Harsh environment rotary joint electrical connector
AssigneeTeledyne ODI, Inc.
InventorJames L. Cairns
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary joint connector has a plug having a plug contact module and a mating receptacle having a receptacle contact module designed for mating engagement with the plug contact module when the connector is fully mated. One of the units has front and rear shells which are rotatably coupled together and contain the contact module which is held in the rear shell so that the rear shell and contact module are free to rotate in the front shell. The mating contact arrangement is such that the plug and receptacle contact modules do not have to be rotationally aligned to maintain electrical contact, so that relative rotation of the electrical contacts of the two contact modules about the mating axis as a result of rotation of the rear shell does not degrade the quality of the connected circuits.
Claims35
A submersible or harsh environment multi-circuit connector, comprising:
- first and second releasably mateable connector units movable along a mating/de-mating axis between mated and unmated conditions, the first and second connector units having respective first and second contact modules, each contact module having a plurality of contacts configured for keyless mating engagement with corresponding contacts of the other connector unit when the units are fully mated, the engagement being independent of relative rotational alignment of the contact modules about the mating/de-mating axis;
- at least one of the connector units having a fluid-filled contact chamber in which the corresponding contact module is located and a sealing mechanism at the forward end of the chamber which seals the chamber when the units are unmated and forms a seal with the other connector unit both during and after mating of the units;
- and
- the first connector unit having a front shell, a rear shell, and a rotatable connection between the front and rear shells configured to permit relative rotation between the shells about the mating/de-mating axis, the first contact module being secured to one of the shells, wherein the first and second contact modules are relatively rotatable about the mating/de-mating axis in the mated condition of the units while maintaining mated engagement between corresponding contacts of the first and second contact modules.
A submersible or harsh environment connector, comprising:
- a plug unit having a plug contact module comprising a pin with an outer surface carrying a plurality of axially spaced, annular contacts of gradually decreasing diameter towards a forward end of the pin;
- a receptacle unit configured for releasable mating engagement with the plug unit and having a fluid-filled contact chamber, a receptacle contact module in the contact chamber which has a contact bore having a plurality of axially spaced, annular contacts of gradually increasing diameter towards a forward end of the receptacle unit and configured for mating contact with corresponding contacts of the plug module in the mated condition of the units, and a sealing mechanism at a forward end of the chamber which seals the chamber when the units are unmated and forms a seal with the plug unit pin both during and after mating of the units;
- wherein a first one of the units has first and second relatively rotatable front and rear shells, and the contact module of said one unit is secured to one of the shells, thereby providing a rotary joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.