JPH09320680A - Oil-filled underwater cable connector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To maximize the use of an electrically insulating region for contact placement in a cross section of an oil-filled underwater cable connector, and to provide an oil flow passage extending from a cable connection rear end to a front end of the connector. The opening and closing valve mechanism has a large diameter,
In addition to increasing its mechanical strength, it aims to facilitate assembly and reduce manufacturing costs. SOLUTION: At least one oil flow passage extending from a rear end portion to which an oil-filled underwater cable is connected to a front end portion is formed on an inner peripheral surface portion of a body shell of an oil-filled underwater cable connector, and the oil flow passage is opened and closed. Forming a valve mechanism for controlling

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an oil-filled underwater cable connector, and more particularly to an oil-filled underwater cable that can be fluidly and hermetically connected to a connector when the connector is coupled to a corresponding receptacle. The present invention relates to a connector having a valve function for controlling the flow of filled oil from the oil-filled underwater cable to the space inside the receptacle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Deep water, for example, a water depth of about 6000 m-1
For the purpose of electrically connecting various electric machines through electric wires in the ocean exploration device used for diving over ten thousand meters, the manned ship "Shinkai 6500" or the unmanned ship "Kaikou" manufactured by the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center. Uses a flexible oil-filled underwater cable (OF cable) formed by using, for example, a urethane tube, since a very large water pressure of about 600 to 1,000 hundreds of bar is applied to the electric wire. , A connector having a valve function for controlling the flow of the filling oil in the underwater cable is connected to both ends of the underwater cable, and these connectors are respectively coupled to corresponding receptacles.

Conventionally, as a connector having the function of controlling the flow rate of the above-mentioned filled oil, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, it is arranged to extend in a cylindrical main body shell 2 in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the main body shell 2. An electrically insulating block 5 holding a plurality of socket-type contacts 3 (16 in the figure) and at least one pressure equalizing valve 4 is attached, and a cable joint member 7 is attached to the rear end of the body shell 2. Then, one end of an oil-filled underwater cable (not shown) electrically connected to each contact 3 of the electrically insulating block 5 is fluidly and hermetically connected to one end of the main body shell 2 while the other end is connected to the front end of the body shell 2. There is known a structure in which a clamp member 8 for screwing is attached to a receptacle (not shown) corresponding to a connector.

The above-mentioned conventional connector 1 is held with corresponding receptacles, that is, pin-shaped contacts (not shown) to be electrically connected to respective socket-shaped contacts of the connector 1 at corresponding positions via an electric insulator. When inserted into a plug-type receptacle (not shown), the contacts 3 of the connector 1 and the contacts of the receptacle are electrically connected to each other, and the clamp member 8 of the connector 1 is screwed to the fastening portion of the receptacle. The front end face of the receptacle is pressed into contact with the front end face of the electrically insulating block 5 of the connector 1 as a result of which, as will be described later in detail, the pressure equalizing valve 4 is opened and the oil-filled water connected to the connector 1 is connected. The main body of the connector 1 through the oil flow passage of the pressure equalizing valve 4 opened from the cable The filling oil of the underwater cable is allowed to flow over a minute space inside the receptacle fluidly and hermetically connected to the shell 2, and the inside of the oil-filled underwater cable, the connector 1 and the receptacle is passed through the flowing oil. Is kept in a pressure equalized state.

