US3815079A

US3815079A - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: US3815079A
Application number: US00319141A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Auriana
Original assignee: Burndy Corp
Current assignee: FCI USA LLC
Priority date: 1972-12-29
Filing date: 1972-12-29
Publication date: 1974-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-04

Abstract

A quick disconnect electrical connector having a plug device and a receptacle device. Fixedly connected to either the plug device or the receptacle device is an outer sleeve structure axially movable with respect to the plug or receptacle member and resiliently biased in one direction of engagement of the plug and the receptacle. A lanyard or other structure is attached to the outer sleeve for receiving the disconnecting force. Attached to the other of the plug or receptacle devices are radially extending engaging structures which can be extending radially inwardly or outwardly. Engaging the radially extending structures is a coupling member which may be formed from several sections and which is radially outwardly expandable. If the coupling member is formed in a plurality of sections, it has a retaining mechanism adjacent to the end nearest the outer sleeve member. A coupling member has a radially and circumferentially extending structure to engage the radially extending structure on either the plug or receptacle means. Both the outer sleeve member and the coupling member have chamferred axially extending surfaces. The outer sleeve member on its internal surface on one end and coupling member on its outer surface. An inner circumferential surface near one end of the coupling member is tapered or chamferred to permit the expandable coupling member to pivot outwardly away from the plug or receptacle member. Each coupling member segment is self-aligning and mutually abutting. Each coupling member segment has a single complete track and detent.

Description

Auriana June 4, 1974 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR [75] lnventor: Mark Auriana, Springdale. Conn.

[73] Assignee: Burndy Corporation, Norwalk,

Conn.

22 Filed: Dec.29, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 319,141

[52] US. Cl 339/46, 285/316, 339/90 [51] Int. Cl. l-lOlt 13/62 [58] Field of Search 339/45, 46, 89, 90, 9l,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1946 Wiggins 339/91 R x 5/1961 Jackson... 339/91 R Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Terrell P. Lewis Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Howard S. Reiter 57 ABSTRACT A quick disconnect electrical connector having a plug device and a receptacle device. Fixedly connected to either the plug device or the receptacle device is an outer sleeve structure axially movable with respect to the plug or receptacle member and resiliently biased in one direction of engagement of the plug and the receptacle. A lanyard or other structure is attached to the outer sleeve for receiving the disconnecting force. Attached to the other of the plug or receptacle devices are radially extending engaging structures which can be extending radially inwardly or outwardly. Engaging the radially extending structures is a coupling member which may be formed from several sections and which is radially outwardly expandable. if the coupling member is formed in a plurality of sections, it has a retaining mechanism adjacent to the end nearest the outer sleeve member. A coupling member has a radially and circumferentially extending structure to engage the radially extending structure on either the plug or receptacle means. Both the outer sleeve mem- :ber and the coupling member have chamferred axially "extending surfaces. The outer sleeve member on its internal surface on one end and coupling member on its outer surface. An inner circumferential surface near one end of the coupling member is tapered or 'chamferred to permit the expandable coupling memher to pivot outwardly away from the plug or receptaclemember. Each coupling member segment is self- "aligning and mutually abutting. Each coupling member segment has a single complete track and detent.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to electrical connectors. It pertains more particularly to an electrical connector that will separate on a pre-determined amount of force is applied to the two halves or components. Releasable or quick disconnect types of connectors are well known in the art. 1

Such connectors are frequently used in aircraft and aerospace applications. In particular, those of a miltiary nature involve release of one object with respect to another. Such objects include fuel tanks, bombs, rockets and many other items which have electrical connections between the aircraft and the object to the released.

Another application requiring a releasable type of electrical connector is in conjunction with the separation of various stages in a missile. Also, rockets are frequently held beneath the wings of aircraft and they, too, must be separated from the aircraft reliably.

that occurs, an entire mission can fail. In the case of a military mission, the obvious risks to the nation are high and the cost beyond calculation.

In short, none of the prior art has taught a failsafe quick release electrical connector. Nor has it taught a failsafe quick release electrical connector utilizing a Additional applications involve the use of high alti- I tude balloon equipment which require electrical connection between a balloon and a gondola or between a gondola and various other equipment hanging from it.

