Keyed electrical connectors with jackscrews

Abstract

Keying and fastening of mating connectors includes pairs of mating key members, ones of which include central apertures through which extend respective jackscrews having threaded leading ends, and the others of which have threaded apertures into which the jackscrews are threaded to fasten the connectors together after the pairs of keys permit connector mating. The keys in which the jackscrews are mounted permit rotating the jackscrews. The jackscrew leading ends are recessed slightly behind the leading ends of hood-like keying projections of the key members for protection against damage and misalignment, and the threaded apertures of the other keys extend to the leading ends of the keying projections thereof which are adapted to receive the corresponding hood-like keying projections in axial recesses along the outer surfaces extending about halfway around the circumference of the key. The connectors including the jackscrews preferably include shells having recesses or apertures within which the keys and jackscrews are mounted, so that structure of the shells extends forwardly to the key and jackscrew leading ends and extend around most of the circumference of the key members and the jackscrews, thus protecting them during connector handling.