Anti-decoupling mechanism for a threaded coupling connector

Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Coupling part with relatively pivotable concentric...

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C439S283000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06358078

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly, to an anti-coupling mechanism for a threaded coupling connector.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Threaded electrical coupling connectors are known. One type of threaded coupling connector is a ratchet type threaded coupling connector. In this type of connector a detent is provided in the coupling mechanism such that an audible click is evident when proper coupling is accomplished. A ratchet action threaded coupling connector is specified in series III of MIL-C-38999. As specified, in the mil-specification, complete coupling shall be accomplished by approximately 360° clockwise rotation of the coupling nut and shell to provide metal-to-metal bottoming. Also, as specified in the mil-specification, an anti-decoupling device shall be provided to maintain complete coupling. The described connector utilizes three internal toothed beams attached to the interior of the coupling nut which ratchet against external teeth located on the exterior of the plug shell.
As depicted in
FIGS. 1A-1C
, an example of a prior art electrical connector assembly
10
which conforms to MIL-C-38999 is depicted. As depicted in
FIG. 1A
, the electrical connector assembly
10
includes a plug
20
and a receptacle
30
. The plug
20
has a shoulder
22
against which a shoulder
32
of the receptacle
30
is brought into contact with to provide the body-to-body or metal-to-metal contact required by MIL-C-38999. The plug
20
has one or more grooves
28
. Each groove
28
receives a spring
44
(see FIG.
1
C). The spring
44
has a V-shape and is snapped into a corresponding groove
34
in the receptacle
30
as the plug
20
is rotated 360° relative to the receptacle
30
. The combination of spring
44
and groove
34
provide the snap action. The principle by which the anti-decoupling mechanism is provided on the electrical connector illustrated in
FIGS. 1A-1C
is that there is a spring ratchet (including spring
44
and groove
34
), which provides a resistance that the rotation threaded coupling nut sufficient to prevent uncoupling during specific dynamic tests. MIL-C-38999 specifies coupling torques for the various shell sizes in terms of a maximum engagement and disengagement as well as a minimum disengagement torque.
This MIL-C-38999 type of electrical connector is often subject to vibration. Even though the electrical connector
10
has an anti-decoupling device, the electrical connector
10
will decouple when subject to such vibration. This problem has been noted by the present inventors using a threaded coupling connector according to the MIL-C-38999 specification when the threaded coupling nut de-couples under vibration. Accordingly, a need exists for an electrical connector that is more resistant to vibration than prior art connectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector which is more resistant to vibration than prior art connectors.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector with a resilient gasket between mating parts which is compressed and which pre-loads components of the electrical connector to resist vibration.
The present invention is directed to an electrical connector having an o-ring between mating components. This o-ring serves a dual purpose. The o-ring provides both a seal and when compressed, loads the electrical connector in a manner that resists vibration.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a connector. The connector includes a plug shell having external teeth and a shoulder. The connector includes a coupling nut having internal teeth, a shoulder and a thread portion. The connector includes a receptacle shell having an end surface and a threaded portion. A resilient gasket is positioned adjacent said shoulder of the coupling nut. When the coupling nut threaded portion and the receptacle shell threaded portion are engaged, the plug shell external teeth and the coupling nut internal teeth are engaged and the resilient gasket is sandwiched between the coupling nut shoulder and the receptacle shell end surface.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description thereof are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3786396 (1974-01-01), Kemmer et al.
patent: 3963297 (1976-06-01), Panek et al.
patent: 4857007 (1989-08-01), Michaels et al.
patent: 5035640 (1991-07-01), Drogo
patent: 5435760 (1995-07-01), Miklos
patent: 6086400 (2000-07-01), Fowler

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