CONNECTOR LOCKING MECHANISM

• US 3,810,073 A
• Filed: 01/26/1973
• Issued: 05/07/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: M/A-COM Omni Spectra, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Donald M. Zajac, James Kubota
• Inventors: Zajac, Donald M., Kubota, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US05/326,987
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 339/16,75,91,45,143,177,217,258A 24/211 85/81 285/319,308
• US Class Current: 439/352
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45487 including camming or wedging element on projection member

Abstract

A quick-disconnect device for electrical, mechanical or hydraulic couplings. Plug and receptacle members have longitudinally offset annular grooves with facing locking ends. A coupling sleeve on one member has spring fingers with inclined ends insertable between the facing locking ends to resist axial separating forces of the plug and receptacle members. Uncoupling is effected by sliding the sleeve to extract the fingers. Modifications of the invention control connector disengagement with varying predetermined axial separating forces on the plug and receptacle members.

Claims

1. A connector comprising detachably interfitting plug and receptacle members having radially spaced confronting annular surfaces provided with inner and outer facing locking shoulders, an annular coupling sleeve slidable on said plug member, means attaching an elongated element to said plug member, said sleeve having axially extending, radially flexible spring fingers disposed between said annular surfaces when the members interfit and formed with flared ends insertable between said facing locking shoulders, whereby to resist axial separating forces applied to said members and to lock said members securely together, said finger ends being deflectable radially by one of said locking shoulders upon axial sliding movement of said sleeve relative to the plug member, thus uncoupling said members so they may be separated, the sleeve being completely withdrawable from said plug member at least in an uncoupling direction past said attaching means after the members have been separated, and facing abutment means on said plug and receptacle members separate from said annular surfaces and said sleeve and directly engageable when the plug member is inserted in the receptacle member to limit their relative movement in an engaging direction independently of said sleeve.

2. The combination according to claim 1, intermediate portions of said spring fingers being bent inwardly and disposed in an annular groove of the plug member to retain the coupling sleeve thereon.

3. The combination according to claim 1, said locking shoulders forming the ends of grooves, the locking ends of said grooves being forMed by surfaces at least one of which is angularly related to said spring finger ends.

4. The combination according to claim 3, the angle of said receptacle member surface being less than the angle of said spring finger ends and the angle of said plug member surface being greater than the angle of said spring finger ends, whereby withdrawal frictional resistance of said spring ends will be minimized, permitting uncoupling of the connector despite relatively large axial separating forces applied to said plug and receptacle members.

5. The combination according to claim 3, the angle of one of said groove end surfaces being substantially the same as said spring finger ends, the angle of the other surface being less than said spring finger ends, whereby uncoupling of said connector will be permitted despite moderate axial separating forces being applied to said plug and receptacle members.

6. The combination according to claim 3, the angle of one of said groove end surfaces being substantially the same as said spring finger ends, the angle of the other surface being greater than said spring finger ends, whereby uncoupling of said connection will be prevented when moderate to heavy axial separating forces are applied to said plug and receptacle members.

7. The combination according to claim 3, the angles of said groove end surfaces being greater than said spring finger ends, whereby uncoupling of said connection will be prevented when relatively light axial separating forces are applied to said plug and receptacle members.

8. The combination according to claim 1, said elongated member comprising an electrical conduit having a pin, the receptacle being secured to a female contact.

9. The combination according to claim 8, said electrical conduit comprising a coaxial cable, said receptacle member being panel mount.

10. The combination according to claim 1, said elongated member comprising a hose, said receptacle member also being attached to a hose, said facing shoulders comprising a gasket disposed between the outer end of said plug member and a shoulder within said receptacle member, the members both having passages connected to said hoses.

11. The combination according to claim 1, said elongated member comprising a cable, said receptacle members also being attached to a cable.

12. The combination according to claim 1, said annular coupling sleeve being annularly closed.

13. The combination according to claim 1, the intermediate portions of said fingers being offset radially inwardly from their end portions and disposed in a plug member groove to yieldably retain the sleeve thereon but being substantially shorter than the axial extent of said groove, whereby both locking and unlocking of said members may be accomplished by movement of said coupling sleeve alone.

14. The combination according to claim 13, said fingers and plug member groove having additional surfaces coacting in response to withdrawal of said sleeve after separation of the members to flex said fingers outwardly and permit continued withdrawal of the sleeve in an uncoupling direction, all other parts of said plug member being in non-obstructing relation with said sleeve whereby the sleeve is withdrawable from the plug member in either direction when the plug and receptacle members are separated.

15. A coaxial plug connector for use in conjunction with a receptacle member having an inwardly facing annular surface with an annular locking shoulder, said connector comprising an annular plug member having an outwardly facing groove, means securing an elongated element to said plug member, a coupling sleeve having an annularly closed portion slidably mounted on said plug member, the sleeve having a plurality of axially extending resilient fingers, said fingers having intermediate portions disposed in said groove to releasably retain the sleeve on said plug member, and flared end portions, the internal diameter of said annularly closed portion of the sleeve being greater than the externaL diameter of any portion of said plug member or element securing means, whereby said sleeve is removable from and replaceable on the plug member from the front or back thereof but only by axial sliding movement relative thereto.

16. The combination according to claim 15, said fingers having first portions of relatively large diameter and inwardly sloping portions extending therefrom to said intermediate portions.