The prior art in the quick disconnect electrical field separates into several basic types. Type one uses a ball bearing type ball which isseated in a detent. A resiliently biased sleeve member extends over the ball and detent and has a radial recess extending axially. When the sleeve is pulled back, the ball may be pushed outwardly into the recess by the force of separation permitting the connectors to disconnect. In this type of device it is important that the ball be seated properly in thedetent to insure interconnection of the connectors and that the axial space in thesleeve be seated properly over the ball to permit the disconnection of the connectors during separation.

Another type of quick disconnect electrical connector uses a plurality of springs biased such that separation ofthe connectors will occur when one or more detents or latches are released. Again, a spring biased sleeve is generally used which will uncover the detents to permit them to be driven outward by additional spring members. But'in this ty pe of structure, in order to prevent separation improperly, it is necessary to block the spring members which would tend to drive apart the latches. This again requires a proper circumferential and axial location of detents and wells.

Another type of electrical connector designed for quick separation uses a plurality of pawls or dogs which fit about bayonet pins. Again the pawls canexpand into a resiliently biased outer shell but they can only expand if the resiliently biased outer shell is properly located with respect tothe pawls and if, in fact, the pawls are directly over the bayonet pins. If neither of these conditions occur, the connectors will not separate.

In combination with these type of connectors and others which use various forms of wedges and spring biased structures, a variety of audible clicks and visible alignment procedures are used to insure proper location of the locking and unlocking structures.

Nevertheless, in all ofthese known prior art devices, there is the possibility that an assembler would improperly connect the electrical devices such that the quick disconnect feature would be inoperative. When and if segmented coupling member in which each segment is self-aligning, contains a single complete track and detent and in which the segments are abutting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problems present in the prior art.

The present invention teaches a novel quick release electrical connector in which improper alignment of the plug and receptacle mechanisms will not prevent quick release of the connectors.

The present invention provides a novel coupling structure which insures separation of the electrical connectors upon application of the appropriate separation force.

The present invention teaches a novel coupling structure utilizing an expandable coupling member.

- The present invention teaches a novel coupling structure utilizing a plurality of circumferential coupling segments, each having its own inner circumferential track and detent.

The present invention teaches a novel quick disconnect electrical connector having a coupling member radially movable with respect to a plug or receptacle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick release electrical connector which is a failsafe device such that it can disconnect whether properly engaged or not.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a failsafe electrical connector which will not force itself apart if improperly interconnected.

It, is an object of the present invention to provide a novelquick release electrical connector having a coupling member which has a plurality of circumferential segments, each with their own circumferential and radial track with each segment having its own detent.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel quick disconnect electrical connector having a retaining member retaining a plurality of coupling segments for easy assembly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel coupling member having a chamferred inner surface to permit the coupling member to expand in a radial direction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling member formed of a plurality of segments, each segment having its own radial and circumferential track with a detent for receiving a radially extending section from either the plug or receptacle devices.

It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a novel outer sleeve member having a conically shaped inner surface near one end thereof and a coupling member having a conical surface matches to that of the sleeve member,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an axial view partically broken away and in section showing the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the detail of a portion of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown generally by the numeral a quick disconnect electrical connector having a plug section shown generally by the letter P and a receptacle section shown generally by the letter R. Dielectric blocks 12 and 14 are fitted into each section respectively. Into the dielectric blocks are fitted pins 16 and sockets 18 as is well known in the art.

A plug shell 20 having threads at 19 and a back shell and ground adapter 22 also threaded at 23 are part of the plug structure as is well known in the art. A retaining nut 24 is threaded at 21 and 25 to the back shell and the plug shell. The retaining nut has radially outwardly extending

annular rings

28 and 33 which along with a washer 32 enable it to receive a thrust spring 31 which may be any generally resilient member. An outer sleeve 38 surrounds the retaining nut 24 and has on one end thereof a tapered conical surface 46. At the other end thereof is formed an annulus 40 for receiving the separation force which may be supplied by a lanyard 44 attached at 42 or any other convenient structure.

Fitted to the receptacle which is threaded at 66 is an outer sleeve member 62 threaded at 64. The shell has a plurality of bayonet pins 60 extending radially outwardly therefrom. Of course, it makes no difference whether the sleeve which is resiliently biased is connected to the receptacle or to the plug and it does not matter if the bayonet pins extend from either the plug or the receptacle. Also, while the bayonet pins are shown as radially outwardly extending, they could be an inwardly depending surface.

