US 4,174,875 A · Coaxial wet connector with spring operated piston

Abstract

A coaxial wet connector for connecting coaxail conductors of electromechaal ocean cables underwater either by a diver or submersible manipulator. The connector comprises a male section having a male inner conductor extending outwards from a concentric male outer conductor and a female section containing a spring biased shuttle piston for receiving the male inner conductor upon mating. An O-ring wiping seal wipes the male inner conductor clean of water as the male inner conductor drives the shuttle piston rearward within a female housing until electrical interconnection between the male and female sections is completed. A pressure compensating bladder removes water trapped adjacent an interconnection surface during mating and returns the water to the interconnection surface during decoupling thereby preventing a hydraulic lock between the male and female sections. A plurality of latch members pivotably connected to the male section and operable to engage a ridge on the feamle section is provided for transferring the mechanical forces from the female outer conductor to the female housing to the male housing and back to the male outer conductor.

Drawings

Claims56

Dependent claims

An electrical coaxial wet connector, including a male and a female section for mating which produces a nearly perfect impedance match while maintaining a coaxial mode of signal propagation, comprising:

a. a female housing having a central opening therein and a longitudinal axis;
b. a female inner conductor disposed within said female housing along the longitudinal axis thereof;
c. a female outer conductor disposed within said female housing concentric with said inner conductor, said female outer conductor projecting outwards from said female inner conductor such that an interconnection space is formed within said female outer conductor, said female outer conductor having a termination end;
d. female dielectric means disposed between said inner and outer female conductors for providing electrical insulation therebetween;
e. a male housing having a central opening therein and a longitudinal axis, said male housing interfitting with said female housing with said female housing being partially surrounded by said male housing after mating;
f. a male inner conductor disposed within said male housing along the longitudinal axis thereof;
g. a male outer conductor disposed within said male housing concentric with said inner conductor, said male inner conductor projecting outwards from said male outer conductor, said male outer conductor adapted to receive said female outer conductor in electrical connection therewith;
h. male dielectric means disposed between said inner and outer male conductors for providing electrical insulation and a water-tight seal therebetween;
i. male facing means disposed concentric with said male outer conductor between said male outer conductor and said male housing, said male facing means forming a water-tight seal therebetween;
j. female facing lip means disposed concentric with said female outer conductor between said female outer conductor and said female housing, said female facing means forming a water-tight seal therebetween;
k. shuttle piston means disposed within said interconnection space for receiving said male inner conductor and electrically interconnecting said male and female inner conductors, said shuttle piston means being slidable within said interconnection space, said piston means having a front side for receiving said male inner conductor and a back side for engaging said female inner conductor;
l. seal means disposed within said interconnection space adjacent said female outer conductor termination end for providing a water-tight seal between said shuttle piston means and said female outer conductor before mating and between said male inner conductor and said female outer conductor after mating, thereby preventing water from entering said interconnection space rearward of said seal means;
m. spring bias means for maintaining said shuttle piston means in abutting relationship with said seal means before mating and for automatically returning said shuttle piston means to said abutting relationship during unmating.

10 more elements

a. a female section having a central opening therein and a longitudinal axis;
b. a female inner conductor disposed within said female section along the longitudinal axis thereof;
c. a female outer conductor concentric with said inner conductor, said female outer conductor projecting outwards from said female inner conductor such that an interconnection space is formed within said female outer conductor, said female outer conductor having a termination end;
d. female dielectric means disposed between said inner and outer female conductors for providing electrical insulation therebetween;
e. a male section having a central opening therein and a longitudinal axis, said male section interfitting with said female section with said female outer conductor being partially surrounded by said male outer conductor after mating;
f. a male inner conductor disposed within said male section along the longitudinal axis thereof;
g. a male outer conductor disposed within said male section concentric with said inner conductor, said male outer conductor projecting outwards from said male inner conductor, said male outer conductor adapted to receive said female outer conductor in electrical connection therewith;
h. male dielectric means disposed between said inner and outer male conductors for providing electrical insulation and a water-tight seal therebetween;
i. shuttle piston means disposed within said interconnection space for receiving said male inner conductor and electrically interconnecting said male and female inner conductors, said shuttle piston means being slidable within said interconnection space, said piston means having a front side for receiving said male inner conductor and a back side for engaging said female inner conductor;
j. seal means disposed within said interconnection space adjacent said female outer conductor termination end for providing a water-tight seal between said shuttle piston means and said female outer conductor before mating and between said male inner conductor and said female outer conductor after mating, thereby preventing water from entering said interconnection space rearward of said seal means;
and
k. spring bias means for maintaining said shuttle piston means in abutting relationship with said seal means before mating and for automatically returning said shuttle piston means to said abutting relationship during unmating.

