Electrical cable insert

• US 6,716,063 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PGS Exploration (UK) Ltd. (PGS ASA)
• Original Assignee: PGS Exploration (UK) Ltd. (PGS ASA)
• Inventors: Bryant, Michael John, George, Nick C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US09/514,423
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 439/274, 439/275, 439/587, 439/660, 439/662, 439/686, 439/701, 439/589, 439/598, 439/879, 439/891
• US Class Current: 439/589
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5208 having at least two cable receiving openings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/523 for use under water
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

There is provided an electric cable insert for removably electrically connecting a cable having multiple conductors to a mating receptacle wherein the number and configuration of the cable conductors may be different from those of the sockets of the mating receptacle. The insert includes a housing open on one end to an internal cavity and having a plurality of orifices in the other end. The cable conductors connect to one side of a circuit card within the housing which conductively transitions from the number and configuration of the cable conductors to the number and configuration of the sockets of the mating receptacle. Receptacle pins extend from the opposite side of the circuit card through respective orifices in the housing for connecting to respective sockets in the mating receptacle. A compressed sealing gland disposed within the housing adjacent the circuit card provides the insert with an energized compression seal from the environment. A driver closes the end of the housing and maintains compression in the sealing gland. The cable conductors pass through respective bores in the sealing gland and in the driver.

Claims

1. An electric cable insert for removably electrically connecting a cable having multiple conductors to a mating receptacle having a plurality of projecting mating pins, the insert comprising:

a housing having an internal cavity therein;

a plurality of receiving sockets for receiving projecting mating pins on the mating receptacle, said receiving sockets including projecting socket pins thereon for connection to the respective cable conductors;

a sealing gland fitted within said cavity and having a plurality of bores therethrough, each of the cable conductors passing through a respective one of the bores in the sealing gland;

means for electrically connecting the cable conductors to the respective receiving sockets;

a contact header disposed within the housing for maintaining a spaced relationship between the receiving sockets, each of the receiving sockets passing through the contact header;

a driver secured to the housing for compressing the sealing gland against said contact header within the housing cavity so as to seal the insert from the environment; and

wherein the sealing gland includes nipples on its surface surrounding the openings to each of the bores therethrough, and wherein the contact header and the drivers each have corresponding counterbores in their surfaces for receiving respective nipples on the sealing gland for improved sealing of the insert when the sealing gland is compressed.

2. The insert of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a side wall, the driver having a surface including a retaining groove therein, and wherein the driver is secured to the housing by a crimp in the side wall of the housing pressed into the retaining groove in the drive surface.

3. The insert of claim 1, wherein the housing has an end with a plurality of orifice therethrough for receiving respective projecting mating pins on the mating receptacle for insertion within the respective receiving sockets of the insert.

4. The insert of claim 1, wherein the means for electrically connecting the cable conductors to the respective receiving sockets comprises crimp/socket contacts having a contact socket on one end for sliding onto a receiving socket pin and a deformable portion on the opposite end for crimping to an end of the respective cable conductor.

5. The insert of claim 1, wherein the receiving sockets include threads engaging the contact header for securing the receiving sockets to the contact header.

6. An electrical cable insert for connecting a first plurality of electrical conductors included in a first cable to a respective second plurality of conductors included in a second cable, comprising:

a housing;

a sealing gland within said housing having a plurality of bores extending therethrough, each of the plurality of bores adapted for receiving a respective one of the first plurality of electrical conductors;

a plurality of pin and socket pairs within said housing for providing an electrical connection location between respective ones of said first plurality of conductors and respective ones of said second plurality of conductors;

a contact header disposed within the housing for maintaining a spaced relationship between said pin and socket pairs, each of the sockets of said pin and socket pairs passing through the contact header;

a driver secured to the housing for compressing said gland against said contact header to develop a sealing barrier around each of said first plurality of conductors and a sealing barrier around each said electrical connection location; and

wherein the sealing gland includes nipples on its surface surrounding the openings to each of the bores therethrough, and wherein the contact header and the driver each have corresponding counterbores in their surfaces for receiving respective nipples on the sealing gland for improved sealing of the insert when the sealing gland is compressed.