Sliding bypass valve connector

Abstract

A pressure compensatable mateable connector for use in hostile environments, or environments where the contacts to be connected must be protected from the environment, comprising a plug connector half and a receptacle connector half which are mateable and de-mateable multiple times. The connector may be used for electrical, fiber optic, hybrid electro-optic, hydraulic and gas or vapor connections. The plug connector half comprises at least one isolated mating probe contact immersed in a pressure transfer medium, and contained in an isolation envelop which partially comprises a free-sliding flexible rubber-like tube which is sealed at both the rear and mating ends and wherein the mating probe contact enters the flexible tube through a hermetic fitting snugly fitted to the rear end of the flexible tube. The flexible tube may have one or more axial slits. The receptacle connector half comprises at least one receptacle isolated contact immersed in pressure transfer/compensating medium, and a sliding bypass valve, wherein each mating probe contact must pass the sliding bypass valve in order to connect with each receptacle isolated contact. The connector may be used in any environment where it is desirable to isolate the contacts from the outside environment including, undersea, outer space, volatile atmosphere, and normal pressures and environments for example, telecommunications applications where it is desirable to protect and isolate the contacts. The sliding bypass valve enables connections to be made wherein the contacts to be mated are completely protected, yet the connector is easy to mate and demate repeatedly without failure.