IL34372A

IL34372A - An electrical connector

Info

Publication number: IL34372A
Application number: IL34372A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Bunker Ramo
Priority date: 1969-05-19
Filing date: 1970-04-23
Publication date: 1972-10-29
Also published as: ZA702818B; BE750596A; FR2047835A1; GB1304364A; US3665371A; AT307546B; ES379756A1; IL34372A0; DE2024369A1; SE378487B; CH511525A; NL7007223A; JPS508193B1

Description

» o©ti na na SS *» S3 ·* C5 sa SEE ·» ' -Ci ** S3 sc «* s ts C3 «■» An electrical connector THE BTJMER-IIAIO CORPORATIOH C: -32642 This invention relates to an improved connector which is adapted to be united with and locked to a mating connector.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector having a retaining outer sleev member adapted to engage a mating connector to secure both connectors together, the sleeve member surrounding and being movable relative to an inner member, and each of the two members having associated therewith two spaced abutments, the sleeve member having at least a portion of resilient plastics material carrying the two abutments of the sleeve member such that during assembly the retaining sleeve member can be pushed over the inner member, the plastics portio yielding radially outwardly to permit the two abutments of one of the members to snap into position between the two abutments on the other member whereby the sleeve member is rendered captive to the inner member, the two abutments which sna into the trapped position being formed by the opposite faces of a washer which is carried by the inner membe and the two abutments of the sleeve member being the opposite faces of an internal circumferential groove provided in the plastics portion to accommodate the peripheral part of the washer* According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical connector having a retaining outer sleeve member adapted to engage a mating connector to secure both connectors together, the sleeve member surrounding and being movable relative to an inner member, and each of the two members having associated therewith two spaced abutments, the sleeve member having at least a portion of resilient plastics material carrying th© two abutments of the sleeve member such that during assembly the retaining sleeve member can be pushed over the inner member, the two abutments on the other member whereby the sleeve member is rendered captive to the inner member, the captive sleeve member being arranged to be able to execute limited axial movement relative thereto, and biasing means being provided to urge the sleeve member along the inner member towards a position for securing the connector to a mating connector. The retaining sleeve can be one half of a screw-type coupling, but preferably is one half of a bayonet-type coupling, the other half of the coupling being carried by the mat g!; connector. In a preferred embodiment the two abutments which snap into the trapped position are formed by the opposite faces of a washer which embraces and is retained by the inner member, the two abutments of the sleeve member being the opposite faces of an internal circumferential groove provided in the plastics portion to accommodate the peripheral part of the washer. The sleeve member may be arranged so as to be capable of axial movement relative to the inner member. In the preferred embodiment this can be achieved for example by making the washer slidable over the inner sleeve between fixed, spaced abutment surfaces or shoulders which govern the distance through which the washer can move, and hence govern the permitted movement of the sleeve member.

In another embodiment, the plastics portion has an integrally-formed, inwardly-directed lip and the two abutments of the sleeve member are constituted by the opposite, inner and outer surfaces of the lip, the 'abutments on the inner member being a pair of opposed shoulders on its external surface and between which the lip is accommodated and trapped. In this embodiment the sleeve member can be made axially movable relative to the inner member, by making the · distance between the shoulders, which form fixed abutment surfaces, greater than the effective thickness of. the inwardly-directed lip.

In either embodiment, where the sleeve member is axially movable and is one half of a bayonet-type coupling for instance, biasing means may be provided to urge the sleeve member in one, locking direction. The biasing means can be one or more spring or Bellville washers or coil springs which surround the inner sleeve.

The biasing means and fixed abutments or shoulders are smaller than the openin at one end of over them when assembling the retaining sleeve on the inner sleeve. In the preferred embodiment however, the movable washer is larger than the opening, and it is therefore necessary to force the retaining ■ sleeve over the movable washer. The resilient portion of plastics material is capable of deforming when it is forced over the movable washer, and when the circumferential groove formed in its inner surface is aligned with the movable washer, the resilient plastics portion snaps to its original • shape and size and so embraces the movable washer. A lead is advantageously provided to assist in causing the resilient plastics portion to yield as it is forced over the washer.

It will be appreciated that in either embodiment, manufacture and assembly of the connector is facilitated, it being necessary only to push the retaining sleeve over the inner member and the until the washer snaps into engagement in its receiving groove or until the inwardly-directed lips snap into engagement between the shoulders provided on the inner member. Hitherto, retaining sleeves were metallic, and after positioning them on their corresponding inner members and biasing means, a further operation was necessary, namely to spin or otherwise deform the metallic retaining sleeve to provide an inwardly-directed lip upon which the biasing means could act.

The resilient plastics portion could be an ously, the retaining sleeve is m de' of a one piece, self-coloured plastics moulding. It will be appreciated that identif cation by means of a coloured sleeve is particularly advantageous where connections between numerous cables have to be made.

