Underwater pressure break connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector apparatus adapted for use in an underwater environment to couple cables in end-to-end relationship, comprising: an inner flexible member adapted to sealingly engage a mating connector part, said flexible member being surrounded by an outer housing member that is mounted for limited relative movement with respect thereto; and means for coupling said flexible member to said housing member so that said relative movement causes distortion of said seal member effective to break its sealing contact with a mating connector part.

Claim 3

The connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein said seal member has a normally circular cross-section when free of distortion, said distortion causing said seal member to obtain a non-circular cross-section over a portion of its length.

Claim 4

The connector apparatus of claim 2 wherein said coupling means comprises a protusion extending radially outward of said seal member and engaged within an aperture in said housing member.

Claim 5

The connector apparatus of claim 3 wherein the outer wall surface of said seal member and the inner wall surface of said housing member are laterally spaced from one another in a region adjacent to said protusion.

Claim 6

The connector apparatus of claim 4 further including means formed in internal surfaces of said seal member for allowing fluid communication to the interior of said seal member upon the occurrence of a degree of distortion of said seal member.

Claim 7

Apparatus suitable for use in an underwater environment for coupling cables in end to end relationship comprising: a male inner connector member having plural female conductor receptacles therein and a feMale guide pin receptacle; a female flexible inner connector member adapted to sealingly engage said male inner connector member and having male conductor pins therein situated to cooperatively engage the female conductor receptacles of said male inner connector member and a male guide pin situated to cooperatively engage the female guide pin receptacle of said male inner member; outer rigid housing members generally disposed over the exterior surfaces of said inner male and female connector members and arranged to cooperatively engage each other but free to assume a limited degree of free relative motion with respect to said inner members; means for coupling relative motion of one of said outer rigid housing members exceeding said limited degree of free relative motion of said outer members to said flexible inner female member thereby to cause distortion and breaking of the sealing engagement of said inner members with each other.

Claim 8

Apparatus suitable for use in an underwater environment for coupling cables in end to end relationship comprising: a male inner connector member having plural female conductor receptacles therein and a feMale guide pin receptacle; a female flexible inner connector member adapted to sealingly engage said male inner connector member and having male conductor pins therein situated to cooperatively engage the female conductor receptacles of said male inner connector member and a male guide pin situated to cooperatively engage the female guide pin receptacle of said male inner member; outer rigid housing members generally disposed over the exterior surfaces of said inner male and female connector members and arranged to cooperatively engage each other but free to assume a limited degree of free relative motion with respect to said inner members; means for coupling relative motion of one of said outer rigid housing members exceeding said limited degree of free relative motion of said outer members to said flexible inner female member thereby to cause distortion and breaking of the sealing engagement of said inner members with each other.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 and further including means for cooperatively engaging said outer members, said engaging means maintaining engagement by means of the energy stored in said flexible inner member upon compression thereof.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said coupling means comprises a boss on said inner flexible member, said boss extending perpendicularly outward from the longitudinal axis of said apparatus past the inner surface of said rigid outer member.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 and said coupling means further including plural keys on the exterior surface of at least one of said inner members arranged to cooperatively engage corresponding fingers on the interior surface of the corresponding rigid outer member.