Pressure compensating connector assembly

Claim 1

A pressure compensation apparatus for a connector assembly with at least one coupling member comprising a housing with a cable receiving end having a cable receiving orifice therethrough, an interface end with an insert member therein configured to mate with another coupling member, and first means positioned in the cable receiving orifice whereby the cable, comprising at least one wire, extends through the first means, the housing defining a circumferential chamber with a circumferential surface extending between the first means and the insert member, the cable extending through the chamber to couple to the insert member, the chamber having disposed therein a substantially incompressible non-electrically conducting fluid, the pressure compensation apparatus for equalizing the pressure between the inside of the chamber and the outside environment while preventing fluid communication between the chamber and the outside environment comprising: a first cylindrical mating sleeve positioned in the chamber and having a first surface for sealing contact against the circumferential surface of the chamber and a second surface spaced inwardly from the circumferential surface of the chamber for providing a space between the second surface and the circumferential surface of the chamber; a second cylindrical mating sleeve positioned in the chamber in spaced relationship to the first mating sleeve, the second mating sleeve having a third surface for sealing contact against the circumferential surface of the chamber and a fourth surface spaced inwardly from the circumferential surface of the chamber for providing a space between the fourth surface and the circumferential surface of the chamber; an elastomeric boot having a first end mounted on the second surface of the first mating sleeve and having a second end mounted on the fourth surface of the second mating sleeve to thereby bifurcate the chamber into an interior region inside the boot and an exterior region radially between the boot and the surface of the chamber and longitudinally between the first surface and the third surface; the housing having a pressure equalizing orifice therethrough at a location whereby the exterior region of the chamber communicates with the environment outside the connector, the incompressible fluid being confined to the interior region of the chamber.