Wet-mateable connector

Abstract

A wet-mateable connector for making a connection underwater comprises a male component 10 having a male pin 14 and a female component 20 having a female socket 24 for receiving the male pin. The male component has a male wiper seal assembly 16 which moves between a decoupled and a coupled position during coupling of the male component 10 and female component 20 so as to wipe at least a portion of the male pin 14. A latch 42a, 48 is provided which is arranged to latch the male wiper seal assembly 16 to the female component 20 during coupling such that when the male and female components are decoupled, the male wiper seal assembly 16 is returned to the decoupled position.

Claims

1. A wet-mateable connector for making a connection underwater comprising: a male component having .Iadd.a tubular male housing within which is disposed .Iaddend.a male pin .[.and.]..Iadd.;.Iaddend. a female component having a .[.tubular male housing within which is disposed;.]. a female socket for receiving the male pin; wherein the tubular male housing is arranged to receive at least a portion of the female component when the male and female components are coupled; wherein the male component has a male wiper seal assembly disposed in the tubular male housing and around the male pin, which moves between a decoupled and a coupled position during coupling of the male component and female component so as to wipe at least a portion of the male pin; and a latch arranged to latch the male wiper seal assembly to the female component during coupling such that when the male and female components are decoupled, the male wiper seal assembly is returned to the decoupled position.Iadd.; wherein the male component further comprises a retainer that when engaged retains the male wiper seal assembly in the decoupled position, thereby restricting the movement of the male wiper seal assembly; wherein the retainer comprises a retaining member and a corresponding retaining recess, at least one of which is resiliently deformable; and wherein the retaining member is substantially annular and is disposed in a substantially annular recess provided in the male wiper seal assembly or in the male component, and wherein the retaining recess is formed in the other of the male wiper seal assembly and the male component.Iaddend..

2. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 1, wherein the latch comprises corresponding latch parts provided on the male wiper seal assembly and the female component that are arranged to engage with one another so as to latch the male wiper seal assembly to the female component.

3. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the corresponding latch parts is resiliently deformable.

4. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 3, wherein one of the latch parts is a cantilevered plate.

5. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 1, wherein the male wiper seal assembly is axially moveable.

6. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 1, wherein the female component comprises a female wiper seal disposed such that when the male wiper seal assembly is latched to the female component, the male and female wiper seals abut.

.[.7. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 1, wherein the male component further comprises a retainer that when engaged retains the male wiper seal assembly in the decoupled position, thereby restricting the movement of the male wiper seal assembly..].

8. The wet-mateable connector according to claim .[.7.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein the retainer is arranged to be automatically disengaged during coupling of the male and female components, such that the male wiper seal assembly can move to the coupled position.

9. The wet-mateable connector according to claim .[.7.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein the retainer is arranged to be disengaged by applying a coupling force to the male wiper seal assembly from the female component in a direction towards the coupled position.

10. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 9, wherein the coupling force required to disengage the retainer is greater than .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.force required to engage the latch such that during coupling of the male and female components the latch engages before the retainer disengages.

11. The wet-mateable connector according to claim .[.7.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein the retainer prevents the male wiper seal assembly from being withdrawn from the male component.

.[.12. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 7, wherein the retainer comprises a retaining member and a corresponding retaining recess, at least one of which is resiliently deformable..].

.[.13. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 12, wherein the retaining member is substantially annular and is disposed in a substantially annular recess provided in the male wiper seal assembly or in the male component, and wherein the retaining recess is formed in the other of the male wiper seal assembly and the male component..].

14. The wet-mateable connector according to claim .[.7.]. .Iadd.1.Iaddend., wherein the retainer, when engaged, acts between the male wiper seal assembly and the tubular male housing.

15. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is an electrical connector and/or an optical connector.

16. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 1, wherein the male pin is disposed entirely within the tubular male housing.

17. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 1, wherein the tubular male housing is arranged to receive at least a portion of the female component during coupling.

18. A wet-mateable connector for making a connection underwater comprising: a male component having a tubular male housing within which is disposed a male pin; and a female component having a female socket for receiving the male pin; wherein the tubular male housing is arranged to receive at least a portion of the female component when the male and female components are coupled; wherein the male component further comprises: a male wiper seal assembly disposed in the tubular male housing and around the male pin, which is axially moveable and moves between a decoupled and a coupled position during coupling of the male component and female component so as to wipe at least a portion of the male pin; and a retainer that when engaged retains the male wiper seal assembly in the decoupled position, thereby restricting the movement of the male wiper seal assembly; and which is arranged to be automatically disengaged during coupling of the male and female components, such that the male wiper seal assembly can move to the coupled position; and wherein the connector further comprises: a latch comprising corresponding latch parts provided on the male wiper seal assembly and the female component that are arranged to engage with one another so as to latch the male wiper seal assembly to the female component during coupling, such that when the male and female components are decoupled, the male wiper seal assembly is returned to the decoupled position.Iadd.; wherein the retainer comprises a retaining member and a corresponding retaining recess, at least one of which is resiliently deformable; and wherein the retaining member is substantially annular and is disposed in a substantially annular recess provided in the male wiper seal assembly or in the male component, and wherein the retaining recess is formed in the other of the male wiper seal assembly and the male component.Iaddend..

19. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 18, wherein the retainer, when engaged, acts between the male wiper seal assembly and the tubular male housing.

20. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 18, wherein the male pin is disposed entirely within the tubular male housing.

21. The wet-mateable connector according to claim 18, wherein the tubular male housing is arranged to receive at least a portion of the female component during coupling.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a part sectional view of a male component of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a part sectional view of a female component of a connector assembly for cooperation with the male component of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIGS. 3a-3h show schematically the male component of FIG. 1 and female component of FIG. 2 at various stages during mechanical and electrical engagement; and

(5) FIGS. 4a-4e show schematically in more detail some of the stages depicted in FIGS. 3a-3h.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows generally at 10 a male component of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. The male component 10 comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow shroud housing 12, inside which is located a male contact pin 14 which has a first distal end 14a, an annular contact band 14c for making a disengageable electrical contact with a female component (not shown in FIG. 1, and to be described later) and a second end 14b comprising an electrical terminal for permanent connection to an electrical cable (not shown).

(7) Mounted on the male pin 14 and axially slidable thereon is a self-latching male wiper seal assembly shown generally at 16, and to be described in more detail below. In FIG. 1 the self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16 is in the decoupled position.

(8) FIG. 2 shows generally at 20 a female component of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. The component 20 comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow housing 22 inside which is located a female contact module 24 comprising an outer sleeve 25.

(9) Located telescopically within the outer sleeve 25 of the contact module 24 is an axially slidable shuttle pin 26, which in the disengaged configuration depicted in FIG. 2, emerges from an open end 25a of the outer sleeve 25 of the contact module 24. At an opposed end 24b of the contact module 24 is a cable termination, to which an electrical cable (not shown) is permanently connected in use. A primary wiper seal 28 and an axially spaced secondary wiper seal 30 are located around the shuttle pin 26. The primary and secondary wiper seals 28, 30 are substantially annular and are axially fixed with respect to the housing 22.

(10) The primary wiper seal 28 makes and maintains an intimate annular contact with the shuttle pin 26. The primary wiper seal 28 also retains a first dielectric fluid under pressure in a first dielectric fluid chamber 32.

(11) The secondary seal 30 also makes and maintains an intimate annular contact with the shuttle pin 26. The secondary wiper seal 30 retains a second dielectric fluid within a second dielectric fluid chamber 34. Within the second dielectric fluid chamber 34 a water ingress treatment module 36, in the form of a molecular sieve, has the function of removing any droplets of water or other contaminant that may have been inadvertently introduced into the second dielectric fluid.

(12) Within the contact module 24 is a substantially annular electric contact (not shown) arranged in use to make an electric contact with the contact band 14c of the male contact pin 14 of FIG. 1, when the male and female components 10 and 20 are in complete electrical and mechanical union. As will be described below, the electrical contact is made when the shuttle pin 26 becomes axially displaced by the male contact pin 14 of FIG. 1.

(13) FIGS. 3a-3h show schematically in stages the mechanical and eventual electrical engagement between the male component 10 and female component 20, described above in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2. Reference numerals used in these figures remain the same throughout.

(14) The component 10, otherwise known as the receptacle, despite physically receiving its counterpart 20, is conventionally described as the male component due to the presence within it of the male contact pin 14 which is arranged in use to penetrate the component 20. Likewise, although the component 20, often referred to as a plug, is arranged to enter the component 10, it is conventionally referred to as the female component because the contact module 24 within it is arranged in use to be penetrated by the male contact pin 14.

(15) FIG. 3a shows the male 10 and female 20 components spaced apart, but axially aligned and ready for engagement.

(16) In FIG. 3b a plug nose portion 20a of the female component 20 comes into contact with the front of the wiper seal assembly 16 of the male component 10.

(17) FIG. 3c shows the male contact 14 of the male component 10 coming into contact with the axially slidable shuttle pin 26 of the female component 20. In addition, a latch portion 16a of the self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16, described in more detail below, begins to latch with a corresponding profile of the plug nose portion 20a of the female component 20.

(18) In FIG. 3d, the latch portion 16a is fully engaged with the plug nose portion 20a of the female component 20. The male contact pin 14 has begun to push back the shuttle pin 26 into the contact module 24 of the female component 20.

(19) FIG. 3e shows the male component pin 14 has now pushed through the primary wiper seal 28 of the female component, driving the shuttle pin 26 further into the contact module 24. A continuous seal is maintained by the primary wiper seal 28 between the shuttle pin 26 and the male contact pin 14. In the male component 10 the self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16 has begun to be pushed back further into the housing 12 by the front portion 20a of the female plug component, as it does so sliding axially on the male contact pin 14. In FIG. 3f the male contact pin 14 is shown passing through the second wiper seal 30.

(20) FIGS. 3g and 3h show the arrangements of the male and female connector components 10 and 20 in the final stages of electrical and mechanical engagement. Inside the contact module 24 the male contact pin 14 makes an electrical connection with its counterpart female contact (not shown). The rearward movement of the shuttle pin 26 causes dielectric oil in the second dielectric fluid chamber 34 to flow through the water ingress treatment module 36, which removes any traces of water in the dielectric fluid so as to maintain the electrical performance of the dielectric fluid. The self-latchinq male wiper seal assembly 16 has moved axially over the male contact pin 14 rearwards into the housing 12 and is in the coupled position.

(21) FIGS. 4a-4e show schematically a more detailed part sectional view of the engagement of the male 10, and female 20, components.

(22) FIG. 4a shows the male 10 and female 20 components at initial contact. The self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16 is substantially annular and surrounds the male contact pin 14. In FIG. 4a the self-latching wiper seal assembly 16 is shown in the normal resting decoupled position. The self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16 comprises a cap body 40, a resilient cantilever latch plate 42, a solid protective rubber sleeve 44 and a resilient slotted retaining (latching) ring 46. In the decoupled position the retaining ring 46 is engaged, or located, in an annular groove 12a formed on an inner surface of the housing 12 which retains the self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16 in the decoupled position when the male and female components 10, 20 are decoupled. The nose part 20a of the female plug component 20 comprises an annular sleeve 48 having a female profile which is an annular recess arranged to receive and latch with a corresponding male profile 42a which is an annular projection at the tip of the cantilever plate 42.

(23) In FIG. 4b the first distal end 14a of the male contact pin 14 abuts the distal end of the shuttle pin 26 and the complementary latching profiles of the annular sleeve 48 and the male profile 42a start to fully engage with one another.

(24) In FIG. 4c the latching is complete and the male profile of the resilient cantilever latch plate 42 is engaged with the female profile of the annular sleeve 48 of the female component 20. The self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16 of the male component 10 is secured, or latched, to the plug nose portion 20a of the female component 20 by the corresponding latching profiles. A lip 44a of the solid protective rubber sleeve 44 abuts the first wiper seal 28 of the female component to form a water-resistant barrier prior to the passing of the male contact pin 14 though the first wiper seal 28.

(25) FIG. 4d shows the self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16 of the male component 10 passing further into the housing 12 of the male component as its slides axially over the male contact pin 14. The slotted retaining ring 46 has become compressed and is disengaged from the annular groove 12a. The retaining ring 46 axially moves with the self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16 since it is constrained within an annular groove 50 around the self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16 inside the bore of the housing 12.

(26) Importantly, in this particular embodiment, the coupling force required to disengage the retaining ring 46 from the annular groove 12a is greater than the force required to engage the latch between the annular sleeve 48 of the female component 20 and the self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16. This ensures that upon coupling of the male and female components, the self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16 is latched to the female component 20 before the retaining ring 46 is disengaged.

(27) FIG. 4e shows that when disengaging the male 10 and female 20 components, the self-latching male wiper seal assembly 16 of the male contact pin 14 is drawn out and axially forwards from the coupled position by its latched engagement with the plug nose portion 20a of the female component 20, such that it returns towards its non-engaged, or decoupled, position. The latching engagement between the female profile of the annular sleeve 48 (on the female component 20) and the self-latching male wiper assembly 16 becomes finally disengaged when the resilient slotted retaining ring 46 reaches the annular groove 12a in the bore of the housing 12, which prevents further withdrawal of the latching wiper assembly 16, resulting in the temporary resilient deformation of the cantilever plate 42.

(28) A key advantage provided by the self-latching facility of the self-latching male wiper assembly 16 is that the wiper assembly returns to its starting position when the male and female components become disengaged, and it does so without the need for any biasing means such as springs, which take up much-needed space and may be prone to failure.

(29) Although it is described that the self-latchinq male wiper seal assembly 16 comprises a male latching portion that is arranged to latch with a female latching portion provided on the female component, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the male latching portion may be provided on the female component and the female latching portion may be provided on the male wiper seal assembly. Furthermore, it is not essential that the corresponding latching parts provided on the male wiper seal assembly and the female component comprise a resiliently deformable portion. In some embodiments the latching parts may be magnetic, for example.

(30) As will be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art, although it has been described that the connector is an electrical connector, the connector could be an optical connector or a hydraulic connector or any combination thereof, for example.