U.S. patent number 3,673,541 [Application Number 05/061,788] was granted by the patent office on 1972-06-27 for composite electrical and fluid or air connector.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AMP Incorporated. Invention is credited to Robert Volinskie.
United States Patent |
3,673,541 |
Volinskie |
June 27, 1972 |
COMPOSITE ELECTRICAL AND FLUID OR AIR CONNECTOR
Abstract
This disclosure relates to a detachable connector which is
defined by a plug member having male electrical contacts and a male
tube coupling, and a receptacle member having female electrical
contacts and a female tube coupling. The male contacts and coupling
are keyed relative to the female contacts and coupling. The tube
coupling is sealed against leakage when a connection is
effected.
Inventors: |
Volinskie; Robert (Hershey,
PA) |
Assignee: |
AMP Incorporated (Harrisburg,
PA)
|
Family
ID: |
22038138 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/061,788 |
Filed: |
August 6, 1970 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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732424 |
May 5, 1968 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/195; 285/319;
439/271; 439/745; 285/119 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L
39/00 (20130101); F16L 25/01 (20130101); H01R
13/005 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/00 (20060101); H01r 013/52 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/16,217,94
;285/119,137,162,192,319 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGlynn; Joseph H.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 732,424,
filed May 5, 1968, and now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A composite electrical and fluid conduit connector
comprising:
a pair of companion insulating blocks having opposing contact faces
and each defining at least one through aperture extending from said
contact face to an opposite end face thereof;
one of said insulating blocks having a plurality of openings in its
face adjacent one end thereof;
a corresponding plurality of electrical sockets respectively
disposed within said plurality of openings in said one of said
blocks;
first substantially tubular conduit means positioned within said
through aperture of said one of said blocks adjacent its other end
and having one end projecting from said opposite end face
thereof;
the other of said insulating blocks being provided with a plurality
of electrical plugs corresponding to said plurality of openings in
said one of said blocks and projecting from the contact face of
said other of said blocks adjacent one end thereof;
second tubular conduit means positioned within said through
aperture of said other of said blocks adjacent its other end and
having one end projecting from said contact face thereof for
registration with said first tubular conduit means and its other
end projecting from said opposite end face thereof;
spring latch locking means securably positioned on each of said
first and second tubular conduit means for engaging said one and
said other of said blocks in said through apertures thereof for
axially immovably positioning said first and second tubular conduit
means therein;
said end of said second tubular conduit means projecting from said
contact face of said other of said blocks being of a smaller outer
diameter than said first tubular conduit means and having an
external peripheral groove therein;
a resiliently compressible sealing ring disposed in said external
peripheral groove of said second tubular conduit means and having a
larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of said first tubular
conduit means for being radially compressed thereby when the
projecting plugs and said second tubular conduit means are matingly
inserted into the sockets and said first tubular conduit
means,respectively.
2. A composite electrical and fluid conduit connector according to
claim 1, wherein each of said insulating blocks has an annular
flange integrally formed thereon and extending radially into said
through aperture thereof,and said spring latch locking means of
each of said tubular conduit means further comprises a latching
device positioned on and secured to the respective one of said
tubular conduit means having an outwardly extending spring finger
at one end and an upstanding flange at the other end,the distance
between said upstanding flange and the free end of said spring
finger being substantially equal to the axial length of said
annular flange , whereby each of said tubular conduit means is
locked within its respective through aperture by said latching
device.
3. A composite electrical and fluid conduit connector according to
claim 2,further comprising a peripheral barb on the end of at least
one of said first and second conduit means projecting from said
opposite end face of its respective insulating block and having a
slope directed away from said opposite end face for providing
lead-in means for insertably attaching a fluid-conducting tube
thereto and simultaneously preventing the same from being
accidentally dislodged therefrom.
Description
This invention relates to a connector for detachably connecting
electrical circuits and fluid conduits.
In advanced blood pressure monitoring equipment for continually
monitoring and recording the blood pressure of a patient over a
long period of time, it is desirable to have a connecting means for
detachably connecting electrical circuits and fluid pressure
conduit in the monitoring equipment. The electrical circuits may
transmit pulse rates and the like from a patient to a read-out
device, and the fluid pressure conduit may transmit blood pressure
information. It is also desirable, in these cases, that unitary
connectors be provided so that technicians may quickly and easily
connect or disconnect the monitoring equipment.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a
detachable connector arrangement for joining several electrical
circuits and at least one fluid conduit.
Another object is to provide detachable plug and receptacle type
connector blocks having male and female electrical contacts and a
male and female tube coupling.
A further object is to provide a connector wherein the electrical
contacts and tube coupling in the plug member are keyed for proper
engagement to the electrical contacts and tube coupling of the
receptacle member.
An additional object is to provide sealing means in the tube
coupling whereby a sealed connection is effected when the connector
blocks are mated.
Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative
embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that
this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of
the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order
that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention
and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in
practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as
may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.
These and other desirable objects are achieved in a preferred
embodiment of the invention in which the connector comprises a pair
of insulating blocks, each having a series of suitable cavities
therethrough to receive contacts and couplings. Contacts utilized
in the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,235,834
which is assigned to the present assignee. These contacts are of
the shielded braid pin and socket type, however, it should be noted
that other pin and socket type contacts may be used without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective and exploded view of a connector according
to this invention;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the connector of FIG. 1 and
partially in section along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 4 showing the
tube couplings in place in their respective cavities;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the connector of FIGS. 1 and 2
showing the connector housings engaged;
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the plug member as seen from
lines 4--4 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the receptacle as seen from
the lines 5--5 of FIG. 2.
Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the
present connector comprises a plug connector housing P and a
receptacle connector housing R. Both housings are formed of
suitable dielectric material such as plastic, nylon or similar
material. Plug housing P has hole means 2 in the ends thereof which
mate with hole means 4 in the ends of the receptacle housing R.
Suitable nut and bolt means or spring means may be used in
conjunction with holes 2 and 4 to hold the housings into engaged
relationship. Alternatively, the housings P and R may be mounted
onto suitable panels by hole means 2 and 4.
Plug housing P has at least three male contacts C which are
mechanically and electrically secured to the ends of wires W
according to the above-mentioned patent. Contacts C are latchingly
disposed in suitably spaced cavities in housing P such that their
forward contact ends project from the mating face of housing P.
Receptacle housing R has at least three female contacts F, FIG. 5,
which are mechanically and electrically secured to the ends of
wires W' in the same manner as wires W are secured onto contacts C.
Contacts F are latchingly disposed in suitably spaced cavities in
housing R such that they are positioned directly in line with and
longitudinally opposite from contacts C in housing P and they do
not project outwardly from the front surface of housing R. Contacts
C and F insertably engage each other when housings P and R are
brought into engagement.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, flexible plastic tubes T and T', which
are disposed in parallel relationship with wires W and W', are
connected to the rearward ends of tube couplings TC and TC'. Tubes
T and T' constitute the fluid conduit which is disclosed
herein.
Referring particularly to FIG. 2, tube coupling TC, which is
utilized in conjunction with plug housing P, comprises a
cylindrical plastic member having a passageway 6 therethrough. The
rearward end of coupling TC has a peripheral barb 8 therearound
which is larger in outside diameter than the inside diameter of
tube T. Barb 8 has a rearwardly directed slope 10 which constitutes
lead-in means for insertably attaching tube T to the coupling. A
forward ledge 12 on barb 8 holds tube T and prevents it from being
accidentally pulled from tube coupling TC. It should be noted that
tube T may be permanently secured to coupling TC by a suitable
compression ferrule, or it may be adhered to coupling TC by an
adhering agent such as epoxy or in any other suitable manner.
Tube coupling TC has an enlarged portion 14 along its mid-section,
which terminates in a reduced diameter portion 16. A metal latching
member 18 locks coupling TC in its cavity 15 in housing P and it is
disposed around portion 16. Member 18, which is made in one piece,
has an axial slot therethrough (not shown). This slot allows member
18 to flex radially so that it may be easily assembled to the
coupling TC. The forward end of member 18 includes spring fingers
23 which abut a ridge 26 on coupling TC. These spring fingers 23
are formed back over member 18 so as to engage a forward ledge 20
in cavity 15. The rearward edge of member 18 terminates in an
upstanding flange 22 which abuts a rearward ledge 24 in cavity 15
and enlarged portion 14 of coupling TC. This spring latch and
locking arrangement is also disclosed in the above-mentioned
patent.
The forward projecting end of coupling TC terminates in a chamfered
nose section 28. Directly behind section 28 is a peripheral groove
30 with a flexible rubber sealing ring 32 disposed therein.
Chamfered nose section 28 serves to align coupling TC relative to
its counterpart coupling TC'. Sealing ring 32, which has a greater
outside diameter than the inside diameter of its counterpart
receptacle portion 7, serves to seal coupling TC in its counterpart
coupling TC'.
Referring still to FIG. 2, tube coupling TC', which is utilized in
conjunction with receptacle housing R, comprises a cylindrical
plastic member having a passageway 34 therethrough. The rearward
end of coupling TC' has a peripheral barb 9 which is identical to
the barb 8 of coupling TC. Barb 9 serves to grip and hold tube T'
in the same manner as described above for tube T. A latching member
19, which is identical in shape and use to member 18, serves to
hold coupling TC' in its cavity 17 in housing R. Member 19 resides
in a reduced diameter portion 21 of coupling TC'.
The forward open end of coupling TC', which terminates at the front
surface of housing R, has a counterbored section 7a which
constitutes a receptacle section for insertably receiving the
projecting end of its counterpart tube coupling TC.
OPERATION
Referring particularly to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, contacts C and F, and
tube couplings TC and TC' are secured in their respective housings,
as described above, after which the housings P and R are brought
together for engagement. Contacts C align with counterpart contacts
F, and tube coupling TC aligns with tube coupling TC'. During
engagement, the electrical contacts engage each other according to
the above-mentioned patent. The projecting end 28 of tube coupling
TC enters section 7a of coupling TC'. During engagement of the tube
couplings, sealing ring 32 becomes compressed in its slot 30, by
virtue of the substantially smaller inside diameter of counterbored
section 7a. The sealing ring 32 seals the tube coupling connection
and prevents fluid leaks.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, it can be seen that
contacts C and contacts F are triangularly arranged in their
respective housings. Notice also that tube couplings TC and TC' are
disposed toward one end of their respective housings. This
arrangement assures that proper keyed engagement between electrical
contacts and tube couplings is effected automatically thereby
insuring that the housings cannot be improperly engaged.
It should be noted that any number of electrical contacts and tube
couplings may be utilized in connectors of this nature, so long as
they are keyed for proper alignment and engagement.
It should also be noted that the tubes and their respective
couplings disclosed herein may be used to convey liquids as well as
gases.
It will, therefore, be appreciated that the afore-mentioned and
other desirable objectives have been achieved by the provision of a
detachable connector, as disclosed herein; however, it should be
emphasized that the particular embodiment of the invention which is
shown and described is intended as merely illustrative and not as
restrictive of the invention.
* * * * *