WO1999041808A1

WO1999041808A1 - Connector assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1999041808A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/000411
Authority: WO
Inventors: Colin Kenneth Anderson
Original assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (Uk) Limited
Priority date: 1998-02-11
Filing date: 1999-02-10
Publication date: 1999-08-19
Also published as: GB9903010D0; AU2531299A; GB2335090B; GB9802777D0; GB2335090A

Abstract

A connector assembly (10) includes a connector part (12), a coupling part (14) rotatable relative to the connector part (12), and a locking part (22). The locking part (22) is movable between a first position which allows relative rotation of the connector part (12) and the coupling part (14), and a second position which restricts relative rotation of the connector part (12) and coupling part (14). The connector part (12) and the coupling part (14) are configured to permit rotation of the locking part (22) relative to the coupling part (14) and the connector part (12), to allow the locking part (22) to be moved from the first position to the second position. The configuration of the parts also allows the parts to engage when there is misalignment between the locking part (22) and one of the connector part (12) and the coupling part (14).

Description

CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a connector assembly, and in particular to a connector assembly having a rotatable coupling part which is lockable to prevent loosening of the connector .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many connector systems include a coupling part which is rotatable with respect to the other connector parts around a connector axis . This rotatable part is often a coupling nut adapted to be coupled to an externally threaded mating connector. Typically, such a coupling nut will be provided with lock wire holes so that, when connected to its mating part, the coupling nut may be wired to an adjacent solid stationary part; the nut is locked in position and the connection is prevented from working loose under vibration. However, lock wiring is an intricate and time consuming operation, and may prove difficult in cramped installation situations.

US Patent No. 5,366,383 (corresponding to GB-A-2270805 and EP-A-589589) describes an electrical connector assembly having first and second parts which are rotatable relative to one another, the outer surface of each part defining a surface formation in the form of splines. The first part may be in the form of a flange provided on a female socket 2 component defining an external screw thread and the second part may be a splined flange formed on an internally threaded shell rotatably mounted on a male plug component. A locking ring having a splined inner surface is mounted on the male plug component . The locking ring may be retracted to allow the threaded shell to be rotated such that its screw thread engages the screw thread on the socket component. When the screw threads are fully engaged, the two components may be locked together by pushing the locking ring over the flanges such that its internal splines engage the splines on the flanges. Thus, the locking ring prevents the shell from rotating relative to the socket and thereby prevents loosening of the two threads, as might otherwise occur through vibration. As acknowledged in US 5,366,383, and as confirmed by use of connector assemblies of this form in the field, it is often necessary to rotate the shell slightly in one direction or the other to align the splines on the two flanges before the locking ring can be pushed over the flange on the socket component. Of course this complicates the coupling operation, requiring an installer to, for example: make up the shell to the socket component, using a suitable spanner or wrench; remove the wrench; attempt to engage the locking ring with the socket component; locate the wrench on the shell; rotate the shell slightly; remove the wrench; and again attempt to engage the locking ring with the socket component. Of course, it may take a number of adjustments of the position of the shell before 3 the correct alignment of the splines is achieved. Further, where the shell has been torqued up to a desired level by an installer, the subsequent adjustment of the shell position requires the installer to over-torque or under- torque the shell. Thus, the connection may be formed at an incorrect torque setting.