The invention will now be described in more detail5 by way of example, with .reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrical connector incorporating one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a portion cross-sectional view of another electrical connector incorporating a second embodiment of the invention.

The electrical connector 10 shown in Figure 1 of the drawings is for connecting one coaxial cable 11 to another through a co-operating, mating connector (not shown). The connector 10 has .an inner member in the form of a tubular inner sleeve 12 , made of metal such as aluminium, within which is housed an insulating plastics insert 13 , made for example from P.T.F.E. A contact pin is disposed axially within the insert 13 and is bored to receive the inner conductor 5 of the coaxial cable 11 . The insert is bored to. receive the contact pin 14 and is counter-bored at 16 to accommodate the inner insulation 7 of the cable 11 . Dimples 18 secure the insert 13 within the inner sleeve 12. The contact pin 1 is accessible to the co-operating contact of a mating A moulded, thermo-plastics outer retaining sleeve member 20 surrounds the inner sleeve 12, is rotatcible therearound and is siidable therealong.

The retaining sleeve 20 forms one half of a bayonet-type coupling. The other half of the coupling is mounted upon the co-operating, mating connector.

Spring-biassing means in the form of a plurality of spring washers 21 are seated on the inner sleeve 12 and urge the retaining sleeve 20 to the left, as shown in the drawing. The spring washers 21 are disposed between an. axially movable washer 22 and 23 one/of a pair of fixed abutments The opposite faces of the washer 22 form the two abutments held by the inner sleeve and the washer 22 is seated in a groove 24 provided in the inner surface of the retaining sleeve 20 and moves therewith during sliding movement of the retaining sleeve. The opposite faces of the groove form the two abutments of the retaining sleeve. The fixed abutment 23 is in the form of a pair of split, half washers and is held stationary with respect to the inner sleeve 12 by its location in a groove 25 therein. A rubber packing 26 is positioned between the fixed abutment 23 and a shoulder 27 of the retaining sleeve 20.

Movement of the retaining sleeve 20 towards the left under the action of the .spring washers 21 is limited by the contact of the movable washer 22 and a shoulder 28 on the inner sleeve 12, the shoulder 28 forming the other of the said pair of fixed abutments. abutments 23 and 28 being a greater' distance apart than the thickness of the washer, but it will be appreciated that movement in one direction is resisted by the spring washers.21.

A nose portion 30 of the retaining sleeve 20 is spaced apart from the inner sleeve 12, to accommodate a tubular portion of a co-operating mating connector. The nose portion 30 is grooved and helically slotted at and 33 to provide channels forming part of the bayonet coupling, in which lugs carried by the tubular portion of the co-operating connector are received.

When coupling the electrical connector to a mating connector, the tubular portion of the latter is pushed into the annular space between the inner and retaining sleeves 12 and 20, with the lugs carried by the tubular portion entering the grooves 32. Twisting movement of the retaining sleeve ^ effects the bayonet coupling action, by moving the helical slots 33 relative to the lugs. Due to the helical configuration of the slots 33> upon twisting, simultaneous axial movement of the retaining sleeve 20 to the right occurs, which movement is resisted by the spring washers 21. The two connectors become locked together in known manner when the said lugs are accommodated in an enlarged portion at the inner end of the helical slots 32. When the lugs are positioned in the enlarged portion, the retaining sleeve 20 is moved back towards its extreme left- twisting, the retaining sleeve 20 is provided with ribs on its external surface, When assembling the connector the retaining sleeve 20 is pushed. over the inner sleeve from the right. As will be seen from the drawing, the diameter of the opening extending through the retaining sleeve 20 is larger than that of the inner sleeve 12, the spring washers 21 and the fixed abutment or half washers 2J. The diameter of the movable washer is however greater than the diameter of the opening. In order for the washer 22 to be accomodated within> the groove 24, it is therefore necessary to force the retaining sleeve 20 into place, causing deformation thereof. This deformation is made possible owing to the resilient nature of the plastics material from which the retaining sleeve 20 is made. The mouth 5^· of the opening in the retaining sleeve 20 is made frusto-conical providing a lead of assistance only when forcing the retaining sleeve 20 into position, that is when moving the sleeve in the direction which brings the groove 2 towards the washer 22. A "snap" interfitting of the washer 22 and its accommodating groove 2 results. By arranging that the diameter of the washer 22 somewhat exceeds the diameter of the groove 24, the retaining sleeve 20 embraces and securely grips the washer 22 about its periphery.

The metallic inner sleeve 12 provides electrical continuity between the screening braid 40 of the rr.at.ing connector and the screening braid of a length of coaxial cable connected thereto. The nose portion 41 of the inner sleeve 12 is oversize to ensure that it fits snugly within a mating connecter and establishes electrical continuity therewith. Longitudinal slots (not shown) permit inward flexing of the nose portion 41 when coupling to a mating connector.

