WO2001011725A1

WO2001011725A1 - Quick release connector

Info

Publication number: WO2001011725A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/021240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Salvatore T. Brancaleone
Original assignee: Brancaleone Salvatore T
Priority date: 1999-08-04
Filing date: 2000-08-03
Publication date: 2001-02-15
Also published as: AU6757100A

Abstract

The present invention is a threaded electrical connector (19) that is immediately releasable without having to unscrew the connector. The threaded shell (40) is formed by a series of threaded segments (25) made from a spring conductive material such that the segments tend to flare outwardly but are constrained by an outer shell to mate with the threads of a mating plug (16) until this outer shell is pulled away from the segments. The connector also has a positive lock (50) against counter-rotation of the connector with respect to the mating plug. A steel ball (60) rides over a knurled member (100) when the connector is screwed into the mating plug. Counter-rotation results in the steel ball being locked between adjacent knurls, thus preventing counter-rotation of the connector.

Description

QUICK RELEASE CONNECTOR

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly, to threaded connectors that are quickly released from the threads of a mating plug by pulling a lanyard or the like. Description of the Related Art

In certain environments, it is necessary that a threaded electrical connector be immediately releasable without having to unscrew the connector. Such connectors are often referred to as lanyard-type connectors.

Summary of the Invention The preferred embodiment of the present invention has a number of significant improvements. In one embodiment, an inner threaded shell includes a plurality of slots. The resulting threaded segments are advantageously constructed of a material having a stress memory such that the segments naturally tend to flare outwardly but are constrained by an outer shell to mate with threads of a mating plug. When the lanyard is pulled, the outer shell is pulled away from these segments. As a result, the segments spring away from the mating plug threads to provide very rapid removal of the plug. Another feature of the preferred embodiment is a positive lock against counter-rotation of the connector with respect to the mating plug. In the embodiment described, a stainless steel ball rides over a knurled member when the connector is screwed into the mating plug. Counter-rotation results in the ball being locked between adjacent knurls, thus preventing counter-rotation of the connector.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the quick release connector.

Figure 2 is an exploded view with each of the elements being shown in cross-section. Figure 3a is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the connector when screwed onto the mating plug.

Figure 3b is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the embodiment after the lanyard has been pulled. Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the embodiment.

Figures 5a, 5b and 5c illustrate the counter-rotation locking mechanism as the connector is being rotated onto the mating plug.

Figures 6a, 6b and 6c illustrate the positive lock that is achieved when counter-rotation is applied. Figure 7 is a plan view in schematic showing the plunger of the locking mechanism within an opening located in a locking ring when the plug is being attached so that the locking ball is unlocked.

Figure 8 is a plan view in schematic showing the plunger of the locking mechanism out of the opening of the locking ring resulting in locking the locking ball when the plug undergoes counter-rotation.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Certain applications require that a threaded electrical connector be easily and quickly removed from its mating plug. Referring to Figures , 2, 3a and 3b, the connector 19 is shown having a generally cylindrical member 21 in which a series of longitudinal slots 23 extend in the wall of member 21. As shown in Figures 2, 3a and 3b, the remaining wall segments of member 21 include interior threads 25 which form a continuous helical thread (except for the portions of thread that are missing because of the slots 22). Advantageously, slots 22 are wide enough to prevent the adjacent juxtaposed edges of the wall segments from engagement when the lanyard is pulled, as described below. In Figures 3a and 3b, the connector 19 is shown in cross-section attached to threaded mating plug 16. Fixed threads 20 of plug 16 mate with the threads 25 of connector 19 when the connector 19 is screwed onto the mating plug 16.

One feature of the embodiment of Figures 1-3 is that the plug 19 is quickly released by pulling a ring 30 in the direction 31 shown, typically with a suitable lanyard (not shown) against the force of an internal coil spring 35, to the position shown in Figure 3b.

Pulling down on ring 30 causes the outer cylindrical housing shell 40 of the connector to be withdrawn from its normal position juxtaposed slotted member 21. As shown in Figure 3(a), the normally compressed member 21 is then allowed to expand away from the threads 20 of the plug 16. Member 21 is advantageously formed of spring hard aluminum or other conductive material which has a stress memory such that the wall segments of member 21, when not constrained by shell 40, will naturally flare outwardly to their open position of Figure 3b. This stress memory coupled with the outward expansion of member 21 results in an immediate withdrawal of the threads 25 from the fixed threads 20 of plug 16. As a result, the threads 25 are released from threads 20 and the connector is easily and quickly withdrawn from plug 16 by pulling on ring 30. Another significant feature of the preferred embodiment of this invention is that once the connector 19 is screwed into plug 16, connector 19 will not thereafter unscrew. In many environments such as aircraft and missiles, vibration can unscrew connector 19 from plug 16, whereas the same vibratioπal forces are not capable of releasing the lanyard mechanism described above.

The positive locking feature against counter-rotation is most clearly shown in the enlarged drawings of Figures 5a, b and c, Figures 6a, b and c, Figure 7 and Figure 8. See also figures 1, 2, 3a and 3b.