A detailed structure of the pressure equalizing valve 4 is shown in FIG.
(A). In FIG. 8A, a small diameter portion 12 is formed inside a cylindrical valve shell 11, a first shoulder portion 13 is provided on the rear end side of the valve shell 11, and a second shoulder portion is provided on the front end side thereof. A section 14 is provided. The valve shaft 15 is slidably inserted into the valve shell 11, and the O-ring 17 is attached to the first step portion 16 formed on the rear end side of the valve shaft 15, while the front end of the valve shaft 15 is attached. A coil spring 18 is attached to the outer periphery of the valve shell 11 and the valve shell 11 is attached to the front end of the shaft 15.
The valve head 19 which is slidable on the inner peripheral surface of is screwed. By tightening the valve head 19 with a screw, the rear end face of the valve head 19 and the second end of the valve shell 11 are
The coil spring 18 is compressed by the shoulder 14 and the coil spring 1
The O-ring 17 is sandwiched between the first step portion 16 of the valve shaft 15 and the first shoulder portion 13 of the valve shell 11 by the repulsive force of 8, and elastically deformed.
7 closes the end opening of the oil flow passage formed by the narrow gap between the inner peripheral surface of the rear end of the valve shell 11 and the outer peripheral surface of the rear end of the valve shaft 15. As a result, the oil flow passage formed by the narrow gap between the inner peripheral surface from the first shoulder portion 13 of the valve shell 11 to the front end portion of the shell 11 and the outer peripheral surface of the valve shaft 15 and the valve head 19 is closed. To be done. When insulating oil is filled by a known method into the oil-filled underwater cable connected to the rear end of the connector 1 via the cable joint member 8 with the oil flow passage closed as described above, Oil contacting the rear end surface of the electrically insulating block 5 of the connector 1, that is, the upper end surface of the electrically insulating block 5 in FIG. Flow to the front end face side of the block 5, that is, the lower end face side of the electrically insulating block 5 in FIG. 8A is prevented.

When the connector 1 to which the oil-filled underwater cable is connected is inserted into a corresponding receptacle (not shown) and the clamp member 8 of the connector 1 is fastened to the fastening portion at the front end portion of the receptacle 60, as shown in FIG. 8 (b). The closed pressure equalizing valve in which the front end surface 9 of the electrically insulating block of the receptacle shown at the bottom approaches the front end surface of the electrically insulating block 5 of the connector 1 and projects from the front end surface of the electrically insulating block 5 The valve head 19 of FIG.
(B) As shown by the arrow in FIG.
Is pushed into the valve shell 11 against the repulsive force of the valve shell 11, and the first step portion 16 of the valve shaft 15 is separated from the first shoulder portion 13 of the valve shell 11, whereby the O-ring 17 is restored. The closed state of the oil flow passage formed between the inner peripheral surface of the rear end of the valve shell 11 and the outer peripheral surface of the rear end of the valve shaft 15 is released. Therefore, the filling oil that is in contact with the rear end surface of the electrically insulating block 5 is allowed to flow to the minute void portion inside the receptacle through the oil flow passage inside the pressure equalizing valve 4 which is in the open state.

After the connector 1 is connected to the receptacle as described above, the oil-filled underwater cable connected to the connector 1, the connector 1 and the front end of the receptacle are, for example, underwater at a distance of ten thousand meters below the sea level. When exposed to water, the outer tube of the oil-filled underwater cable is loaded with water pressure of several thousand hundreds of bar, and the outer tube is compressed to fill the oil in the underwater cable with the oil of the pressure equalizing valve 4 as described above. The oil flows into the narrow space inside the receptacle through the flow passage, and the insides of the oil-filled underwater cable, the connector 1 and the receptacle are pressure-equalized via the flowing oil.
As a result, it is protected from the compressive plastic deformation and breakage due to the water pressure, and the electrical connection between the electric machines can be stably maintained with high reliability.

However, the above-mentioned conventional type connector 1 is used.
In order to mount the pressure equalizing valve 4, an electric insulating area for arranging the plurality of contacts 3, that is, a cross sectional area of the electric insulating block 5, is used.
There was a problem that the number of contacts set in one connector had to be reduced, the total number of connectors used increased, and the maintenance and inspection work for them increased. It is conceivable to increase the diameter of the main body shell 2 to increase the contact setting area instead of reducing the number of contacts to be set, but in this case, there is a new problem that the entire connector becomes large.

