Dual Electrical And Fluidic Connector Assembly

Abstract

A quick-connect connector for connecting a plurality of fluid and electrical conductors. In combination with an electrical connector of the type having a male and female member each of which includes an insert having a plurality of passages of a given diameter and wherein one of said inserts includes male electrical contact members disposed in the passages of the inserts and female electrical contact members disposed in the passages of the other insert for connecting a plurality of noncommunicating electrical conductors and predetermined circuit relationship, the improvement wherein one of the inserts is comprised of a resilient material and wherein at least one duct is disposed in one of the passages of the other insert, the duct having an end portion with a boss thereon which extends beyond the insert, the diameter of the boss being greater than the diameter of the passage in said resilient insert so that when the male and female members are in mated relationship, the boss on the duct is in pressurized contact with the wall of the passage of the resilient insert to form a fluidtight seal therebetween whereby said connector connects in a predetermined relationship electrical and fluid conductors.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is concerned with coupling devices commonly referred to as quick-connect connectors. More specifically, it is concerned with a connector assembly that for the first time enables a person to connect together a plurality of fluid and electrical conductors in one operation.

Up to the present time, control systems have not combined a fluidic and electrical conductor within the same conduit and/or connector assembly. Perhaps the reason for this was the concern of electrical engineers that fluid leaking from a fluid conductor would adversely affect the electrical circuitry. This is especially true at the connecting points between two fluid conductors where in the past fluidtight seals were unreliable. Perhaps one of the most common and perplexing shortcomings of prior art fluid connectors was the lack of sufficiently positive sealing characteristics to provide leaktight seals. Examples of a fluid type connector assembly may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,305,249 to E. J. Zahuranec and 3,453,007 to M. G. Roland. Examples of electrical connectors of the quick-connect connector are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,336,569 to J. A. Nava.

A review of presently used commercial and/or military connector assembly reveals that because of the above problem a connector assembly that connects both electric and fluid conductors is not used and is not available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A quick-connect connector assembly for connecting together a plurality of electrical and fluidic conductors. The invention is characterized by the fluidic portion of the connector assembly which includes a plurality of hollow rigid male members each of which has at least one annular boss thereon with a diameter greater than the bores in a resilient insert that receives the hollow male members so that when the male members are inserted into the resilient insert, a compression seal is formed between the boss on the rigid male members and the inner wall of the bores in the resilient insert thereby establishing a fluidtight relationship. Because of this exceptional fluidtight relationship, the connector assembly may be used to connect both electric and fluid conductors within the same connector assembly. A more detailed detailed description of the fluidtight connector assembly may be found in copending application (serial number not received).

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a connector assembly capable of connecting a plurality of noncommunicating electrical and fluidic conductors in a predetermined relationship.

