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Hi Rel Connectors, Inc.

Frederick Bb Baumann

Louis E Spears

Lou E Kalny

A system for releasably locking and unlocking a connector and backshell combination for supporting conductors that extend from the connector includes a threaded clamping ring in an assembly having facing first and second detent rings that are formed with respective multiplicities of mating detent members. The first detent ring is angularly fixed relative to the clamping ring; the second detent ring is affixed to or integral with a flange ring that is affixed to a body of the backshell. The backshell body can have an enlargement such as for a conductor clamp, in which case the detent ring is affixable subsequent to location of at least the first detent ring between the flange ring and the enlargement when the enlargement would block assembly from that direction. A nested plurality of cone-shaped spring washer axially holds the detent rings in facing engagement, whereby a total surface contacting area of engagement between the detent members is at least 0.1 times the product of an average engagement pitch diameter and the width of engagement. The first and second detent members can engage at shallow contact angles of not more than about 30 degrees for preventing jamming from toothed accessory ring camming action. The assembly preferably includes an adjustment ring threadingly engaging the clamping ring for adjustably preloading the spring washers, and a pair of resilient 0-ring members frictionally connecting the clamping ring and the backshell body for dampening vibrations therebetween, and for sealingly enclosing the detent members and the spring washers.

Self locking connector backshell

Disclosed is a system for locking and unlocking a connector pair having a threaded clamping nut or ring that is rotatably coaxially supported on a first shell body for holding connector contacts in axial engagement. A multiplicity of first detent members angularly fixed relative to the clamping ring engage a corresponding multiplicity of second detent members fixed to the first shell body, and a cone-shaped spring washer axially holds the members in facing engagement, whereby a total surface contacting area of engagement between the detent members is at least 0.1 times the product of an average engagement pitch diameter and the width of engagement. The first and second detent members can engage at shallow contact angles of not more than about 40 degrees. The spring washer contacts the first detent ring, which can axially slidably engage an engagement surface fixed to the clamping ring, along a continuous annular contact path for uniform axial biasing of the detent members. The connector preferably includes an adjustment ring threadingly engaging the clamping ring for adjustably preloading the spring washer. The clamping ring is preferably axially movable relative to the first shell body between open and closed positions having associated spring biasing levels that contribute positively to an overall clamping force between mating connector portions. Preferably the connector also includes a resilient O-ring members frictionally connecting the clamping ring and the first shell body for dampening vibrations therebetween, and for sealingly enclosing the detent members and the spring washer.

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Claremont, CA, United States of America

Frederick Bb Baumann