Flight disconnect connector

• US 6,371,777 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (Dyno Nobel Holding ASA)
• Original Assignee: NEA Electronics, Inc. (Dyno Nobel Holding ASA)
• Inventors: Rudoy, Edward, Vega, Edwin E., McCormick, Larry Leroy, Courtney, Craig W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US09/502,177
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 439/155, 439/923, 439/680, 439/247, 439/248, 439/152
• US Class Current: 439/155
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/635 by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/923 Separation or disconnection aid

Abstract

A quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device (10) comprises a pin section (14) having a socket receptacle (40) and a socket section (16). A mounting flange (18) is mounted about the socket receptacle and is coupled to a supporting structure (26) on the socket section. A force member configured as a ring (32) surrounds the pin engageable end of socket receptacle (40) and is adapted to abut the pin section. An adjustable spring (28) on the socket receptacle urges force member (32) against pin section (14), and is located adjacent to one side of flange (18) for reducing the force required to separate the pin and socket sections from one another and thereby for aiding separation therebetween.

Claims

1. A quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device for transmitting a plurality of electrical signals between a first station having a first signal source and a second station having a second signal source, said connector device comprising:

a pin section electrically connectable to said first signal source and having;

a pin shaft having a socket engageable end and a first station end, said first station end being connectable to said first station;

a plurality of pins, located within said pin shaft, said pins being accessible from said socket engageable end and electrically connectable to said first signal source;

a socket section electrically connectable to said second signal source and having;

a socket shaft having a pin engageable end and a second station end, said second station end being connectable to said second station;

a plurality of sockets, located within said socket shaft, said sockets being accessible from said pin engageable end and electrically connectable to said second signal source, and said sockets being configured to enable reception of said pins in an electrically conductive relationship;

a force member surrounding the pin engageable end of the socket shaft for applying ejection force against the pin section; and

an adjustable spring on said socket shaft urging said force member against said pin section;

wherein, when said pin section is urged against said socket section with force sufficient to overcome said adjustable spring, the pins are inserted to the sockets completing the electrical connection therebetween, and the force needed to separate the pin section from the socket section is reduced by the force of said adjustable spring bearing against said pin section.

2. A quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device for transmitting a plurality of electrical signals between a first station having a first signal source and a second station having a second signal source, said connector device comprising:

a pin section electrically connectable to said first signal source and having;

a pin shaft having a socket engageable end and a first station end, said first station end being connectable to said first station;

a plurality of pins, located within said pin shaft, said pins being accessible from said socket engageable end and electrically connectable to said first signal source;

a socket section electrically connectable to said second signal source and having;

a socket shaft having a pin engageable end and a second station end, said second station end being connectable to said second station;

a plurality of sockets, located within said socket shaft, said sockets being accessible from said pin engageable end and electrically connectable to said second signal source, and said sockets being configured to enable reception of said pins in an electrically conductive relationship;

a force member surrounding the pin engageable end of the socket shaft for applying ejection force against the pin section; and

an adjustable spring on said socket shaft urging said force member against said pin section, said adjustable spring comprising a compression spring bearing against said force member at one end;

an adjustment means at the other end of said adjustable spring for varying the force exerted by said adjustment spring against said force member;

wherein, when said pin section is urged against said socket section with force sufficient to overcome said adjustable spring, the pins are inserted to the sockets completing the electrical connection therebetween, and the force needed to separate the pin section from the socket section is reduced by the force of said adjustable spring bearing against said pin section.

3. The quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device of claim 2 wherein said socket shaft further comprises a threaded portion and said adjustment means comprises a threaded nut, wherein said adjustment means engages said threaded portion of said socket shaft and said adjustable spring may be adjusted by rotating said adjustment means about said socket shaft.

4. A quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device for transmitting a plurality of electrical signals between a first station having a first signal source and a second station having a second signal source, said connector device comprising:

a pin section electrically connectable to said first signal source and having;

a pin shaft having a socket engageable end and a first station end, said first station end being connectable to said first station;

a plurality of pins, located within said pin shaft, said pins being accessible from said socket engageable end and electrically connectable to said first signal source;

a socket section electrically connectable to said second signal source and having;

a socket shaft having a pin engageable end and a second station end, said second station end being connectable to said second station;

a plurality of sockets, located within said socket shaft, said sockets being accessible from said pin engageable end and electrically connected to said second signal source, and said sockets being configured to enable reception of said pins in an electrically conductive relationship;

a mounting flange disposed about said socket shaft and coupled to a supporting structure;

a force member surrounding said pin engageable end of said socket shaft for abutting said pin section;

an adjustable spring on said socket shaft urging said force member against said pin section, said adjustable spring being located adjacent to one side of said flange for reducing the force required to separate said pin and socket sections from one another and thereby for aiding separation therebetween; and

said pin shaft further comprises at least one raised key and said socket shaft further comprises at least one chamfer for receiving said at least one raised key, to prevent misalignment of said socket section with said pin section.

11. The quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device of claim 4 wherein said at least one raised key comprises at least two raised keys and said at least one chamfer comprises at least two chamfers corresponding to said at least two raised keys.