Further, in order to solve the above problems, there is a limit in mechanical strength even if the area occupied by the pressure equalizing valve 4 in the connector is reduced, that is, the diameter of the valve shell is reduced. The smaller the size of the connector, the more difficult it is to manufacture and assemble each part, and the manufacturing cost of the connector as a whole becomes high, and this solution is difficult to adopt.

[0010]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In order to completely eliminate the above-mentioned various problems, the inner peripheral surface portion of the cylindrical main body shell of the connector that can fluidly and hermetically connect the oil-filled underwater cable to the inside of the main body shell An oil flow passage extending from the rear end to the front end of the oil-filled underwater cable connection is formed, and a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of the filling oil in the oil flow passage is formed.
It maximizes the use of electrical insulation area for contact placement in the cross section of the connector, and the valve mechanism itself has a substantially larger diameter than the conventional type, increasing its mechanical strength and facilitating assembly. , The manufacturing cost should be low.

[0011]

1 to 3, the oil-filled underwater cable connector of the present invention is generally indicated by numeral 20.

The connector 20 generally comprises a cylindrical body shell 21, a clamp member 24 and a cable joint member 30 mounted on the front and rear ends of the body shell 21, and a plurality of pin-shaped contacts 48. The held electrically insulating block 35, the oil circulation groove 43 or 53 formed on the inner peripheral surface portion of the main body shell 21 or the outer peripheral surface of the electric insulation block 35, the oil circulation groove 43 or 53 and the main body shell 21. The O-ring 50 performs an on-off valve action of the oil flow passage formed by the inner peripheral surface of the coil spring 58 and the coil spring 58.

The body shell 21 is formed of a corrosion resistant metal material such as an aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy (6Al4V) or stainless steel, and has a shoulder portion 22 on the inner peripheral surface near the front end portion of the body shell 21. Is provided. A clamp member 24 is mounted on the outer periphery of the front end portion of the main body shell 21, and a nitrile rubber O-ring 27 is mounted on an annular recess 26 formed around the opening of the front end surface. The clamp member 24 can be screwed to a clamp nut portion 62 formed on the outer periphery of a body shell 61 of a receptacle 60, which will be described in detail later. On the other hand, a cable joint member 30 for connecting an oil-filled underwater cable can be screwed to the rear end of the body shell 21. Similar to the body shell 21, for example, the cable joint member 30 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape using a corrosion-resistant metal material such as an aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy (6Al4V) or stainless steel, and is formed on the outer peripheral surface of one end thereof. Annular groove 3
A O-ring 32 made of nitrile rubber is attached to the
It is mounted in a fluid-tight manner on the inner peripheral surface of the rear end of the body shell 21 via a ring 32. This cable joint member 3
On the outer periphery of the other end of 0, an outer tube (not shown) of an oil-filled underwater cable formed by using the same urethane tube as described above can be fluid-tightly connected through a known clamp ring. To be done.

The electrically insulating block 35 is formed of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin into a substantially columnar shape, and has a block main body 36 having a recess 37 on one end surface, and a recess 37 of the block main body 36. Thermosetting epoxy resin 38 to be loaded into the block main body 2 and the block main body 2
6 and a disc-shaped cap 39 made of polyphenylene sulfide resin, which is adhered to the opening end surface of the resin.

A step portion 40 facing the shoulder portion 22 of the body shell 21 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the block body portion 36, and a linear portion from the step portion 40 to the opening end surface is formed at a diametrical position (FIG. 2). While two oil circulation grooves 41 extending in a circular shape are formed, four through holes 45 extending along the longitudinal axis are formed in the bottom surface of the recess 37 at intervals. Four through holes 46 corresponding to each through hole 45 of the block main body 36 are formed in the cap 29, and two oil circulation grooves 42 continuous with the oil circulation groove 41 are formed at diametrical positions on the outer peripheral surface thereof. It is formed. The oil circulation groove 41 of the block body portion 36 and the oil circulation groove 42 of the cap 39 corresponding to the oil circulation groove 41 are connected so as to be continuous with each other to form one oil circulation groove 43. .

