Wet mate connector

The present invention generally relates to connectors that can be connected and separated in harsh environments such as underwater.

Numerous types of connectors for making electrical and fiber optic cable connections in inappropriate or harsh environments, such as underwater connectors that can be repeatedly connected or separated in water very deep in the ocean. There is. These connectors typically consist of plugs and receptacle units, or connector components, each of which is intended to be joined to a cable or by a connector to form a complete circuit. Attached to. To completely separate the contacts to be joined from the ambient environment, one or both of these connector splits house the contacts in an oil-filled, pressure-balanced chamber.

Most fiber optic connector half-split plugs and receptacles that can be connected in harsh environments both have an oil-filled chamber. The chambers are typically faced during the early stages of the coupling procedure. In the next coupling step, one or more coupling passages, sealed from the external environment, are formed between the half-split chambers of the connecting connector. The passage joins the two oil-filled chambers to form a single, combined oil volume. The actual coupling in the junction of contacts occurs in a common oil chamber. Patented examples of such connectors are shown in US Patent Publication 4,682,848, US Patent Publication 5,738,535, US Patent Publication 5,838,857, US Patent Publication 6,315,461 and US Patent Publication 6,736,545.

<p><patcit num="1"><text>US Patent Gazette 4,682,848</text></patcit><patcit num="2"><text>US Patent Gazette 5,738,535</text></patcit><patcit num="3"><text>US Patent Gazette 5,838,857</text></patcit><patcit num="4"><text>US Patent Gazette 6,315,461</text></patcit><patcit num="5"><text>US Patent Gazette 6,736,545</text></patcit></p>

<p> Some of such existing connectors work very well. However, the technology is relatively new and there is still plenty of room for improvement. Above all, existing products are complex, expensive, and their reliability is not perfect.</p><p> Therefore, what is needed is a system and method that provides improvements in complexity, performance and reliability while reducing or overcoming these important challenges found in traditional wet connectors such as those described above. Is.</p>

<p> The embodiments described herein provide new wet-coupled connectors, or connectors in harsh environments.</p><p> In one form, the connector comprises a first connector unit and a second connector unit, i.e. a plug unit and a receptacle unit, each unit containing one or more contact elements to be joined. Includes a contact chamber filled with oil or other liquid. Each oil chamber is pressure balanced with respect to the external environment, which is achieved by a flexible element that adjusts the dimensions of the chamber to compensate for volume changes in its contents. When the connector units are connected, the axially opposed elastomeric surface seal assemblies are pressed together in the unit, completely sealing the plug-receptacle interface from the external environment. As the connection procedure progressed, some elements of the elastomeric surface seal assembly were moved axially and others axially and radially and filled with oil sealed from the external environment. An opening is formed between the chambers.</p><p> In one form, the surface seal assembly of both connector units comprises three elements. One element consists of an outer annular elastomer (rubber elastic) seal located radially outward. The other two elements look like completely separated elastomeric discs when viewed from the connecting end face of the connector, or are half-splits of two elastomeric discs of approximately semicircular shape. It looks like a split of an elastomeric disc that is pressed both radially to form a perfect annular shape. The resulting inner seal fills the central, annular opening at the anterior end of the outer annular seal. Therefore, the sealing surface completed in each of the separated connector halves has three elements that are tightened together in the radial direction, thereby a single unit that completely closes the connecting surface. To form.</p><p> When the connector flakes are connected, their opposing elastomeric surfaces press axially towards each other, sealing the entire plug-receptacle interface from the external environment. The next step in the coupling procedure is to find a disc-shaped inner seal that is pressed and separated together. The inner seal is moved inwardly into the receptacle in the axial direction away from the annular outer seal. When the separated seals move inward, they enter holes of larger diameter in the receptacle. The receptacle moves the separated semicircular discs outward in the radial direction to separate them from each other. Therefore, an opening path is formed between the inner surfaces of the semicircular discs oriented along the axial center line of the connected connector units. When the plug and receptacle halves are connected, their activity effectively forms an open passage between the two oil chambers. The interface between the plug and the receptacle unit remains sealed from the external environment by an annular outer seal pressed together.</p><p> In the next step in the coupling procedure, one or more contact probes from one of the connector units effectively pass through the open passage into the other connector unit. Here, they join one or more of their respective contacts, thereby bringing one or more completed circuits inside a common, pressure-balanced oil bath. Form.</p><p> The connector separation procedure is just the opposite of the connection procedure. Upon separation, one or more contact probes separate from each of the one or more contacts in the other connector unit, axially away from them, and through the annular outer seal. , Retreat into the body of each connector unit. The semicircular disc-shaped seal elements then move together radially to form a perfect annular disc, and then axially to fill the central opening of their respective annular outer seals. To do. Its activity effectively sealed the end faces of the individual plugs and receptacles, while the plug-receptacle interface between the connector units was still sealed from the external environment by an annular outer seal that was still pressed together. It remains. Next, the plug and the receptacle unit are separated, and the spring force pressing the annular outer seal together is removed. Then, the two individually sealed connector units are separated.</p>

<figref num="1A">FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a first connector unit or plug unit in one form of a connector shown in isolation.</figref><figref num="1B">FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a second connector unit or receptacle unit for detachably connecting and engaging with the plug unit of FIG. 1A, together with the receptacle unit shown in the unconnected state.</figref><figref num="2">FIG. 2 is a partial axial cross-sectional view of the unconnected plug unit of FIG. 1A.</figref><figref num="3">FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the inner seal assembly of the plug in the unconnected state.</figref><figref num="4">FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the inner seal assembly of the plug in the connected state.</figref><figref num="5">FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the annular end seal assembly of the plug.</figref><figref num="6">FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the contact assembly of the plug.</figref><figref num="7">FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the contact assembly of the receptacle.</figref><figref num="8">FIG. 8 is a partial axial cross-sectional view of the unconnected receptacle unit of FIG. 1B.</figref><figref num="9">FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the inner seal assembly of the unconnected receptacle.</figref><figref num="10">FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the inner seal assembly of the connected receptacles.</figref><figref num="11A">FIG. 11A is a front perspective view showing the outer annular end seal of the receptacle.</figref><figref num="11B">FIG. 11B is a rear perspective view showing the outer annular end seal of the receptacle.</figref><figref num="12">FIG. 12 is a partial axial cross-sectional view of the connected connectors.</figref>

The details of the present invention are partially gathered by studying the accompanying figures with respect to their structure and operation. The same reference numerals indicate the same parts.

As disclosed herein, a given form has a contact chamber that can be connected and separated in wet environments or water, or in other harsh conditions, and is sealed together in both connected and separated situations. We provide connectors for wet coupling or harsh environments. The disclosed form relates to an optical fiber connector, but the optical junction may be replaced by an electrical junction to form an electrical connector, or in other forms hybrid electrical. -May be replaced by an electrical-optical junction to form an optical connector. Although the connector is shown as a wet connector, the term "wet connector" should be construed to include connectors used in all kinds of harsh conditions.

After reading this description, it will become apparent to those skilled in the art how to implement the invention in other forms and in other areas. Various forms of the invention are shown herein, however, that these forms are only shown in an exemplary manner, not in a limited manner. Will be understood. As such, the detailed description of these various other forms should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the invention.

Figures 1-12 show optical connectors with first and second connector units, namely plug and receptacle units 2,1 that are detachably connected. Figures 1A and 1B show the first connector or plug unit 2 and the second connector or receptacle unit 1, respectively, in the unconnected or separated state. Each connector unit has outer rigid shells 4,3, each of which has end nuts 6,5. The sealed chambers 60,58 (see FIG. 8) in the receptacle unit 1 surround the contacts in the receptacle contact assembly 56 shown in FIG. On the other hand, the sealed chamber 22 (see FIG. 2) in the plug unit 2 surrounds the contacts in the plug contact assembly 24 shown in FIG. The opening at the outer or front end of each contact chamber is sealed by a face seal assembly, and the outer or exposed end of the face seal assembly is visible in FIGS. 1A and 1B. .. The surface seal assembly of the plug is a first or plug inner ring seal having a first or plug outer annular seal 10 (see FIG. 5) and seal elements 13 and 14 (more detailed in FIGS. 3 and 4). , Is equipped. The receptacle face seal assembly has a second or receptacle outer annular seal 9 (see FIGS. 11A and 11B) and a second or inner receptacle seal elements 11 and 12 (shown in more detail in FIGS. 9 and 10). It has a seal and.

When the plug and receptacle, or connector units 2,1 are not connected as shown in Figures 1A, 1B and 8, the inner seal element is more detailed below in relation to Figures 2-12. As described, the inner seal element is located inside each of the outer annular seals that drive into a sealed, closed situation. When the plug and receptacle unit are moved into a coupling engagement, the smaller diameter portion 7 of the receptacle shell 3 enters the hole in the plug shell 4. During the connection procedure, the outer annular seal 9 of the receptacle presses the outer annular seal 10 of the plug so that it can be sealed, and the seal elements 11, 12 (FIGS. 9 and 10) of the receptacle are the seal elements 13 and the plug seal element 13 and. Press 14 (Figs. 3 and 4). The keyway 15 in the receptacle shell 3 projects inwardly in the plug shell 4 during coupling to maintain alignment in the rotational direction of the half-split of the connector (shown in FIG. 2). Work with).

Each outer annular seal 10, 9 has a tapered inner diameter or through hole 45, 86, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 2, 8 and 11. Each seal element has a tapered outer diameter designed to seal and engage the tapered inner diameter or through hole of each outer seal in the unconnected situation of the plug and receptacle unit. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the seal elements 13 and 14 of the plug unit in the unconnected situation have an outer diameter 46 that extends to the front end face thereof and tapers outward. are doing. The seal element of the receptacle unit has an outer diameter of 84 that extends inwardly and extends to its front end face, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The various parts of the seal assembly when the units are disconnected, and the cooperation of each plug and receptacle shell, are described in more detail below, in relation to Figures 2, 3, 9, 10 and 12. It is shown. Each seal element should be sealed to the opposite flat, opposing surfaces of the other seal elements of each pair, as shown in more detail below in relation to FIGS. 3, 4, 9 and 10. It has a half-disc-like shape with flat, contradictory or sealing surfaces for engagement.

A cross-sectional view of the unconnected plug unit in the axial direction is shown in FIG. The outer annular seal 10 forms a portion of the annular end seal assembly 44, which is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 5 and is described below. The outer annular seal 10 is coupled to or otherwise properly connected to the seal support 16 so that the seal support 16 and the annular seal 10 are movable within the hole 17 of the plug shell. It is attached. The outer annular seal 10 has a tapered inner diameter or through hole 45, as described above. The seal support 16 generally has a circular cross section and also has an increased end portion 18 and a reduced diameter tubular portion 39. The tubular portion 39 extends posteriorly from the end portion 18. The seal support 16 serves a number of functions. A larger diameter portion 18 hangs loosely in the hole 17 of the plug shell 4, where the portion 18 is free to move backwards with respect to the spring 19. The spring 19 fits snugly against the shoulder 51 of the seal support 16 at its anterior end. The spring 19 also fits snugly at the rear end of the base surface 53 of the plug contact assembly 24. The spring 19 drives the seal support 16 outward to a point where the tapered inner diameter of the annular seal 10 engages the tapered outer diameter 46 of the inner seal elements 13 and 14 in a sealing manner. Here, the inner seal elements 13 and 14 are generally fixed in the axial position. The forward movement of the seal 10 is stopped when its tapered inner diameter 45 is hermetically engaged with the tapered outer diameter 46 formed by the sealed elements 13 and 14 pressed together. The shoulder 21 formed by the transition between holes 8 and 17 in the plug shell 4 provides a secondary backup stop to limit the outward movement of the seal 10. ..

The seal support 16 also provides a mounting point for one end of a tubular flexible wall or bladder that defines the oil-filled contact chamber 22, as well as for the sleeve 27. Provides mounting points. The seal support 16 also functions as a front seat for the spring 19. The sealing sheet or tubular portion 39 of the support 16 serves as a squirm guide for the spring. The vent hole 40 in the tubular portion 39 ensures adequate ventilation through the wall of the tubular portion. The alignment key 54 cooperates with the keyway 55 in the plug shell 4 and the keyway 155 in the plug contact assembly (see FIG. 6) to keep the plug contact assembly 24 aligned in the rotational direction with respect to the shell 4. Work.

The oil chamber, or plug contact to chamber 22, is surrounded by a flexible wall 23 and seal support 16 at its outer diameter, at its rear end by a surface 53 of the plug contact assembly 24, and At its anterior end, it consists of a volume section surrounded by seal elements 13, 14 and an outer annular seal 10. A flexible wall 23 is secured between the base of the plug contact assembly 24 and the end portion 18 of the seal support 16. The flexible wall 23 has, at its anterior end, a groove in the outer diameter of the seal support 16 or a shoulder 28 fitted into the seat 29. The sleeve 27 helps keep the shoulder 28 engaged in the seat 29 of the seal support 16. The sleeve 27 is held in the seat 30 of the seal support 16 by snap fixation. The shoulder 31 on the rear end of the flexible wall 23 engages the groove 32 at the base 124 of the plug contact assembly 24 and is held in the groove by the hole 17 of the plug shell 4.

The loophole 25 in the shell 4 allows the external environment to act against the flexible wall 23 so that the pressure inside the enclosed oil volume is approximately equal to the pressure outside the oil volume. .. The nut 6 works with the plug shell 4 to tightly enclose various other plug components.

The optical plug contact assembly 24, as shown in detail by FIG. 6, is U.S. Patent Application No. 11 / 279,474 filed on April 12, 2006 and the United States issued on July 17, 2007. It is almost identical to that described in Patent Nos. 7,244,132, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. As shown in FIG. 6, the contact assembly 24 has a rigid base 124 and a tubular extension 26 having a rectangular cross section extending from the base 124 into the oil chamber 22. .. The fiber optic ribbon 126 is guided inside the extension 26 and terminates at an optical ferrule or element 93 that is recessed inward from the open end of the extension 26. The base or rear end 124 of the plug contact assembly 24 has mounting grooves 32, 38 and 138 spaced apart on its outer surface, as best shown in FIG. ..

Figures 3 and 4 show the inner seal assembly 73 of the plug in the unconnected and connected states, respectively. Elements 13,14 made of elastomeric material are bonded to each backplate 33,34 or otherwise properly attached, they include a pair 42 of tines facing each other. , Firmly formed as one unit. The tine consists of an anterior extension of the tine's base 36, which is a groove 138 in the base 124 of the plug contact assembly 24 by a rearwardly directed finger 37 as shown in FIG. It is attached with a snap to. The seal elements 13, 14 are therefore present in a substantially fixed axial position in the hole 17. The rectangular extension 26 in the plug contact assembly (FIG. 6) extends from the base or rear end 124 through the rectangular opening 41 in the base 36 of the tine (FIG. 3), which is a separate disc. Helps to orient the seal assembly in the rotational direction with respect to the other components of the plug assembly. Each of the seal elements 13 and 14 is generally in the shape of a half disc and also has a tapered outer surface for hermetically engaging with the tapered through hole 45 in the outer annular seal 10. The outer or front end faces of the seal elements 13 and 14 have a semicircular shape as seen in FIGS. 1A, 3 and 4, and the elements 13 and 14 have a semicircular shape as seen in FIGS. It has opposite, almost flat, inner contradictory surfaces, i.e. sealing surfaces 102.

In the unstressed, connected state of FIG. 4, the tine pairs 35 and 42 project directly outward and are orthogonal to the plane 43 of the tine base 36. Also, the seal elements 13 and 14 are spaced apart so as to leave a gap or space 92 between their inner opposing surfaces 102. In the unconnected state in FIGS. 2 and 3, the elastomeric seal elements 13 and 14 are pressed together in the radial direction by the tapered holes 45 of the annular seal 10 so that the opposing surfaces 102 face each other. It is a combined sealing engagement. Also, the tine pairs 35 and 42 are simultaneously flexed or moved towards each other. Therefore, when flexed, the tine has a moderate residual spring force outward in the radial direction.

The seal elements 13 and 14 are firmly held forward by the tine pairs 35 and 42 from the surface 53 of the plug contact assembly 24. On the other hand, the annular end seal assembly 44 (FIG. 5) is axially pressed inward by the receptacle during connection, further compressing the spring 19.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the annular end seal assembly 44 of the plug. The assembly consists of an outer annular seal 10 and a seal support 16. The seal 10 is coupled to or properly attached to the seal support 16. The outer annular seal 10 is made of an elastomeric material. It has a tapered inner hole 45 that tapers outward from the inside to the outside or front end of the seal 10. The seal elements 13 and 14 have a corresponding outwardly tapered outer diameter or surface 46 (see FIG. 3). At the end face of the seal 10 surrounding the hole 45, the raised inner annular surface portion 47 projects slightly outward in the axial direction from the surrounding outer annular surface portion 48 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). The face portion 47 is a region of the annular outer seal that hermetically engages with the end 88 (FIG. 11) of the end face of the outer annular seal 9 of the corresponding receptacle during connection. The groove 49 separates the surface portions 47 and 48 of the annular inner and outer ends in the seal 10 and also on the inner side when pressed axially against the corresponding portion 9 in the receptacle. The sealing portion provides a space for extending outward in the radial direction. Centering ribs 50 on the outer surface of the seal 10 hold the assembly 44 in the hole 17 of the plug shell 4 as the assembly moves axially inside the hole during connection and separation.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the unconnected receptacle 1 in the axial direction. On the other hand, FIGS. 7 and 9-11 show various individual parts of the receptacle. As shown in FIGS. 1B and 8, shell 3 of receptacle unit 1 has a reduced diameter front end portion 7 and a larger diameter rear end portion 3 separated by a shoulder 97. Have. The shoulder portion 97 has a tapered outer portion and a small inner annular portion 97A. Receptacle 1 has larger and smaller diameter portions in the hole 100, It has a stepped diameter through hole with a shoulder 69 between 58. The oil chamber 60 is defined in a through hole, in which case the outer annular seal 9 and the inner seal elements 11 and 12 work together to define its anterior end, which is the base or end of the receptacle contact assembly 56. The rear end of the portion 156 is defined by the surface 55, and its outer perimeter is defined by the hole 58 and the flexible tubular element or inner bag 57 of the compensator at the hole 100. There is. The shoulder 61 of the compensator 59 is sealed and snugly fitted in the groove 62 on the outer surface of the end 156 of the receptacle contact assembly 56 at the rear end of the compensator 59. Similarly, the shoulder portion 64 of the compensator also fits snugly into the groove 63 of the compensator support portion 65 at the front end of the compensator 59. The hole 100 of the receptacle shell 3 holds the shoulders 61 and 64 of the inner bag in each of those grooves. The four facing rods 66 fit snugly at one end into each of the four opposing holes 67 in the compensator 65 and into each of the opposing holes 68 at the end 156 of the contact assembly 56 (FIG. 7). It fits snugly at the other end, maintaining accurate axial spacing of the compensator support. The illustrated form has four facing rods 66 and a combined hole, but in a variant, a larger or smaller number of facing rods and a combined hole are used. You may. The termination nut 5 and shoulder 69 of the receptacle shell 3 hold the compensator assembly, which is the compensator, the facing rod and compensator support, and the receptacle housed in place. It consists of a contact assembly 56. The annular outer seal 9 is coupled or properly attached to the surface of the cavity or recess 87 at the anterior end of the receptacle shell 3. Inwardly tapered hole portion 8 in hole 58 5 extends to the recess 87. As best illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the outer annular seal 9 of the receptacle extends from its rear end to its front end face 88 and has an inwardly tapered hole 86. Also, the inwardly tapered end 89 on the outer surface of the seal 9 extends to the end face 88.

The annular end face 88 of the receptacle outer annular seal 9 projects outward beyond the end of the receptacle shell 3 when mounted, as shown in FIG. The end face 88 presses sealably against the corresponding end face portion 47 on the outer annular seal 10 of the plug when the connector halves are connected, as described in more detail below. The tapered portion 89 on the outer surface of the receptacle outer annular seal 9 provides an annular space 90, and the elastomer outer annular seal 9 is axially pressed against the surface portion 47 of the plug outer annular seal 10. When can extend into space 90.

The receptacle contact assembly 56 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 7 and is a base or end portion 156 fixed to the rear end of the hole portion 100 and a tubular guide portion 80 having a rectangular shape. It also includes a guide portion 80 that extends from the base 156 into the oil-filled chamber 60. The contact assembly 56 has a structure similar to that of the plug contact assembly 24. The optical ribbon fiber 180 extends through the guide portion 80 and terminates at an optical contact ferrule or contact element 94. The optical contact ferrule or contact element 94 is housed within the anterior end portion 98 of the reduced cross section at the guide portion 80, as is best seen in FIG.

The structure of the receptacle inner seal assembly 74 (FIGS. 9, 10) is very similar to the structure of the corresponding plug inner seal assembly 73 (FIGS. 3, 4). Figures 9 and 10 show the inner seal assembly 74 of the receptacle in the unconnected and connected states, respectively. Half-disc shaped seal elements 11,12 are coupled or properly attached to the respective backplates 75,76, and they are firmly formed as one unit, together with the opposing Tyne pairs 77 and 78. Has been done. The seal elements 11 and 12 have a half-disc shape similar to the seal elements 13 and 14 of the plug, and also have a semicircular outer end face. However, the connected outer surface 84 in FIG. 9 tapers inward rather than outward to the outer end faces of elements 11 and 12, as in the case of elements 13 and 14 in the inner end seal assembly of the plug. It has become. Tyne 77,78 consists of a front extension of Tyne's base 79. The rectangular opening 81 in the base 79 of the tine (FIG. 9) engages the rectangular guide 80 of the receptacle contact assembly 56 (FIG. 7), which in the rotational direction attaches the inner seal assembly 74 to the receptacle assembly. Useful for pointing to other components. At the same time, the base 79 of the tine is free to move over the rectangular guide 80 (FIG. 7) of the receptacle contact assembly 56 within predetermined limits. In the unstressed, connected state of FIG. 10, the tines 77,78 project outwardly at right angles to the plane 82 of the tine base 79, and the seal elements 11, The twelve are separated so as to leave a gap or space 91 between their inner diametrical surfaces or sealing surfaces 95. In the unconnected state of FIGS. 8 and 9, the elastomeric seal elements 11 and 12 are pressed together in the radial direction by the tapered hole 86 of the annular seal 9 so that the surfaces 95 face each other. It is in a sealing engagement and the tine pairs 77 and 78 are simultaneously bent towards each other. When bent in this way, the tine has a moderate residual spring force directed outward in the radial direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the rear portion of the inner seal assembly 74, the base 79 of the tine, fits snugly against the shoulder 83 at the base in the tubular cavity of the spring seat 72. The front end of the spring 70 fits snugly on the shoulder 71 at the front end of the spring seat 72, and the rear end snugly fits on the base 156 of the contact assembly 56 in the groove 73 (FIG. 7). The spring 70 drives the spring seat and the inner seal assembly 74 forward. When the spring 70 pushes the inner seal assembly 74 into the tapered hole portion 85 of the receptacle shell 3, the inner seal elements 11 and 12 are pushed together in the radial direction, as shown in FIG. , Tine pairs 77 and 78 bend together. The inner seal assembly moves forward until the tapered outer surface 84 of the seal elements 11 and 12 seals and engages with the corresponding tapered inner surface or hole portion 86 of the receptacle outer annular seal 9 (FIGS. 8 and 9). To do. Backup plates 76 and 75 cannot pass through the opening at the front end of the tapered hole 85 of the receptacle shell, thus providing a secondary backup stop for forward movement of the inner seal assembly 74.

When the plug and receptacle units 2, 1 are moved into a connecting engagement, the reduced diameter portion 7 of the receptacle shell enters the hole 8 of the plug shell. The plug shell alignment key 20 meets the receptacle shell keyway 15 and moves one half of the connector into a rotational alignment. In the coupling procedure, the annular end face 88 on the outer annular seal 9 of the receptacle presses the raised annular end face portion 47 on the outer annular seal 10 of the plug, and the seal elements 11, 12 on the inner seal assembly 74 of the receptacle. Is pressed against the corresponding end faces of the opposing seal elements 13, 14 in the plug inner seal assembly 73. Axial pressure on the faces of the various sealing elements facing each other continues to increase until sufficient to overcome the preload on the spring 19 of the plug, and the annular end seal assembly of the plug. Move 44 inward inside the plug shell. At the same time, the plug inner seal assembly 73 pushes the receptacle inner seal assembly 74 inward and further compresses the spring 70. The configuration is such that all seals are pressed together before there is a robust, spring-driven mechanism movement. The overall effect is that both the outer annular seals 10, 9 of the plug and receptacle move into the plug shell 4, while at the same time both the generally half-disc shaped seal elements 11, 12 and 13, 14 , Move into the receptacle shell. When the annular seal and the disc-shaped seal element separate from each other, the central, tapered through hole 99 (Fig. 12) formed from the outer annular seals 9 and 10 pressed together is fully open. This allows free communication of oil volume between the plug and the receptacle, and also seals 9, 10 can pass through the contact element 93 of the plug contact assembly. The front surface of the pair of seal elements 13, 14 remains pressed against the corresponding surface of the opposing pair of seal elements 11, 12 throughout the coupling process and in the fully connected connector. .. They are pressed together, but the opposing surfaces do not need to seal anything. They simply need to remain pressed together to hold the material trapped between them in place at the beginning of the coupling process.

When a pair of half-disc-shaped seal elements 11, 12 and 13, 14 move into the receptacle, they pass through the enlarged tapered portion 85 of the receptacle shell 3. The plug and receptacle tine pairs 35, 42 and 77, 78 swiftly move outward in the radial direction towards the connected state in Figures 4 and 10, respectively, aligned between the half-disc shaped seal elements. The gaps 92 and 91 are formed, respectively (Figs. 4, 10 and 12). The contact element 94 of the receptacle contact assembly 56 then has a gap of 91,92, as the front end portion of the receptacle unit continues to move into the plug shell, completing the optical junction with the contact element 93 of the plug contact assembly 24. Can pass freely.

The connected connectors are shown in Figure 12. When the annular end 96A of the plug shell 4 is at the lowest position relative to the inner annular 97A of the shoulder 97 of the receptacle shell 3, insertion of the receptacle into the plug shell is stopped and the contact joint is hard. Leave a small gap between the stops.

The connector separation procedure is the reverse of the connection procedure. Upon separation, one or more plug contacts separate from each of the one or more receptacle contacts, separating the contact element or ferrule 94 from the contact element 93, and sealing the contact element 94. Retract through spaces 91,92 between the inner end faces of elements 11, 12 and 13, 14, respectively. When the receptacle unit is retracted from the plug shell, the smaller diameter end 7 of the receptacle begins to retract from the anterior end 8 of the hole in the plug, so that the inner, disc-shaped seal elements 11 and 12 in the receptacle The spring 70 is driven outward in the axial direction and moves into the hole portion 86 in each of the outer annular seal elements 9. At the same time, the outer annular seal member 10 of the plug is driven by the spring 19 to the inner seal elements 13 and 14. Before the plug and receptacle halves are separated, each pair of half-disc shaped seal elements is urged to close the gaps 91 and 92 together in the radial direction, and the central opening of each of their annular outer seals. Form a complete annular disc that fills. Its activity effectively seals the end faces of the individual plugs and receptacles, while the plug-receptacle interface between the connector halves is still sealed from the external environment by an annular outer seal that is still pressed together. It remains as it was. Next, the plug and receptacle are separated to remove the spring force that was pressing the annular outer seal together. Then, the two individually sealed connector pieces are separated.

When the half-splits of the connector are connected, the opening between the plug and the oil volume of the receptacle in the connector is formed in a unique way. The semi-circular disc-shaped inner seal elements allow free communication between the oil volumes as they are axially separated from their respective annular outer seals. The structure requires a smaller relative axial movement of the plug and receptacle contacts to form an opening between the half-splits of the connector for the connecting contacts to pass through. This is because the half-disc shaped seal moves very quickly radially outward as the receptacle enters the plug.

The connectors described above improve internal ventilation by having a larger opening between the oil volumes compared to conventional configurations, thus allowing free and immediate oil between the chambers. Communication is possible. As soon as the disc-shaped seal moves axially, oil is free to move from one chamber to the other through the disc-shaped seal. The disc-shaped seals remain pressed together in the axial direction and begin to separate in the radial direction. However, the disc-shaped seal is no longer snugly sealed in the annular outer seal, so oil can flow out around the disc-shaped seal. Such a design avoids the need to overcome high stress O-ring seals or sphincter-type seals that tighten tightly, all of which require higher spring forces than the structures described above. The force of separation is reduced. The detached disc-type end seals disengage faster in the coupling procedure and laterally separate to provide an opening between the oil chambers through which the coupling contacts are free to pass, resulting in shorter coupling strokes. It has become. This allows for a reduction in the axial space between the contacts, thus allowing for shorter connecting strokes. Due to the shorter connection stroke, the overall connection length at the connector is also reduced. The same applies to the separation length of each connector component. Mechanical activity is relatively simple, reliable, and compared to traditional connectors that require a large degree of elongation on the elastomer forming the seal and limit the choice of elastomer. Generates relatively low stress on elastomeric parts. This structure allows the selection of sealing materials from a wide range of elastomers with improved chemical resistance. At the same time, the connector, like existing connectors, utilizes the same optical interface and a thin tube of fiber through connection. Generally speaking, the configuration of this connector is required

The above description in the disclosed form is provided to allow one of ordinary skill in the art to practice or utilize the present invention. Various variations to these forms are readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the comprehensive principles described herein apply to other forms without departing from the ideas or scope of the invention. Can be done. Accordingly, the descriptions and figures presented herein represent the forms currently preferred in the present invention and are typical of the subject matter generally intended by the present invention. It is understood that the scope of the invention fully embraces other forms that may be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the invention is therefore not limited by anything other than the dependent claims.