It is another object of this invention to promote the use of both electrical and fluid power in control systems.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a fluid coupling that may be used in any of the existing type electrical connectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical and fluid connector that does not rely primarily upon compressing the transverse end walls of the inserts for a fluidtight seal.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims which form a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a connector assembly utilizing the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a connector assembly which connects together at least two fluid conductors and at least two electrical conductors in a predetermined relationship.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a connector assembly which is comprised of a first assembly 20 and a second assembly 10. The second assembly 10 comprises a housing 13, an insert 11, fluid ducts 1, and electrical contacts 50. The insert 11 has a plurality of bores or passages 12 formed in the insert which are arranged generally axially of the insert. Located in the passages 12 are the ducts 1 and at least one electrical contact 50. The ducts 1 are mounted within the insert 11 so that each end of a duct, including at least one annular boss thereon, extends beyond the insert 11. This arrangement allows the ends of each duct 1 to be inserted into a fluid conductor. Similarly, the electrical contacts are also mounted within the insert so that each end of the contact 50, extends beyond the insert 11. The insert 11 is mounted in the housing 13. The housing 13 includes an external mounting flange apertured to receive fastening members so that the housing 13 may be mounted on a bulkhead. For the purpose of connecting the assembly 10 to another assembly, the housing 13 includes a tubular portion having threads 14 for receiving a threaded coupling device 31 and a rear portion having threads for receiving a coupling device for attaching a support and/or protective mechanism around the electrical and fluidic conductors. Located within the housing 13 is a guide or key 17 so that when the first assembly 20 is connected to the second assembly 10, the fluid carrying conductors and electrical contacts of each assembly communicate with each other in a predetermined relationship. The first assembly 20 comprises a housing 23, an insert 21, ducts 1, and at least one electrical contact 53. The insert 21 is comprised of a resilient material and has a plurality of bores or passages 22 formed in the insert arranged generally axially of the housing in the same manner as the passages 12 in insert 11. Located in at least one of the passages 22 is a duct 1. The duct is mounted in the insert 21 so that one end of the boss thereon extends beyond the housing for receiving a fluid conductor 41 and the other end terminates within the passage 22 of the insert 21. Similarly, located in the passages 22 is at least one electrical contact 53. The electrical contact 53 is mounted in the insert 21 so that one end of the contact extends beyond the insert for receiving an electrical conductor 51 and the other end terminates within the passage 22 of the insert 21. The electrical contact 53 is the female contact that mates with the male contact 50 of the second assembly 10 when the assemblies 10 and 20 are in mated relationship. However, the relationship between which insert carries the male and female portion of the electrical contacts is interchangeable and can be arranged in any manner. The insert 21 is mounted in the housing 23. The housing 23 includes a tubular portion having threads 26 for receiving a threaded coupling device for attaching a support and/or protective mechanism for the electrical and fluidic conductors 41, 51. The housing 23 has a slot 27 which receives the key 17 when the assemblies 10 and 20 are connected. Once the assemblies 10, 20 are connected, coupling nut 31 may be used to interlock the assemblies together. It is not necessary to compress the transverse end walls 19, 29 of the inserts 11 and 21 respectively to obtain a fluidtight seal. The fluidtight seal between the assemblies 10, 20 is accomplished by the initial interconnection between the assemblies i.e., when the ducts 1 are inserted into passages 22. Although not shown, the inserts 11, 21 have means such as grooves and shoulders for locating the inserts 11, 21 in a predetermined location within their respective housings 13, 23. The inserts 11, 21 are comprised of a resilient material such as rubber, neoprene rubber, nylon, teflon or any other materials that will permit repeated compression of the material with a minimum loss of shape. Although both inserts 11, 21 may be comprised of resilient material for interchangeability, only one of the inserts may be comprised of a resilient material. In that instance, the resilient insert must be part of the housing assembly that receives the extended portion of a duct 1 from the other assembly.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a connector assembly wherein assemblies 10, 20 are interconnected with one another to establish fluid communication between fluid conductors 41 and electrical communication between electrical conductors 51. The duct 1 in the insert 21 leaves sufficient room in the bore 22 to receive that portion of the duct 1, having a boss 3 thereon, which extends from the insert 11. Unlike the electrical contacts 50, 53, contact between the ducts 1 of the assemblies 10, 20 is unnecessary. The end portion of the duct 1 mounted in the insert 11, has a boss 3 thereon which has a diameter greater than the diameter of the bore 22, so that when the duct 1 enters the bore 22 a compression seal is formed by the boss 3 pressing into the walls of the bore 22 in the resilient insert 21. A positive fluidtight seal is, therefore, established in one step by inserting the duct 1 into the bore 22. Although only one boss 3 enters bore 22, two bosses may be preferred. The transverse end walls 19, 29 of the inserts 11, 21 are not required to be in pressurized contact to have a fluidtight connector assembly although by action of the coupling nut 31 which locks the assembly together they may be. Electrical contacts 50, 53 are arranged in their respective inserts 11, 21 so that they are in electrical circuit relationship as soon as a fluidtight seal is established between the duct 1 and the insert 21. The electrical contact 53 in insert 21 is the female electrical contact that receives the male contact 50 that extends from insert 11. Both the electrical contacts 50, 53 and the ducts 1 have shoulders 7 that are used to locate the contacts and ducts in a predetermined and fixed position in the inserts 11, 21.

OPERATION

Referring now to the drawings, the assemblies 10, 20 are connected together in the following manner. To establish connections between noncommunicating fluid and electrical conductors 41, 51 the assemblies 10, 20 are aligned as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. To cause proper orientation of the ducts 1 and contacts 50, 53, key 17 is inserted into slot 27 and when the assemblies 10 and 20 are directed towards each other, the forward end portions of the ducts 1 and electrical contact 50 in the assembly 10 are inserted into the bores 22 of the insert 21. Coupling nut 31 may then be taken up on the mating threads 14 provided on the housing 13. This action interlocks the two assemblies 10, 20 together. By further tightening of the coupling nut 31, compression between the transverse end walls 19, 29 of the inserts 11, 21 within the housing 13 may be obtained. However, compressing the inserts 11 and 21 is not necessary to obtain a fluidtight seal and/or electrical connection in this connection in this connector. This is because the primary fluidtight seal is formed between the boss 3 on the duct 1 and the inner wall of the bore 22 in the resilient insert 21. When it is desired to disconnect the assemblies 10, 20 a reverse procedure is followed. Thus, this invention makes it possible to connect a multiplicity of noncommunicating fluid conductors and electrical conductors simultaneously without the necessity of reverting to separate connections. Further, to assure a positive, leaktype seal within the connector, it is not necessary to rely on the action of a coupling nut to press the transverse walls 19, 29 of the inserts 11, 21 together.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made to the invention as set forth in the appended claims, and, in some cases, certain features of the invention may be used to advantage without corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is intended that the illustrative and descriptive materials employed herein be used to illustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the scope thereof.