Gold-plated iron-nickel pin contacts 48 are fitted into the through holes 46 of the cap 39.
The cable core wire connecting ends 49 of the contacts 48 are fixed so as to project outward from the end surface of the cap 39. The tips of these contacts 48 are the block main body 3
6 is fitted into the corresponding through hole 45 from the opening end face side of 6,
The block body portion 36 is mounted so as to project outward from the front end surface. Next, a thermosetting epoxy resin 38 is loaded in the recess 37 of the block body 36, and a cap 39 is adhered to the opening end surface of the block body 36 with an epoxy resin adhesive (not shown). Then, the combination is heated to thermally cure the epoxy resin 38 and the epoxy resin adhesive. The O-ring 50 made of nitrile rubber is fitted into the step portion 40 on the outer peripheral surface of the electrically insulating block 35 thus formed. The diameter of the circular cross section of the O-ring 50 is substantially the same as the radial width of the step 40 of the block body 36. As a result, the O-ring 50
When in a free state where no external pressure is applied, a gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the body shell 21 to form the oil flow groove 43 of the electrically insulating block 35 and the inner peripheral surface of the body shell 21. While the end opening of the oil flow passage formed by the above is opened, when it is compressed and deformed as described later in detail, the end opening of the oil flow passage is closed by being compressed and deformed into a flat shape. Has become.

A shoulder portion 51 is formed on an inner peripheral surface portion near the front end surface of the body shell 21, and the body shell 21 is formed on the shoulder portion 51.
A cylindrical collar 52 made of polyphenylene sulfide resin is formed so as to be in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the. At a predetermined position on the diameter of the rear end surface of the collar 52, as shown by phantom lines in FIG. 1, two projecting piece portions 54 are formed, while the front end portion of the block main body portion 36 of the electrically insulating block 35 is formed. Two concave portions 55 are formed on the outer peripheral surface at positions corresponding to the projecting piece portions 54. Each projecting piece 54 has a body shell 2
When the electrically insulative block 35 is mounted in the housing 1, the electrically insulative block 35 is engaged with the recess 55 of the block body portion 36, and thus the electrically insulative block 35 can be positioned in the circumferential direction with respect to the body shell 21.

A cylindrical stopper 56 made of polyphenylene sulfide resin is mounted on the rear end surface of the electrically insulating block 35 mounted inside the main body shell 21, and the outer peripheral surface of the stopper 56 and the inner peripheral surface of the main body shell 21. A coil spring 58 is mounted between the surfaces. This stopper 56 cooperates with the inner peripheral surface of the main body shell 21 and the coil spring 5
When the connector 20 is coupled with the corresponding receptacle 60 as will be described later in detail while guiding the expansion and contraction movement of the cable 8, one end of the stopper 56 abuts on the end face of the cable coupling member 30, and the electrically insulating block 35 is attached to the body shell 21. It acts to prevent excessive pushing inward of the.

Next, an example of a socket type receptacle 60 which can be used for the plug type connector 20 is shown in FIG.
It will be explained together.

In FIG. 3, the socket type receptacle 6 is shown.
0 is composed of a cylindrical body shell 61 and an electrically insulating block 70 holding a plurality of (four) socket contacts 79.

The body shell 61 corresponds to the connector 20.
Similar to the body shell 21 of No. 1, it is formed using a corrosion-resistant metal material such as an aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy (6Al4V) or stainless steel. The clamp member 24 at the front end of the connector 20 is attached to the front end of the body shell 61.
A clamp nut portion 62 that can be screwed is formed, and an O-ring 64 made of nitrile rubber is attached to an annular recess 63 formed in the lower end surface of the clamp nut portion 62. On the other hand, a mounting screw 66 is formed on the outer periphery of the rear end portion of the main body shell 61, and the screw 66 can be screwed into a mounting hole provided in the outer wall portion of a device (not shown) to which the receptacle 60 is mounted. It

