Apparatus having a connector with isolated conductive paths

• US 9,705,235 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GREENE, TWEED OF DELAWARE, INC., Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Hensarling, Jesse Kevin, Beste, Randal Thomas, Burke, Charles Pence, Finke, Michael Dewayne, Spence, James Neal
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Thiem
• Application Number:
  US14/308,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20140302721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 29883, 29876, 29879, 29882, 29747, 29 33 M, 29754, 29757, 285342, 285348, 439190, 439194, 439271, 439448, 439506, 439578, 439581, 43960741, 439700
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/516 Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing , hoods
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/52 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5221 having cable sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/16 for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49123 Co-axial cable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49213 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49218 with deforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4922 with molding of insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5193 Electrical connector or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53209 Terminal or connector

Abstract

An apparatus includes a pair of connectors and two or more conductive paths formed in each connector in the pair of connectors. The pair of connectors includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector is substantially more flexible than the second connector, and each connector in the pair of connectors includes a bulkhead. Each of the two or more conductive paths in each connector in the pair of connectors is electrically isolated from all other conductive elements in the respective connector. A shroud may be located between the bulkheads and disposed about the pair of connectors when the pair of connectors are coupled together electrically.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first connector and a second connector, each of the first connector and the second connector including a bulkhead, the first connector being substantially more flexible than the second connector based, at least in part, on the first connector having a conductive flexible member; and

two or more conductive paths formed in each of the first connector and the second connector arranged to transmit an electrical signal through the first connector and the second connector, each of the two or more conductive paths in each of the first connector and the second connector being electrically isolated from all other conductive elements in the respective connector;

wherein the two or more conductive paths of the first connector include the conductive flexible member to transmit the electrical signal, at least one of the two or more conductive paths of the first connector including a substantially flexible member, different from the conductive flexible member, located between two substantially rigid members;

wherein the conductive flexible member is substantially surrounded by a flexible, insulative material, the flexible, insulative material is substantially surrounded by the substantially flexible member, and the substantially flexible member is surrounded by a flexible sleeve.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a shroud located between the bulkheads of the first and second connectors and disposed about the first and second connectors when the first and second connectors are coupled together electrically.

3. An apparatus comprising:

a first connector and a second connector, each of the first connector and the second connector including a bulkhead, the first connector being substantially more flexible than the second connector based, at least in part, on the first connector having a conductive flexible member;

two or more conductive paths formed in each of the first connector and the second connector arranged to transmit an electrical signal through the first connector and the second connector, each of the two or more conductive paths in each of the first connector and the second connector being electrically isolated from all other conductive elements in the respective connector, wherein the two or more conductive paths of the first connector include the conductive flexible member to transmit the electrical signal, at least one of the two or more conductive paths of the first connector including a substantially flexible member located between two substantially rigid members, wherein the substantially flexible member located between the two substantially rigid members includes a braided conductive element.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first connector includes a flexible sleeve disposed along the braided conductive element and encompassing the braided conductive element.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the flexible sleeve encompasses at least a portion of the first connector that houses the substantially flexible member located between two substantially rigid members.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a first connector and a second connector, each of the first connector and the second connector including a bulkhead, the first connector being substantially more flexible than the second connector based, at least in part, on the first connector having a conductive flexible member;

two or more conductive paths formed in each of the first connector and the second connector arranged to transmit an electrical signal through the first connector and the second connector, each of the two or more conductive paths in each of the first connector and the second connector being electrically isolated from all other conductive elements in the respective connector, wherein the two or more conductive paths of the first connector include the conductive flexible member to transmit the electrical signal, at least one of the two or more conductive paths of the first connector including a substantially flexible member located between two substantially rigid members, wherein the substantially flexible member is soldered to the two substantially rigid members in a groove in the bulkhead of the first connector.