Electrical connector

Abstract

An improved electrical connector for achieving high voltage connections in aqueous environments, the connector comprising: a tubular housing, a cylindrical insulator positioned inside the tubular housing; a cap positioned on one end of the tubular housing; a cylindrical insulating portion positioned inside the cap and between the cap and the cylindrical insulator; and apparatus for connecting the tubular housing to a utilization apparatus, wherein, the improvement comprises positioning a plurality of wedge-shaped ring seals in the connector to seal the connector against the entry of contaminants.

Description

Heretofore numerous high voltage connector assemblies have been available; however, most such assemblies are rather large and in many instances have relied on large ceramic insulators and wide separations to achieve effective high voltage connections. In recent years it has been increasingly desirable that small high voltage connector assemblies be available for use in analytical equipment and miniaturized equipment of various sorts. In many instances it has been necessary to use such equipment in aqueous environments and high humidity environments. While the high voltage connectors known to the art have been effective in establishing high voltage connections to such equipment in dry environments, it has been found that the connectors heretofore known to the art almost invariably fail within short periods of time in aqueous environments and high humidity environments. The failure is promoted by the high susceptibility to arcing with high voltage connectors when small water leaks, for example, occur. Accordingly, much time and effort has been devoted to the development of an improved high voltage connector assembly which is adapted to achieving high voltage connections to equipment in aqueous environments and high humidity environments.

It has now been found that such connections are readily achieved by the use of an improved connector for sealing both the assembled components of the electrical connector and the assembled connector with a utilization apparatus. The improved connector includes a tubular housing; a cylindrical insulation means axially positioned inside the tubular housing; a conduction means positioned through the cylindrical insulation means and a cap means releasably attached to one end of the tubular housing. A means for positioning an insulated conductor through the cap means and in electrical contact with the conduction means is positioned between the cap means and the cylindrical insulation means and includes means for retaining the insulated conductor in the cap means. An attaching means for attaching the tubular housing to the utilization apparatus is also included. The improvement comprises positioning a first wedge-shaped ring seal means in a passageway between the attaching means and the tubular housing; positioning a second wedge-shaped ring seal means around the insulated conductor and sealingly joining the cylindrical insulating portion which has a tapered section on one end with the tubular housing to form a third seal.

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the improved connector of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the connector attached to a utilization apparatus having a pressurized environment or a vacuum environment; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a portion of FIG. 2.

Similar numbers will be used throughout the specification for similar elements.

Referring to FIG. 1, connector 10 which is attached to a utilization apparatus 12 comprises a tubular housing 14 having a cylindrical insulation means 16 axially positioned therein. Tubular housing 14 is of a conductive material and includes a threaded portion 18 positioned on a first end 20 of tubular housing 14. Tubular housing 14 also includes a peripheral protrusion 22 positioned near its second end 24. Second end 24 may be tapered to matingly join a first wedgeshaped ring seal 26 which is more completely described hereinafter.

Cylindrical insulation means 16 has positioned therethrough a conduction means 28 and includes a cavity 30 which contains an electrical contact means 32. Electrical contact means 32 includes a contact plate 34 which is joined to conduction means 28 by a flexible conductor 36. Contact plate 34 is urged into electrical contact with contact button 38 which is electrically fastened to a conductor 40.

A cap means 42 is releasably attached to first end 20 of tubular housing 14 by threads 18. Conductor 40 having insulation 44 is positioned through cap means 42 and in electrical contact with conduction means 28. Cap means 42 also optionally includes threads 46 for connection to other equipment.

A cylindrical insulating portion 48 is positioned inside cap means 42 and between a first end 50 of cap means 42 and cylindrical insulation means 16. Cylindrical insulating portion 48 includes a tapered portion 52 which forms a wedging sealing junction 54 with the inner diameter 55 of tubular housing 14 thus preventing the entry of contaminants into connector 10 through threads 18. Conductor 40, including insulation 44, is positioned through cylindrical insulating portion 48 and terminates at contact button 38.