Space portions having circular cross sections are formed inside the front end portion and the rear end portion of the main body shell 61, and at predetermined positions on the bottom surface of these space portions, that is, at positions corresponding to the four contacts 48 of the connector 20. Four through holes are provided. The electrically insulating block 70 mounted inside the body shell 61 is a thermosetting epoxy resin block 71 mounted in the space at the rear end of the body shell 61.
And a disc-shaped plate 72 made of Teflon resin for contact setting, which is joined and attached to the block 71, and a thermosetting epoxy resin material loaded in the four through holes formed between the bottom surfaces of the space portions. 73 and a borosilicate glass block 7 mounted in the space at the front end of the body shell 61
4 and a thermosetting epoxy resin adhesive 7 on the block 74.
5 and a columnar head 76 made of polyphenyl sulfide resin, which is adhered via 5. Each of the epoxy resin block 71, the plate 72, and the borosilicate glass block 74 described above is provided with four through holes that communicate with the four through holes provided inside the body shell 61.

To assemble the receptacle 60,
First, the epoxy resin block 71 is inserted into the space at the rear end of the main body shell 61, and the plate 72 is joined to the end surface of the block 71 so that the through holes of the plate 72 are the same as the through holes of the block 71. After aligning so as to be continuous, they are fixed via a retaining ring. Next, the iron-nickel alloy contact shaft 77 is inserted into each of the plate 72, the epoxy resin block 71, and the through holes that are continuous with each other formed on the bottom surface of the space, and the edge of the through hole of the plate 72 is opened. Fit in. The lead wire connection ends of the rear ends of the contact shafts 77 project outward from the plate 72, while the tip screw parts of the contact shafts 77 are connected to the main body shell 6.
1 is temporarily fixed so as to project from the space portion of the front end portion of 1. Next, a thermosetting epoxy resin material 73 is loaded into each through hole on the bottom surface of the space from the opening on the front end side of the body shell 61, and each contact shaft 77 penetrating the bottom surface of the space is made of borosilicate glass. The block 74 is inserted into the corresponding through hole of the block 74, the block 74 is inserted into the space, and the thermosetting epoxy resin adhesive 75 is applied to the front end surface of the block 74. Then block 74 above
A socket 78 made of a gold-plated iron-nickel alloy is screwed onto the tip screw portion of each contact shaft 77 protruding from the rear end face to form a socket-shaped contact 79. The socket 78 of these contacts 79 is connected to the rear end portion of the head 76. The head 76 is fitted into each corresponding through hole from the side.
Insert the rear end into the space at the front end of the body shell 61,
It is mounted in a fluid-tight manner via an O-ring 69 made of nitrile rubber arranged in an annular recess 68 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the space of the main body shell 61. This assembly is heated to heat the epoxy resin 73 and the epoxy resin adhesive 75.
Then, the O-ring 64 is attached to the annular recess 63 on the lower end surface of the clamp nut portion 62 to complete the receptacle 60.

Next, the operation of the opening / closing valve mechanism for the oil flow passage formed on the inner peripheral surface of the main body shell 21 of the connector 20 having the above-described structure will be described.

Now, as shown in FIG. 1, an oil-filled underwater cable is not connected to the connector 20, and the receptacle 60 is electrically connected via the connector 20 and the oil-filled underwater cable connected to the connector 20. It is assumed that the electric machine is fixed to the outer wall portion (not shown) of the electric machine to be attempted and is electrically connected to each contact 79 of the receptacle 60 via the electric machine and the electric wire.

First, the cable joint member 30 is removed from the connector 20, the stopper 56, the coil spring 58 and the electrically insulating block 35 are pulled out from the rear end opening of the main body shell 21, and each protrudes from the rear end surface of the block 35. Solder one end of the corresponding core wire of the oil-filled underwater cable (not shown) to be connected to each core wire connection end of the pin-shaped contact 48. This oil-filled underwater cable is formed, for example, by using a urethane tube as a jacket tube and a Teflon-coated electric wire as a plurality of (four) core wires. The end portion of the outer tube of the oil-filled underwater cable electrically connected in this manner is fluid-tightly connected to one end portion of the cable joint member 30 by using a clamp ring (not shown).

Next, the front end portion of the electrically insulating block 35 is inserted from the rear end opening of the main body shell 21, the stopper 56 and the coil spring 58 are inserted into the rear end surface of the block 35, and then the oil-filled underwater cable is inserted. The one end of the cable joint member 30 connected to the coil spring 58 is pressed against the rear end of the coil spring 58, and the electrically insulating block 35 is pushed inward of the body shell 21 while compressing the coil spring 58. One end of the main body shell 21 is screwed to the rear end of the main body shell 21. At this time, the electrically insulating block 3
5, each recess 55 provided at the front end of the main shell 21 is engaged with the corresponding projection 54 of the positioning collar 52 fixed inside the front end of the main body shell 21 so that Positioning of each contact 48 of the electrically insulating block 35 in the circumferential direction is performed. In this way, as one end of the cable joint member 30 is pushed inward of the body shell 21 while compressing the coil spring 58, the electrically insulating block 35 moves inwardly of the body shell 21, and the compression is performed. The O-ring 50 mounted on the step portion 40 is sandwiched between the step portion 40 on the outer peripheral surface of the block 35 and the shoulder portion 22 on the inner peripheral surface of the main body shell 21 by the repulsive force of the coil spring 58. It is elastically compressed and deformed into a flat shape. The compression-deformed O-ring 50 closes the end opening of the oil flow passage formed by the oil circulation groove 43 extending from the rear end surface of the electrically insulating block 35 to the step 40 and the inner peripheral surface of the main body shell 21, The oil flow passage is closed to prevent the flow of insulating oil.

After the oil flow passage formed on the inner peripheral surface of the connector 20 is closed as described above, the outer tube of the oil-filled underwater cable is filled with insulating oil by a known method. Although the filling oil contacts the rear end surface of the electrically insulating block 35, and thus the opening surface of the oil flow passage, the compression-deformed O-ring 50 blocks the flow of the oil flow passage, and thus the electric insulation is achieved. Of the block 35 through an oil flow passage formed by a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the front end of the elastic block 35 and the inner peripheral surface of the collar 52 that is closely attached to the inner peripheral surface of the front end of the body shell 21. Oil leakage to the front end face is prevented.

Now, as described above, the connector 20 to which the oil-filled underwater cable is connected is inserted into the receptacle 60, and each pin-shaped contact 48 of the connector 20 is engaged with the socket-shaped contact 79 of the corresponding receptacle 60 to electrically connect. As the connection is made and then the clamp member 24 at the front end portion of the connector 20 is screwed into the clamp nut portion 62 of the receptacle 60, the front end surface of the electrically insulating block 35 and the receptacle 6 in the connector 20 are connected.
The front end face of the head 76 of the electrically insulating block 70 at 0 is relatively close. Further, the clamp member 24
When the screw is fastened to the clamp nut portion 62, the front end face of the head 76 resists the repulsive force of the compressed coil spring 58 in the connector 20 and the electrically insulating block 35.
The front end face of the electric insulating block 35 is pushed inward of the body shell 21, and as shown in FIG. 4, the step 40 on the outer peripheral surface of the electric insulating block 35 causes the shoulder 40 of the body shell 21 to move. The O-ring 50, which is separated from the portion 22 and is elastically compressed and deformed in the step portion 40, is restored to the free state in which the sectional shape is circular. As a result, a gap is formed again between the outer peripheral surface of the O-ring 50 and the inner peripheral surface of the body shell 21, and is formed by the oil circulation groove 43 on the outer peripheral surface of the electrically insulating block 35 and the inner peripheral surface of the body shell 21. The end opening of the oil flow passage, that is, the opening in the step 40 is opened. As a result, the filling oil that is in contact with the rear end surface of the electrically insulating block 35 has an oil flow passage opened and an oil flow passage that is continuous with the oil flow passage, that is, the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion of the electrically insulating block 35 and the main body. The front end portion of the receptacle 60, which is in contact with the front end surface of the electrically insulating block 35, through the oil flow passage formed by the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the shell 21 and the inner peripheral surface of the collar 52, that is, The electrically insulating block 70 is allowed to flow into a minute space formed at the front end of the head 76. In this state, the connector 20
When a large water pressure or the like is applied to the outer tube of the oil-filled underwater cable connected to the oil-filled underwater cable, the oil filled in the underwater cable passes through the oil flow passage in the connector 20 which is opened as described above. The space inside the receptacle 60 is made flowable, and the fluid keeps the oil-filled underwater cable, the connector 20 and the inside of the receptacle 60 in a pressure-equalized state. Therefore, the oil-filled underwater cable, connector and receptacle inside It is possible to stably maintain the connection state of the electric connection part.

