SEPARABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

• US 3,663,926 A
• Filed: 01/05/1970
• Issued: 05/16/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Original Assignee: David S. Brandt
• Inventors: Brandt, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGlynn, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US05/000,633
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 339/89-91 285/81,82,92
• US Class Current: 439/321
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/621 Bolt, set screw or screw clamp

Abstract

A separable electrical connector having two units held together in mated relationship by a nut. Means is provided for securely but releasably retaining the nut from rotation with respect to the mated units, thereby preventing the nut from being accidentally loosened from its fully tightened position.

Claims

1. A separable electrical connector comprising two connector units each having a tubular housing, the housings having electrically insulating inserts therein and one said housing being adapted to telescope within the other, means for preventing rotation of the two housings relative to each other, contacts mounted in the inserts and being mateable when the housings of the units are fully connected in aligned relationship, a nut mounted for rotation on said one housing and restrained from axial movement forwardly toward the other housing by engagement between the forward surface of a first, radially inwardly directed annular flange on the nut and the rear surface of a second, radially outwardly directed annular flange on said one housing, a thread on the other housing receivable in the nut whereby turning of the nut in one direction draws the housings together toward fully connected relationship, and releasable means comprising engaging ratchet-like teeth on said surfaces of the first and second flanges.

2. A connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the teeth are shallow, smoothly rounded, and complementary to each other.

3. A connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the face of at least one of the inserts is resilient and when the units are fully mated have resilient face-to-face engagement with each other, whereby the force of engagement between the ratchet-like teeth of the nut rotation restraining means increases progressively as the nut draws the units into fully mated relationship.

4. A connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the teeth on the nut and the one housing are complementary undulations.

5. A connector as defined in claim 1, comprising resilient means on the one housing which constantly thrusts the teeth on the first and second flanges together.

6. A connector as defined in claim 5, wherein tHe resilient means is a spring interposed between the rear face of the one flange and an abutment mounted on the first housing.

7. A coupling device comprising a cylindrical shell having an external rearwardly facing shoulder, a cylindrical coupling member surrounding said shell and having a forwardly facing shoulder engageable with said external shoulder for limiting forward axial movement of said member relative to said shell, means on said shell for limiting rearward axial movement of said member relative to the shell, and resilient means interposed under compression between said means on the shell and said member for imparting forward axial movement to said member relative to the shell and for yieldably urging said shoulders into face-to-face engagement, the engaging annular faces of said shoulders having accurately interfitting radial ribs and grooves of uniform angular extent and contour throughout the entire circumference thereof.

8. An electrical connector plug assembly comprising a cylindrical shell having an external radially extending annular surface, a cylindrical coupling member surrounding said shell and having an internal radially extending surface facing said first-named surface, and resilient means under compression for yieldably urging said annular surfaces into engagement, said surfaces having accurately interfitting radially extending ribs and grooves of uniform annular extent and contour throughout the entire circumference thereof.

9. An assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein each said rib is symmetrical with respect to a radial plane therethrough.

10. An assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said surfaces have a sine wave-like curvature annularly thereof.