Connector with sealed contacts

• US 5,460,549 A
• Filed: 09/02/1994
• Issued: 10/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Corporation (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Industries (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Muzslay, Steven Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAUMEN, GARY F
• Application Number:
  US08/300,685
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 439/733, 439/869, 439/246
• US Class Current: 439/733.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/521 Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6277 comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove

Abstract

A connector is described which has contacts projecting through passages of an insulator, which provides a reliable fluid-tight seal at each contact. Each insulator passage (36, FIG. 7) has first and second passage portions (51, 52) of different diameters, and each contact has contact portions (56, 57) lying in corresponding passage portions, with each contact portion having an enlargement (41, 42) lying in interference fit with a corresponding passage portion. The different diameters of the passage portions and enlargements, provide a plurality of different seal locations, with each seal location being maximally deformed only by the enlargement which lies in an interference fit therein. A front end of the connector is retained within the rear end of a second connector, by a largely U-shaped spring (100, FIG. 5) whose base (102) can be depressed to move down the opposite legs (104, 106) of the spring. The middle (110) of each leg normally lies rearward of a shoulder (130) on the first connector to prevent the first connector from being pulled rearwardly out of the second one. When the base of the spring is depressed, lower ends (116) of the spring arms are deflected (to 116A) by a cam (120) formed on the second connector housing, which presses the spring legs apart.

Claims

1. A connector which has front and rear ends, said connector including an insulator having passage walls forming at least one elongated passage and including an elongated contact lying in said passage, with said contact having a plurality of enlargements spaced along its length, and with said enlargements lying in interference fit with said passage walls, wherein:

said enlargements of said contact have different outside diameters including a first enlargement of a first outside diameter and a second enlargement of a second outside diameter that is greater than said first outside diameter;

said passage has a plurality of passage portions of different initial inside diameters, including a first passage portion of a first initial inside diameter which is less than said first outside diameter and a second passage portion of a second initial diameter that is greater than said first diameter and that is less than said second outside diameter, with said first and second enlargements of said contact lying respectively in said first and second passage portions;

said first and second enlargements are each tapered in diameter along most of their corresponding lengths.

2. The connector described in claim 1 wherein:

said contact has an axis extending along its length;

each of said enlargements has a rear portion that extends at an angle (H) of a plurality of degrees but no more than 20°

to said axis.

3. The connector described in claim 1 wherein:

said contact has an axis extending along its length;

each of said enlargements has an enlargement location where the enlargement has a greatest diameter, a rear portion that extends at a rearward radially-inward incline to said axis from said enlargement location, and a front portion that extends at a forward radially-inward incline to said axis from said enlargement location.

4. A connector which has front and rear ends, said connector including an insulator having passage wails forming at least one elongated passage and including an elongated contact lying in said passage with said contact having a plurality of enlargements spaced along its length, and with said enlargements lying in interference fit with said passage walls, wherein:

said enlargements of said contact have different outside diameters including a first enlargement of a first outside diameter and a second enlargement of a second outside diameter that is greater than said first outside diameter;

said passage has a plurality of passage portions of different initial inside diameters, including a first passage portion of a first initial inside diameter which is less than said first outside diameter and a second passage portion of a second initial diameter that is greater than said first diameter and that is less than said second outside diameter, with said first and second enlargements of said contact lying respectively in said first and second passage portions;

each of said enlargements has an enlargement location of greatest diameter, and each of said enlargements is tapered in diameter both forward and rearward of said enlargement location.

5. The connector described in claim 4 wherein:

said contact has an axis;

each of said enlargements has forward and rearward portions extending respectively forward and rearward of said enlargement location with said forward portion being tapered at a larger angle (J) to said axis than the angle of taper (H) of said rearward portion to said axis.

6. The connector described in claim 5 wherein:

the angle of tapering (J) of said forward portion to said axis is about 45°

.

7. A connector which has front and rear ends, said connector including an insulator having passage walls forming at least one elongated passage and including an elongated contact lying in said passage, with said contact having a plurality of enlargements spaced along its length, and with said enlargements lying in interference fit with said passage walls, wherein:

said enlargements of said contact have different outside diameters including a first enlargement of a first outside diameter and a second enlargement of a second outside diameter that is greater than said first outside diameter;

said passage has a plurality of passage portions of different initial inside diameters, including a first passage portion of a first initial inside diameter which is less than said first outside diameter and a second passage portion of a second initial diameter that is greater than said first diameter and that is less than said second outside diameter, with said first and second enlargements of said contact lying respectively in said first and second passage portions;

said contact has a first substantially cylindrical contact portion of a primary outside diameter with said first enlargement lying therealong, and said contact has a second substantially cylindrical contact portion of a secondary outside diameter with said second enlargement lying therealong;

said contact has an axis and has a transition contact portion which lies between a front end of said first contact portion and a rear end of said second contact portion, with said transition contact portion being tapered in diameter at an angle to said axis of no more than 30°

.

8. A connector which includes an insulator that has a through passage with an axis that extends in forward and rearward directions, and an elongated contact which lies in said passage, wherein:

said passage has first and second passage portions that are each of substantially constant initial inside diameter, with said second inside diameter being greater than said first inside diameter, and with said second passage portion lying forward of said first passage portion;

said contact has first and second contact portions which lie respectively in said first and second passage portions and which have respective first and second enlargements that each have an enlargement location of greatest diameter and a tapered transition portion extending rearward of the corresponding enlargement location of greatest diameter;

said first and second outside diameters of said enlargement locations are each greater than said first and second inside diameters, respectively, of said passage portions, with said second outside diameter being greater than said first outside diameter;

said passage has a third passage portion lying forward of said second passage portion and having a third inside diameter which is greater than said second inside diameter;

said contact has a third contact portion that has a third enlargement of a third outside diameter than is greater than said third inside diameter.