The oil flow passage in the connector 20 is formed by the oil flow grooves 34, 34 extending from the rear end face of the electrically insulating block 35 to the step 40. Instead of these, FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, it may be formed on the inner wall surface of the main body shell 21 by the oil circulation grooves 53, 53 provided at positions preferably on the diameter thereof.

Further, the pin-type contacts 48 and the socket-type contacts 79 in the connector 20 and the receptacle 60 may be replaced with each other to form a jack-type connector and a plug-type receptacle, respectively.

Further, the cable joint member 30 of the connector 20 is not limited to the straight I-shape as shown in FIG. 1, but has an L-shape in which the cable connection end is bent at a right angle or two cable connection ends. It may be formed in a T shape.

Furthermore, the coil spring 58 is adjusted so that the outer peripheral surface thereof has a diameter dimension such that it is substantially in contact with the inner wall surface of the main body shell 21, and thereby the stopper 56 for guiding the expansion and contraction movement of the coil spring 58. May be omitted.

[0034]

According to the present invention, an electrically insulating block, which holds a plurality of contacts of the connector slidably inside the body shell, is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the body shell of the connector. Since at least one oil flow passage extending from the rear end face to the front end face of the block is formed and a valve mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of the oil flow passage is provided, the contact arrangement area in the cross section of the connector is used to the maximum extent. The valve mechanism itself has a substantially larger diameter than that of the conventional type, has a large mechanical strength, can be easily assembled, and can be manufactured at a low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view with a part cut away of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the electrically insulating block seen from the rear end surface side of the connector of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an example of a socket type receptacle applicable to the plug type connector of FIG.

4 is a connector for explaining the operation of an opening / closing valve mechanism for an oil flow passage in the connector of the present invention and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway vertical cross-sectional view when it is combined with the receptacle of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a modified example of the oil flow passage of the connector of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical half sectional view of a conventional oil-filled underwater cable connector.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the connector of FIG. 6 viewed from the front end side.

8A and 8B are diagrams for explaining an opening / closing operation of a pressure equalizing valve that controls the flow of filling oil in the connector of FIG. 6, in which (a) shows a closed state and (b) shows an open state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 Connector for Oil-Filled Underwater Cable of the Present Invention 21 Body Shell 22 Shoulder 24 Clamp Member 30 Cable Joint Member 35 Electrical Insulation Block 40 Steps 41, 42, 43 Oil Flow Groove 48 Pin-type Contact 50 O-ring 58 Coil Spring 60 Receptacle 61 Body shell 62 Clamp nut portion 70 Electrically insulating block 76 Head 77 Contact shaft 78 Socket 79 Socket type contact

