Quick disconnect electrical plug

Feb. 25, 1969

3,430,184

J. E. ACORD

QUICK DISCONNECT ELECTRICAL PLUG

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Feb. 25, 1969

J. E. ACORD

3,430,184

QUICK DISCONNECT ELECTRICAL PLUG

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3,430,184

Patented Feb. 25, 1969

United States Patent Office

3,430,184

QUICK DISCONNECT ELECTRICAL PLUG

Jerry E. Acord, Artesia, Calif., assignor to Northrop Corporation, Beverly Hills, Calif., a corporation of California

Filed Feb. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 434,188

U.S. Cl. 339—45 1 Claim

Int. Cl. HOlr 13/62, 13/54

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An electrical connector including first and second components adapted to establish a plurality of individual electric circuits between an aircraft and bomb or similar device and also provides means whereby the electrical circuits are simultaneously discontinued (broken) at such time as the first and second components are acted upon by predetermined tensile forces.

This invention pertains to electrical connectors and more particularly to connectors including a pair of major portions embodying means normally functioning to retain the portions in firm contacting and mating relation thereby providing one or more electrical flow paths therethrough and subsequently allowing separation of the portions, whereby the electrical paths are broken upon application of certain forces.

Electrical connectors of the above type are extensively utilized in installations where a quick and positive break of at least one electrical circuit is required. The present connector is illustrated as being utilized to provide a plurality of electrical circuits between a missile and the power source of an airplane, however, the present connector has many other applications and may be utilized in any situation in which the continuity of an electrical current is necessary and subsequently the abrupt discontinuance thereof if required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a quick disconnect electrical connector the major components of which normally separate in response to opposing forces acting thereon in an axial direction.

Another object is to provide a quick disconnect electrical connector comprising a pair of major components having assembled and disassembled relations in which the components have a firm mating and a separated relation, respectively, and when separated can be urged into their assembled relation by an angular or a straight line movement.

Another object is to provide a quick disconnect electrical connector having a minimum number of working parts.

Another object is to provide a quick disconnect electrical connector which because of its simplicity is especially free of malfunctioning tendencies.

Although the characteristic features of the present invention are particularly pointed out in the appended claim, the invention itself, also the manner in which it may be carried out, will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an aircraft nacelle having a bomb supported therefrom and utilizing a quick disconnect electrical connector as disclosed herein.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the bomb of FIGURE 1 viewed along the line 2—2 of the latter figure especially showing the connector of FIGURE 1 in its assembled relation.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the connector of FIGURE 2 per se, portions of the connector being broken away to show the internal construction thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, specifically FIGURE 4 shows the connector in a condition allowing separation of its major components.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of FIGURE 3 as viewed along the line 5—5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of spring means comprising a component of the upper portion of the connector of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE 1, here a bomb 11 is shown attached to a nacelle 12 of an aircraft (not shown). An electrical connector 14—of the type disclosed herein—adapted to transmit electrical impulses between a power-source (not shown) and the bomb 11 via a cable 16. Subsequently the connector 14 functions under certain predetermined conditions to separate whereby electrical paths between the aforementioned power-source and bomb 11 are interrupted.

The embodiment of the connector 14 disclosed herein comprises two major portions indicated by the numerals 17 and 18 as best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4. The portions 17 and 18 are hereinafter referred to as male and female portions, respectively.

Each of the portions 17 and 18 comprise substantially sleeve-like members 19 and 21, respectively. Inserts 22 and 23 fabricated of rubber or other resilient material are provided in the members 19 and 21, respectively. Unitary receptacles 24 are moulded in the insert 22 and pin means 26 are moulded in the insert 23, certain of the pin means 26 being received in corresponding receptacles 24 at such times as the portions 17 and 18 are caused to assume their assembled relation. The inserts 22 and 23, pin means 26 and receptacles 24 are of convention construction, the receptacles 24 and pin means 26 functioning—when in contacting relation—to provide electrical flow paths through the connector 14. In this respect, the inserts 22 and 23 in their assembled relation function to provide a seal precluding the possibility of moisture contacting and shorting the electrical flow paths.

Considered longitudinally, the female member 21 carries an externally extending flange 27 at approximately its mid-point whereby the member 21 may be secured to the wall of the bomb 11 as best seen in FIGURE 2. The lower end of the member 21 (FIGURE 3) is externally threaded providing means for receiving a protecting cap (not shown). The upper end of the member 21 is also externally threaded as indicated by the numeral 28 for a purpose which will be apparent presently. Internally the upper end of member 21 is counterbored, as indicated by the numeral 29 in FIGURES 3 and 4, to receive the lower end of the member 19. In this respect a longitudinally extending groove 31 is provided internally in the wall of the upper portion of the member 21.

The member 19 also carries an externally extending flange 32 at approximately the mid-point thereof when considered longitudinally. The upper end of the member 19 is externally threaded as indicated by the numeral 33. A keylike projection 34, adapted to be received in the groove 31, is provided on the outer surface at the lower end of the member 19. At such time as the groove 31

3,430,184 and projection 34 are aligned and the latter is received in the groove 31 the pins 26 are aligned with their corresponding receptacles 24.

A secondary sleeve member 36, constructed substantially as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, is threadably secured on the upper end of the member 19. As constructed, the member 36 is provided internally with a shoulder 37 adapted to bottom on the upper end of the member 19 at such time as the two are assembled. A shoulder 38 projecting externally is also provided at the upper end of the member 36 and functions in a manner presently explained.

A spring member 39 fabricated, substantially as shown in FIGURE 6, surrounds the member 36. The member 39 comprises a cylindrical body portion 41 and three legs members 42 spaced at one hundred twenty degrees (120°) with respect to each other. The body portion 41 is slit as indicated by the numeral 43 allowing the portion 41 to surround the member 36 with the legs 42 depending therefrom. In this respect, the upper edge of the portion 41 is turned inwardly to provide a flange 44 which in turn is received in an annular groove 45 provided in the upper end of the secondary sleeve member 36. In view of the fact that the member 39 is fabricated of a spring material, its body portion 41 will snugly embrace the member 36, also the legs 42 of the member 39 are formed so that they inherently spring outwardly from the member 19 (FIGURES 3, 4 and 6) at such time as they are not restricted by a component to be presently explained. The legs 42 are curved at approximately their mid-point as indicated by the numeral 46, the legs terminating in pointed or hooked ends 47. In this respect it will be seen that hooked ends 47 of the legs 42 clear the threads 28 at such time as the legs 42 are not restricted.

A primary sleeve member 48 has a surrounding relation with respect to the spring 39. The upper end of the member 48 is counterbored to provide a shoulder 49. The lower end of the member 48 is contoured in a manner providing clearance allowing the legs 42 to spring outward to a position in which their ends 47 clear the threads 28, as indicated by the numeral 51, the contoured portion 51 including a camming portion 52. Grooves 53 are also provided in the contoured portion 51 in which the legs 42 are, bottomed. The member 48 has a restricting position, shown in FIGURE 3, in which the pointed ends of the legs 42 are urged into firm contacting relation with the threads 28 and a non-restricting position, shown in FIGURE 4, in which the shoulder 49 is bottomed, or has a contacting relation with the shoulder 38, and the ends 47 have a non-contacting relation with the threads 28.

It will now be apparent that, as a result of moving the sleeve member 48 from its non-restricting to its restricting position the legs 42 will be urged inwardly by the camming portion 52 and the ends 47 urged into a firm contacting relation with respect to the threads 28. Thus the members 19 and 21 will be held in firm relation as long as the member 48 remains in its restricting position. It will also be seen that a firmer relation between the members 19 and 21 will be achieved by imparting rotational movement of the member 48, this is due to the fact that the legs 42 are received in the grooves 53.

The sleeve member 48 is also provided with an annular groove 54 adjacent its upper end adapted to have the end of a pair of diametrically opposed lanyards 56 secured therein, substantially as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, the other ends of the lanyards are secured to the nacelle 12 m a manner removing all slack therefrom.

The male portion, secondary member, spring member and principal sleeve members 19, 36, 39 and 48, respectively, are now assembled with the sleeve member 48 in its nonrestricting position (FIGURE 4). The male and female portions 17 and 18, respectively, are now brought providing electrical paths through the pins 26 and receptacles 24. It will be noticed that an Ο-ring or gasket 57 is positioned between the male and female members 19 and 21, respectively. The gasket 57 functions to pre_ elude moisture entering the connector 14 and, therefore, ⁰ provides additional insurance against shorting of the aforementioned electrical flow paths.

It will now be apparent that the ends 47 of the legs 42 will engage the threads 28 at such time as the sleeve ₁₀ member 48 is caused to assume its restricting position. It also will be apparent that rotational movement of the sleeve member 48 will result in a more complete and firmer relation of the male and female members 19 and 21, respectively. Rotary movement of the member 48 ₁₅ is imparted to spring members 39, the ends 47 of the spring member coacting with the threads 28 similarly as the threads of a nut coact with the threads of a bolt.

At such times as all mechanical means securing the bomb 11 to the nacelle 12 with the exception of the 20 lanyards 16, are released, the bomb will begin to fall away from the nacelle 12. Relative movement between the male member 19 and the sleeve member 48 will occur until movement of male member is arrested by contacting the shoulder 49. The sleeve member 48 is now in 25 its releasing position (FIGURE 4) and the pointed ends 47 are released from their engaging relation with the threads 28. Under these conditions the female member 18 and bomb 11 will achieve complete separation from the nacelle 12 and the bomb will be free to fall therefrom 30 in response to gravity and under the influence of the bomb’s guidance system.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the 35 invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid 40 scope of the appended claim.