Sealed eurytopic make-break connector utilizing a conductive elastomer contact
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrical connection, comprising:
- a. first and second electrical connectors (10a, 10b) adapted to engage each other to form an electrical connection;
b. an electrical wire (16a, 16b) connected to each connector (10a, 10b);
c. said first and second connectors (10a, 10b) each comprising a contact (12a, 12b) formed of a conductive elastomeric material with conductive particles dispersed in the material, said conductive elastomeric material being shaped to deform when compressed;
d. wherein when the first and second connectors (10a, 10b) engage each other said contacts (12a, 12b) will deform to cause electrically conductive particles in said elastomeric material to form an enhanced electrically conductive path through the elastomeric material; and
e. wherein said deformation of the contacts (12a, 12b) effectively removes moisture from between the contacts (12a, 12b).
22 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connection with first and second electrical connectors are adapted to engage each other to form an electrical connection. An electrical wire is connected to each connector. At least one of the connectors has a contact formed of a conductive elastomeric material with conductive particles dispersed in the material, which is shaped to deform when compressed. When the first and second connector elements engage each other contact(s) formed of the elastomeric material will deform to cause electrically conductive particles in the elastomeric material to form an enhanced electrically conductive path through the elastomeric material.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. An electrical connection, comprising:
-
a. first and second electrical connectors (10a, 10b) adapted to engage each other to form an electrical connection; b. an electrical wire (16a, 16b) connected to each connector (10a, 10b); c. said first and second connectors (10a, 10b) each comprising a contact (12a, 12b) formed of a conductive elastomeric material with conductive particles dispersed in the material, said conductive elastomeric material being shaped to deform when compressed; d. wherein when the first and second connectors (10a, 10b) engage each other said contacts (12a, 12b) will deform to cause electrically conductive particles in said elastomeric material to form an enhanced electrically conductive path through the elastomeric material; and e. wherein said deformation of the contacts (12a, 12b) effectively removes moisture from between the contacts (12a, 12b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An underwater electrical connection comprising,
first and second electrical connectors (10a, 10b) submerged in water and adapted to engage each other; - said first and second electrical connectors (10a, 10b) each having a shape designed to cooperatively remove moisture from between said electrical connectors (10a, 10b) during engagement;
a first contact (12a) of said first electrical connector (10a) and a second contact (12b) of said second electrical connector (10b), said first and second contacts (12a, 12b) each having an outer surface adapted to engage each other to form a conductive path, said outer surfaces having a shape designed to cooperatively remove moisture from between said contacts (12a, 12b) during engagement; a conductive elastomeric material forming at least one of the contacts (12a, 12b), said conductive elastomeric material having conductive particles dispersed therein and being deformable when compressed such that an enhanced conductive path is formed through the conductive elastomeric material; and an electrical wire (16a, 16b) connected to each of the first and second electrical connectors (10a, 10b). - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- said first and second electrical connectors (10a, 10b) each having a shape designed to cooperatively remove moisture from between said electrical connectors (10a, 10b) during engagement;
-
21. A method of forming an electrical connection in an underwater location comprising the steps of:
-
submerging first and second electrical connectors (10a, 10b) in water with at least one of said first and second electrical connectors (10a, 10b) having a contact (12a, 12b) formed of a conductive elastomeric material with conductive particles dispersed in the material, said conductive elastomeric material having a shape to deform when compressed such that an enhanced conductive path is formed through the conductive elastomeric material and moisture is removed from between the contacts (12a, 12b) of said first and second electrical connectors (10a, 10b); arranging said first and second electrical connectors (10a, 10b) to engage each other to form an electrical connection with an electrical wire (16a, 16b) connected to each connector (10a, 10b); and engaging said first and second electrical conductors (10a, 10b) whereby at least one of the contacts (12a, 12b) is deformed to remove moisture from between contacting surfaces of said engaging connectors (10a, 10b) and to form said electrical connection. - View Dependent Claims (22)
-
-
23. An underwater wellhead (30) comprising:
-
a tubing hanger (43) having a first electrical wire (48) disposed therein, said first electrical wire (48) connected to a first electrical connector (10a); a conductor housing (34) having a second electrical wire (50) disposed therein, said second electrical wire (50) connected to a second electrical connector (10b);
said conductor housing (34) arranged and designed to engage with said tubing hanger (43) such that said first and second electrical connectors (10a, 10b) engage each other;a first contact (12a) of said first electrical connector (10a) in electrical contact with said first electrical wire (48) and a second contact (12b) of said second electrical connector (10b) in electrical contact with said second electrical wire (50), said first and second contacts (12a, 12b) each having an outer surface adapted to engage each other to form a conductive path, said outer surfaces having a shape designed to cooperatively remove moisture from between said contacts during engagement; and a conductive elastomeric material forming at least one of the contacts (12a, 12b), said conductive elastomeric material having conductive particles dispersed therein and being deformable when compressed such that an enhanced conductive path is formed through the conductive elastomeric material. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
Specification