Environmentally resistant EMI rectangular connector having modular and bayonet coupling property

• US 6,048,229 A
• Filed: 07/29/1999
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lazaro, Luis J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zarroli, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US09/363,199
• Time in Patent Office: 257 Days
• Field of Search: 439/620, 439/364, 439/372, 439/681, 439/953, 439/587, 439/589, 439/744, 439/939, 439/274, 439/701
• US Class Current: 439/681
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/424 Securing in base or case composed of a plurality of insulating parts having at least one resilient insulating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5208 having at least two cable receiving openings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5221 having cable sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/645 by exchangeable elements on case or base
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6584 formed by conductive elastomeric members, e.g. flat gaskets or O-rings

Abstract

An electrical rectangular connector having an expanded range on the lower limit of the environment resisting wire sealing webs, a dielectric hard face socket insert to detect splayed or bent pin contacts, a controlled configuration on the contact retention clips which provides easy insertion and removal on the contacts. Additionally, the modular insert construction of the connector allows flexibility to the wiring system, meaning, the connector can have a signal, power, coaxial or twinaxial or combination circuitry and also a bayonet coupling mechanism assembly using dowel pins and dual helical ramp grooves to retrin the connector halves in the coupled condition. Consequently, a visual indicator consisting of an arrowhead opposite a marker labeled "HOME" provides assurance on a fully coupled plug and receptacle connector.

Claims

1. An electrical rectangular connector comprising first and second components, each having interengageable contact means, coupling means for advancing said first component with respect to said second component to abut a portion of said second component and to cause engagement of said contact means;

means associated with said first and second components adapted for cooperation in connection with an insert module;

a locking pin assembly interposed between a portion of said coupling means and another portion of said first component which said locking pin assembly means advances to cause engagement on said second component;

a helical socket assembly interposed between a portion of said coupling means and another portion of said second component which said helical socket assembly means engages said first component.

2. The electrical connector defined in claim 1, further including an alignment key disposed at the rear end of an insert module cavity of said first and second component formed thereon projecting radially into a longitudinally directed keyway formed in the exterior of said insert module cavity thereby allowing for their axial engagement and disengagement while preventing their rotation relative to each other.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, including a deformable O-ring seal positioned around said insert module thereby producing a fluid tight environment on assembly to the cavity of said insert module.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said coupling means is rotatable to advance said first component with respect to said second component, said first component including a locking pin rotatable with said coupling means and having an axially directed dowel pin therein shiftable into a detent hole of said helical socket mounted on said second component when said first and second components are fully coupled together.

5. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein said portion of said coupling means includes a snap ring and coil spring rotatable with both said coupling means and said locking pin, a positioning washer rotatable with said locking pin, and a deformable wavespring engageable by said positioning washer to cause deflection of said wavespring thereby producing a coupling of said first and second components.

6. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein said positioning washer includes a visual indicator arrowhead designating full coupling on said first and second components.

7. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein said portion of said coupling means includes said helical socket having internal double right hand lead thread or ramp grooves with said detent hole located at the closed end of said ramp groove receiving said dowel pin so as to provide a bayonet coupling means.

8. The electrical connectors of claim 4 wherein said dowel pin is directly positioned on the open end of said helical ramp groove, and, advancement of said first component onto second component is limited as said dowel pin bottoms against a portion of said helical ramp groove causing said locking pin to complete full coupling on said first and second components.

9. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein said first and second components each have interengageable contact means;

coupling means for advancing said first component with respect to said second component thereby causing a portion of said first components to abut a portion of said second component and to cause engagement of said respective contact means.

10. The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein a deformable O-ring seal mounted around said insert module of said first component produces a fluid tight environment on assembly to said second component.

11. An electrical rectangular connector comprising first and second components, each having interengageable contact means;

coupling means for advancing said first component to abut a portion of said second component and to cause engagement of said respective interchangeable contact means and, wavespring means interposed between a portion of said coupling means and another portion of said first component which wavespring means is deflected by a decrease in the distance between said portions and said first mentioned portions abuting each other and wherein, said wavespring means is preloaded.

12. The electrical rectangular connector defined in claim 11 including detent means for assisting said wavespring in the retention of said components in their coupled relationship.

13. The electrical connector defined in claim 12 wherein said detent means includes a dowel pin shiftable into a retentive position.

14. A bayonet coupling connector comprising in combination:

a plug shell (38);

a receptacle shell (39) having removable insert modules (40) and a bayonet coupling mechanism;

a spring (53) and an O-ring seal (56) disposed in a groove around each insert housing on plug shell (38) thereby providing electronic grounding and environmental sealing to mating receptacle shell (39);

and wherein said insert module (40) comprises an assembly including a rubber grommet (2), a rigid dielectric contact retainer (3), a rubber insert (4), and a metal pressure ring (54);

said rubber grommet (2) bonded onto said rigid dielectric contact retainer (3), said dielectric contact retainer (3) bonded onto said rubber insert (4), and said metal pressure ring (54) providing enclosure of said bonded rubber grommet (2) and said rigid dielectric contact retainer ring (3).

15. The method of installing a locking pin assembly onto a plug shell (39) comprising the steps of:

inserting a locking pin (42) onto a positioning washer (4b);

installing a wavespring (52) onto the locking pin (41);

assembling the locking pin (41) through plug shell (38);

inserting a snap ring (51) onto inserted locking pin (41);

inserting a coil spring (50) onto locking pin (41);

assembling one end of coil spring (50) into a hole (74) on plug shell (38) and installing a further end of coil spring (50) into a hole (75) on locking pin (41);

winding a half turn in the clockwise direction on locking pin (41) to locate and install a roll pin (47) onto plug shell (38); and

then,

assembling a dowel pin (43) onto locking pin (41) utilizing a definitive dimension (76).

16. In the method of installing a helical rocket (42) having a ramp groove (57) onto a receptacle shell (39):

causing a plug shell (38) to engage the receptacle shell (39) thereby causing an opening (62) to accept a dowel pin (43) when plug shell (38) begins to engage receptacle shell (39), and further causing the dowel pin (43) to bottom against the helical ramp groove (57) thereby preventing further advancement; and

,

wherein coupling action between plug shell (38) and receptacle shell (39) is completed with a half turn on locking pin (41).

17. In the method of uncoupling plug shell (38) and receptacle shell (39):

providing reverse rotation on the hex head of a locking pin (41) thereby forcing a partially received dowel pin (43) out of a detent hole (61) causing interfacial seal compression (72) between the mating insert modules (40) to be released thereby separating plug shell (38) from receptacle shell (39) further causing a snap ring (51) to impact against the plug shell (38) wall causing added separation forces during uncoupling of connectors.

18. An insert module (40) comprising in combination:

a rubber grommet (2) bonded onto a rigid dielectric contact retainer (3), said rigid dielectric contact retainer (3) bonded onto a rubber insert (4);

said insert module (40 further including a pressure ring (54) and an O-ring seal (55) disposed in a groove around the pressure ring (54) housing thereby providing environmental sealing on said insert module (40);

a keyway (48) disposed on said pressure ring (54) and a rubber insert (4);

said keyway (48) interengageable with a key (49) on a plug (38) and receptacle (39) connector shells facilitating assembly when loading said insert module (40) into an insert module cavity (77) on said plug (38) and said receptacle connector (39); and

,

a backshell (73) for retaining and maintaining said insert module (40) in a bottoming position inside said insert module cavity (77).