EP0163473A2 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Electrical connector Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0163473A2
EP0163473A2 EP85303548A EP85303548A EP0163473A2 EP 0163473 A2 EP0163473 A2 EP 0163473A2 EP 85303548 A EP85303548 A EP 85303548A EP 85303548 A EP85303548 A EP 85303548A EP 0163473 A2 EP0163473 A2 EP 0163473A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
insert
shell
connector member
collar
shoulder
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP85303548A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0163473A3 (en
Inventor
Ronald Chard
Alan Fox
Donald Leonard Watson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TEC Electrical Components Ltd
Original Assignee
FKI Electrical Components Ltd
Thorn EMI Electrical Components Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by FKI Electrical Components Ltd, Thorn EMI Electrical Components Ltd filed Critical FKI Electrical Components Ltd
Publication of EP0163473A2 publication Critical patent/EP0163473A2/en
Publication of EP0163473A3 publication Critical patent/EP0163473A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/627Snap or like fastening
    • H01R13/6277Snap or like fastening comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/46Bases; Cases
    • H01R13/502Bases; Cases composed of different pieces
    • H01R13/508Bases; Cases composed of different pieces assembled by a separate clip or spring

Definitions

  • This invention is concerned with cylindrical electrical connectors, and more particularly with connectors in which a plurality of electrical contacts are supported in axially directed bores in an insulating insert assembly, the insert assembly being fixed in a substantially cylindrical shell.
  • Such . connectors may be required to withstand adverse environmental conditions, and epoxy resins are commonly used to encapsulate the insert into the shell before inserting the electrical contacts.
  • British Patent Specification No.1503478 for example, describes an electrical connector in which a deformable laminate coated with an epoxy resin, is fixed by means of a pressure tool into an annular space between the insert assembly and the shell.
  • Such use of epoxy resins to satisfactorily fix the insert into the shell involves the optimisation of pressure and temperature conditions for insertion and curing of the resin, which is costly in terms of both tooling and process time.
  • an electrical connector member including a tubular shell within which there is mounted a cylindrical insert member having a plurality of passages for electrical contacts, said insert having an external shoulder and said shell having an internal shoulder, said connector member further including a resilient element for securing said insert member within said shell by means of resilient-forces exerted by said resilient element on said external shoulder and said internal shoulder.
  • the connector member includes a substantially cylindrical shell 1 which encloses an insulating insert assembly 2.
  • the insert assembly is comprised of a main insert member 3, a wafer member 4, a seal 5 and a grommet member 6.
  • the insert member 3 and the wafer member 4 are of a rigid dielectric plastics material, while the seal 5 and the grommet member 6 are of a resilient material such as silicone rubber.
  • the components of the insert assembly are bonded to form a substantially cylindrical assembly having a plurality of axially directed through holes which are provided to support a plurality of contacts (not shown) which may be inserted-after the insert assembly has been fixed into the shell.
  • Internal retention towers are provided on the wafer member 4 to prevent axial movement of the contacts, as is decribed, for example, in British Patent No.1503478.
  • the shell has an internal shoulder 8 which when the insert assembly is inserted in the shell, provides a stop for collar 9 provided on the insert member 3.
  • An internal annular recess 10 is provided in the shell and a retention ring 11 is placed in the recess 10 before inserting the insert assembly into the shell.
  • the retention ring is of a resilient material such as beryllium copper and is substantially dish shaped, having edges of, unequal diameters.
  • a plurality of evenly spaced axially directed slots 12 in the retention ring extend from the edge 15 of larger diameter.
  • the retention ring is dimensioned such that it may rest with its edge 15 against the.shoulder 13 of the recess 10.
  • the insert assembly is inserted into the shell with an axial pressure, the smaller diameter edge 16 of the retention ring sliding over the collar 9 until, when fully inserted, the edge 16 snaps firmly against the shoulder 14 of the collar 9.
  • the insert is now firmly supported in the shell by the spring force of the retention ring acting against, at one edge, the shoulder 13 of the shell and, at the other edge, the shoulder 14 of the insert.
  • the construction is such that this spring force is sufficient for the connector member to resist high pressure forces under adverse environments, the construction requiring no encapsulation and no use of resins or adhesives beyond those used in the initial bonding of the components of the insert assembly.
  • a complete connector would have a second mating connector member having female contacts.
  • the invention can equally well be used on connector members having female contacts such that complete connectors can be assembled without the need for resins or encapsulation.
  • Figure 1 shows the retention ring in the form of a continuous ring, which may be formed in any convenient, known manner
  • the retention ring may be formed from flat strip material as shown in Figure 3.
  • a strip of resilient material 17, typically 0.2mm thick beryllium copper, is first formed with suitably spaced slots 18.
  • a slight longitudinal fold is applied, shown in the view along the line AA.
  • the strip is then formed into a ring, the fold causing the strip to be substantially dish shaped, with different edge diameters. It will be appreciated that this form of retention ring may be produced for substantially lower cost than a solid continuous ring.
  • connector member which provides protection against the majority of adverse environments
  • further environmental protection may be readily incorporated, if required, by the application of further sealants after the assembly of the component parts of the assembly, by methods well known to those skilled in the art.

Abstract

An electrical connector member includes a cylindrical outer shell (1) which encloses a bonded insulating insert assembly (2) having a plurality of axial passages (7) for electrical contacts. The insert assembly includes a rigid main insert (3), a rigid wafer (4), a rubber grommet (6) and a rubber seal (5). The shell has an internal shoulder (8) which provides a stop for a collar (9) provided on the insert (3). A dish shaped resilient beryllium copper retention ring (11) having a plurality of axially directed slots (12) is placed in an internal annular recess (10) in the shell before the insert assembly is inserted into the shell. When the insert assembly is inserted, the smaller diameter edge (16) of the retention ring slides over the collar (9) until, on full insertion, the edge (16) snaps firmly against the shoulder (14) of the collar. The insert is then firmly supported in the shell by the spring force of the retention ring and requires no encapsulation.

Description

  • This invention is concerned with cylindrical electrical connectors, and more particularly with connectors in which a plurality of electrical contacts are supported in axially directed bores in an insulating insert assembly, the insert assembly being fixed in a substantially cylindrical shell. Such.connectors may be required to withstand adverse environmental conditions, and epoxy resins are commonly used to encapsulate the insert into the shell before inserting the electrical contacts. British Patent Specification No.1503478, for example, describes an electrical connector in which a deformable laminate coated with an epoxy resin, is fixed by means of a pressure tool into an annular space between the insert assembly and the shell. Such use of epoxy resins to satisfactorily fix the insert into the shell involves the optimisation of pressure and temperature conditions for insertion and curing of the resin, which is costly in terms of both tooling and process time.
  • It is an object of the invention to provide an improved electrical connector which has no need for resin encapsulation.
  • According to the invention there is provided an electrical connector member including a tubular shell within which there is mounted a cylindrical insert member having a plurality of passages for electrical contacts, said insert having an external shoulder and said shell having an internal shoulder, said connector member further including a resilient element for securing said insert member within said shell by means of resilient-forces exerted by said resilient element on said external shoulder and said internal shoulder.
  • One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:-
    • Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an insert assembly, a shell and a retention ring for a connector member according to the invenion,
    • Figure 2 shows in part section the insert assembly fixed into-the shell by means of the retention ring,
    • Figure 3 shows an alternative retention ring formed from continuous strip.
  • Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the connector member includes a substantially cylindrical shell 1 which encloses an insulating insert assembly 2. The insert assembly is comprised of a main insert member 3, a wafer member 4, a seal 5 and a grommet member 6. The insert member 3 and the wafer member 4 are of a rigid dielectric plastics material, while the seal 5 and the grommet member 6 are of a resilient material such as silicone rubber. The components of the insert assembly are bonded to form a substantially cylindrical assembly having a plurality of axially directed through holes which are provided to support a plurality of contacts (not shown) which may be inserted-after the insert assembly has been fixed into the shell. Internal retention towers (not shown) are provided on the wafer member 4 to prevent axial movement of the contacts, as is decribed, for example, in British Patent No.1503478.
  • The shell has an internal shoulder 8 which when the insert assembly is inserted in the shell, provides a stop for collar 9 provided on the insert member 3. An internal annular recess 10 is provided in the shell and a retention ring 11 is placed in the recess 10 before inserting the insert assembly into the shell. The retention ring is of a resilient material such as beryllium copper and is substantially dish shaped, having edges of, unequal diameters. A plurality of evenly spaced axially directed slots 12 in the retention ring extend from the edge 15 of larger diameter. The retention ring is dimensioned such that it may rest with its edge 15 against the.shoulder 13 of the recess 10. The insert assembly is inserted into the shell with an axial pressure, the smaller diameter edge 16 of the retention ring sliding over the collar 9 until, when fully inserted, the edge 16 snaps firmly against the shoulder 14 of the collar 9. The insert is now firmly supported in the shell by the spring force of the retention ring acting against, at one edge, the shoulder 13 of the shell and, at the other edge, the shoulder 14 of the insert. The construction is such that this spring force is sufficient for the connector member to resist high pressure forces under adverse environments, the construction requiring no encapsulation and no use of resins or adhesives beyond those used in the initial bonding of the components of the insert assembly.
  • Contacts are inserted into the bores 7 after fixing the insert assembly into the shell in known manner. The assembly as shown is suitable for use with pin type male contacts which would be inserted into the insert assembly to be retained by means of retention towers in known manner.
  • A complete connector would have a second mating connector member having female contacts. The invention can equally well be used on connector members having female contacts such that complete connectors can be assembled without the need for resins or encapsulation.
  • While Figure 1 shows the retention ring in the form of a continuous ring, which may be formed in any convenient, known manner, the retention ring may be formed from flat strip material as shown in Figure 3. A strip of resilient material 17, typically 0.2mm thick beryllium copper, is first formed with suitably spaced slots 18. A slight longitudinal fold is applied, shown in the view along the line AA. The strip is then formed into a ring, the fold causing the strip to be substantially dish shaped, with different edge diameters. It will be appreciated that this form of retention ring may be produced for substantially lower cost than a solid continuous ring.
  • Although, as described hereinbefore, there is provided a construction of connector member which provides protection against the majority of adverse environments, it will be appreciated that further environmental protection may be readily incorporated, if required, by the application of further sealants after the assembly of the component parts of the assembly, by methods well known to those skilled in the art.
  • It will be appreciated that the above description represents only one embodiment of the invention, and other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims (7)

