EP0369872A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Quick-release electrical connector coupling device
Assignee: Amphenol Corp
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Filing: 1989-11-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-11-13
Abstract
Abstract An electrical coupling assembly has a receptacle portion (10) attached to an electrical connector element (14) and releasably attached to a housing (34), affixed to the opposite electrical connector portion (28), by engagement of a latching ball (36) on the housing (34) with a latching detent (20) on the receptacle (10). Axial movement of an operating sleeve (44), with respect to the housing (34) facilitates the coupling and decoupling of the housing (34) and the receptacle (10). The operating sleeve (44) is spring (56) biased to assume a position with respect to the housing (34) retaining the coupling portions together. A force exerted on a lanyard (62) attached to the sleeve (44) axially moves the sleeve with respect to the housing (34) to decouple the coupling elements. A lanyard guide ring (64) is attached to the housing (34) and has an opening through which the lanyard (62) passes such that the portion of the lanyard (62) extending between the guide ring (64) and the operating sleeve (44) extends in a generally axial direction, as well as the direction of force exerted on the sleeve (44) by the lanyard (62). The coupling includes a mechanism (38) for disengaging the electrical connector portions before allowing the coupling elements to separate.
Inventors
- 👤 David Otis Gallusser
- 👤 Gene Larry Snyder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:18
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/62; H01R13/627; H01R13/6276
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A coupling device for releasably coupling first (14) and second (28) portions of an electrical connector including a receptable member (10) attached to the first electrical connector portion (14); a plug shell (32) attached to the second electrical connector portion (28); and a housing member (34) slidably mounted on the plug shell (32) so as to slide in a generally axial direction (18); characterized by a releasable latching means (20,36) to latch the housing member(34) and receptable (10) member together such that the electrical connector portions are in mating engagement; a releasable locking means (52) to releasably lock the housing member(34) and the plug shell (32) together; an operating means (44) associated with the housing member (34) and movable between a locking position which prohibits disengagement of the latching means (20,36) thereby locking the housing member and the receptacle together and the first and second electrical connector portions in mating engagement, and a release position which permits disengagement of the latching means (20,36) thereby decoupling the housing member (34) and the receptacle (10); and, a disengagement means (38) to disengage the first and second portions of the electrical connector from mating engagement before the operating means (44) reaches its release position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
A coupling device for releasably coupling first (14) and second (28) portions of an electrical connector including a receptable member (10) attached to the first electrical connector portion (14); a plug shell (32) attached to the second electrical connector portion (28); and a housing member (34) slidably mounted on the plug shell (32) so as to slide in a generally axial direction (18); characterized by a releasable latching means (20,36) to latch the housing member(34) and receptable (10) member together such that the electrical connector portions are in mating engagement; a releasable locking means (52) to releasably lock the housing member(34) and the plug shell (32) together; an operating means (44) associated with the housing member (34) and movable between a locking position which prohibits disengagement of the latching means (20,36) thereby locking the housing member and the receptacle together and the first and second electrical connector portions in mating engagement, and a release position which permits disengagement of the latching means (20,36) thereby decoupling the housing member (34) and the receptacle (10); and, a disengagement means (38) to disengage the first and second portions of the electrical connector from mating engagement before the operating means (44) reaches its release position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The coupling device as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the releasable latching means (20,36) includes a latching detent (20) defined by the receptacle member (10); and at least one latching ball (36) retained on the housing member (34) and located such that the latching ball (36) engages the latching detent (20) when the first and second portions (14,28) of the electrical connector are in mating engagement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
The coupling device as claimed in either claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the operating means comprises an operating sleeve (44) defining a coupling detent (46), a decoupling detent (48) and a locking surface (50) mounted on the housing member (34) so as to be generally axially movable between a first, locking position wherein the locking surface (50) is axially aligned with the latching means (36), a second, coupling position wherein the coupling detent (46) is axially aligned with the latching means (36), and a third, release position wherein the decoupling detent (48) is axially aligned with the latching means (36).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
The coupling device as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that the releasable locking means comprises a first shoulder (32a) formed on the plug shell (32); locking pin means (52) mounted on the housing member (34) so as to be movable between a first position wherein the locking pin means (52) is out of contact with the first shoulder (32a) and a second position wherein the locking pin means (52) contacts the first shoulder (32a); and an actuating means to move the locking pin mens between the first and second positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
The coupling device as claimed in claim 4 characterized in that the actuating means (52b,54,54a,56) comprises a first wedge surface (52b) formed on the locking pin means (52); an axially movable actuating ring (54) having a second wedge surface (54a) adapted to contact the first wedge surface (52b) such that generally axial movement of the actuating ring (54) with respect to the locking pin means (52) moves the locking pin means (52) between the first and second positions; and an actuating spring (56) operatively associated with the actuating ring (54).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The coupling device as claimed in claim 5 characterized in that the actuating spring (56) is interposed between the operating sleeve (44) and the actuating ring (54).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The coupling device as claimed in claim 6 characterized in that the actuating spring (56) comprises a compression spring normally biasing the actuating ring (54) into contact with the locking pin means (52) and biasing the operating sleeve (44) to its first, locking position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The coupling device as claimed in claim 7 further characterized by a release means to move the actuating ring (54) axially away from the locking pin means (52) thereby releasing the locking means (52) between the housing member (34) and the plug shell (32).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The coupling device as claimed in claim 8 characterized in that the release means comprises a second shoulder (44a) formed on the operating sleeve (44) located such that the locking means (52) is released before the operating sleeve (44) reaches its third, decoupling position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The coupling device as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that the disengagement means comprises spring means (38) acting on the housing member (34) and the plug shell (32) to move the plug shell (32) with respect to the housing member (34) thereby disengaging the first and second portions of the electrical connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The coupling device as claimed in claim 10 characterized in that the spring means (38) comprises a compression spring operatively interposed between the plug shell (32) and the housing member (34).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
The coupling device as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 11 further characterized by a lanyard guide means (64); and a lanyard (62) passing through the lanyard guide means (64) and operatively associated with the operating means (44) such that a portion of the lanyard (62) extending between the lanyard guide means (64) and the operating means (44) extends in a substantially axial direction (18) such that any force exerted on the operating means (44) through the lanyard (62) will be in a substantially axial direction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The coupling device as claimed in claim 12 characterized in that the lanyard guide means (64) comprises a lanyard guide ring (64) fixedly attached to the housing member (34).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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