9 more elements

a. a female housing having a central opening therein and a longitudinal axis;
b. a female inner conductor disposed within said female housing along the longitudinal axis thereof;
c. a female outer conductor disposed within said female housing concentric with said inner conductor, said female outer conductor projecting outwards from said female inner conductor such that an interconnection space is formed within said female outer conductor, said female outer conductor having a termination end;
d. female dielectric means disposed between said inner and outer female conductors for providing electrical insulation therebetween;
e. a male housing having a central opening therein and a longitudinal axis, said male housing interfitting with said female housing with said female housing being partially surrounded by said male housing after mating;
f. a male inner conductor disposed within said male housing along the longitudinal axis thereof;
g. a male outer conductor disposed within said male housing concentric with said inner conductor, said male inner conductor projecting outwards from said male outer conductor, said male outer conductor adapted to receive said female outer conductor in electrical connection therewith;
h. male dielectric means disposed between said inner and outer male conductors for providing electrical insulation and a water-tight seal therebetween;
i. male facing means disposed concentric with said male outer conductor between said male outer conductor and said male housing, said male facing means forming a water-tight seal therebetween;
j. female facing lip means disposed concentric with said female outer conductor between said female outer conductor and said female housing, said female facing means forming a water-tight seal therebetween;
k. shuttle piston means disposed within said interconnection space for receiving said male inner conductor and electrically interconnecting said male and female inner conductors, said shuttle piston means being slidable within said interconnection space, said piston means having a front side for receiving said male inner conductor and a back side for engaging said female inner conductor;
l. seal means disposed within said interconnection space adjacent said female outer conductor termination end for providing a water-tight seal between said shuttle piston means and said female outer conductor before mating and between said male inner conductor and said female outer conductor after mating, thereby preventing water from entering said interconnection space rearward of said seal means;
m. bias means for biasing said shuttle piston means in abutting relationship with said seal means before mating;
and
n. pressure compensation means fluidically communication with said interconnection space adjacent the front side of said shuttle piston means for removing fluid trapped within said interconnection space during mating and for returning said fluid to said interconnection space during decoupling whereby hydraulic locks are prevented from forming during mating and decoupling.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,240 words

Summary960 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates generally to underwater cable connectors and more particularly to coaxial connectors for underwater connection.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings6 figures

#FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional view of a male section of one embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view of a female section of one embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the male and female sections illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 with modifications after mating.

Detailed description4,166 words

#The present invention is utilized to interconnect the electrical and mechanical members of coaxial ocean cables while under water. The connections may be made by a diver or remote manipulator. The connection may be broken at any time without flooding the cable with seawater and may be remated underwater without loss of mechanical or electrical performance. The connectors are designed to carry the full breaking strength of the cable and to transmit electrical signals at high frequencies and at high voltages without excessive cornoa noise or impedance mismatch. The connectors are independent of operating depth being oil filled and pressure compensated. The present invention provides for coaxial configuration of the signal leads through the connector, has no rotational phase to phase keying requirement and may be easily decoupled through manual manipulation by a diver.

#The connector includes two halves, a female section 50 illustrated in FIG. 2 and a male section 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. All of the electrical moving parts and most of the primary mating functions are performed within female section 50. Both female section 50 and male section 10 are attached to a coaxial cable 12 by means of a modification 14 of a standard molded termination assembly developed by Bell Telephone for use with S.D. communication cables.

#Cable 12 contains a coaxial conductor configuration with a strength dielectric material 26 such as polyethylene concentrically sandwiched between inner conductor 22 and outer conductor 24. Outer conductor 24 is covered with a protective layer 25.

Coaxial wet connector with spring operated piston

Life of this patent

Coaxial wet connector with spring operated piston

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims56

Description5,240 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,240 words