It is among the objectives of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages, and in particular it is an objective of one embodiment of the present invention to provide a connector assembly which is lockable against loosening induced by vibration using a locking ring or shroud, and which does not require the installer to over- orque or under-torque a locking nut or the like to locate the locking shroud in its locking position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a connector assembly comprising: a connector part defining a first formation; a coupling part rotatable relative to the connector part and defining a second formation; and a locking part defining first and second formations corresponding to said first and second formations of the connector part and the coupling part, the locking part being movable between a first position in which at least one of said first formations and said second formations are out of engagement to allow relative rotation of the connector part and the coupling 4 part, and a second position in which said first formations of the connector part and the locking part and said second formations of the coupling part and the locking part engage so as to at least restrict relative rotation of the connector part and the coupling part, at least one of the first formations and the second formations being configured to permit limited rotation of the locking part relative to at least one of the connector part and the coupling part to allow the locking part to be moved from the first position to the second position and for the first formations and the second formations to engage when there is misalignment between formations of the locking part and the formations of the connector part or the coupling part . In use, the present invention avoids the difficulties experienced using the connector assemblies as described in US Patent No. 5,366,383; uhe locking part of the present invention may be rotated to allow the formations on the locking part to engage with both the formations on the connector part and che coupling part, instead of having to rotate the coupling part relative to the connector part to perfectly align the formations and to allow the locking part to engage both formations, as would be the case in a connector made in accordance with US Patent No. 5,366,383. In screw threaded connectors in accordance with the present invention, where the coupling part defines a screw thread, and is made up to a corresponding threaded part to a predetermined torque, the locking part may be moved to the 5 second position even if the first formations of the locking part and the connector part or the second formations of the locking part and the coupling part are not initially aligned. Preferably, both the first formation and the second formation extend axially of the connector part and the coupling part, such that the locking part may be moved axially relative to the parts between the first and second positions. In a preferred embodiment, the first formation permits limited rotation between the engaged first formations of the locking part and the connector part related to the pitch of the second formation, such that it is always possible to align the second formations to allow the locking part to be moved to the second position merely by rotating the locking part relative to the coupling part. The formations may be surface formations, and the first surface formation may be flats and the second surface formation splines, the spline pitch being the angular spacing between the mid points of adjacent spline teeth. Preferably also, the locking part is releasably retainable in the second position. In one embodiment, one of the locking part and the connector part include a sprung retainer for retaining the locking part in the second position. The sprung retainer may be in the form of a latching ring, such as a canned coil spring, such as part no. 100MB- (MK) - (10.00mm) -2 as supplied by Bal Seal Engineering Europe BV of Amsterdam, Holland.

Preferably also, where the locking part is retained or 6 locked in the second position, the locking part may occupy an intermediate position between the first and second positions in which, like the second position, said first formations of the connector part and the locking part and said second formations of the coupling part and the locking part engage so as to at least restrict relative rotation of the connector part and the coupling part, however the locking part is not locked in the intermediate position and may be moved therefrom to the second position or to the first position.

The connector part may be defined by a connector body, the coupling part being rotatable relative to the body. The coupling part may be a coupling nut, shell, screw or the like for engaging a corresponding part on another connector. Alternatively, the connector part and the coupling part may be provided on first and second connectors which are adapted to be coupled together.

Preferably also, the formations are surface formations and, most preferably, are defined on external surfaces of the connector part and the coupling part and on an internal surface of the locking part .

Preferably also, the locking part is in the form of a locking ring or shroud.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a connector assembly comprising: a connector body defining a circumferential surface formation defined by an least one flat; a coupling rotatably mounted on the body and defining 7 a circumferential surface formation defined by a series of splines; and a locking shroud defining surface formations corresponding to said flat and splines of the connector body and the coupling, the locking shroud being movable between an unlocked position, in which at least said splines of the locking shroud and the coupling are out of engagement, allowing rotation of the coupling, and a locking position in which said flats of the locking shroud and the connector body and the splines of the locking shroud and the coupling engage so as to restrict rotation of the coupling, the configuration of the flats permitting rotation of the locking shroud relative to the connector body to allow the splines of the locking shroud and the coupling to be engaged when there is misalignment: between one of the flats and splines of the locking shroud and one of the flats and splines of the connector body and coupling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a part-sectional side view of a connector assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in an unlocked first position;

Figure 2 is a part -sectional view of the connector assembly of Figure 1, shown in an unlocked and engaged 8 intermediate position;

Figure 3 is a part-sectional view of the connector assembly of Figure 1, shown in a locked second ^'position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4 - 4 of Figure 3 ; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5 - 5 of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate a connector assembly 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The assembly 10 comprises a connector body 12 and a coupling nut 14 which is rotatable relative to the body 12, but is axially fixed relative to the body by a coupling nut retaining ring 16. The free end of the body 12 defines a male coupling portion 18 and the coupling nut 14 defines an internal coupling thread 20 for engaging a corresponding thread on a female coupling portion (not shown) .

Axially movably mounted on the connector body 12 is a locking shroud 22, having a knurled outer surface 24. Internally, the shroud 22 defines a two circumferentially spaced flats 26 corresponding to flats 28 defined on the exterior of the connector body 12, and also a series of splines 30 which correspond to splines 32 on the exterior of the coupling nut 14. Between the flats 26 and the splines 30, the shroud 22 defines a ramp surface 34 and an annular groove 36 for co-operation with a latching ring 38 9 mounted in an annular slot 40 on the connector body 12, as will be described. The latching ring is in the form of a canted coil spring 38, in this example part no. 100MB- (MK) -

(10.00mm) -2 as supplied by Bal Seal Engineering Europe BV of Amsterdam, Holland.

Reference is now made in particular to Figure 1 of the drawings, which shows the connector assembly 10 in an unlocked first position. The locking shroud 22 is clear of the coupling nut 14, such that the nut 14 may be rotated to make up the connector assembly to a corresponding connector. In practice, the connection will typically be made up by means of a torque wrench. For electrical connectors, attaining a desired mating torque is important in obtaining a proper electrical connection, for example to ensure avoidance of air gaps, and it is also important that the coupling is not formed too tightly, that is over- torqued, to avoid damage to connecting pins and the like. Where the connection has been made up to the desired torque, as described above, the locking shroud 22 may be moved axially (to the right as shown in Figure 2) to an intermediate position to bring the splines 30 of the locking shroud 22 into engagement with the splines 32 of the coupling nut 14. If the flats 26, 28 on the locking shroud 22 and the connector body 12 are aligned and the splines 30, 32 on the locking shroud 22 at the coupling nut 14 are also aligned, the coupling of the locking shroud 22 with the coupling nut 14 may be achieved solely by axial movement of the shroud 22. However, it is more likely that 10 there will be an initial misalignment between the splines 30, 32. However, this may be accommodated by rotating the locking shroud 22 on the connector body 12; in the illustrated embodiment, the configuration of the flats 26, 28 is such that the locking shroud 22 may be rotated 4°

(±2° from a median position) relative to the connector body 12, this relating to the pitch of the splines 30, 32 (the pitch being the angular spacing of the mid points of adjacent spline teeth) . Thus, by manipulating the locking shroud 22, and in particular by rotating the shroud 22 from side-to-side, it will be possible to align and engage the splines 30, 32, in the intermediate position, as illustrated in Figure 2.

With further axial movement of the locking shroud 22 relative to the connector body 12 and the coupling nut 14, the latching ring 38 is deflected radially inwardly by the ramp surface 34 and then expands into the groove 36, and thus retains the locking shroud 22 engaged with the coupling nut 14, in the locked second position, as illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the combination of surface formations defined by flats and splines provides for limited movement of the locking shroud, which allows the locking shroud to be engaged with the coupling nut even where there is some misalignment between the formations. This avoids the need to over- torque or under-torque the coupling nut to permit engagement of the locking shroud. It is recognised that, 11 in the locked position, this arrangement will permit a small degree of movement between the coupling nut and the connector body, however this movement is within acceptable tolerances and is more than compensated for by the ease of engaging and locking the connector assembly, the ability to initially make up the connection to the correct torque and to maintain the torque, and avoiding the possible tightening and untightening sequence of operations required by existing connectors. It will also be apparent to those of skill in the art that the above-described embodiment is merely exemplary of the present invention, and that various modifications and improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. In other embodiments, a locking member may be utilised to fix the position of a coupling shell, screw or the like, and in other embodiments the locking part may couple parts formed on separable connectors. Also, the embodiment described above is an electrical connector, and embodiments of the present invention are suitable as various forms of electrical connector, including: TNC, SMA, N-type and, US military standards MIL-C-39012, MIL-T-81490, MIL-STD-348A (angular or straight entry) . In addition, connectors of the present invention may be utilised in connecting optical fibres.

Claims

12CLAIMS

1. A connector assembly comprising: a connector part defining a first formation; a coupling part rotatable relative to the connector part and defining a second formation; and a locking part defining first and second formations corresponding to said first and second formations of the connector part and the coupling part, the locking part being movable between a first position in which at least one of said first formations and said second formations are out of engagement to allow relative rotation of the connector part and the coupling part, and a second position in which said first formations of the connector part and the locking part and said second formations of the coupling part and the locking part engage so as to at least restrict relative rotation of the connector part and the coupling part, at least one of the first formations and the second formations being configured to permit limited rotation of the locking part relative to at least one of the connector part and the coupling part to allow the locking part to be moved from the first position to the second position and for the first formations and the second formations to engage when there is misalignment between formations of the locking part and the formations of one of the connector part and the coupling part. 13

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling part defines a screw thread, and is adapted to be made up to a corresponding threaded part .

3. The connector assembly of claim 1 or 2 , wherein both the first formation and the second formation extend axially of the connector part and the coupling part, such that the locking part is axially movable relative to the parts between the first and second positions.

4. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein one formation permits rotation between the engaged said one formations related to the pitch of the other formation.

5. The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the first formation permits rotation between the engaged first formations of the locking part and the connector part related to the pitch of the second formation.

6. The connector assembly of claims 3, 4 or 5 , wherein the first formation is flats and the second formation is splines .

7. The connector assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking part is releasably retainable in the second position.

8. The connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the locking 14 part is movable to an intermediate position between the first and second positions in which, like the second position, said first formations of the connector part and the locking part and said second formations of the coupling part and the locking part engage so as to at least restrict relative rotation of the connector part and the coupling part, however the locking part is not retained in the intermediate position and is movable therefrom to the second position or to the first position.

9. The connector assembly of claim 7 or 8 , wherein one of the locking part and the connector part include a sprung retainer for retaining the locking part in the second position.

10. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the sprung retainer is a latching ring.

11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the latching ring is a canted-coil spring.

12. The connector assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the connector part is defined by a connector body, the coupling part being rotatable relative to the body.

13. The connector assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling part is a coupling nut, shell, screw or the like for engaging a corresponding part on another 15 connector.

14. The connector assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the connector part and the coupling part are provided on first and second connectors which are adapted to be coupled together.

15. The connector assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the formations are surface formations.

16. The connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the formations are defined on external surfaces of the connector part and the coupling part and on internal surfaces of the locking part.

17. The connector assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking part is in the form of a locking shroud.

18. A connector assembly comprising: a connector part defining a circumferentially extending surface formation comprising at least one flat; a screw threaded coupling part rotatably mounted relative to the connector part and defining a circumferentially extending surface formation defined by a series of splines; and a locking shroud defining at least one flat and a series of splines corresponding to said at least one flat 16 and splines of the connector part and the coupling part, the locking shroud being movable between a first position in which at least said splines of the locking shroud and the coupling part are out of engagement, allowing rotation of the coupling part, and a locking position in which said flats of the locking shroud and the connector part and the splines of the locking shroud and the coupling part engage so as to restrict rotation of the coupling part, the configuration of the flats permitting limited rotation of the locking shroud relative to the connector part to allow the splines of the locking shroud and the coupling part to be engaged even when there is initial misalignment between the splines of the locking shroud and the coupling part .

19. A connector assembly comprising: a connector body defining a circumferential surface formation comprising at least one flat; a screw threaded coupling rotatably mounted on the body and defining a circumferential surface formation comprising a series of splines; and a locking shroud defining at least one flat and a series of splines corresponding to said at least one flat and splines of the connector body and the coupling, the locking shroud being movable between a first position in which at least said splines of the locking shroud and the coupling are out of engagement, allowing 17 rotation of the coupling to engage a corresponding threaded part, and a locking position in which said flats of the locking shroud and the connector body and the splines of the locking shroud and the coupling engage so as to restrict rotation of the coupling, the configuration of the flats permitting limited rotation of the locking shroud relative to the connector body to allow the splines of the locking shroud and the coupling to be engaged even when there is an initial misalignment between the splines .