US2945203A

US2945203A - Connector construction

Info

Publication number: US2945203A
Application number: US621957A
Authority: US
Inventors: Quackenbush Edward Clarke
Original assignee: Whitney Blake Co
Current assignee: Whitney Blake Co
Priority date: 1956-11-13
Filing date: 1956-11-13
Publication date: 1960-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 1977-07-12

Description

y 1960 E. c. QUACKENBUSH 2,945,203

CONNECTOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 13., 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l 20K f 2a 22 II fi INVENTOR. Edward Clarke Quockenbush ATTORNEYS y 12, 1960 E. c. QUACKENBUSH 2,945,203

CONNECTOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 13, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 um "mu- 6 22 FIGS 20 24 )0 12 'INVENT Edward Clarke Quock e sh 8mm $7M w ATTORNEYS States CONNECTOR CONSTRUCTION Edward Clarke Quackenbush, Hamden, Conn, assignor to The Whitney Blake Company, New Haven, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Nov. 13, 1956, Ser. No. 621,957

4 Claims. Cl. 339-59 It 1s a principal object of my present invention to provide a moisture proof seating construction for securing both contact members and conductors within such bores in a manner preventing extrusion of such contacts and conductors upon the axial mating of such a connector with a correspondingly arranged complementary connector. It will, however; be apparent that the construc- 'tion of my present invention is applicable to mounting contacts and conductors in anytresilient connector body provided with bores for receiving such contacts and conductors.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a contact and conductor mounting construction in which a variety of conductor sizes can be employed for any given bore diameter and in the resilient connector body.

These and other objects of my invention are essentially obtained by securing the conductor to the non-mating end of the contact member, by positioning a gripping band about the insulated covering of the conductor, by inserting the assembled contact, conductor and band within a bore through the resilient connector body, the rigid band being compressed about the insulated covering of the conductor and wedged within the bore. The conductor, where it extends between the contact member and gripping band, should be self-supporting. Accommodation to conductor 2,945,293 Patented July 12, 196i) ice An adjustable hose clamp tightened about such extended portion thereby increases the grip offered by the band between the resilient connector body and the insulated covering of the conductor.

For a more complete understanding for the principles of my invention, reference is made to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a connector plug including the contact and conductor mounting construction of my invention; a I

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a plug and receptacle prior to insertion of contacts;

Figure 3 is a view of socket and pin contacts and appropriate stripped conductors arranged prior to connection of the contacts and conductors;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the contacts and conductors assembled for insertion in the connector bodies shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is alongitudinal sectional view'similar to that shown in Figure 2 illustrating the connectors with contacts and conductors inserted'in position;

- Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the connectors in mating position;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating another arrangement of contact and conductor connection;

- and sizes smaller in diameter than the bore is achieved by the rigid shell receiving such resilient body and the rigid bands used to grip the connectors in position are arranged to lie within such extended portion of the connector body.

Figure 8 is another view similar to Figure 4 illustrating still another arrangement of contactand conductorconnection. v

In the drawings referring particularly to Figure 2, the reference numeral 10 represents a connector plug and the reference numeral 20 represents a complementary connector receptacle for axially matingwith plug 10.

Plug 10 is provided with a rigid, substantially cylindrical shell 11 in which is molded a resilient body 12.

Body 12 preferably is formed in shell 11 by the method of my aforenoted copending application. It however can be separately'molded and subsequently inserted in shell 11 in the conventional manner. Receptacle 20 is similarly provided with a shell 21 in which is molded a resilient body 22.

Each of

resilient bodies

12 and 22 are provided with a plurality of

longitudinal bores

13 and 23, respectively, of which one only of each is shown for the sake of clarity. Bores 13 and 23, as will be seen in Figure 2, are aligned when plug 10 is positioned to mate with receptacle 20 upon relative axial movement, that is, they are correspondingly disposed in their respective connector bodies. It will be further observed that the mating end 14 of shell 11 is provided with a freely rotatable, internally threaded coupling nut 15 for securing engagement of plug 10 with receptacle 20 in the conventionalmanner receiving externally threaded end portion 24 of shell 21. It will be further observed that in the conventional manner end 14 of shell 11 extends beyond body 12 and end 24 is spaced from body 22 in order that on axial engagement of connectors 10 and 20 a rigid mechanical fit between shell 11 and shell 21 can be obtained.

