Cylindrical connector keying means

• US 4,938,718 A
• Filed: 06/07/1985
• Issued: 07/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AMP Limited
• Original Assignee: AMP Limited
• Inventors: Guendel, Herbert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US06/742,171
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 339/184 R, 339/184 M, 339/186 R, 339/186 M, 439/680, 439/681, 439/320, 439/901
• US Class Current: 439/680
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6456 comprising keying elements at different positions along the periphery of the connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/901 Connector hood or shell

Abstract

Cylindrical electrical assembly comprises a plug part and a receptacle part, each part consisting of a metallic shell and an insulating insert within the shell. The insert of the receptacle part has an integral hood which extends forwardly beyond the mating face of the receptacle insert and which receives forward portions of the plug insert. The shell of the receptacle part also has an integral hood which extends forwardly, and is radially spaced from, the hood of the insert. Forward portions of the plug shell are received between the hood of the receptacle insert and the hood of the receptacle shell. The internal surfaces of the hoods of the receptacle shell and the receptacle insert are each provided with keyways. These keyways receive integral keys on the plug shell and the forward portions of the plug insert. Distinctive keying of the connector assembly is achieved by mounting the inserts in the shells at preselected locations in an angular sense so that the connector parts cannot be mated with parts that are identical except for a different keying option.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

plug means including first shell means having first insert means disposed therein, said first insert means having first passageway means extending therethrough, first electrical terminal means secured in said first passageway means, first means on said first shell means and said first insert means securing said first insert means at a selected angular position relative to said first shell means and securing said first shell means and said first insert means together;

receptacle means including second shell means having second insert means disposed therein, said second insert means having second passageway means extending therethrough, second electrical terminal means secured in said second passageway means, second means on said second shell means and said second insert means securing said second insert means in said second shell means at a selected angular position relative to said second shell means;

coupling means on said first and second shell means coupling said first and second shell means, said first and second insert means, and said first and second electrical terminal means together, after angularly aligned mating thereof;

said first and second insert means having mating surfaces for engagement with each other when electrical contact sections of said electrical terminal means are electrically connected together, said second insert means having a continuous hood means surrounding the electrical contact sections of said second electrical terminal means extending outwardly from said mating surface of said second insert means and encompassing a forward section of said first insert means when said mating surfaces are engaged and said electrical contacts sections are electrically connected;

said first shell means having a circumferentially continuous forward portion having an internal surface radially spaced from said forward section of said first insert means such that said plug means is capable of encompassing a forward section of said hood means of said second insert means when said mating surfaces are engaged and said electrical contact sections are electrically connected;

said second shell means having a continuous hood means radially spaced from an external surface of said continuous hood means of said second insert means such that said receptacle means is capable of encompassing a forward section of said first shell means between said shell hood means and said insert hood means when said mating surfaces are engaged and said electrical contact sections are electrically connected, and said second shell hood means having a leading edge extending farther forward than the leading edge of said second insert hood means;

a first unique keying system of said connector assembly defined by key means and corresponding keyway means provided on said first and second shell means disposed at selected locations asymmetrically around and extending axially rearwardly from leading edges of said first and second shell means, said shell keyway means to receive said shell key means during mating of matchingly keyed ones of said plug means and said receptacle means;

a second unique keying system of said connector assembly defined by key means and corresponding keyway means provided on said first and second insert means disposed at selected locations asymmetrically around and extending axially rearwardly from leading edges of said first and second insert means, said insert keyway means to receive said insert key means during mating of matchingly keyed ones of said plug means and said receptacle means, whereby said shell key means and keyway means defining said first keying system must cooperatingly engage before said insert key means and keyway means defining said second keying system cooperatingly engage during mating of said plug means and said receptacle means; and

said selected angular position of said second insert means in said second shell means is selected relative to said selected angular position of said first insert means secured in said first shell means, such that said insert key and keyway means are capable of cooperatingly engaging during mating after said shell key and keyway means have cooperatingly engaged, in a unique keying arrangement for said plug means and said receptacle means to prevent mismating of one thereof with another means similar to the other thereof.

2. An electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shell key means comprises keys on the external surface of said forward portion of said first shell means, and said shell keyway means comprises keyways on the internal surface of said hood means of said second shell means.

3. An electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said insert key means comprises keys on the external surface of said forward section of said first insert means, and said insert keyway means comprises keyways on the internal surface of said hood means of said second insert means.

4. An electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second insert means is press fitted into said second shell means and is retained therein by retaining pin means extending radially through said second shell means and into said second insert means.