A washer 56 is positioned between cap means 42 and cylindrical insulating portion 48. Washer 56 retains a second conductor 60 in position. In a desired embodiment conductor 40 is one conductor of a coaxial cable 58 which includes conductor 40, insulation 44, second conductor 60 and an outer insulation 62. Second conductor 60 comprises a peripheral arrangement of metallic foil or small metal wires 64 threaded or wrapped periphally around insulation 44, the ends of which are positioned between washer 56 and cap means 42.

Tubular housing 14 is attached to utilization apparatus 12 by means of attaching means 66. Attaching means 66 includes peripheral protrusion 22 and a collar means 68 positioned on utilization apparatus 12. Collar means 68 includes threads 70 to matingly join with threads 72 of a nut means 74. Nut means 74 also includes a lip 76 which engages peripheral protrusion 22 and joins tubular housing 14 to utilization apparatus 12.

First wedge-shaped ring seal means 26 is positioned in a passageway 78 between first end 20 of tubular housing 14 and attaching means 66. Seal means 26 obviously may be positioned in various positions in passageway 78. The position shown is preferred since in this position seal means 26 forms a seal between first end 20 of tubular housing 14 and the junction of threads 70 on collar means 68 and threads 72 on nut means 74. Seal means 26 also sealingly joins a portion 80 of utilization apparatus 12 thus forming a further seal.

A second sealing means 82 is included and comprises a pair of wedge-shaped ring seal means 84 and 86 positioned around conductor 40. Seal 84 is positioned in cylindrical insulating portion 48 and seal 86 is positioned in cap means 42 and around cable 58. The apexes of seal means 84 and 86 are directed in opposite directions and away from washer 56. Upon assembly of the apparatus it is clearly seen that seal 86 prevents the entry of moisture through insulation 62 of coaxial cable 58 into connector 10 and seal 84 prevents the entry of moisture through conductor 60 into contact with electrical conductors 40 and 28.

It is thus seen that connector 10 is completely protected against the entry of water or other contaminating material.

FIG. 2 shows a similar connector for use with pressurized or evacuated utilization apparatus. Electrical contact means 32 comprises a flexible electrically conductive spring 88 joined to first end 89 of conduction means 28 and contact button 38. Attaching means 66 comprises a tubular member 90 which includes threads 92. Tubular member 90 is sealingly positioned on utilization apparatus 12 and around tubular housing 14. A peripheral projection 93 is positioned on cap means 42. A nut means 94 including threads 96 is used to attach utilization apparatus 12 to tubular housing 14. A wedge-shaped ring seal means 98 is positioned in passageway 78 between attaching means 66 and second end 24 of tubular housing 14. A wedge-shaped ring surface 100 is formed as a part of cap 42 and is positioned in a cavity 102 formed by positioning washer 56 between cap means 42 and cylindrical insulating portion 48. Surface 100 is positioned at the outer perimeter 104 of cavity 102 and at the end 106 of outer perimeter 104 farthest from cylindrical insulation means 16. It is thus seen that conductors 28 and 40 are sealingly protected from the entry of water and outside contaminants after assembly. FIG. 3 shows surface 100 as a wedge-shaped ring seal means 114 positioned at the outer perimeter 104 of cavity 102 and at the end 106 of outer perimeter 104 farthest from cylindrical insulation means 16. The use of seal means 114 is also a preferred embodiment.

In the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 a cover 108 is positioned on one end 110 of cylindrical insulation means 16. First end 89 of conduction means 28 is sealingly joined to cover 108 thus maintaining the vacuum or pressure in utilization apparatus 12. Cover 108 is normally of a conductive material and as a result it is necessary to provide an insulating sheath 112 inside tubular housing 14. The attaching means shown in FIG. 2 is preferred for general use since the tubular housing provides protection to the electrical components during handling and assembly and results in a stronger connection.

Tubular housing 14, attaching means 66 and cap means 42 are all conductive materials so that the ground portion of the circuit is completed.