It will be further observed that the mating face of resilient body 12, which is recessed within end 14 of shell 11, is provided with a short boss 16 projecting toward 'the mating face of resilient body 22 and enclosing an axial extension 17" of bore 13 which has a diameter reduced'from-that of the major portion of bore 13. The

mating face of resilient body 22 is provided with a tapered opening 27 leading into bore 23 having a diameter'as it enters bore 23 significantly less than the diameter of bore 23. v

The

ends

13 and 28 of

resilient bodies

12 and 22 remote from their respective mating ends project beyon

rigid shells

11 and 21, respectively.

Referring to Figure 3 there is shown a pair of insulated conductor ends 30 and 31 in which the insulation is stripped back to bare the conductor for a short length. Also shown in Figure 3 are a typical pin contact member 32 and atypical socket contact member 33 the lat-, ter being more fully shown in my cope'nding application Serial Number 504,635, filed April 28, 1955, now abans doned. Pin contact number 32 is provided with an axially bored baseportion 34 and a pin portion 36,. Socket contact member 33 issimilarly provided with an axially bored base portion 35 and a socket portion 37 including a plurality of tines 38 covered by a sleeve 39 such as disclosed in my copending application Serial Number 504,635.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be observed thatrpin contact number 32, and conductor 30am secured together by inserting the stripped end of the, conductor into the axial bore of base 34; Base 34 is thereupon crimped to close it upon the stripped-end of conductor 30 leaving the insulation of conductor 31} flush with and abutting the terminal end of base portion 34. A strip of metal is.

then wrapped about the insulation of conductor 30 a-short distance from: the. terminal end ofbase portion 34 to provide a band 43 firmly gripping the insulation of conductor 30. Also referring to Figure -4, socket contact member 33 and conductor 3l1are similarly connected with the stripped end of conductor 31 crimped in position inthe axial bore of base portion 35 and with the insulation of conductor 31 abutting the terminal end of base portion 35. A strip of metal 41 is similarly wrapped about the insulated covering of insulated conductor 31 a short distance from the terminal endofbase portion 35.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be observed that the assembled conductors and contacts shown in Figure 4 are inserted into bores 13 and 2 3 in the connector bodies shown in Figure 2, thus pin contact member 32 is positionedin bore 13 with its pin portion 36 extending through bore 17 and emerging from boss 16. Band 40 wedges into bore 13 since bore '13. has essentially the same diameter as insulated condutor 30. Band 40 thus proceptacle shown in Figure 5 are illustrated in mated position with pin portion 36 received by socket portion 37 and with boss =16 tightly received in tapered bore 27 providinga fluid tight, moisture proof seal about

mated contacts

32 and 33 between the mating faces of

resilient bodies

12 and 22. During axial engagement of plug 10 and receptacle 20 extrusion of

contacts

32 and 33 is pre vented since bands and 41 firmly are seated in position and at the same time the self-supporting portions denoted by the reference letters A and B prevent conductors 3i) and 31 from buckling Within

bores

13 and 23.

