Cooper Industries, Inc.

Empire Products, Inc.

Cam-lok Inc.

David C Kamp

Albert P Newman

William H Hanks

An improved electrical panel assembly of the type providing a plurality of receptacles for use with cable connectors and requiring that the connectors must be connected with their respective receptacles in a given order and disconnected therefrom in the reverse of that order. The panel assembly comprises a planar panel element having an opening therein for each receptacle and a receptacle mounting housing element behind each panel opening, constituting an integral, one-piece molding. Each panel opening is provided with a cover swingable between a closed position and an open position. The connectors and receptacles are of the known type having single contacts which lock together when the connector is mated with the receptacle and rotated a partial revolution. Polarizing devices are provided in association with each receptacle and each cable connector. Each panel opening, except the first, is provided with a locking mechanism of simplified construction which is shiftable between a normal locking position wherein it precludes opening of the cover of the next adjacent panel opening and a retracted position permitting opening of the cover of the next adjacent panel opening. The locking mechanism of each opening is shifted to its retracted position when the appropriate connector is inserted through the preceding opening and mated and locked with its receptacle. Each locking mechanism in retracted position precludes removal of the connector from the preceding opening. As a result of the simpler locking mechanism, the panel can be made smaller overall, with fewer parts and simpler assembly.

Electrical panel assembly

Mateable receptacle and plug assemblies comprising a cable connector for use in a nuclear environment. The receptacle assembly and the plug assembly comprise mateable metallic shells, each surrounding one or more cable ends terminating in contacts. The contacts of the receptacle assembly and the plug assembly are equal in number and mateable. In each of the receptacle assembly and the plug assembly, the space between the shell and the cable ends and their contacts is filled with one or more heat, steam and radiation resistant insulative elastomeric compounds and/or epoxy compounds to prevent hosing of steam and moisture through the cables. The inside surfaces of the shells are uniquely configured to enhance bonding thereof to the insulative compounds, providing baffles creating pressure drops should the bond fail. O-rings are mounted on the plug assembly shell which cooperate with the receptacle assembly shell to form compression and butt seals to prevent leakage through the shell faces.

Electrical cable connector for use in a nuclear environment

An electrical panel assembly providing a plurality of receptacles for use with cable connectors. The connectors and receptacles are of the known type having single contacts which lock together when the connector is mated with the receptacle and rotated a partial revolution with respect thereto. The panel assembly comprises a front panel element with from two to five receptacles arranged in a side-by-side row therebehind. The front panel element has an opening therein for each receptacle through which a cable connector can extend for mating with the receptacle. Polarizing devices are provided in association with each receptacle and each cable connector to assure that each cable connector can be mated only with its respective receptacle. Each panel opening, except the first, is provided with a locking mechansim shiftable between a normal locking position wherein it blocks entrance of a connector into its respective panel element opening and a retracted position permitting entrance of a connector into its respective panel opening. The locking mechanism for each opening is shifted to its retracted position when the appropriate connector is inserted through the preceding opening and mated and locked with its receptacle. Each locking mechanism in retracted position precludes removal of the connector from the preceding opening. As a result of this, the connectors must be connected to their respective receptacles in a given order and disconnected therefrom in the reverse of that order.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

David C Kamp