Contact between the screening braid 40 and the inner sleeve 12 is achieved by known means. The means include a conducting externally frusto-conical member 45 which co-operates with a .tapering bore 44 in the inner sleeve to grip an exposed end of the braid therebetween. The member 45 is urged towards the tapering bore 44 by means of a screw-threaded plug 45 through which the cable 11 passes. The -plug 45 - §-engages threads in an entry portion 48 of the inner sleeve 12. As the plug is screwed in, its movement is transmitted to the member 45 through a washer 46 and an elastomeric gasket 47. The plug 5 a has a hexagonal end configuration and the entry portion 48 has flats in its outer surface so that . 45 spanners may be used to tighten the lu -A^" and urge the member 45 and braid 40 against the tapering bore 44.

Whilst a coaxial connector having the improved plastics locking and retaining sleeve arrangement has been described, it will be appreciated that non-coaxial or multi-pin connectors may likewise incor example is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

The connector 50 is a multi-pin type of which only one pin is shown in the partial sectional view of Figure 2. The connector 50 has an inner member or sleeve 1 within which, there is an insulating insert 52, The insert is apertured, as at 53 to receive a pin contact 5^-· An electric cable 55 is led to the pin contact 5i- through a grommet 56 » and the bared end of the cable is received in a bored rear portion 57 of the contact which is electrically continuous with the pin contact 5-l-« .The rear portion is accommodated in. and extends through a retention disc 58 and protrudes into the aperture 55 in the insert 50. The retention disc 58 is located within the inner sleeve 51 and has projecting fingers 59 which are shouldered at 60 to engage the pin contact 5^ and prevent axial displacement thereof when the connector 50 is united with a mating connector, not shown. The mating connector has tubular contacts 61 to co-operate with the pin contacts 4- of the connector 50. It will be appreciated that instead of the pin contacts 5l-» "the connector 50 might have sockets 61.

The connector 50 has a thermo-plastics outer retaining sleeve member 65 which is slotted or grooved at 66 to ,form one half of a oayonet-type coupling. The other half of the bayonet coupling is carried by the mating connector. The retaining sleeve 65 is arranged to be axially movable along sleeve ing slug 65 is provided at 67 , for example by v/avy-spring or Bellville washers. The spring washers 67 are located between a fixed abutment or ledge 68 on the outer surface of the inner sleeve 1 and a movable abutment washer 69. The fixed abutment 68 is shown as being formed integrally with the inner sleeve ? but it could be arranged in the manner described in relation to Figure Λ. The movable abutment 69 and the spring washers are formed by split or half-washers where the fixed abutment 68 is an integral ledge on the inner sleeve 51 · Alternatively however, the movable abutment 69 may be a split-ring device which is capable of being opened out and wound onto the inner member; a device similar to a key-ring would be satisfactory. Also, the biasing means 67 could be in the form of one or more coil springs, which likewise can be wound around the inner sleeve 51 · The spring biasing urges the movable abutment 69 to the left in Figure 2 and hence urges the retaining sleeve in this, the locking direction of movement by engagement of the movable abutment with an inwardly directed lip 71 located adjacent the mouth 72 of the retaining sleeve 65 · Movement of the movable abutment 69 to the left in Figure 2 is limited by a shoulder 70 on the inner sleeve and movement of the retaining sleeve 65 to the left is limited by another, second fixed abutment or obstructing w l v · In is pushed over the inner sleeve 51 from the left until the inwardly-directed lip 71 contacts the shoulder 73 · The retaining sleeve 65 is forced into place momentarily deforming it as the lip 72 is urged -outwardly while it rides up x;he frusto-con cal surface 74- of the shoulder · 75 a d then over the shoulder^ 7 · The frusto-conical surface 74-, co-operates with, the lip 7 and provides a lead of assistance in deforming the retaining sleeve 6 only while it is being pushed in the direction which moves the lip towards and into the space between the fixed abutments 68 t and 70..

Axial movement of the retaining sleeve 65 is permitted by arranging that the fixed abutments 75 and 68 are separated by a distance greater than the combined thickness of the inwardly directed lip 7 and the movable abutment 69 , but movement in one direction is resisted by the biasing means 67.

