Two-part and terminal connectors with conductor management device for use in hazardous environments

Abstract

A terminal connector or two-part connector comprising male and female parts having respective contact pins and contact receivers (10,15) of a construction generally known in the art. In the body (1) of the or at least one part, closely juxtaposed a terminal block (9), there is provided a conductor management device (8) adapted to receive conductors (12) as they are unbundled from the connected cable or reel and support the unbundled or individual conductors through the transitional region of the connector part to where they are secured at the terminal block (9). The conductor management device (8) has through body apertures defining each conductor path (14) to align each conductor with its respective receiver (13). In a different configuration, the conductor management device provides strain relief to the conductors, provides support and conductor rigidity, provides a locking means and is a bore modifier.

Claims

1.-24. (canceled)

25. (newly presented) A cable termination having a housing adapted to receive a cable at one end and present a contact terminal block at the other, the termination comprising: a terminal block having one or more terminal contacts each having a contact interface to which the or each exposed conductor of a connecting cable is operably secured; the terminal block including a face plate to retain the terminal block within a body of the cable termination; and support means having a through-body passage for receiving each sheathed conductor after unbundling from a connecting cable, in which the support means provides controlled conductor management by guiding and supporting each conductor after unbundling and presenting the conductor in alignment with its corresponding contact interface in the terminal block and is adapted to abut the face plate to provide enhanced structural integrity to the conductors and contact interfaces, and in which each through-body passage is shaped in such a way so that the in use position of each conductor in relation to the central axis of the support means as presented to the face plate of the terminal block is different.

26. A cable termination as claimed in claim 25, in which the housing includes a cavity adapted to receive isolating media and the guiding passages each including sealing surfaces so as to prevent fluid passing from one side of the support means when a pressure differential is present across the support means.

27. A cable termination as claimed in claim 25, in which the termination is a two-part connector comprising: a first male part having a plurality of terminal contacts extending beyond the face plate; a second female part having terminal receivers adapted to align and couple with respective ones of the contacts of the male part; at least one of said parts having a transitional region within the housing thereof where individual conductors are unbundled from a connecting cable which has sheathing to protect the individual conductors from hazardous environments; and the transitional region comprising the area between a cable gripping means and the contact interfaces of said at least one part, wherein, as individual conductors are exposed from within the protective sheathing and unbundled from the cable core, the support means receives each individual conductor within corresponding through-body passages to present an exposed conductor end in alignment with its corresponding contact interface.

28. A cable termination as claimed in claim 25, in which the support means through-body passages define conductor paths therewithin and functionally provides a bore area adjustment means to modify the space provided between each conductor and to align the conductors with respective contact interfaces at a terminal block within the housing of a cable termination or one or both of male and female parts thereof.

29. A cable termination as claimed in claim 27, in which the first male part has a plurality of terminal contacts and the second female part has terminal receivers adapted to receive and electrically connect with respective ones of the terminal contacts, each part having a cavity containing fluid electrically insulating media and said female part having means to ensure conductivity between the contact interfaces of the respective parts to define an electrical connector.

30. A cable termination as claimed in claim 27, in which the first male part has a plurality of contact interfaces or ferrules aligned with exposed optical fibres or waveguides presenting at terminal contacts and the second female part has terminal receivers adapted to align and couple with respective ones of the terminal contacts and are optically coupled to corresponding fibre interfaces/ferrules, a chamber containing optically isolating media and said female part having biasing means to ensure alignment and interfacing of the prepared terminal contacts and said receivers to define an optical connector.

31. A cable termination as claimed in claim 25, in which the support means comprises a monolithic block of an electrically insulating pressure resistant plastics material and selected ones of the passages defined therein deflect from the central axis to effect a bore adjustment means.

32. A cable termination as claimed in claim 25, in which the support means is formed using a three-dimensional or additive manufacturing technique so as to define convoluted conductor passages therein.

33. A cable termination as claimed in claim 31, in which the support means comprises two identical monolithic blocks, one disposed in the opposite orientation to the other, so that the deflection of the conductors through said bore area adjustment means provides a locking effect when the blocks abut one another, thereby providing further integrity to the support of the conductors and preventing strain being translated from the cable through the conductors to the terminal block.

34. cable termination as claimed in claim 25, in which the support means is provided as retrofittable into existing connectors as it does not interfere with the sealing, against the hazardous environment, of the cable termination or of the first or second part of a two-part connector and said terminal contacts or receivers thereof.

