections of the divided male connecter part, the assembling being accomplished by welding, riveting or a similar process, in order to provide electrical continuity between the sections of the divided casing element 2 and those of the divided male connecter part. Normally the divided casing element will be divided into two halves as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing with their upper ends forming an aperture through which the ignition wires or cables have their outlet. It is to be understood, however, that the divided casing element 2 may be divided into any number of sections that is desired.

The alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing is identical with that shown in Fig.

' 1, except fordiil'erences in the coupling and the and 24 have been provided with a flange 21 and screw threads 28, respectively, which are adapted to engage a complemental flange?! and internal screw threads 28' of a coupling sleeve or nut 29. The screw threads 28 and 28' are shown as being coarse in order to allow for any irregularities of manufacture without danger of stripping the threads. It is not essential, however, that these threads be coarse. The coupling sleeve or nut 29 is hexagonally or otherwise shaped to permit the use of a wrench for tightening purposes. This nut or sleeve 29 in addition to holding the contact surfaces of the

connecter parts

24 and 26 in intimate and direct metallic contact, and causing a compression of the gasket 25 serves also to furnish some protection to the gasket 25 and to provide a secondary electrically conductive path between the female and male parts of the connecter.

In use the fluid impervious gasket is placed about the annular projection on the female connecter part and the divided male connecter part brought into contact with the complemental sur-- face of the female connecter part. As the coupling associated with these connecter parts is tightened the conical projection on the male connecter part is wedged into the corresponding conical recess of the female connecting part, thus providing direct electrical continuity through the connecter. Simultaneously with the tightening of the coupling the sides of the fluid impervious gasket are compressed between the bearing faces of the connecter parts, thus sealing within its confines the surfaces of contact of the connecter parts against the connecter exterior and providing fluid-tight integrity against the introduction of extraneous materials such as gasoline, oil and moisture. A tightening of the coupling also forces together the several sections of the divided conical male connecter parts and those of the divided casing element to thus insure mutual and low resistance electrical contact therebetween. Since there is no crevice or gap between the two halves of the magneto shielding covers the electrical shielding properties of the divided casing element are maintained unimpaired and in addition no extraneous matter such as, for example, oil, dirt and moisture, can gain access to the instrumentalities housed therein and shielded thereby. The possibility oi interruption in electrical continuity between the undivided and divided casing elements is avoided by reason of the particular type of connecter employed. Thus I provide an electrically continuous and efficient shielding assembly for the purposes hereinbefore described.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes I have set forth the principle and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiments. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and 'dcscribed.

This invention may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without payment of royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. An electrically continuous shielding assembly comprising in combination a plurality of electrically conductive casing elements one of which is undivided and the other of which is divided into a plurality of sections, a connecter for conmeeting said elements together and for insuring continuity of passage and electrical continuity thercbetween as well as electrical contact between the sections of the divided casing element, said connecter including an apertured, electrically conductive member electrically continuous with said undivided casing element and in intimate electrical contact with a second apertured, electrically conductive member which is divided into a plurality of sections equal in number to those of the divided casing element and electrically continuous therewith, means for sealing the area of contact between said first and second mentioned connecter members against the connecter exterior and means for holding said members in engagement at their surfaces of contact and for forcing the sections of said divided casing element as well as those of the divided connecter member into electrical engagement, whereby to provide an electrically continuous and efficient shielding assembly.

2. A connecter for connecting an electrically conductive undivided cable housing element to an electrically conductive divided instrumentality housing element and for insuring electrical continuity and continuity of passage therebetween, comprising in combination an apertured, electrically cdnductive member provided with a recessed contact surface and a bearing face, a second apertured, electrically conductive, divided member provided witha contact surface and a bearing face, the surfaces of contact of said members being in intimate electrical engagement, deformable means interposed between the bearing faces of said members and adapted to be engaged thereby for sealing the area of contact at the surfaces of said members against the connecter exterior, and means for holding said members in wedging engagement at the surfaces of contact and. for forcing the sections of the divided memher into electrical contact as well as for causing the bearing faces to abut against the deformable means whereby to insure an electrically continuous and protected juncture of said members.

THOMAS C. GREEN.