1. An electrical connector member including a tubular shell (1) within which there is mounted a cylindrical insert member (3) having a plurality of passages for electrical contacts, said insert having an external shoulder (14) and said shell having an internal shoulder (13), characterised in that said connector member further includes a resilient element (11) for securing said insert member within said shell by means of resilient forces exerted by said resilient element on said external shoulder and said internal shoulder.
2. An electrical connector member according to Claim 1 in which said resilient element is of a beryllium copper material.
3.. An electrical connector member acording to Claims 1 or 2 in which said shell is formed with an internal annular recess (10) and said resilient element is substantially ring shaped and rests in said recess, said internal shoulder being provided by a side wall of said recess.
4. An electrical connector member according to any preceding claim in which said insert is provided with a collar (9) positioned such that one side wall of said collar provides a stop which defines the full insertion of said insert and the other side of said collar (14) provides said external shoulder on said insert.
5. A connector member according to claims 3 or 4 in which said resilient element is substantially dish shaped, having edges of different diameters, said element having a plurality of axially directed slots (12) extending from the edge of larger diameter.
6. A connector member according to Claim 5 in which said resilient element is a continuous ring member.
7. A connector member according to Claim 5 in which said resilient member is formed from a slotted strip of material (17), said slotted strip being formed into a substantially dish shaped ring.
EP85303548A 1984-05-29 1985-05-20 Electrical connector Withdrawn EP0163473A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB848413599A GB8413599D0 (en) 1984-05-29 1984-05-29 Electrical connector
GB8413599 1984-05-29

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0163473A2 true EP0163473A2 (en) 1985-12-04
EP0163473A3 EP0163473A3 (en) 1987-08-26

Family

ID=10561594

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85303548A Withdrawn EP0163473A3 (en) 1984-05-29 1985-05-20 Electrical connector

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0163473A3 (en)
GB (1) GB8413599D0 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0285703A2 (en) * 1987-01-09 1988-10-12 Schaltbau Gesellschaft mbH Connector with a case and a contact insertion piece
DE3843852A1 (en) * 1988-04-08 1989-10-19 Souriau Electric Gmbh Plug connector
DE3823617A1 (en) * 1988-07-12 1990-01-18 Gore W L & Co Gmbh METAL HOUSING FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR
FR2651545A1 (en) * 1989-09-07 1991-03-08 Jupiter Const Electr Device for fixing an internal part into an external part of conjugate shape, used particularly for an electrical connector

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2419018A (en) * 1942-01-03 1947-04-15 Pauline E Wood Connector
US3478305A (en) * 1966-09-26 1969-11-11 Bunker Ramo Electrical connector
US4239314A (en) * 1979-04-11 1980-12-16 Bunker Ramo Corporation Electrical connector
US4413875A (en) * 1981-09-23 1983-11-08 Matrix Science Corporation Connector retaining apparatus
GB2127234A (en) * 1982-09-07 1984-04-04 Itt Self-locking electrical connector

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2419018A (en) * 1942-01-03 1947-04-15 Pauline E Wood Connector
US3478305A (en) * 1966-09-26 1969-11-11 Bunker Ramo Electrical connector
US4239314A (en) * 1979-04-11 1980-12-16 Bunker Ramo Corporation Electrical connector
US4413875A (en) * 1981-09-23 1983-11-08 Matrix Science Corporation Connector retaining apparatus
GB2127234A (en) * 1982-09-07 1984-04-04 Itt Self-locking electrical connector

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0285703A2 (en) * 1987-01-09 1988-10-12 Schaltbau Gesellschaft mbH Connector with a case and a contact insertion piece
EP0285703A3 (en) * 1987-01-09 1989-05-31 Schaltbau Gesellschaft Mbh Connector with a case and a contact insertion piece
DE3843852A1 (en) * 1988-04-08 1989-10-19 Souriau Electric Gmbh Plug connector
DE3843852C2 (en) * 1988-04-08 1999-12-30 Souriau Electric Gmbh Connectors
DE3823617A1 (en) * 1988-07-12 1990-01-18 Gore W L & Co Gmbh METAL HOUSING FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR
FR2651545A1 (en) * 1989-09-07 1991-03-08 Jupiter Const Electr Device for fixing an internal part into an external part of conjugate shape, used particularly for an electrical connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8413599D0 (en) 1984-07-04
EP0163473A3 (en) 1987-08-26

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Effective date: 19901103

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Inventor name: FOX, ALAN

Inventor name: WATSON, DONALD LEONARD

Inventor name: CHARD, RONALD