Patent US4897585A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5899765A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5899765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual bladder connector
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Services Inc
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Filing: 1997-04-04
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Granted: 1999-05-04
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Expires: 2017-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A submersible connector having redundant bladders, each filled with a dielectric liquid. An inner bladder contains an electrical contact, and an insertion sleeve of the inner bladder is pinched closed by a spring. An outer bladder is disposed around the inner bladder, and also has an entrance sleeve that is pinched closed independently of the inner bladder. With this arrangement, the redundant bladders are constructed so as to provide independent penetrable seals.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward J. Niekrasz
- 👤 Daniel A. Stephens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/523
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
An underwater electrical connector apparatus, comprising: an electrical contact having a body portion; first and second bladders, each sealed to said body portion, said first bladder containing said electrical contact within a dielectric liquid, and said second bladder containing said first bladder within a dielectric liquid, said first and second bladders each having an entrance opening aligned with said electrical contact; and a first and second closure mechanism for independently closing the entrance opening of said first bladder and said second bladder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
An underwater electrical connector apparatus, comprising: an electrical contact having a body portion; first and second bladders, each sealed to said body portion, said first bladder containing said electrical contact within a dielectric liquid, and said second bladder containing said first bladder within a dielectric liquid, said first and second bladders each having an entrance opening aligned with said electrical contact; and a first and second closure mechanism for independently closing the entrance opening of said first bladder and said second bladder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The underwater electrical connector apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second closure mechanisms are formed independent of each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The underwater electrical connector apparatus of claim 2, wherein Said closure mechanism comprises a spring having a looped body portion with two arms formed orthogonal to said looped body portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The underwater electrical connector apparatus of claim 1, wherein the entrance opening of said first and second bladders each include a tubular elastomeric part that is pinched together by a respective said closure mechanism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The underwater electrical connector apparatus of claim 1, wherein said closure mechanisms are constructed so as to be activated for opening and closing the respective said entrance openings at different times.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
An underwater electrical socket assembly comprising: an electrical socket having molded thereto a support body; an inner bladder sealed to said support body for enclosing said electrical socket, a liquid dielectric filling said inner bladder and surrounding said electrical socket, said inner bladder having an entrance opening aligned with said electrical socket; an outer bladder sealed to said support body for enclosing said inner bladder, and a dielectric liquid filling a space between said inner bladder and said outer bladder, said outer bladder having an entrance opening aligned with said electrical socket; and a spring assembly for independently closing said entrance opening of said inner and outer bladders.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
An underwater electrical socket assembly comprising: an electrical socket having molded thereto a support body; an inner bladder sealed to said support body for enclosing said electrical socket, a liquid dielectric filling said inner bladder and surrounding said electrical socket, said inner bladder having an entrance opening aligned with said electrical socket; an outer bladder sealed to said support body for enclosing said inner bladder, and a dielectric liquid filling a space between said inner bladder and said outer bladder, said outer bladder having an entrance opening aligned with said electrical socket; and a spring assembly for independently closing said entrance opening of said inner and outer bladders.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The underwater electrical socket assembly of claim 6, wherein said spring assembly comprises a pair of hairpin type springs for pinching closed the respective bladder entrance openings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The underwater electrical socket assembly of claim 7, wherein one spring is disposed inside said outer bladder for pinching an entrance opening thereof closed, and another spring is disposed outside said inner bladder for pinching an entrance opening thereof closed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The underwater electrical socket assembly of claim 6, wherein said outer bladder comprises an elongate elastomeric cylinder having opposite open ends, one end being sealed to said support body and an opposite end having a tubular throat pinched together by said spring assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The underwater electrical socket assembly of claim 6, wherein said spring assembly is disposed in the liquid dielectric contained by said outer bladder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
98 words
An underwater electrical socket assembly, comprising: a socket contact; an insulator body for supporting said socket contact; an inner bladder sealed to said insulator body for enclosing said socket contact, said inner bladder having an entrance opening; a liquid dielectric filling said inner bladder; a first spring member for biasing the entrance opening of said inner bladder closed; an outer bladder sealed to said insulator body and enclosing at least a portion of said inner bladder; a liquid dielectric filling the outer bladder; and a second spring member for biasing an entrance opening of said outer bladder closed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
An underwater electrical socket assembly, comprising: a socket contact; an insulator body for supporting said socket contact; an inner bladder sealed to said insulator body for enclosing said socket contact, said inner bladder having an entrance opening; a liquid dielectric filling said inner bladder; a first spring member for biasing the entrance opening of said inner bladder closed; an outer bladder sealed to said insulator body and enclosing at least a portion of said inner bladder; a liquid dielectric filling the outer bladder; and a second spring member for biasing an entrance opening of said outer bladder closed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The underwater electrical socket assembly of claim 11, wherein said outer bladder and said inner bladder are constructed as two different bladders, providing independent flexible containers for said liquid dielectric.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The underwater electrical socket assembly of claim 11, wherein said outer bladder has a rib around an opening for snap fitting onto a groove formed in said insulator body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The underwater electrical socket assembly of claim 13, wherein said inner bladder has a rib around an opening for snap fitting into a groove formed in said insulator body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The underwater electrical socket assembly of claim 11, further including a spacer engageable with said first and second spring members for biasing apart the entrance opening of said inner bladder from the entrance opening of said outer bladder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The underwater electrical socket assembly of claim 11, wherein said first spring member is constructed identical to said second spring member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
The underwater electrical socket assembly of claim 11, wherein said first spring member is constructed as a hairpin shape spring having a spring body with two ends, each end having an arm formed perpendicular to said spring body, said arms engaging said entrance opening of said inner bladder to pinch said entrance opening closed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The underwater electrical socket assembly of claim 11, further including in combination a conductive male probe insertable through said entrance opening in said outer bladder and through said entrance opening in said inner bladder and into said socket contact.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
The underwater electrical socket assembly of claim 18, further including in combination a male housing for supporting said underwater socket assembly therein, and a female housing for supporting said male probe therein, and wherein said male housing and said female housing have a respective key and key way to provide registration of said male probe and said electrical socket assembly.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-03 | 2002-11-02 | 2003-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-03 | 2006-11-02 | 2007-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-03 | 2010-11-02 | 2011-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |