Wet-mateable electro-optical connector

• US 6,464,405 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2001
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Teledyne Instruments Incorporated (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ocean & Design Limited
• Inventors: Cairns, James L., Barlow, Stewart M., Baxter, Peter R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAHM, SARAH UH YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/761,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20020003931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/55, 385/56, 385/58, 385/60, 385/70-72, 385/75, 385/94, 385/139, 439/131, 439/141
• US Class Current: 385/56
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3816 for use under water, high pressure connectors provisionally see G02B6/4428
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4538 Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/523 for use under water

Abstract

An underwater connector has a plug and a receptacle unit each having an internal chamber in which a respective contact module is located. Each module has an end face having contacts for engagement with corresponding contacts on the other module when the units are releasably mated together. Each chamber has a resilient forward end with an opening communicating with the respective chamber, and an actuator in each unit compresses the forward end to seal the opening when the units are unmated. As the units are mated, the actuator in one unit is urged rearwardly and the forward end of the chamber in the other unit is urged rearwardly, such that each end opens to permit the module of one unit to pass into the chamber of the other unit, and into engagement with the other module so that all contacts are engaged for communication between the units.

Claims

1. An underwater connector, comprising:

a plug unit having a forward end, a rear end, and a hollow body;

a first member mounted in the hollow body and forming an internal chamber, the member having a resilient forward end portion having an opening communicating with the internal chamber, at least one contact member mounted in the chamber in alignment with the opening;

a receptacle unit having a hollow body, a forward end, and a rear end and adapted for mating engagement with the plug unit;

a second member mounted in the hollow body of the receptacle unit and having an internal chamber and a resilient forward end portion having an opening communicating with the internal chamber, and at least one contact member in the chamber in alignment with the opening;

the resilient forward end portions of the members having forward end faces in face-to-face sealing engagement when the units are mated together;

the plug and receptacle units each having an actuator acting in a first, seal closing direction compressing the resilient end portion of the respective member to close and seal the respective opening when the units are unmated, and for permitting opening of the respective openings when the plug and receptacle units are mated together with the end faces in sealing engagement, whereby at least one of the contact members can pass through the aligned openings in the resilient end portions of the members to engage the other contact member; and

the openings in the resilient end portions each having an aperture in the respective forward end face which is elongated in a direction transverse to the first, seal closing direction.

2. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein each aperture is eye-shaped.

3. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the forward sealing faces are convex.

4. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein each actuator comprises a rigid, shaped throat having a forward end facing the opposing actuator as the units are mated together, each shaped throat having opposing, inwardly tapering portions extending up to the forward end for squeezing corresponding opposing portions of the opening of the respective forward end portion inwardly to close and seal the opening when the units are unmated.

5. The connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the forward end of each shaped throat has an oval, slot-shaped end opening having a first, wider dimension along the length of the slot-shaped opening and a second, narrower dimension across the width of the slot-shaped opening, the narrower dimension being of predetermined size to squeeze the opening in the respective sleeve end portion into a closed and sealed condition.

6. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator in the plug unit is slidably mounted in the body of the plug unit and is movable between an extended position in which it engages the respective end portion to squeeze the opening shut, and a retracted position in which it is pushed back over the end portion to allow the opening to open.

7. The connector as claimed in claim 6 including a seat slidably mounted in the other receptacle unit, the second member being mounted on said seat for movement between an extended position in which the resilient end portion is engaged in the actuator and the opening is squeezed shut, and a retracted position in which the resilient end portion is retracted from the actuator and allowed to open, the respective slidable actuator and second member moving into their retracted positions when the units are mated together.

8. The connector as claimed in claim 7, including a return device on said plug unit for engaging said sliding seat when the units are mated together and comprising means for returning said seat and second member to the extended, sealed position when the units are separated.

9. The connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the receptacle body has an axial slot, the sliding seat has a pin projecting radially outwardly through said slot, and the plug body has an inwardly directed resilient member for engaging in said slot behind said pin when said units are mated together, said resilient member comprising said return device.

10. The connector as claimed in claim 6, including a latch assembly on said plug body for releasably latching said plug unit actuator in said extended position when the units are unmated.

11. The connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein the plug unit actuator and the receptacle body have front end faces which engage when the units are mated together, the plug body and actuator having aligned radial bores, the latch assembly including at least one spring loaded pin projecting outwardly from said actuator front end face for engaging the front end face of the receptacle body, and a latch member extending through said aligned latch bores in said extended position of said actuator to prevent axial or rotational movement of said actuator, whereby engagement of the front end face of the receptacle body with said pin as said units are mated urges said pin inwardly and releases said latch member to move inwardly out of the latch bore in said plug body, permitting movement of said actuator from said extended position to said retracted position.

12. The connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein said plug body and actuator have a first pair of aligned radial bores and a second pair of aligned radial bores diametrically opposite said first pair, and said latch assembly comprises a pair of diametrically spaced pins on opposite sides of said first member movable between an extended position projecting outwardly from the front end face of said actuator and a retracted position retracted into said actuator, and a pair of latch members movably mounted in the respective pair of aligned bores, each latch member being urged outwardly by the respective pin to project into the aligned bore in the plug body when the pins are in the extended position, and being free to drop inwardly out of the respective bore in the plug body when the pins are urged inwardly into their retracted positions by the front end face of said receptacle body as the units are mated together.

13. The connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein said latch members comprise balls.

14. The connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein each contact member has a plurality of electrical and optical contacts for engagement with corresponding contacts on the other contact member.

15. An underwater connector, comprising:

a plug unit having an open forward end, a closed rear end wall, and a bore extending from the rear end to the open forward end;

a first bladder member mounted in the plug bore and extending from the rear end towards the open front end of the plug unit, the bladder member having an expandible bellows portion defining a first internal, oil-filled chamber and a resilient forward end portion having a front end face and a passageway connecting the front end face to the first chamber;

a first contact module having a rear end secured to the rear end wall of the plug unit and projecting forwardly within the bladder member into said oil filled chamber in alignment with said passageway, the contact module having a front end having a plurality of electrical and optical contacts;

a receptacle unit having a forward end, a rear end wall, and a bore extending from said rear end wall to said forward end, and adapted for releasable mating engagement with said plug unit;

a second bladder member mounted in the bore and having a second internal, oil-filled chamber and a resilient forward end portion having a front end face for sealing engagement with the front end face of the first bladder member when the units are mated, the forward end portion having a passageway connecting the front end face to the second chamber;

a second contact module having a rear end secured to the rear end wall of the receptacle unit and a front end, the second contact module projecting forwardly into said second bladder member with the front end in said second oil-filled chamber, the front end having a plurality of electrical and optical contacts for contact with corresponding electrical and optical contacts at the front end of the first module when the units are mated together;

the plug and receptacle units each having an actuator for compressing the resilient end portion of the respective bladder member to close and seal the respective passageway when the units are unmated, and for permitting opening of the respective passageways when the units are mated together with the front end faces of the bladder members in sealing engagement, whereby at least one of the contact modules can pass through the aligned passageways into the chamber containing the front end of the other contact module until the front ends of the respective modules are in contact engagement.

16. The connector as claimed in claim 15, wherein the plug unit actuator is movable in said bore between an extended position in which the actuator compresses and seals the passageway in the forward end portion of the first bladder member, and a retracted position in which the forward end portion is allowed to open, and the forward end portion of said second bladder member is movable in said receptacle unit between an extended position in which it is located in the receptacle unit actuator and said passageway is sealed shut, and a retracted position in which it is retracted rearwardly from said actuator and said passageway is allowed to open, whereby as said units are mated together, the forward end of said receptacle unit enters the plug unit bore and urges said plug unit actuator rearwardly to said retracted position, and the forward end of the first bladder member engages the forward end of said second bladder member to urge the forward end portion rearwardly into said retracted position, whereby the second contact module travels through the aligned passageways in the forward end portions of said second and first bladder members, respectively, and into mating engagement with the front end of said first contact module.

17. The connector as claimed in claim 16, including a sliding seat slidably mounted in said receptacle unit bore and having a through bore, the second bladder member having a rear end secured to said sliding seat, and a third oil-filled bladder member having a rear end secured to said rear end wall of said receptacle unit and a forward end secured to said sliding seat, the sliding seat being urged rearwardly between an extended position and a retracted position when said units are mated together, the second contact module extending from said rear end wall through said third bladder member and seat and into said second bladder member.

18. The connector as claimed in claim 17, including a return device on said plug unit for engaging said sliding seat when the units are mated together, the return device comprising means for moving said sliding seat and second bladder member back to the extended position when said units are unmated.

19. The connector as claimed in claim 17, including a biasing spring within said third bladder member extending between said rear end wall and sliding seat for biasing said sliding seat towards said extended position.

20. The connector as claimed in claim 15, wherein the electrical contacts on one of said modules comprise at least two electrical sockets, and the electrical contacts on the other module comprise at least two conductive probes for engagement in said sockets when the units are mated together, the electrical contacts being provided on one side of the respective forward end of the modules.

21. The connector as claimed in claim 20, wherein the module having said electrical sockets has at least two sealable openings in said front end, an annular seal member mounted in each sealable opening and each electrical socket being aligned and in communication with said seal member and spaced rearwardly from said seal member, a resiliently biased stopper of non-conductive material movably disposed and sealably engaged within the annular seal member when the units are not mated, each conductive probe being adapted for insertion through the respective annular seal member to urge the stopper rearwardly and engage in the electrical socket when the units are mated together.

22. The connector as claimed in claim 20, including an optical ribbon connector having a first contact ferrule mounted at the front end of the first module and a second contact ferrule mounted at the front end of the second module, the ferrules being mounted on the opposite side to said electrical sockets and probes, respectively, a first optical fiber ribbon extending from the first contact ferrule through said first module and a second optical fiber ribbon extending from said second contact ferrule through said second module, the fiber ribbons being unrestrained in said respective oil-filled chambers along at least part of their length.

23. The connector as claimed in claim 16, including a hollow stand-off member of rigid material extending in said first chamber from said rear end wall to said forward end portion for resisting collapse of said first bladder member when said units are mated together.

24. The connector as claimed in claim 23, wherein said stand-off member has a plurality of axially extending slots for oil communication in said chamber between the inside and outside of said stand-off member.

25. The connector as claimed in claim 24, wherein said stand-off member has an inner surface and an outer surface, and each slot has a cross-sectional width which decreases between the inner surface and outer surface of said stand-off member.

26. An underwater connector, comprising:

a plug unit having a forward end, a rear end, and a hollow body;

a first member mounted in the hollow body and forming an internal chamber, the member having a resilient forward end portion having an opening communicating with the internal chamber, at least one contact member mounted in the chamber in alignment with the opening;

a receptacle unit having a hollow body, a forward end, and a rear end and adapted for mating engagement with the plug unit;

a second member mounted in the hollow body of the receptacle unit and having an internal chamber and a resilient forward end portion having an opening communicating with the internal chamber, and at least one contact member in the chamber in alignment with the opening;

the resilient forward end portions of the members having forward end faces in face-to-face sealing engagement when the units are mated together;

the plug and receptacle units each having an actuator acting in a first, seal closing direction compressing the resilient end portion of the respective member to close and seal the respective opening when the units are unmated, and for permitting opening of the respective openings when the plug and receptacle units are mated together with the end faces in sealing engagement, whereby at least one of the contact members can pass through the aligned openings in the resilient end portions of the members to engage the other contact member; and

the openings in the resilient end portions each having an aperture of non-circular shape in the respective forward end face, the aperture being of predetermined shape comprising means for reducing internal stress in the resilient end portion when the opening is sealed shut.