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Murashima 7-2-24, Kamariya East, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture (72) Inventor Hidehiko Nakajo 11-1-103, Hiragata-cho, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa (72) Inventor Akira Tamaki 10-18, Higashigosho, Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture (72) Inventor: Osamu Kuriyama 689-1 Nose Igami, Riseto-cho, Kurita-gun, Shiga Prefecture Daitron Technology Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An electrically insulating block holding a plurality of contacts spaced apart from each other and extending in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the body shell is mounted in a cylindrical body shell, and a rear end portion of the body shell. On the other hand, a cylindrical cable joint member capable of fluid-tightly connecting one end of an oil-filled underwater cable electrically connected to each contact of the electrically insulating block is attached to the front end of the body shell. A connector configured by mounting a clamp member capable of screw tightening on a receptacle corresponding to the connector, wherein when the connector is coupled with the corresponding receptacle,
The front end of each contact exposed on the front end face of the electrically insulating block of the connector is electrically connected by engaging the corresponding contact of the receptacle, and the front end of the receptacle is tightened as the clamp member at the rear end of the body shell is tightened. In a connector for an oil-filled underwater cable in which a surface portion press-contacts a front end surface portion of an electrically insulating block of the connector to enable fluid-tight connection between the connector and the receptacle, the electrically insulating block includes the body shell. Is formed slidably in the axial direction in close contact with the inner wall surface of the cylindrical body shell, and a coil spring is attached to the rear end portion of the cylindrical body shell to form a shoulder portion on the inner peripheral surface near the front end portion. A step portion which can be engaged with the shoulder portion of the main body shell is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the electrically insulating block, and an O ring is formed on the step portion. And mounting at least one oil flow groove extending from the rear end surface of the electrically insulating block to the step or shoulder on the outer peripheral surface of the electrically insulating block or the inner wall surface of the body shell. When one end portion of the cable joint member is pushed inward from the rear end portion of the shell and mounted, the one end portion of the cable joint member presses the electric insulating block forward while compressing the coil spring, The O-ring is sandwiched between the stepped portion of the electrically insulating block and the shoulder portion of the main body shell by the repulsive force of the coil spring, and the O-ring is compressed and deformed. The terminal opening of the oil flow passage formed by the peripheral surface is closed to prevent the oil in the oil-filled underwater cable from flowing, while the connector is inserted into a corresponding receptacle to As the clamp member at the front end of the nectar is tightened, the front end face of the receptacle presses the electrically insulating block against the repulsive force of the compressed coil spring, and the step of the electrically insulating block is moved to the main shell. By separating the O-ring from the shoulder portion, the O-ring is released from the compression deformation to open the terminal opening of the oil flow passage, and the oil flow is opened from the oil-filled underwater cable connected to the cable joint member. The oil in the oil-filled underwater cable is made to flow to a minute space portion formed inside the receptacle fluidly and hermetically connected to the main body shell of the connector via a passage, and these are made to flow through the flowing oil. Connector for oil-filled underwater cable, characterized in that the insides of the oil-filled underwater cable, the connector and the receptacle are kept in a pressure equalized state. . 2. A cylindrical stopper is attached to the rear end face portion of the electrically insulating block inserted into the tubular body shell,
When a coil spring is mounted between the outer peripheral surface of the stopper and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical main body shell to guide the expansion and contraction movement of the coil spring and the connector is connected to the receptacle,
The connector according to claim 1, wherein the stopper limits the amount of pushing the electrically insulating block inward of the tubular body shell. 3. The cable joint member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cable joint member is formed by using a circular tube body made of a corrosion resistant metal material.
Connector according to item. 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a pin-type contact is used as the contact to form a plug-type connector. 5. A jack-type connector is formed by using a socket-type contact as a contact.
The connector according to any one of the items. 6. A receptacle having contacts corresponding to respective contacts of the connector according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is mounted in a main body shell of the connector when coupled via a clamp member at a front end portion of the connector. By pushing the electrically insulating block inwardly, the step portion of the outer peripheral surface of the electrically insulating block is separated from the shoulder portion of the inner peripheral surface of the main body shell, and the elasticity of the O-ring mounted on the step portion. A receptacle for an oil-filled underwater cable, in which compression deformation is released and an oil flow passage from the rear end surface to the front end surface of the electrically insulating block is switched to an open state.