Matrix Science Corporation

Other

International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation

William R Mattingly

Roy E Kroger

Christopher Nasser

Michael Blum

Lyle F Johnson

Tommy B Maher

Barry R Trombly

An electrical connector shell reinforcement means operable to support and strengthen the bayonet pins of the electrical connector is disclosed. The electrical connector shell reinforcement means includes a metal band bonded upon the electrical connector shell before or after the insertion of the bayonet pins. The shell reinforcement means provides structural support against the shearing forces the pins are subjected to. An alternative embodiment of the electrical connector reinforcement means incorporates a washer-like metal band directly supporting the bayonet pins of the electrical connector shell. An alternative embodiment of the electrical connector reinforcement means incorporates a metal cup on the composite material molded into the bayonet pin. Finally, a coupling ring is disclosed to be formed of plastic or composite material to include a metal liner therewithin having a bayonet pin receiving groove cut or broached into its inside surface, and a method of producing such device is also disclosed.

Electrical connector shell reinforcement means and method of fabricating

Electrical connector shell reinforcement means and method for

A wave spring having uniformly positioned surface projections and predetermined consistent spring tension deflection is disclosed. The wave spring includes; a spring ring having projections in the ring's radial wall at predetermined positions within the wall thereby producing a wave spring having specific predetermined spring tension deflecting in response to specific loads. Deflection capability is maintained due to the position and heights of the projections. A wave spring which can be utilized in bayonet or non-bayonet style electrical connectors to provide a specified and predetermined spring tension deflection is also disclosed. A method of fabrication for a wave spring having uniformly positioned surface projections and predetermined consistent spring tension deflection is also described.

Wave spring having uniformly positioned projections and predetermined

An apparatus for retaining a coupling ring such as a canted washer or spring for use in non-self locking electrical connectors is disclosed. The canted washer or spring having uniform frustoconical surface is positioned between the plug and coupling ring providing a known spring force response between the coupling ring and plug shell shoulder. In one embodiment, the canted washer is used in a non-bayonet electrical connector with a swaged coupling ring. An alternative embodiment is described as a double turn canted spring used in conjunction with a non-swaged, grooved coupling ring. The apparatus is used in both metal and composite non-bayonet electrical connectors. Configuration to a particular cant for either the canted washer or spring is calculable using known factors such as; size, material thickness, and the modulus of the material. A canted washer or wave spring for use in electrical connectors subjected to high and low temperature environments is also disclosed.

Apparatus for retaining a coupling ring in non-self locking electrical

A quick-disconnect electrical connector coupling assembly has an electrical connector plug assembly which surrounds and mates with a receptacle shell. The electrical connector plug assembly may be quickly disconnected by the application of an external axially-directed force imparted by means of remote control through the use of a lanyard affixed to the assembly. The lanyard may be attached to a ring which surrounds the connector plug assembly. The electrical connector plug assembly comprises a first coupling ring surrounded by a second coupling ring. The first coupling ring has a plurality of apertured mountings which accommodate, in each mounting, the insertion of a floating land segment positioned atop a ramp spring segment. When the coupling is fully mated, the ramp spring segments protrude radially into the inner surface of the first coupling ring and abut a plurality of fixed bayonet pins to secure the mated connection. When an axially-directed external force pulls the second coupling ring away from the receptacle shell, the floating land segments move into an annular sloped recess of the second coupling ring and drive the ramp spring segments into retraction within the first coupling ring housing. Once the ramp spring segment is fully retracted, the electrical connector plug assembly may be removed immediately from the receptacle shell without interference from the fixed bayonet pins.

Quick-disconnect electrical connector coupling assembly for use with

An electrical connector receptacle shell assembly and an electrical connector plug assembly are mated together to provide electrical contact between a matrix of pins and sockets. An annular drive sleeve telescoped within a coupling nut having a floating bayonet pin coupling mechanism causes the connector plug shell within the electrical plug shell assembly to move axially forward onto the receptacle shell as the coupling nut is rotated. An anti-rotation latch mechanism prevents the inadvertent misalignment of the components within the connector plug assembly, so that the connector plug shell assembly remains annularly aligned with the coupling nut until the receptacle shell and the electrical plug assembly are coupled. The latch mechanism is thereby released and the coupling nut can then rotate relative to the first shell.

