Quick-disconnect electrical connector

[57] ABSTRACT

A quick-disconnect electrical connector having a tubular body with an outwardly extending tapered extending tapered surface and a barrel having a plurality of resilient fingers surrounding said tapered surface. Cam means are provided for moving said barrel relative to said tubular body whereby said fingers are outwardly extended. A pair of electrical contacts are provided inside said tubular body for engaging with contacts in a mating connector.

Claim, 3 Drawing Figures

<img file="US3723944A_D0001.tif" />

Patented March 27, 1973

3,723,944

<img file="US3723944A_D0002.tif" />

INVENTORS.

B/CHAHD H. QAUCHAT^ NATHAN W. EABEL

ATTORNEYS’

3,723,944

QUICK-DISCONNECT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electrical connector and more particularly to a quick-disconnect type electrical connector suitable for use with test equipment. Stores, such as bombs and missiles, which are delivered to a target by aircraft are usually held by an ejector rack assembly and release of the store is accomplished by an electric signal initiated by the aircraft pilot. In one ejector rack assembly widely used by the armed forces, there is provided a housing containing a dual cartridge breech, four tandem hooks, two pistons, an ejector foot assembly and mechanical linkage. Ejection is accomplished by the electrical detonation of cartridges inside the cartridge breech which creates pressure in the breech to release the hooks and, simultaneously, move the ejector foot downward to force the store clear so that it will not strike any part of the aircraft. Electrical connection is made with the cartridge breech by a connector which threadedly attaches thereto.

In operation, it is most desirable that no malfunction occur with the ejector rack assembly, for a malfunction can result in the store remaining attached to the rack. A dangerous condition is created when an aircraft lands with bombs or missiles still attached as the shock induced by landing could cause the store to be ejected and detonated. This condition is particularly hazard when a carrier landing is being made. In order to provide for maximum safety, the electrical circuitry of the cartridge breech is normally checked immediately prior to a military mission. As time is usually of the essence, it is important that these checks be made as quickly as possible so as to not delay the launch of the aircraft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a quick-disconnect electrical connector which can be rapidly connected and disconnected with a mating connector. A tubular body is provided with an outwardly extending tapered section and a barrel having a plurality of resilient fingers surrounds the tubular body. A lever having a cam surface thereon is pivotally attached to the tubular body and actuation of the lever causes the cam surface to move the barrel forward to expand the resilient fingers. These fingers grip the inner surface of a mating connector, which may be threaded, to lock the two connectors together. A pair of electrical contacts are provided inside the tubular body and each contact is spring-biased to provide better contact with a contact in the mating connector.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a quick-disconnect electrical connector which can be rapidly connected and disconnected with a mating connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an end view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partially in section, of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and also showing, partly in section, a mating breech cap; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, only showing the connector of the present invention mating with a breech cap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now the drawing, there is shown a quickrelease connector 10 having a tubular body 11 which is provided with an outwardly extending tapered surface 12 on the forward end thereof. A barrel 13, which is preferably made of a non-metallic material, such as nylon, surrounds a portion of tubular body 11, and barrel 13 is provided with an internal tapered surface 14 which is complementary to the tapered surface on tubular body 11. The tapered surfaces on tubular body 11 and barrel 13 serve as wedges to expand barrel 13. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, a plurality of slits 15 are provided in barrel 13 to form a plurality of resilient fingers 16. A C-spring 17 is fitted in annular groove 18 in barrel 13 to assure positive contraction of fingers 16 when the fingers 16 are in a released condition.

A U-shaped lever 19 is pivotally attached to tubular body 11 by studs 21 and 22 and lever 19 is provided with sides 23 and 24 which have cam surfaces 25 on the end thereof. A metallic washer 26 is positioned around tubular body 11 between barrel 13 and the cam surfaces 25 on sides 23 and 24 of U-shaped lever 19. When lever 19 is pivoted, cam surfaces 25 move relative to washer 26. If barrel 13 is made of a metallic material, however, washer 26 can be eliminated.

A pair of electrical contacts 27 and 28 are provided inside tubular body 11 and are positioned to engage electrical contacts 31 and 32 in breech cap 33. An insulating spacer 34 is provided to separate contacts 27 and 28 and a retaining ring 35 is provided to retain contacts 27 and 28 inside bore 36 of tubular body 11. Contact 28 is biased outwardly by spring 37 and, likewise, inner contact 27 is biased outwardly by spring 38. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing, contact 28 is in engagement with tubular body 11 and a first conductor lead can be attached to tubular body and a second conductor lead can be attached to inner contact 27. These two conductor leads can be part of cable 39 which can be attached in any well-known manner to tubular body 11. An access opening 41 is provided in tubular body 11 to facilitate connecting the leads of cable 39, and opening 41 is closed by cover plate 42.

OPERATION

The outside diameter of barrel 13 is slightly less than the diameter of the threaded bore of breech cap 33. FIG. 2 of the drawing shows U-shaped lever 19 in a retracted position with flat surface 43 being in contact with washer 26 and, while in this retracted position, the quick-release connector 10 is inserted into breech cap 33. As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing, inner contact 27 engages contact 31 in breech cap 33 and outer contact

3,723,944 engages contact 32. Springs 37 and 38 permit axially movement of contacts 27 and 28 and insure that electrical contact is made with both contacts in breech cap 33. After electrical contact has been made, U-shaped lever 19 is pivoted about studs 21 and 22 and cam surfaces 25 move barrel 13 inwardly with respect to bore 44 of breech cap 33. As barrel 13 moves forward with respect to tubular body 11, tapered surface 12 causes fingers 16 to expand and grip threads 45 in breech cap 33. To release connector 10 from breech cap 33, Ushaped lever 19 is pivoted in a direction opposite to the direction previously rotated, and spring 17 causes fingers 16 to retract and release from threads 45, whereby connector 10 can then be withdrawn from breech cap 33.