Electrical connectors – With supporting means for coupling part – Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-13
2004-12-28
Nasri, Javaid H. (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With supporting means for coupling part
Coupling part or mating part extending into panel opening
C439S540100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06835093
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to feedthrough adapters, and more particularly to an aircraft bulkhead feedthrough adapter, which includes multiple feedthrough jacks in a single feedthrough adapter to enable efficient use of minimal aircraft bulkhead aperture area.
It only takes one quick glance into the cockpit of an aircraft to be utterly amazed at all the knobs, switches, gauges, and dials. While most people take the instrument panel and the electrical underpinnings of an aircraft for granted, those in the aircraft manufacturing industry do not. The challenge for aircraft manufacturers is how to manage the large number of different electrical cables and other wiring that contribute to the proper functioning of an aircraft. Of particular concern is the efficient placement of electrical cables and wiring through bulkhead areas.
Typically, aircraft bulkheads have pre-sized apertures through which various electrical control cables and other related wiring must be placed. Since space within the bulkhead is at a premium, and since in modern aircraft there are many cables, wires, and other conduits in general, it is desirable to economize existing space. There are typically a number of coaxial cables in a typical aircraft for which bulkhead feedthrough adapters are used.
Generally, bulkhead feedthrough adapters include two female coaxial connectors located back-to-back in an adapter which is mounted in a bulkhead aperture. The bulkhead feedthrough adapter is thus used to join two coaxial cables, one on each side of the bulkhead. Two types of bulkhead feedthrough adapters are most frequently used: (1) a bulkhead feedthrough adapter with a round, threaded body and a flange located at one end of the body, with a nut being used to retain it in place in the bulkhead; and (2) a bulkhead feedthrough adapter with a square flange having holes in the four corners of the flange, which is screwed or bolted into place on a bulkhead to cover an aperture in the bulkhead.
In either case, a single cable having a male connector is located on each side of the bulkhead and is connected to the adapter jack. Since there are numerous cables and other electrical wiring, adequate bulkhead space becomes a concern. To further complicate matters, today's technological advances have increased the number of cables and other wiring present in aircraft.
Bulkhead aperture area remains a concern in older aircraft also. For example, earlier aircraft models are frequently updated with additional, essential electronic components, which further add to the number of cable and other wiring that need to be placed through minimal bulkhead aperture area. Accordingly, older aircraft that are being updated to retrofit new components may have difficulty accommodating the increase in cables and other wiring.
Previously known devices have done nothing to address the above concerns. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,707 to Guimond et al. (the “'707 patent”), which patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference, describes a multimate coaxial adapter which can be terminated with one of several other types of connectors, but which is wholly inapplicable for use in combination with an aircraft bulkhead aperture. Specifically, the device of the '707 patent is unsuitable for use with the apertures in aircraft bulkhead surfaces.
The drawbacks of the previously known devices have been known for some time without any marked improvement thereto occurring to date. Consequently, the aircraft manufacturing industry is in dire need of a novel device and a method for efficiently managing the multitude of cables and wiring that are present within an aircraft and which need to pass through a bulkhead.
It is accordingly the primary objective of the present invention that it provide a bulkhead feedthrough adapter no larger than previously known adapters for use with pre-existing and new aircraft bulkhead apertures.
It is another objective of the present invention that the bulkhead feedthrough adapter include multiple jacks to enable efficient use of minimal aircraft bulkhead aperture area.
It is an additional objective of the present invention that it provide a mounting mechanism which is adapted to engage the bulkhead surface surrounding a bulkhead aperture.
It is yet another objective of the present invention that it provide a bulkhead feedthrough adapter having multiple jacks which may have different types of connectors for application in any of a number of electrical arts, and which may be used in unlimited industrial settings not necessarily being limited to the aviation industry.
The multiple jack bulkhead feedthrough adapter of the present invention must also be of construction that is both durable and long lasting, and it should also require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. In order to enhance the market appeal of the multiple jack bulkhead feedthrough adapter of the present invention, it should also be of inexpensive construction to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, it is also an objective that all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the multiple jack bulkhead feedthrough adapter of the present invention be achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The disadvantages and limitations of the aforementioned background art are overcome by the present invention. With this invention, multiple cables or other electrical wiring can be accommodated through aircraft bulkhead apertures of minimal area using a multiple jack bulkhead feedthrough adapter that is not substantially larger than previously known adapters.
The present invention provides a multiple jack bulkhead feedthrough adapter for mounting in an aperture in the bulkhead of an aircraft, including a base having a first or forward end and a second or rearward end. At least two jacks extend from each of the first end and second end, respectively. A mounting portion, such as a flange or plate, is located generally perpendicular to the base at or near an end thereof. Finally, at least one fastener is employed to secure the multiple jack bulkhead feedthrough adapter to an aircraft bulkhead at the location of an aperture extending therethrough.
Each embodiment of the present invention also includes at least one electrical interconnection between pairs of aligned jacks, which opposably extend from the first and second ends, respectively, of each base. Further, each mounting portion is characterized by opposing inner and outer surfaces, at least one of the surfaces being adapted to engage at least two, but preferably all, locations of peripheral bulkhead surface adjacent to a bulkhead aperture.
A first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a generally cylindrical, threaded base having a forward and rearward end. A flange is spaced inwardly from both the forward and rearward ends of the base. The generally cylindrical nature of the base enables it to be easily inserted into most bulkhead apertures, the majority of which are generally circular in shape. Additionally, because the base is both cylindrical and threaded, it is adapted to accommodate multiple varieties of fasteners.
At least one jack extends from each end of the base, forming at least one aligned opposing pair of extending jacks. An electrical interconnection links each aligned opposing pair of extending jacks. The current embodiment takes into consideration that multiple jacks can extend from each end of the base, creating multiple aligned opposing pairs of extending jacks. But, it is preferred that at least two jacks extend from each of the forward and rearward ends of the base. Extending jacks are adjacently separated by distance “D.” It is preferred that the distance “D” between each adjacent jack be equivalent although additional or fewer jacks can also be accommodated, which may alter distance “D” between each adjacent jack.
In accordance with the above, when multiple jacks are present, each adjacent jack
Griffin James P.
Van Hecke Thomas R.
Nasri Javaid H.
PIC Wire & Cable/The Angelus Corporation
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.
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