Although in the connector shovm in Figure 2 a movable abutment 69 is provided, this could be omitted so that the biasing means 67 would then bear directly against the lip · 34372/2 •

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An electrical connector having a retaining outer sleeve member adapted to e gage a mating connector to secure both connectors together, the sleeve member surrounding and being movable relative to an inner member, and each of the tv/o members having associated therewith two spaced abutments, the sleeve member · having at least a portion of resilient plastics material carrying the two abutments of the sleeve member such that during p.ssembly the retaining sleeve member can be pushed over the inner member, the plastics portion yielding radially outwardly to permit the two abutments of one of the members to snap into position between the tv/o abutments on the other member whereby the sleeve member is rendered captive to the inner member, the two abutments which snap into the trapped position being formed by the opposite faces of a 'washer which is carried by the inner member and the' two abutments of the sleeve member being the opposite faces of an internal circumferential groove provided in the plastics portion to accommodate the peripheral part of the washer.
2. An electrical connector having a retaining outer sleeve member adapted to engage a mating connector to secure both connectors together, the sleeve member surrounding and being movable relative to an iniier member, and each of the two members having associated therewith two spaced abutments, the sleeve member having at least a portion of resilient plastics material carrying the two abutments of the sleeve member such that during assembly the retaining sleeve member can be- pushed over the inner member, the ρΐώ.^ΐΐοε portion yielding radially outwardly to permit the two abutments of one of the members to snap into position between the two abutments on the other member whereby the sleeve t. r 34372/2 member is rendered- captive to the inner member, the captive sleeve member being arranged to be able to execute limited axial movement relative thereto, e.nd biasing means being provided to urge the sleeve member along the inner member towards a position for securing the connector to a mating connector. A connector accoi-ding 'o claim 2, wherein the two abutments which snap into the trapped position are formed by the opposite faces, of a washer which is carried by the inner member, ■'·. the two abutments of the sleeve member being the opposite faces of an internal circumferential groove provided in the plastics portion to accommodate the p ripheral part of the washer.. h. A connector according to claim 1 or 3» wherein the v/asher is movable in the direction of the axis of the connector between fixed abutment surfaces which are spaced further apart than the thickness of the washer to permit the limited axial movement. 5. A connector according to claim 1, 3 or , v/herein a lead is provided to assist yield of the plastics portion during assembly, the lead being arranged to be of assistance only while the sleeve member is pushed over the inner member in the direction which moves the washer towards and into the trapped position, the lead consisting of an outwardly-flared mouth at one end of the plastics portion which is contacted by the periphery of the v/asher as the sleeve mem er is pushed over the inner member, the plasti6s portion being forced radially outwardly while the washer rides across the flared surface of z e mouth. 6. A connector according to claim 2, wherein th*» plastics portion has an integrally-formed, inwai dly-directed lip and the two abutments J ( ft- 34372/2 surfaces of the lip, the abutments on the inner member being a pair of opposed shoulders on its external surface and betv/een which the lip is accommodated to render the sleeve member captive to the inner member.' 7. A connector according to claim 6, wherein the two shoulders form fixed abutment surfaces which are spaced further apart than the inner and outer surfaces of the lip to permit the limited axial movement-of the sleeve member. 8. A connector according to claim 6 or 7» wherein a lead is provided to assist yielding of the plastics portion, the lead being arranged to be of assistance only while the sleeve member is pushed over the inner member in the direction which moves the lip. towards and into the trapped position. 9. A connector according to claim 8, wherein the lead consists of a frusto-conical portion of the external surface of the inner member which is contacted by the lip as the sleeve member is pushed over the inner member, the plastics portion being forced radially outwardly while the lip rides across the frusto-conical portion. 10. A -connector according to claim h or 5i wherein one of the fixed abutment surfaces is a .pair of split washers held in a groove in the external surface of the inner sleeve, the biasing means being disposed between the split washers and the said movable washer; * 11. A connector according to claim 7t 8 or 9t wherein the biasing' means are located in the space between the fixed abutment surfaces and act between one of the 'fixed abutment surfaces and the said lip of the sleeve member. 34372/2 12. A connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the biasing means comprise one or more spring washers located arou d the inner member between the inner member and sleeve member. 13. A connector according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the biasing means comprises one or more split spring washers.' A connector according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the biasing means comprises one or more coil-type springs. 15. A connector according to any of the preceding claims, v/herein the sleeve member forms one half of a bayonet-type coupling. 16. A connector according to claim 15, wherein the sleeve member is helically grooved or slotted to co-operate with the other half of a bayonet-type coupling carried by a mating electrical connector. 17. A connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve member is a one-piece, plastics moulding. 18. A connector according to claim 17, wherein the one-piece plastics moulding is self-coloured. 1 . A connector according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner member is a sleeve which houses an insulating insert having one or more contacts therein for connection to an end of a cable, 20. A connector according to claim 19, having a single contact within the insert and wherein the inner sleeve is metallic, means being provided for making a connection between the sleeve and an outer conductor of a coaxial cable. 34372/2 21. An electrical connector constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Fijjure 1 of the accompanying drawings. ·' 22. An electrical connecter constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. For the pp :." IV. Dfi- REiNHOLO CQHM AND PARiNESS J&3