35. A cable termination as claimed in claim 25, in which the or each connector housing includes an annular retention means bevelled on one side to slidingly receive a radially deflecting ring of a threaded sleeve or collar and a locking profile on the other side thereof to retain the ring when axial tension is applied and in which the ring of the threaded sleeve or collar is slotted to provide regions adapted to radially flare during fitting to a connector housing and subsequently engage the locking profile of said retention means.

36. (newly presented) A cable termination as claimed in claim 35, in which a collar on a first connector part has an external thread and the sleeve on the mating connector part has a corresponding internal thread which are inter-engaged after mating of the connector parts and lock against the locking profiles of the respective retention means.

37. A cable termination as claimed in claim 25, in which the cable termination connector housing is adapted to sealingly receive a connector insert which cooperates with the connector housing moulding to form an elastomeric terminal block.

38. A conductor management device comprising a support means of claim 25 configured as a conductor locking means comprising: a support means defining first monolithic block having a plurality of conductor routing passages to define respective bore modifying paths within the block; and a support means defining second block having the same characteristic features as the first but in which the direction of bore modification is opposed, wherein, in use, the first block is mounted on the presented conductors and positioned at or adjacent a desired locking position before the second block is mounted on said conductors and slid towards the first, so that when the locking position is accurately determined, the first and second blocks are brought into locking engagement.

39. A conductor management device as claimed in claim 38, in which a sleeve or encapsulating body holds the blocks together effectively to retain the blocks in locking engagement, the two blocks being held within a connector part and subsequently encapsulated by insulating media.

40. A conductor management device as claimed in claim 38, in which the blocks are configured as conductor sealing means whereby the desired locking position comprises an optimum sealing position so that when the blocks abut, they form a sealing engagement.

41. A method of locking conductors within a cable termination or connector part thereof utilising a support means of claim 25, the method including: unbundling connectors from a multi-conductor cable; sliding a support means, having a plurality of conductor routing passages defining bore modifying paths within the support means, along the unbundled conductors towards the cable; exposing the conductor tips by stripping the sheathing therefrom; fixing the conductors to their respective contact interfaces; and sliding the device into abutment with the terminal block.

42. A method of locking conductors within a connector part as claimed in claim 41, the method further including sliding a first support means having bore modifying passages onto the conductors to concentrate them radially before sliding a second support means in opposite bore modifying orientation onto the conductors to align the conductors with respective terminal block contact interfaces and in which a second support means is slid into abutment with the terminal block, the first support means being subsequently slid into locking engagement with the second to prevent strain forces being translated through the conductors to the terminal block.

43. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 25, in which the cable termination or either one or both of the male and female connector parts includes a support means defining a conductor management device in accordance with claim 38.

44. An optical cable termination or two-part connector as claimed in claim 25, in which individual optical fibres are interfaced to ensure passage of data, wherein support means defining a conductor management device in accordance with claim 38 is provided.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0094] The present invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, a cable termination in the form of a two-part connector having conductor support means therein, together with details of preferred embodiments of assemblies and components making up an improved termination, and illustrating a method of securing and supporting individual conductors in a transitional region of a cable where multiple conductors of a multicore cable are unbundled. In the drawings:

[0095] FIG. 1 is schematic sectional side elevation of a cable termination comprising the male part of a two-part, dry mateable, compression seal connector in accordance with the established prior art;

[0096] FIGS. 2a to 2c are schematic sectional side elevations of a male part of a two-part connector of the type shown in FIG. 1 having a conductor support means in accordance with the invention;

[0097] FIG. 3 is sectional side elevation of a two-part, dry-mate connector of the invention in an unmated configuration;

[0098] FIG. 4 is schematic sectional side elevation of a cable termination comprising the male part of a two-part, wet mateable, interference fit connector in accordance with the established prior art;

[0099] FIGS. 5a and 5b are schematic sectional side elevations of a male part of a two-part connector of the type shown in FIG. 3 having a conductor support means in accordance with the invention;

[0100] FIG. 6 is sectional side elevation of a male part of a wet-mate connector variant of that illustrated in FIG. 5a having a rotatable externally threaded sleeve;

[0101] FIG. 7 is a sectional side elevation of a female part of a two-part connector corresponding to the male part illustrated in FIG. 6 having a corresponding rotatably mounted internally threaded collar;