Cylindrical insulation means 16 is of any suitable insulating material such as polyvinylchloride, high-density polyethylene, alumina, ceramics and the like. When utilization apparatus 12 is evacuated, it is desirable that an insulating material which does not outgas be used. High grade refractory alumina has been found particularly desirable in such applications. The wedge-shaped ring seal means and cylindrical insulating portion 48 are fabricated from any suitable resilient insulating material such as Teflon, polyvinylchloride, high-density polyethylene, rubbers and the like. Particularly desirable results have been obtained wherein Teflon was used.

Having thus described the invention, it is pointed out that the foregoing description of preferred embodiments is illustrative rather than limiting and that many variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. An improved connector for sealing both the assembled components of an electrical connector and the assembled connector with a utilization apparatus wherein said connector includes;

a. a tubular housing;

b. a cylindrical insulation means axially positioned inside said tubular housing;

c. a conduction means positioned through said cylindrical insulation means;

d. a cap means releasably attached to a first end of said tubular housing;

e. means for positioning an insulated conductor through said cap means and in electrical contact with said conduction means;

f. means for retaining said conductor in said cap means; and,

g. attaching means for attaching a second end of said tubular housing to said utilization apparatus, said attaching means including a passageway between said attaching means and said second end; the improvement comprising:

h. a first wedge-shaped ring seal means positioned in said passageway between said second end of said tubular housing and said means for attaching said second end of said tubular housing to said utilization apparatus;

i. a second wedge-shaped ring seal means positioned around said insulated conductor; and,

j. said means for positioning a conductor means through said cap means and in electrical contact with said insulated conductor comprising a cylindrical insulating portion having a tapered section on one end which wedgingly seals said tubular housing.

2. The improved connector of claim 1 wherein; said means for retaining said insulated conductor in said cap means comprises a washer positioned between said cap means and said cylindrical insulating portion and wherein said second seal means comprises two wedge-shaped ring seals positioned on opposite sides of said washer, one of said wedge-shaped ring seals being positioned in said cylindrical insulating portion and the other wedge-shaped ring seal being positioned in said cap means, said wedge-shaped ring seals having their apexes directed away from said washer.

3. The improved connector of claim 2 wherein said insulated conductor comprises a coaxial cable having a central conductor separated from a peripheral conductor positioned peripherally around an insulation means separating said central conductor means and said peripheral conductor and wherein said insulated conductor means is retained in position by clamping said peripheral conductor means between said washer and said clamp means.

4. The improved connector of claim 2 wherein a cover means is positioned on a first end of said cylindrical insulation means to sealingly enclose said first end of said cylindrical insulation means and wherein an insulating sheath is positioned inside said tubular housing.

5. The improved connector of claim 2 wherein said means for positioning an insulated conductor through said cap means and in electrical contact with said conduction means includes a spring contact means positioned between said insulated conductor and said conduction means.

6. The improved connector of claim 2 wherein said means for attaching said second end of said tubular housing to said utilization apparatus comprises a threaded collar means positioned on said apparatus, a peripheral protrusion on the outside of said tubular housing, and a nut means having threads to matingly engage said threaded collar means and a lip means to engage said peripheral protrusion thus attaching said tubular housing to said utilization apparatus.

7. The improved connector of claim 2 wherein said means for attaching said second end of said tubular housing to said utilization apparatus comprises a threaded tubular member positioned on said apparatus and around said tubular housing, a peripheral projection on said cap means and a nut means having threads to matingly engage said threaded tubular member and a lip means to engage said peripheral projection and wherein the positioning of said washer results in a cavity between said cap means and said cylindrical insulating portion and a fourth wedge-shaped ring seal means is positioned in said cavity at the outer perimeter of said cavity and at the end of said outer perimeter farthest from said first end of said tubular housing.

8. The improved connector of claim 7 wherein said fourth seal means comprises a wedge-shaped portion of said cap means.

9. The improved connector of claim 2 wherein said insulated conductor comprises a coaxial cable having a central conductor separated from a peripheral conductor positioned peripherally around an insulation means separating said central conductor means and said peripheral conductor and wherein said insulated conductor means is retained in position by clamping said peripheral conductor means between said washer and said cylindrical insulating portion.