Referring initially to Figures 3a and 5a, the locking mechanism 50 is mounted at the closed end of slotted cylindrical shell 21. Advantageously, although only one mechanism 50 is shown, the member 21 includes three of the locking members 50 mounted in internally threaded surface mounts 55 integral with the wall of shell 21 and circumferentially spaced at 120° intervals. Each locking mechanism 50 includes a ball 60 (typically stainless steel), plunger 65 and tension spring 70, retained within the cylindrical shell 75. Shell 75 has external threads which mate with the threads 55. The end of shell 75 is proximate to the exterior wall of the cylindrical connector housing member 80 that retains the multiple electrical contact member 85 (see Figure 1 ). The ball 60 is retained within threaded shell 75 by a circumferential lip 90 at the open end of shell 75.

When assembled, a portion of ball 60 is permitted to extend beyond the end of shell 75 and lip 90, as shown in Figure 6a, and ride on top of the knurls 100 formed on an exterior portion of inner connector housing member 80. The outer housing 40 is rotated (typically in a clockwise direction 115) to thread the connector threads 25 onto the mating plug threads 20 as described above. During this clockwise rotation, an opening 120 (one for each locking mechanism 50) in a floating lock ring 125, (shown in Figures 5c, 7 and 8) allows the opposite end of plunger 65 to extend into this opening 120 and thus permit the ball 60 to move over the raised knurls 100, as best shown in Figure 5c.

As each knurl is passed over by a ball 60, an audible click informs the user that the locking mechanism is in the open-unlocked position.

The locking feature engages whenever vibration or deliberate rotation causes rotation in the opposite direction 150. As most clearly shown in Figures 6a and 8, this counter-rotational move of the plunger results in the positions of Figures 6a, 6b and 6c, wherein the locking mechanism has been automatically rotated away from opening 120 in the lock ring 125. As a result, the ball 60 locks in position between adjacent knurls 100a,, 100b, as shown in Figure 6c. This lock is achieved when the far end of plunger 65 abuts the wall of the locking retainer ring 125. As a result, there is continuous solid metal, namely plunger 65 and ring 125, maintaining ball 60 in its outermost position out of the end of shell 75. This solid metal-to-metal engagement positively prevents the ball 60 from translating over the knurls 100. Instead, as noted above, the ball 60 is locked between adjacent knurls 100a, 100b, as shown in Figure 6c.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited by the recitation of the preferred embodiments, but is instead to be defined by reference to the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A lanyard releasable connector comprising: an inner threaded member formed by internally threaded segments of a spring material, an outer shell normally surrounding the sides of each of said segments opposite to said internal threads, said outer shell constraining said segmented sections to form a threaded connector to mate with threads of a mating plug, and wherein said outer shell is mounted for longitudinal translation with respect to said inner threaded member to allow said spring section of said inner member to spring outwardly away from the threads of said mating plug.

2. A quick release connector comprising: an inner thread member formed by the internally threaded segments of a spring material, an outer shell normally surrounding the outer sides of each of said segments opposite to said internal threads, said outer shell constraining said segmented sections to form a threaded connector, and wherein said outer shell is mounted for longitudinal translation with respect to said inner threaded member to allow said spring section of said inner member to spring outwardly away from the center of said connector.

3. A lanyard-releasable connector having an internally threaded shell having longitudinal slots in the wall member forming a segmented threaded member, and an outer shell constraining said threaded segments to mate with the threads of a mating connector, said shell being mounted for longitudinal translation allowing the said segments to spring away from the mating threads of the plug and provide a quick release of the connector when the lanyard is pulled.

4. A positive locking mechanism for preventing counter-rotation of an electrical connector with respect to a mating electrical plug, comprising: a ball free to ride over a knurled member during rotation of the connector onto the plug, said ball free to translate by virtue of an opening in a locking ring that is outwardly positioned in juxtaposition with the locking mechanism during said plug rotation; said ball being locked between adjacent knurls when counter-rotation is affected by vibration or otherwise when said locking mechanism automatically translates away from said operating so that said ball is not permitted to translate with respect to said knurled member.

5. A connector quickly releasable from a mating plug comprising: an inner threaded member formed by internally threaded segments of a spring material, an outer shell normally surrounding the outer sides of each of said segments opposite to said internal threads, said outer shell constraining said segmented sections to from a threaded connector to mate with threads of said mating plug, said outer shell being mounted for longitudinal translation with respect to said inner threaded member to allow said spring section of said inner member to spring outwardly away from the center of said connector, said inner threaded member having a positive locking mechanism for preventing counter-rotation of said electrical connector with respect to said mating electrical plug, comprising: a knurled member, a locking ring, a ball free to ride over said knurled member during rotation of the connector onto said mating plug, said ball free to translate by virtue of an opening in a said locking ring that is outwardly positioned in juxtaposition with the locking mechanism during said plug rotation; said ball being locked between adjacent knurls of said knurled member when counter- rotation is affected by vibration or otherwise when said locking mechanism automatically translates away from said opening in said locking ring so that said ball is not permitted to translate away from said knurled member.