[0102] FIG. 8 is sectional side elevation of a male part of a wet-mate connector variant having an integral externally threaded shell;

[0103] FIGS. 9a, 9b 10a and 10b are respectively end views and corresponding sectional side elevations of dry-mate equivalents of the male and female parts of the two-part connector of FIGS. 6 and 7;

[0104] FIGS. 11a to 11e is a series of sectional side elevations of a support means according to the invention illustrating the support and bore modifying aspects thereof and the positional locking of the support means when used in conjunction with a second support means;

[0105] FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional side elevation of a cable termination having conductor locking strain support and sealing elements in use with a wet-mate connector of the type illustrated in FIG. 5a;

[0106] FIG. 13 is a sectional side elevation of a cable termination with locking strain support elements having integral seals to prevent egress of insulating media towards the connecting cable;

[0107] FIG. 14 is a sectional side elevation of a pressure balanced cable termination similar to that of FIG. 13 adapted to interface with a pressure balance oil-filled (PBOF) cable system; and

[0108] FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional side elevation of a cable termination illustrating the use of a two-part connector comprising male and female parts similar to those shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 combined with an interconnector having locking strain support elements at each end thereof to eliminate axial stresses being transferred to the electrical insert of the female part of the connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0109] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a two-part dry-mate bulkhead or terminal electrical connector in accordance with the acknowledged prior art has a main body 1 within which there is provided a pressure support plate 2. A potting compound 3 (usually an epoxy resin) cures around sheathed conductors which may, if necessary, have been unbundled from a connecting cable (not shown) and provides support to the conductors and the terminal block within the housing of the conductor part.

[0110] In commercially available dry mateable compression seal connectors, having uncontrolled conductor connections, the pressure plate 2 is positioned by a location face within the main body 1. The wires are only fixed in position after the potting compound 3 has fully cured, however, the resultant connectors cannot support high contact count (multiple conductor channels) and tend to fail with repeated connection and disconnection of the two mating parts (only the male part being illustrated here) and when the primary seal face 4 and the compression seal on the front face of the mating connection fail to provide an effective environmental seal.

[0111] FIGS. 2a to 2c illustrate improved cable terminations represented here by the male halves of two-part dry or wet mateable connectors in which the potting compound has been obviated by a shaped conductor management device 8 having channels therethrough to accommodate individual conductors, aligning them with corresponding contact interfaces (pins) of the terminal block 9 and supporting each conductor against axial movement during connection and disconnection and radial movement during exposure to hyperbaric pressures. The seal face 4 together with the compression seal on the front face of the mating connector, provide the primary environmental seal. Individual sealing cylinders 5 together with the individual bore seals within the mating connector provide a secondary set of seals that significantly increasing the reliability of the connector. In wet mateable connector applications, the sealing surface 4 is deliberately compromised by the addition of multiple vent holes 6, which provide the escape route for the fluid that is evacuated when the two connector halves are interengaged. Conductor support material 7 is optional and provides no pressure support to the conductors or the terminal block.

[0112] In FIG. 3 (and also with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7) a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises male and female parts each having a main housing body 1 within which a conductor management device 8 is disposed. The terminal block 9 shape defines the male characteristic of the part and includes terminal contacts 10. The shape of the corresponding terminal block 11 defines the female characteristics of the opposite part and includes terminal contact pin receivers 15. Each contact interface (whether pin or pin receiver) is attached electrically onto the exposed ends of individual conductors 12 at an interface point 13.

[0113] A conductor management device 8, in its most basic iteration, comprises a monolithic block, within which conductor routing apertures 14 are formed to align respective conductors 12 with their corresponding contact pins 10 or pin receivers 11. In the sectional representation of FIG. 3, only two conductors are shown (for clarity), however, the reader will appreciate that the invention finds particular utility where the number of conductors is greater. Conventionally, four conductors are used for three-phase power applications and sixteen or more conductors for data transfer and sensor feed applications.

[0114] Conventionally, the male part has an externally threaded ring 16 attached to the main body 1 and is adapted to be orientated in position with respect to the main body to prevent rotation between the main body 1 and the threaded ring 16. A rotatable internally threaded collar 17 is retained on the main body 1 of the female part and is adapted to receive the annular ring of the male part and draw the two parts together in a sealed and secure configuration. Vents 6 are provided in the threaded ring 16 and the threaded collar 17 to allow trapped fluid, such as sea water, to escape from within the connection area during the interengagement process.

[0115] Slots 18 provide flexibility to the sleeve 16 and collar 17 so they can be pushed into place from the front of each respective connector half. An angled retaining means 19 holds the respective slotted ring portions of the threaded sleeve 16 and collar 17 in place and prevents them from being pulled forward and removed from main body 1.

[0116] O-rings 20 and 21 provide barrier seals preventing ingress of fluid from the ambient environment into housing 22.

[0117] The connector halves are adapted to interengage with each other in such a way that when each contact pin 10 is fully engaged within each contact receiver 15 an electrical connection is established whilst simultaneously sealing each cylinder 5 within each bore 23 thus protecting each electrical circuit from the ambient environment.

[0118] Referring now to FIG. 4, a two-part (only the male part is shown) wet mateable electrical connector in accordance with the acknowledged prior art has a main body 1 within which there is provided individual through cavities for conductors 12 to pass through. Conductors 12 are crimped to contact pins 10 and, together with the guide pin 24, the terminal block 25 is moulded to the main body 1 which is fixed by means of a threaded connection to the housing 22. The internal cavity within the housing 22 is sealed from the ambient environment by o-rings 20,21.

[0119] Commercially available wet-mate connectors of the type shown in FIG. 4 have uncontrollable, unsupported conductor 12 and contact pin 10 subassemblies within the rubber moulded terminal block 25. This type of connector construction cannot reliably support high differential pressure and tend to fail with repeated pressure cycling.

[0120] FIG. 5a illustrates improved cable terminations represented here by the male half of a two-part connector in which the potting compound has been obviated by a shaped conductor support having channels therethrough to accommodate individual conductors, aligning them with corresponding contact pins of the conductor management device or terminal block and supporting each conductor against axial movement during connection and disconnection and radial movement during exposure to hyperbaric pressures.

[0121] FIG. 5b is similar to FIG. 5a except that the main connector body and the conductor management device are a single piece. This embodiment is of particular benefit when non-metallic or non-magnetic connector bodies are required and/or when low weight is a significant advantage.

[0122] A male part of a connector in accordance with the invention in an unmated condition is shown in FIG. 6 and details the use of a conductor management device 8 to align conductors 12 within the main body 1. A terminal block 9 defines the shape of the male characteristic of the part and includes contact pins 10 each of which is attached electrically onto the exposed ends of individual conductors 12 at interface point 13.

[0123] A conductor management device 8, in its most basic iteration, comprises a monolithic block, within which conductor routing apertures 14 are formed to align respective conductors 12 with their corresponding contact pins 10

[0124] In the sectional representation of FIG. 6, only two conductors are shown in section (for clarity), however, the reader will appreciate that the invention finds particular utility where the number of conductors is greater. Conventionally, four conductors are used for three-phase power applications and sixteen or more conductors for data transfer and sensor feed applications.

[0125] Conventionally, the male part has an externally threaded ring 16 attached to the main body 1 and adapted to be orientated in position with respect to the main body to prevent rotation between the main body 1 and the threaded ring 16. Vents 6 are provided in the threaded ring 16 to allow trapped fluid, such as sea water, to escape from within the connection area during the interengagement of the connector halves.

[0126] Similarly, a female part of a connector in an unmated condition is illustrated in FIG. 7 and includes a conductor management device 8 disposed within the main body 1. The terminal block 11 shape defines the female characteristic of the part and includes contact pin receivers 15. Each contact pin receiver is attached electrically onto the exposed ends of individual conductors 12 at the contact interface 13.

[0127] A conductor management device 8, in its most basic iteration, comprises a monolithic block, within which conductor routing apertures 14 are formed to align respective conductors 12 with their corresponding contact pin receivers 15. In the sectional representation of FIG. 7, only two conductors are shown in section (for clarity), however, the reader will appreciate that the invention finds particular utility where the number of conductors is greater. Conventionally, four conductors are used for three-phase power applications and sixteen or more conductors for data transfer and sensor feed applications.

[0128] Conventionally, the female part has a rotatable internally threaded collar 17 fitted to main body 1 of the female part and is adapted to receive the annular ring of the male part and draw the two parts together in a sealed and secure configuration. Vents 6 are provided in the threaded collar 17 to allow trapped fluid, such as sea water, to escape from within the connection area during the interengagement process.

[0129] FIG. 8 illustrates the male part of a wet mateable bulkhead receptacle connector with pin contacts in an unmated condition. As before, the conductor management device 8 comprises a monolithic block, within which conductor routing apertures 14 are formed to align respective conductors 12 with their corresponding contact pins 10. The terminal block 9 shape defines the male characteristic of the part and includes contact pins 10. Each contact pin is attached electrically onto the exposed ends of individual conductors 12 at the contact interface 13.

[0130] Conventionally, the male part of a wet mateable bulkhead receptacle connector has an external thread. Vents 6 are provided in the main housing body 1, to allow trapped fluid, such as sea water, to escape from within the connection area during the interengagement of the connector halves. A further embodiment is a dry mate version in which the vent holes are not present and where interengagement of the connector halves must be made in a dry environment.

[0131] FIGS. 9a and 9b illustrates a cable receptacle connector with contact pins that is interengageable with any connector that has the same number of contact receivers. The terminal block 9 shape, including contact pins 10, defines the male characteristic of the part and is disposed within main body 1. Each contact pin has a solder pot 24 in which to attach an electrical conductor.

[0132] The connector halves are adapted to interengage with each other in such a way that when each contact pin 10 is fully engaged within each contact receiver an electrical connection is established whilst simultaneously sealing each cylinder 5 within each corresponding bore thus protecting each electrical circuit from the ambient environment.

[0133] Slots 18 provide flexibility to sleeve 16 so it can be pushed into place from the front of main body 1, if desired. An angled sleeve retaining means 19 secures the threaded sleeve 16 in place and prevents it from being pulled forward and removed from main body 1.

[0134] As is common in many of the embodiments disclosed a ‘D’ profile 25 provides means of positive alignment with any interengageable connector.

[0135] FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrates a cable plug connector with contact receivers that is interengageable with any connector that has the same number of contact pins. The terminal block 11 shape, including contact receivers 15, defines the female characteristic of the part and is disposed within main body 1. Each contact pin receiver has a solder pot 24 in which to attach an electrical conductor.

[0136] Conventionally, the female part has an externally threaded collar 17 rotatably fitted to the main body 1. Vents 6 are provided in the threaded collar 17 to allow trapped fluid, such as sea water, to escape from within the connection area during interengagement with a mating connector half. The connector halves are adapted to interengage with each other in such a way that when each contact pin is fully engaged within each contact receiver 15 an electrical connection is established whilst simultaneously sealing each cylinder within each corresponding bore 23 thus protecting each electrical circuit from the ambient environment.

[0137] FIG. 11 illustrates a bulkhead receptacle connector with pin contacts, as illustrated in FIG. 6, interengaged with cable plug connector with pin receivers as illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0138] FIGS. 12a to 12e schematically represent the guiding, support, bore modification and locking functions of the conductor management device 8. One or more conductors, unbundled from the cable within which they were retained and optionally having an unsheathed tip for (soldering or) crimping to a terminal, is pushed into one side of the conductor management device 8 and directed along the assigned path of the corresponding conductor routing aperture 14, as shown in FIGS. 12a and 12b. Where the aperture is disposed adjacent the central axis of the device, the conductor is deflected marginally outwardly from said axis as it progresses through the device. Conversely, where the aperture is radially spaced from the axis, the corresponding radial deflection is greater. As will be appreciated from the foregoing, the deflection may be used to more accurately align multiple conductors of a cable with respective terminal sleeves and space the conductors to allow access for (soldering or) crimping at the terminal block. The introduced spacing also defines a bore modification of the collected conductors and this can also be used conversely to concentrate the density of conductors or as part of a stepped process using successive conductor management devices.

[0139] As the device 8 is directional, a key KK is used to provide a visual identification of the direction of bore expansion. The key also prevents rotation of the device with respect to the terminal block 9 or connector body 1.

[0140] FIGS. 12c and 12d illustrate the use of a second conductor management device 8 which may be slid along the length of the conductors to abut the surface of a first device to form a locked pair to provide strain relief, up to the breaking strength of multiple conductors, or positional locking with a connector body. This arrangement can be used to provide additional conductor support within a connector and to prevent birdcaging of conductors within the transitional region where conductors are unbundled from a cable, as illustrated in FIG. 12e.

[0141] In use, a first conductor management device may be slid onto the unbundled free conductor ends of a cable concentrating the bore of the collected conductors for presentation to the second device. The conductors are then pushed through the second device, as described with reference to a FIG. 12a, and the exposed conductor tips (soldered or) crimped to the terminal connectors. The second device is then slid along the conductors to abut the terminal block before the first device is slid along the conductors to abut the outer side of the second device and lock against it. Once the devices are secured within the connector body, this minimises any strain that can be translated through the conductors or cable to the connections on the terminal block.

[0142] FIG. 13 illustrates a wet-mate connector of the type shown in FIG. 5b but with locking conductor management devices abutting a receiver formed in the housing of the connector. This embodiment of the conductor management device has integral conductor sealing elements 26 within the through-body apertures to facilitate sealing against individual conductors 12 and together with sealing element 27 prevents ingress of fluid from the ambient environment into the rear of the connector. An internally threaded collar 28 locks the conductor management devices 8 securely in place.

[0143] FIG. 14 illustrates a dry or wet mateable cable plug connector with backshell assembly for termination to a cable either in the manufacturing factory or supplied as a kit of parts for assembly in situ at an external site. The assembly is designed so that it can be assembled with standard tools.

[0144] A cable 29 is sealably assembled to body 36 by tightening externally threaded ring 30 onto a washer 31 which in turn compresses a cone seal 32 simultaneously onto the cable 29 and housing 36. An o-ring 33 provides a secondary seal between the cable 29 and the housing 36.

[0145] The conductor management devices 8 include integral conductor sealing elements 26 within the through-body apertures to facilitate sealing against individual conductors 12 and, together with a sealing element 27, prevents ingress of fluid from the insulating fluid media cavity into the rear of the connector. An internally threaded collar 28 locks the conductor management devices securely in place against the body 36. This assembly supports and retains the individual conductors preventing axial loads from being transmitted further into the assembly and also prevents insulating fluid media from transferring to the external environment.

[0146] Conductors 12 assemble electrically to contact pin receivers 15 that are an integral part of insert 42. Boot seals 38 assemble over conductors 12 and insulation posts 39 to provide an electrically insulating barrier between the insulating fluid media cavity 40 and each individual electrical circuit. This is a secondary seal in the event of primary seal failure when conductive media ingresses into the insulating fluid media filled cavity.

[0147] An insert 42 is sealed to the connector main body 43 by o-rings 41 to prevent fluid media from fluid filled media cavity 40 coming onto contact with moulded connector terminal block 11. A rotatable threaded ring 44 is fitted over main body 43 and backshell 37 is fitted in place over o-rings 35 and 45 and secured with screws 34. The removal of a fill port screw assembly 47 enables the insulating fluid media cavity 40 to be filled with insulating fluid media. Replacement of the fill port screw assembly reseals the cavity from the ambient environment.

[0148] This dry or wet mateable cable plug connector may be interengaged with any receptacle connector with the same number of pin contacts.

[0149] FIG. 15 illustrates a dry or wet mateable cable plug connector with backshell assembly for termination to a pressure balanced oil filled (PBOF) cable. The PBOF cable 49 is sealably assembled to body 37 by tightening an externally threaded ring 52 into housing 37. 0-rings 50,51 seal between the external ambient environment and the connector internals.

[0150] As noted, the conductor management devices 8 include integral conductor sealing elements 26 within the through-body apertures to facilitate sealing against individual conductors 12. Through-holes ensure fluid communication between the PBOF cable assembly and the internal fluid filled cavity 40. This assembly supports and retains the individual conductors preventing axial loads from being transmitted further into the assembly.

[0151] Conductors 12 assemble electrically to contact pin receivers 15 that are an integral part of insert 42. Boot seals 38 assemble over conductors 12 and insert insulation posts 39 to provide an electrically insulating barrier between the insulating fluid media cavity 40 and each individual electrical circuit. This is a secondary seal in the event of primary seal failure when conductive media ingresses into the insulating fluid media filled cavity.

[0152] The insert 42 is sealed to the connector main body 43 by o-rings 41 preventing fluid media from the fluid filled media cavity 40 coming onto contact with elastomer moulded connector terminal block 11. Rotatable threaded ring 44 is fitted over main body 43 and backshell 37 is fitted in place over o-rings 35 and 45 and secured with screws 34. Removal of fill port screw assembly 47 enables insulating fluid media cavity 40 to be filled with insulating fluid media. Replacement of fill port screw assembly reseals the cavity from the ambient environment.

[0153] This dry or wet mateable cable plug connector may be interengaged with any receptacle connector with the same number of pin contacts.

[0154] It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.