Claims

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a connector assembly, the combination comprising:

means for connecting at least one electrical conductor in electrical circuit relationship to another electrical conductor; and

means for connecting at least one fluid conductor in a fluid communicating relationship to another fluid conductor which comprises:

an insert, having a plurality of passages;

a duct, disposed in at least one of said passages, said duct having an end portion with a boss thereon which extends beyond said insert, said boss having a given diameter; and

a resilient insert having a plurality of bores arranged in the same manner as the passages in said other insert said resilient insert having at least one bore therein receiving the portion of said duct having the boss thereon, said bore having a diameter less than the diameter of the boss on said duct so that when said duct is inserted into said bore said boss on said duct is in pressurized contact with the wall of said bore whereby a fluidtight seal is formed therebetween so that the electrical conductors are electrically isolated from the fluid conductors.

2. In combination with an electrical connector of the type having a male and female member each of which include an insert having a plurality of passages of a given diameter and wherein one of said inserts includes male electrical contact members disposed in the passages of said insert and female electrical contact members disposed in the passages of said other insert for connecting a plurality of noncommunicating electrical conductors in predetermined circuit relationship, the improvement comprising:

one of said inserts is comprised of a resilient material; and

at least one duct, said duct disposed in one of the passages of said other insert, said duct having an end portion with a boss thereon which extends beyond said insert, the diameter of said boss being greater than the diameter of the passage in said resilient insert so that when said male and female members are in mated relationship, the boss in said duct is in pressurized contact with the wall of the passage of said resilient insert to form a fluidtight seal therebetween whereby said connector connects in a predetermined relationship electrical and fluid conductors.

3. A connector assembly for connecting at least one fluid conductor to another and at least one electrical conductor to another which comprises:

a first assembly which includes:

an insert comprised of a resilient material and having at least two passages therethrough, each of said passages having a given diameter;

a duct disposed in at least one of said passages, said duct having an end portion which terminates within the passage in said housing; and

an electrical contact disposed in another passage, said electrical contact having an end portion which terminates with the passage in said insert;

a second assembly which includes:

an insert having at least two passages therethrough arranged in the same manner as the passages in said resilient insert;

a duct disposed in at least one of said passages, said duct having an end portion which extends beyond said insert, said end portion having at least one boss thereon, the diameter of the boss being greater than the diameter of the passage in said resilient insert so that when said duct is inserted into one of said passages in said resilient insert, the boss on the end portion of said second assembly duct is in pressurized contact with the wall of the passage in said resilient insert whereby a fluidtight seal is formed therebetween; and

an electrical contact disposed in another passage, said contact having a middle portion and an end portion which extends beyond said insert for insertion into said passage in said resilient insert having said electrical contact so that when said first assembly is in mated relationship with said second assembly, said electrical contact is in circuit relationship with said other contact whereby said connector assembly connects electrical and fluid conductors in a predetermined relationship.

4. A connector assembly for connecting at least one fluid conductor to another and at least one electrical conductor to another which comprises:

a first assembly which includes:

an insert comprised of a resilient material and having at least two passages therethrough, each of said passages having a given diameter; and

a duct disposed in at least one of said passages, said duct having an end portion which terminates within the passage in said insert, and an end portion which extends beyond said insert for receiving a first fluid conductor;

An electrical contact disposed in another passage, said electrical contact having an end portion which terminates within the passage in said insert, and an end portion which extends beyond said insert for receiving a first electrical conductor;

A second assembly which includes:

an insert having at least two passages therethrough;

a duct disposed in at least one of said passages, said duct having a middle portion, an end portion which extends beyond said insert for receiving a second fluid conductor, and another end portion having at least one boss thereon which extends beyond said insert for insertion into one of said passages in said resilient insert, the diameter of the boss being greater than the diameter of the passage in said resilient insert so that when said first assembly is in mated relationship with said second assembly the boss on the end portion of said second assembly duct is in pressurized contact with the wall of the passages in said resilient insert whereby a fluidtight seal is formed therebetween; and

an electrical contact disposed in another passage, said contact having a middle portion, an end portion which extends beyond said insert for receiving a second electrical conductor, and another end portion which extends beyond said insert for insertion into said passage in said resilient insert so that when said first assembly is in mated relationship with said second assembly, said electrical contact is in circuit relationship with said other contact whereby said connector assembly connects said first electrical conductor to said second electrical conductor and said first fluid conductor to said second fluid conductor.