Electrical connector assembly with anti-rotation latch mechanism

• US 4,629,272 A
• Filed: 04/04/1985
• Issued: 12/16/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matrix Science Corp (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matrix Science Corp (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Mattingly, William R., Kroger, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): MCQUADE, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US06/719,937
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 339/DIG. 2, 339/89 R, 339/89 C, 339/89 M, 339/90 R, 339/90 C
• US Class Current: 439/318
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling

Abstract

An electrical connector receptacle shell assembly and an electrical connector plug assembly are mated together to provide electrical contact between a matrix of pins and sockets. An annular drive sleeve telescoped within a coupling nut having a floating bayonet pin coupling mechanism causes the connector plug shell within the electrical plug shell assembly to move axially forward onto the receptacle shell as the coupling nut is rotated. An anti-rotation latch mechanism prevents the inadvertent misalignment of the components within the connector plug assembly, so that the connector plug shell assembly remains annularly aligned with the coupling nut until the receptacle shell and the electrical plug assembly are coupled. The latch mechanism is thereby released and the coupling nut can then rotate relative to the first shell.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly having a first member with a matrix of holes and a second member with a matrix of pins for being pressed into the matrix of holes, the connector aassembly comprising:

a cylindrical first shell defining a cylindrical passageway extending axially therethrough;

a shoulder band extending around the first shell, the shoulder band having disposed thereinto at least one helically shaped guideway;

a cylindrical drive sleeve having at least one cylindrical orifice extending radially therethrough, each cylindrical orifice radially aligned with one of the guideways;

a cylindrical roller rotatably positioned in each cylindrical orifice for extending through the orifice into engagement with the aligned guideway whereby rotational movement of the drive sleeve relative to the first shell causes the rollers to roll along the helical guideway for causing relative axial movement between the drive sleeve and the first shell for pressing the matrix of pins into the matrix of holes with increased mechanical advantage;

a coupling nut rotatably mated with the drive sleeve for causing the drive sleeve and coupling nut to rotate together;

a cylindrical second shell for insertion into the passageway of the first shell;

alignment means for aligning the drive sleeve and the first shell in a predefined fixed rotational orientation relative to each other when the second shell is not inserted relationship in the passageway, but enabling rotation of the drive sleeve relative to the first shell out of the predefined fixed rotational orientation when the second shell is positioned in the passageway.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein each helical guideway has a final terminus region, the coupling nut and drive sleeve being rotatable together between a fully disengaged position and a fully engaged position only when the second shell is positioned in the passageway, the connector assembly further comprising:

means for urging the rollers into and maintaining the rollers in the final terminus regions upon rotation of the drive sleeve relative to the first shell into the fully engaged position.

3. The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein the drive sleeve has a first annular end and a second annular end opposite the first annular end and the urging means comprises a wave spring Positioned between the coupling nut and the first end of the drive sleeve for urging the drive sleeve and consequently the rollers into, and keeping the rollers in, the final terminus region, the coupling nut being inhibited from rotating when the roller is in the final terminus region.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein each helical guideway has an initial terminus region, the coupling nut and drive sleeve being rotatable between a fully engaged position and a fully disengaged position when the shell is positioned in the passageway, the connector assembly further comprising:

means for urging the rollers into, and maintaining the rollers in, the initial terminus region upon the rotation of the drive sleeve relative to the first shell into a fully disengaged position.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the rollers are freely radially moveable within the cylindrical orifices through the drive sleeve.

6. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the drive sleeve comprises a first annular end and a second annular end opposite the first end, the drive sleeve having a notch disposed in the second end at a predefined location about the circumference of the second end;

and wherein the first shell defines a center axis and has a latch mount opening therethrough, the opening being axially positioned for being adjacent the notch in the drive sleeve and being circumferentially positioned to cooperate with the coupling nut whereby the coupling nut and the first shell are positioned in a preselected rotational alignment with each other when the notch is in alignment with the latch opening, the alignment means comprising;

a pivot pin mounted to the first shell across the latch mount opening transverse to the center axis;

a latch member pivotally mounted to the pivot pin to pivot thereabout the latch member positioned in the latch mount opening, the latch member having;

a leg part extending from the latch mount opening and positioned for engaging the notch and preventing relative rotation between the drive sleeve and the first shell, and

a cam part extending from the opening into the passageway and positioned for being engaged by the second shell for pivoting the leg part out of engagement in the notch, and

spring means coupled to the latch member for biasing rotation of the leg part into engagement in the notch.

7. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a first shell having an axial passageway therethrough and having a radially disposed latch mount opening therethrough;

a second shell for being selectively mated with the first shell;

a drive sleeve cylinder rotatably mounted on the first shell, the drive sleeve having an annular first end with a notch therein, the notch positioned to cooperate with the latch mount opening to selectively, annularly align the drive sleeve and the first shell when the notch and latch mount opening are aligned;

a pivot pin mounted to the first shell across the latch mount opening transverse to the center axis;

a latch member pivotably mounted to the pivot pin and positioned in the latch mount opening, and latch member having;

a leg part extending from the latch mount opening and positioned for engaging the notch and preventing relative rotation between the drive sleeve and the first shell, and

a cam part extending from the opening into the passageway and positioned for being engaged by the second shell when the second shell is inserted into the passageway for pivoting the leg part out of engagement with the notch to enable rotation of the drive sleeve on the first shell; and

spring means coupled to the latch member for biasing rotation of the leg part into engagement in the notch.