UNDERWATER CONNECTION

• US 3,731,258 A
• Filed: 09/22/1971
• Issued: 05/01/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lyndon Reginald Spicer
• Original Assignee: Lyndon Reginald Spicer
• Inventors: Spicer, Lyndon Reginald
• Primary Examiner(s): Champion, Marvin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pate, III, William F.
• Application Number:
  US05/182,699
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 339/59,60,61,94,92,102,48,49
• US Class Current: 439/278
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2407 characterized by the resilient means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/523 for use under water
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6215 using one or more bolts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles

Abstract

An electrical connector for use underwater or the like including two convex rubber bodies having one or more contacts embedded therein flush with the convex surfaces thereof. A bolt projects through aligned holes in the bodies. When the bolt is tightened with the convex surfaces in contact with one another, fluid between the bodies is squeezed out and a fluid tight seal is provided around each pair of mutually engaging contacts.

Claims

1. A fluid tight electrical connector comprising:

two resilient dielectric bodies, each of said bodies having a convex surface, said convex surfaces being constructed to contact each other;

at least one conductive contact substantially embedded in each of said convex surfaces and flush therewith, said contacts being positioned to engage one another when said convex surfaces are brought into engagement with each other; and

at least one flexible electrically conductive lead electrically connected with each contact and extending therefrom in a direction away from said convex surfaces, said bodies being adapted to deform when said convex surfaces are brought into engagement and pressure is applied to said bodies to squeeze them together, clamp means for holding and squeezing said bodies tightly together, said clamp means including axially aligned cylindrical holes extending through each of said bodies in a direction approximately perpendicular to said convex surfaces, a bolt having a larger head, a larger nut and a narrower cylindrical shank slidably disposed through said holes, said head lying in pressure contact with one surface opposite the convex surface of one body, said nut being threaded to said shank on the end thereof opposite the end to which said head is fixed, said nut lying in pressure contact with one surface opposite the convex surface of the other body, each of said bodies having a cable extending generally perpendicularly to the bore therein, said conductive leads passing through said cable, the application of pressure to said bodies by said clamp means with said contacts in alignment causing said contacts to mate, fluid between said surfaces being squeezed out of the space therebetween by application of said pressure, application of said pressure also causing the portions of said convex surface areas immediately surrounding said contacts to engage one another and form a fluid tight seal to prevent any fluid outside of said bodies from touching said contacts.