The same sure seating action can be achieved using conductors having diameters smaller than those of the bores in which they are seated. All that is required is that the portion of the conductor extending between the terminal nd of the conta t a d the gr ppi band be enlarged to render the conductors self-supporting. Thus in Figure 7, I have illustratedin a manner similar to that of Figure 4 an arrangement for securing a typical pin contact 32 and socket contact 33 to smaller diameter conductors and 5.1. In thisinstance the end of conductor 5@ is stripped a considerable distance such that, upon insertion and crimping the stripped conductor in place in the axial bore of base portion 34, a tightly spaced helical wire coil 52 positioned over the stripped portion of conductor 50 between the terminal end of base portion 34 and the endof the insulated portion of insulated conductor 53 enlarges the 'elfective'diameter of the conductor to produce a tight fit within bore 13 which will maintain that portion of the conductor between contact 32 and gripping band 40 in a self-supporting state. The

' stripped end of conductor 51 is similarly secured in socket contact 33 with a portion of; the stripped end extending from the terminal end of base portion 35 to receive a similar helical wire coil 54 which will render conduc tor 5 1 self-supporting in bore 23 between the terminal end of base portion 35 and gripping band 41.

When it is, desired to employ conductors of even smaller diameters, a similar arrangementallowing the insulated covering to extend beneath the helical coils will achieve, exactly the same result. Thus in Figure8 vides a firm grip between resilient body 12 and conductor 7 36. Also for the same reason theportion of insulated conductor 30 indicated by the reference letter A is self- I supporting in bgreg3ii, that is there is no freedom of motion between insulated conductor 30 and bore 13.

Also referring to Figure 5, socket contact member 33 is similarly positioned in bore 23 with a tip of its socket portion 37 resting against the reduced diameter of tapered bore 27;. In the same manner as in the case of plug 10, because the diameter of insulated conductor 31 is substantially the same as bore 23, band 41 provides a firm grip between resilient body 32 and conductor 31, and the portion of insulated conductor 31 lying between band 41 and contact 33, indicated by the reference letter B, is self-supporting in bore 23.

It will be also noted that ideally the position of

bands

40 and 41 fall respectively within the

extended portions

14 and 28 of

bodies

12 and 22. Additional gripping action can be achieved by providing an adjustable hose clamp secured and tightened about such extended portions. Thus in Figure 1 which showsan end view of a typical connector plug 10 a hose clamp 42 of'conventional construction provided with an adjusting screw 43 is positioned over extended portion-1S and tightened to increase the pressure on gripping bands '40. A similarhose clamp 44 can be employed to tighten end portion 28 of receptacle 20 about bands 41.

Referring to Figure6 the assembled plug 10 and rea pair of small diameter insulated

conductors

60 and 61 are shown secured respectively to pin contaot 32 and socket contact 33 with their insulated portions extending up to the terminal ends ofbase portions'34 and 35 respectively. In this. arrangement coils 52'; and 54 are positioned over such insulated covering and abut the terminal ends of the socket contacts and the associated grip.- ping bands 40v and 41.

I claim:

l. A connector of the axial mating type which comprises a resilient body having a bore therethrough, a first elongated contact member disposed in said bore for axially mating at one end with a second contact member correspondingly disposed in. a complementary connector, said first contact member being axially slidable in said bore, a conductor extending into said bore afiixed to the other end of said first contact member, an insulated covering about said conductor extending into said bore, a rigid band tightly positioned over said insulated covering in said bore spaced from said first contact member, thereby leaving a portion of said conductor extending in said bore between said band and said first contact member, said band being of a size tightly received in said bore, said conductor being of a size loosely received in said bore whereby said portion of said conductor is spaced from the walls of said bore, andmeans positioned in said bore surrounding said portion of said conductor abutting said other end of said first contact member and filling the space between said portion of said conductor and the walls of said bore to support said portion of said conductor insaid bore between said band and 'said first contact member.

2. A connector according to claim 1 in which said meanscomprises an extension of saidinsulated covering in said bore from said hand up to and abutting the other end of said first contact member.

3. A connector according to claim 1 in which said means comprises a coiled element positioned in said bore surrounding said portion of said conductor at one 5 end abutting said other end of said first contact member and at the other end abutting the end of said insulated covering.

4. A connector according to claim 1 in which said means comprises an extension of said insulated covering 10 in said bore from said band up to and abutting the other end of said first contact member, and a coiled element positioned in said bore surrounding said portion of said conductor and said extension of said insulated covering at one end abutting said band andat the other end abutting said other end of said first contact member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS