Connector

[57] ABSTRACT

An underwater connector for connecting electrical cables consists of a plug and socket. The connector operates when it is oil filled, the socket having a reservoir in its body filled with oil with the opening of the body facing down, there is a metal depression in the reservoir connected to one cable. The plug has a hollow body and a metal projection connected to the other cable which fits into the socket body. When the plug is inserted into the socket the oil in the socket reservoir is forced into the reservoir in the plug body and electrical contact between the plug and socket is made without any water coming in contact with the electrical contact in the socket.

Claims, 1 Drawing Figure

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PATENTED*»*1319?3 3&gt;72.636

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3,772,636

CONNECTOR

This invention relates to connectors for use under water, more particularly it relates to connectors suitable for use in making electrical connections under water.

It is known to make electrical connections under water e.g. sea, using a connector comprising a socket consisting of a rubber plug with holes passing through it. Part way down the holes electrical contact pieces are mounted which are joined to one end of the cable which is to be joined. The other portion of the connector comprises a plug having the same number of solid rubber cylinders projecting out of it as there are holes in the socket. The solid rubber cylinders have a slightly outwardly flared end and have electrical contact pieces mounted part way along them, which contact pieces are connected to the other part of the cable which is to be joined. When the connector is assembled the rubber clyinders of the plug fit into the holes in the socket and the two sets of contact pieces make an electrical connection. When the connection is made under water the flared end of the rubber cylinders of the plug force the water out of socket as the plug is inserted thus ensuring a dry contact.

However when it is desired to break contact the electric power in the circuit has to be switched off otherwise electrolytic action will take place causing corrosion. Thus the connector can not be left disconnected with the power still on. This drawback is particularly severe in under-sea operations.

I have now devised a connector which can reduce this difficulty.

According to the invention there is provided an electrical connector comprising a socket having a hollow reservoir open at one end and closed at the other, there being at least one depression in the closed end which depression contains an electrical contact piece adapted to be connected to a cable, and a plug containing at least one projecting member having an electrical contact mounted thereon adapted to be connected to a cable, and a reservoir with one opening adjacent the projecting member and a second opening at the other end of the reservoir so that when the plug is inserted into the socket the body of the plug fills the reservoir space of the socket and projecting member or members of the plug fit into the depression or depressions of the socket and make electrical contact therewith.

In making a connection under water the contact pieces of the socket are connected to one part of the cable to be joined and the socket is held with the opening of its reservoir facing down. A liquid lighter than water is floated up into the socket reservoir to fill the depressions in the reservoir and at least partly fill the reservoir.

The connector pieces of the plug are connected to the other part of the cable to be joined and the plug inserted into the socket. As the body of the plug enters the reservoir in the socket the oil is forced through the opening in the plug reservoir adjacent the projecting member, and water is forced out of the other opening in the plug reservoir. When the plug is fully inserted in the socket an electrical connection is made between the two connector pieces.

The projecting members of the plug preferably have a groove down their sides or a hollow channel, in order to facilitate displacement of the oil as they are inserted into the depression into the socket.

Preferably the projecting member of the plug is made of metal e.g. copper or brass and is connected to the cable using conventional means e.g. soldering.

The depressions in the socket are preferably metal 5 inserts in the form of hollow metal cylinders, into which the projecting metal members of the plug fit, the metal cylinders can be connected to the cable using conventional connection means e.g. soldering.

The plug preferably has sealing rings round its out10 side in order to fit closely into the socket reservoir.

The body of the socket and plugs can be made of any non conductive material e.g. an epoxy resin, a phenol formaldehyde resin a urea-formaldehyde resin or a polyester resin.

The plug can be held in place in the socket by any suitable means e.g. a snap-fitting or by a band passing over the assembled plug and socket.

The liquid used in the connector can be any liquid lighter than water which is non conductive and immis20 cible with water e.g. a mineral lubricating oil.

When the connector is connected and the assembled circuit is to be broken the plug is withdrawn and water flows in through the bottom opening in the plug reservoir and oil passes through the opening adjacent the 25 projecting member of the plug into the reservoir in the socket, thus no water comes into contact with the electrically conductive parts of the socket so no electrolytic action can take place. If the contact is to be left broken for a considerable period then a dummy plug will nor³⁰ mally be inserted in the socket.

There can be any number of electrical connections made using the connector of the present invention, depending on the number of projecting members and the corresponding depressions in the socket. For electric ³³ power there will normally be three connections though for use in communication systems there may be a different number.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a cross⁴⁰ section through a plug and socket.

The socket 1 comprises an epoxy resin casing 2 having metal inserts 3 mounted and connected to cables 4 and reservoir space 5.

The plug 6 comprises an epoxy resin casing 7 having ⁴³ a cable penetrator assembly 8 moulded into it. Two metal projection pieces 9 are fixed in casing 7 and connected to cable 10 through cable penetrator assembly 8. O rings 11 and 12 are mounted round plug body as shown. The reservoir 13 is open through openings 14 ⁵⁰ and 15. The gap A is the same in socket and plug.

In operation socket 1 is held vertical under water and an oil is floated up into it to fill socket reservoir space 5 and metal insert space 3. When plug 6 is inserted oil is forced through opening 14 and forces water out ⁵⁵ through opening 15 till projections 9 fit into inserts 3 thus making an electrical connection. The connector is held assembled by band 16 passing over the connector.

Upon disengagement water flows through opening 15 and oil flows out of reservoir 13 through opening 14 ⁶⁰ into reservoir 5 and inserts 3, thus preventing water coming into contact with inserts 3.