A coupling member 50 has a generally conical outer surface 48 at one end and annular surfaces 54 and 58 at the other end to receive a retaining member 52. As shown in FIG. 2, the coupling member 50 may be composed of three generally circumferential segments, each having a radial and circumferential track 72 and a detent 74 to engage the pins 60.

The outwardly extending keys 70 engage slots in the outer sleeve so that when the outer sleeve is turned, the coupling member rotates also.

An inner circumferential surface is chamfered or tapered at 80 to enable more ready outward expansion of the coupling member. A second resilient member 82 shown as a wave washer in operation is disposed between an inner circumferential shoulder 55 of the coupling member and an annular section 57 of the plug or receptacle; in this case, it is shown as the plug. The wave washer generates additional decoupling force tending to expand the coupling member.

It can be easily appreciated that the present invention accomplishes all of its stated objectives. It matters not that the pins 60 are fully engaged to the detents 74 of the coupling member because when the separation pressure which may be 35 pounds is applied to the outer shell it is moved axially away from the direction of coupling which allows the pressure applied on the bayonet pins which may have a cam surface to drive the coupling members in a radially outwardly direction. Whether the bayonet pins are in the detent 74 or anywhere in the track 72, which also has a cam surface for increased efficiency, there is sufficient pressure to pivot the coupling members about the surface to permit the release of the plug and the receptacle.

In short, there is no position in which this connector can fail to release upon the appropriate pressure. At the same time, there is no active spring biased or other separation force tending to separate the connectors while there is no need for separation.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector comprising:

first and second mating body members each having an axis; coupling means coaxially mounted to said first body member for telescopically engaging said second body member; radially extending means on said second body member adapted to engage said coupling means; said coupling means including a plurality of separable cylindrical segments each having a complete cam track with an opening at one end thereof and a terminus at the other end thereof, said cam track being disposed at an angle to the axis of said first body member for engaging and displacing said radially extending means along said cam track from said opening toward said terminus upon rotation of said second body member relative to said first body member; release means comprising a sleeve coaxially engaging said coupling means and axially movable relative to said first body member between a first position in which said cylindrical segments are constrained against separation due to peripheral engagement with a portion of said sleeve, and a second position in which said portion of said sleeve is disengaged from said cylindrical segments permitting sufficient separation thereof to release said radially extending means from said cam track.

2. An electrical connection in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

each cam track includes a detent near the terminus thereof for retaining a radially extending means which has been displaced along said track into engagement therewith.

3. An electrical connector in accordance with claim I, wherein:

said portion of said sleeve which peripherally engages said cylindrical segments comprises a tapered, generally conical inner surface near one end thereof; and, the cylindrical segments of said coupling means define a tapered, generally conical outer surface for engaging said portion of said sleeve.

4. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said release means includes provision for coupling to a release force applying device such as a lanyard, for moving said sleeve axially relative to said first body member from said first position to said second position.

5. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 4, further including: spring means interposed between said sleeve and said first body member, resiliently biasing said sleeve into said first position.

Claims

1. An electrical connector comprising: first and second mating body members each having an axis; coupling means coaxially mounted to said first body member for telescopically engaging said second body member; radially extending means on said second body member adapted to engage said coupling means; said coupling means including a plurality of separable cylindrical segments each having a complete cam track with an opening at one end thereof and a terminus at the other end thereof, said cam track being disposed at an angle to the axis of said first body member for engaging and displacing said radially extending means along said cam track from said opening toward said terminus upon rotation of said second body member relative to said first body member; release means comprising a sleeve coaxially engaging said coupling means and axially movable relative to said first body member between a first position in which said cylindrical segments are constrained against separation due to peripheral engagement with a portion of said sleeve, and a second position in which said portion of said sleeve is disengaged from said cylindrical segments permitting sufficient separation thereof to release said radially extending means from said cam track.

2. An electrical connection in accordance with claim 1, wherein: each cam track includes a detent near the terminus thereof for retaining a radially extending means which has been displaced along said track into engagement therewith.

3. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said portion of said sleeve which peripherally engages said cylindrical segments comprises a tapered, generally conical inner surface near one end thereof; and, the cylindrical segments of said coupling means define a tapered, generally conical outer surface for engaging said portion of said sleeve.

4. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said release means includes provision for coupling to a release force applying device such as a lanyard, for moving said sleeve axially relative to said first body member from said first position to said second position.