5. A quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device for transmitting a plurality of electrical signals between a first station having a first signal source and a second station having a second signal source, said connector device comprising:

a pin section electrically connected to said first signal source and having;

a pin shaft having a socket engageable end and a first station end, said first station end connectable to said first station;

a plurality of pins, located within said pin shaft, said pins being accessible from said socket engageable end and electrically connectable to said first signal source;

a socket section electrically connectable to said second signal source and having;

a socket shaft having a pin engageable end and a second station end, said second station end being connectable to said second station;

a plurality of sockets, located within said socket shaft, said sockets being accessible from said pin engageable end and electrically connectable to said second signal source, and said sockets being configured to enable reception of said pins in an electrically conductive relationship;

a mounting flange disposed about said socket shaft and coupled to a supporting structure;

a force member surrounding said pin engageable end of said socket shaft for abutting said pin section;

an adjustable spring on said socket shaft urging said force member against said pin section, said adjustable spring being located adjacent to one side of said flange for reducing the force required to separate said pin and socket sections from one another and thereby for aiding separation therebetween; and

said socket shaft further comprises at least one raised key and said pin shaft further comprises at least one chamfer for receiving said at least one raised key, to prevent misalignment of said socket section with said pin section.

6. The quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device of claim 5 wherein said at least one raised key comprises at least two raised keys and said at least one chamfer comprises at least two chamfers corresponding to said at least two raised keys.

7. A quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device for transmitting a plurality of electrical signals between a first station having a first signal source and a second station having a second signal source, said connector device comprising:

a pin section electrically connected to said first signal source and having;

a pin shaft having a socket engageable end and a first station end, said first station end connectable to said first station;

a plurality of pins, located within said pin shaft, said pins being accessible from said socket engageable end and electrically connectable to said first signal source;

a socket section electrically connectable to said second signal source and having;

a socket shaft having a pin engageable end and a second station end, said second station end being connectable to said second station;

a plurality of sockets, located within said socket shaft, said sockets being accessible from said pin engageable end and electrically connectable to said second signal source, and said sockets being configured to enable reception of said pins in an electrically conductive relationship;

a mounting flange disposed about said socket shaft and coupled to a supporting structure;

a force member surrounding the pin engageable end of the socket shaft for abutting the pin section;

an adjustable spring on said socket shaft urging said force member against said pin section, said adjustable spring being located adjacent to the pin side of said flange for aiding separation between said pin and socket sections; and

said socket shaft further comprises at least two raised keys and said pin shaft further comprises at least two chamfers which correspond to and are disposed to receive said at least two raised keys, to prevent misalignment of said socket section with said pin section, wherein one of said raised keys is differently sized from the remaining raised keys, one of said chamfers is differently sized from the remaining chamfers, and said differently sized chamfer is configured to enable reception of said differently sized raised key.

8. A quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device for transmitting a plurality of electrical signals between a first station having a first signal source and a second station having a second signal source, said connector device comprising:

a pin section electrically connected to said first signal source and having;

a pin shaft having a socket engageable end and a first station engageable end, said first station engageable end being connectable to said first station;

a plurality of pins, located within said pin shaft, said pins being accessible from said socket engageable end and electrically connectable to said first signal source;

a socket section electrically connected to said second signal source and having;

a socket shaft having a pin engageable end and a second station engageable end, said second station engageable end being connectable to said second station; and

a plurality of sockets, located within said socket shaft, said sockets being accessible from said pin engageable end and electrically connectable to said second signal source, and said sockets being configured to enable reception of said pins in an electrically conductive relationship;

said socket section further comprising;

a mounting flange defining an aperture surrounding the socket shaft and having a means for mounting said mounting flange to said second station, said socket shaft passing though said aperture; and

an alignment spring located on said socket shaft and bearing against said mounting flange;

wherein the aperture is larger than the socket shaft to allow movement of the support shaft as restrained by the alignment spring.

9. The quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device of claim 8 wherein the mounting flange has two sides, a pin side and a second station side, with the socket shaft passing through the flange and extending out from both sides, and the alignment spring being located adjacent to the pin side of the mounting flange, said socket section further comprising:

a force member surrounding the pin engageable end of the socket shaft for abutting the pin section; and

an adjustable spring on said socket shaft urging the force member against said pin section, the adjustable spring being located adjacent to the pin side of the flange;

wherein the adjustable spring and the alignment spring are coaxial.

10. The quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device of claim 8 wherein the mounting flange has two sides, a pin side and a second station side, with the socket shaft passing through the flange and extending out from both sides, and the alignment spring being located adjacent to the second station side of the mounting flange, said socket section further comprising:

a force member surrounding the pin engageable end of the socket shaft for abutting the pin section; and

an adjustable spring on said socket shaft urging the force member against said pin section, the adjustable spring being located adjacent to the pin side of the flange;

wherein the adjustable spring and the alignment spring are coaxial.

12. A quickly separable and disconnectable electrical connector device comprising:

a pin section including a plurality of pin contacts located within a pin receptacle having a socket engageable end;

a socket section including a plurality of socket contacts located within a socket receptacle and configured to enable reception of said pin contacts in an electrically conductive relationship therebetween;

a mounting flange mounted about said socket receptacle and coupled to a supporting structure;

a force member surrounding said pin engageable end of said socket receptacle and adapted to abut said pin section;

an adjustable spring on said socket receptacle urging said force member against said pin section, said adjustable spring being located adjacent to one side of said flange for reducing the force required to separate said pin and socket sections from one another and thereby for aiding separation therebetween.