Electrical connector assembly with anti-rotation latch mechanism

An electrical connector with an annular continuous metal to metal seal between the two connector shells includes a cylindrical first shell with an annular radially disposed sealing surface, a cylindrical second shell for being inserted into and clamped to the first shell, a frusto-conical ring attached about a peripheral region of the second shell and having an annular mating edge which is positioned to face the sealing surface of the first shell, and a coupling ring with a bayonet coupling apparatus for clamping the first and second shells into coupling relationship with each other. The positioning of the frusto-conical ring on the second shell is such that when the first and second shells are in the fully mated position, the peripheral mating edge region of the frusto-conical ring will press against the sealing surface of the first shell to form a continuous annular metal to metal seal between the first shell and the second shell.

Electrical connector shell assembly with continuous annular seal

A self locking electrical connector assembly includes a connector shell and a coupling nut. The connector shell has a centrally located outwardly projecting annular flange with a plurality of retaining shoulders by which the coupling nut is mounted to the connector shell and allowed to rotate but prevented from substantial axial movement. The coupling nut cavity is defined by a front annular retention shoulder, a back access opening opposite the front retention shoulder, a cylindrical surface between the front shoulder and the access opening, an annular retention groove in the cylindrical surface adjacent the access opening and an annular back facing stop shoulder between the retention groove and the front shoulder. A retaining ring held in the retention groove abuts against a back facing shoulder of the shell's annular flange. A front facing stop shoulder of the annular flange abuts against the back facing stop shoulder of the coupling nut. A front facing shell abutment shoulder abuts against the end of a mating shell. A wave spring is positioned in the cavity between the front retention shoulder and the annular flange to press a plurality of dimples in a clutch plate into the plurality of grooves in a front facing ratchet surface located about the annular flange to hinder loosening rotation of the coupling nut.

Self-locking electrical connector

A connector retaining apparatus for retaining an insulator in the bore of a connector shell includes an insulator with an annular flange defining a rear facing shoulder, a connector shell having an interior cylindrical surface with an annular groove therein to define a front facing retention shoulder, and an annular retaining ring around the insulator. The retaining ring has a radial portion which abuts against the rear facing shoulder of the insulator annular flange and a frusto-conical portion with a retention edge which abuts against the front facing retaining shoulder of the connector shell groove in its retaining position to prevent the insulator from being withdrawn rearwardly from the connector shell bore. A cylindrical insertion tool is utilized to press the retention ring through an annular space between the insulator's outside surface and the connector shell's inside surface into its retaining position.

Connector retaining apparatus

A removal tool having a tubular shape with a chamfered end and a method for utilizing the same in an electrical connector apparatus. The connector apparatus has a contact attached around and to the end of a wire. An elliptical rear edge of the contact has major axis edge portions which come in contact with an inside shoulder of an insulator body passageway preventing the contact from being removed rearwardly from the connector. The chamfered end of the removal tool is inserted between the wire and the inside elliptical surface to resiliently deform the ellipse to a circular or near circular shape so that it may be withdrawn through a rear passageway.

Removal tool and method of using

A connector assembly and method of making the same. A connector member, which may be either a socket or pin, has a front mating portion adapted to engage a reciprocal mating portion of a second connector; a tubular electric wire retaining portion into which a wire is inserted and held; and a rear elliptically cross-sectioned retention portion which is resiliently deformable to a circular cross section. The connector member is inserted into a circular cross-sectioned passageway in an insulating support assembly, the passageway having a central region with a larger diameter to define an interior protruding shoulder. As the connector member is inserted into the insulating support assembly passageway, the rear retention portion is deformed to a circular cross section conforming to the interior surface of the passageway. When the end passes the interior protruding shoulder, the rear retention portion returns to an elliptically cross-sectioned shape with the shoulder thereafter preventing withdrawl from the passageway. A chamfered, longitudinally split tube tool may be inserted to force the rear retention portion into a circular shape whereupon the connector member may be moved past the shoulder and removed from the insulating assembly.

Clipless contact

A stack of printed circuit boards are mechanically and electrically interconnected by a plurality of double ended contact members mounted in coaxial relationship in the boards. Each double ended contact member comprises a shrouded pin contact having a socket contact extending in a direction opposite to the pin contact. The socket contact of one double ended contact member in one board slidably engages with the shrouded pin contact of the double ended contact member in the next adjacent board. The contact members in the respective boards have cooperating standoff shoulders which space the boards apart a predetermined distance.

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Santa ana, CA, United States of America

William R Mattingly