G-load coupling nut

• US 6,358,077 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glenair Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Glenair Incorporated
• Inventors: Young, Thomas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US09/712,597
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 439/310, 439/312, 439/313, 439/319, 439/320, 439/321, 439/322, 439/323, 439/905
• US Class Current: 439/321
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/905 Axially joined sections

Abstract

A backshell adapter assembly includes an adapter body, a coupling nut, a retaining ring and a one-piece shuttle mechanism. The one-piece shuttle mechanism is formed as a tubular member and is adapted to be received in a retaining groove on the adapter body. In order to facilitate loading of the one-piece shuttle into the retainer groove on the adapter body, the one-piece shuttle is cut along its length to enable the cut ends of the device to be spread apart in order to load the shuttle mechanism into the retaining groove on the adapter body. The one piece shuttle mechanism includes a thrust bushing portion and one or more concentrically formed spring arms that are adapted to provide axial loading in the direction of an electrical connector shell when the backshell adapter assembly is assembled to an electrical connector. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the one-piece shuttle design is amenable to being formed from high temperature composite materials which eliminates the corrosion problem and minimizes damage during various extreme conditions such as extreme vibration conditions to portions of the backshell adapter assembly which are normally formed from aluminum. Another important aspect of the invention is that the one-piece shuttle assembly minimizes the number of parts required and thus significantly reduces the manufacturing costs of such backshell adapter assembles.

Claims

1. A backshell adapter assembly adapted to be connected to an electrical connector having a plurality of axially extending teeth on one end, the backshell adapter assembly comprising:

a generally tubular adapter body formed with a pair of spaced apart annular shoulders defining a first retaining groove said adapter body also formed with a plurality of teeth, axially aligned and formed on one end of said adapter body, said plurality of teeth on said adapter body adapted to mate with said plurality of axially extended teeth on said electrical connector;

a one-piece shuttle, configured to be received in said first retaining groove, said one-piece shuttle formed with a thrush bushing portion and one or more spring arms for providing an axial force when a coupling nut is tightened against said generally tubular adapter body in order to force tooth to tooth engagement of said plurality of teeth on said adapter body with said plurality of axially extending teeth on said electrical connector, said thrust bushing configured with a second retaining groove;

a retaining ring adapted to be received in said second retaining groove; and

a coupling nut formed with an annular groove for receiving said retaining ring to prevent axial movement between said adapter body and said coupling nut, said coupling nut also configured to mate on one end with an electrical connector.

2. The backshell adapter assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more spring arms are formed as arcuate portions connected to one end to said thrust bushing portion.

3. The backshell adapter assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein said one or more spring arms extend axially away from said thrust bushing portion.

4. The backshell adapter assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein one or more ends of said one or more spring arms are bent axially inwardly toward said thrust bushing portion.

5. The backshell adapter assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said shuttle is formed from a non-metallic material.

6. The backshell adapter as recited in claim 5, wherein said material is a thermoplastic material.

7. A backshell adapter assembly comprising:

a generally tubular adapter body formed with a plurality of axially extending teeth on one end, said axially extending teeth adapted to mate with corresponding axially extending teeth on an electrical connector;

a one-piece shuttle formed with a thrust bushing portion and one or more spring arms, said thrust bushing axially captured relative to said adapter body, said one or more spring arms configured to provide an axial force when a coupling nut is tightened against said generally tubular adapter body in order to force tooth to tooth engagement of said plurality of teeth on said adapter body with said plurality of axially extending teeth on said electrical connector; and

a coupling nut configured to mate on one end an electrical connector, said coupling nut axially captured relative to said adapter body.

8. The backshell adapter assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said one or more spring arms are formed as arcuate portions connected on one end to said thrust bushing portion.

9. The backshell adapter assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said one or more spring arms extend axially away from said thrust bushing portion.

10. The backshell adapter assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein one or more ends of said one or more spring arms are bent axially inwardly toward said thrust bushing portion.

11. The backshell adapter assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said shuttle is formed from a non-metallic material.

12. The backshell adapter as recited in claim 11, wherein said material is a thermoplastic material.

13. The backshell adapter assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said adapter body is formed with a plurality of spaced apart annular shoulders defining a first retaining groove and said one piece shuttle is received in said retaining groove.

14. The backshell adapter assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said one-piece shuttle is formed with an annular groove defining a second retaining groove and said coupling nut is formed with a annular groove, further including a retaining ring adapted to be received in said second retaining groove and said annular groove formed in said coupling nut for axially capturing said coupling nut relative to said adapter body.