U.S. patent number 3,917,373 [Application Number 05/476,613] was granted by the patent office on 1975-11-04 for coupling ring assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bunker Ramo Corporation. Invention is credited to George Peterson.
United States Patent |
3,917,373 |
Peterson |
November 4, 1975 |
Coupling ring assembly
Abstract
The following specification discloses a coupling assembly for
electrical connector apparatus in which a threaded coupling ring
rotatably mounted on one shell is threaded onto a second shell to
couple the shells for electrically engaging the contacts carried by
the shells. Axially extending teeth formed on a ratchet washer
keyed to the ring for rotation therewith engage between axially
extended teeth formed on a conventional retaining flange of the one
shell and a conventional spring wave washer biases the ratchet
washer against the flange under increasing pressure in response to
the threading. Each tooth on the flange has a cam face formed at a
small angle to the radial plane of the flange for engagement with a
similar cam face on each tooth on the ratchet washer in response to
the threading rotation of the ring to cam the ratchet washer from
the flange against the spring bias so that resistance to threading
rotation is minimized. A stop face having a large angle to the
respective radial planes of the washer and flange is also formed on
each tooth and the stop faces engage for providing a large
resistance to rotation of the coupling ring in the unthreading or
loosening direction to prevent inadvertent loosening, but do permit
rotation in the loosening direction, if disassembly is desired.
Inventors: |
Peterson; George (Berwyn,
IL) |
Assignee: |
Bunker Ramo Corporation (Oak
Brook, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
23892557 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/476,613 |
Filed: |
June 5, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/321;
285/82 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/621 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/621 (20060101); H01R 013/54 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/89-91,DIG.2
;285/82,85,313 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McGlynn; Joseph H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lesser; Norton Arbuckle; F. M.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A coupling assembly for coupling one electrical connector shell
with another shell having threads,
a coupling ring with threads rotatably carried on said one shell
and rotatable in one direction for engaging the threads on said
ring with the threads on the other shell to couple the shells,
first cam means rotatable with said coupling ring, second cam means
on said one shell,
means engaging said first cam means with said second cam means,
means including the engaged cam means for automatically disengaging
one of the cam means from the other of the cam means in response to
the application of one predetermined force to said ring and cam
means for rotating said ring in one direction to thereby engage the
threads on said ring with the threads on the other shell to couple
the shells,
and means on each cam means for automatically disengaging one of
the cam means from the other of the cam means only in response to
the application of another force greater than said one
predetermined force to said ring and cam means for rotating said
ring in a direction opposite said one direction to thereby uncouple
said shells.
2. The coupling assembly claimed in claim 1, in which said means
engaging said first cam means with said other cam means includes a
spring, and said means for automatically disengaging the one cam
means from the other cam means includes means keying the one cam
means to said ring for movement axially of said ring against the
bias of said spring.
3. In the coupling assembly claimed in claim 2, a retaining ring
engaging said spring and having a plurality of closed annular
teeth, and a plurality of closed annular teeth on said coupling
ring having substantially the same diameter as the closed annular
teeth on said retaining ring with the teeth on said retaining ring
force fit past the teeth on said coupling ring to interlock said
teeth for securing said retaining ring to said coupling ring.
4. The coupling assembly claimed in claim 2, in which said second
cam means includes a flange fixed to said one shell, and a
plurality of pawl teeth each having a cam face and located on said
flange.
5. The coupling ring claimed in claim 4, in which said first cam
means includes a ratchet washer, and a plurality of ratchet teeth
each having a cam face and located on said ratchet washer.
6. The coupling assembly claimed in claim 5, in which all of said
teeth project axially of said ring, and in which said means for
automatically disengaging the engaged cam means includes a cam face
on each ratchet tooth engaging with a cam face on a respective pawl
tooth for moving said washer against the bias of said spring in
response to the application of said one predetermined force to said
ring in said one direction to disengage said ratchet teeth from
said pawl teeth.
7. In the assembly claimed in claim 6, a stop face on each tooth
with each stop face on each ratchet tooth engaged with a stop face
on a respective pawl tooth for resisting rotation of said ring in a
direction opposite said one direction.
8. A coupling assembly for coupling one electrical connector shell
with another shell having threads,
a coupling ring with threads rotatably carried on said one shell
and rotatable in one direction for engaging the threads on said
ring with the threads on the other shell to couple the shells,
first cam means rotatable with said coupling ring,
second cam means on said one shell,
means for engaging said first cam means with said second cam
means,
means including the engaged cam means for automatically disengaging
one of the cam means independently of said ring and one shell from
the other of the cam means without deformation of said cam means in
response to the application of a predetermined force to said ring
and cam means for rotating said ring in one direction to thereby
engage the threads on said ring with the threads on the other shell
to couple the shells,
said means for engaging said first cam means with said second cam
means including a spring,
said means for automatically disengaging the one cam means from the
other cam means including means keying the one cam means to said
ring for movement axially of said ring against the bias of said
spring,
one additional cam means rotatable with said ring,
and other additional cam means on said shell engaged with said one
additional cam means by said spring for holding said ring against
rotation in a direction opposite said one direction in response to
the application in said opposite direction of a second force to
said ring greater than said predetermined force.
9. In the coupling assembly claimed in claim 8, in which said
keying means for automatically disengaging the one cam means from
the other cam means also enables the disengagement of said one
additional cam means from the other additional cam means
independently of said ring against the bias of said spring in
response to the application of a third force in said opposite
direction to said ring greater than said second force in said
opposite direction to rotate said ring in said opposite direction
for uncoupling said shells.
10. A coupling assembly for coupling one electrical connector shell
with another shell having threads,
a coupling ring with threads rotatably carried on said one shell
and rotatable in one direction for engaging the threads on said
ring with the threads on the other shell to couple the shells,
first cam means rotatable with said coupling ring,
second cam means on said one shell,
means for engaging said first cam means with said second cam
means,
and means including the engaged cam means for automatically
disengaging one of the cam means independently of said ring and one
shell from the other of the cam means without deformation of said
cam means in response to the application of a predetermined force
to said ring and cam means for rotating said ring in one direction
to thereby engage the threads on said ring with the threads on the
other shell to couple the shells, said second cam means including a
flange fixed to said one shell, and a plurality of pawl teeth each
having a cam face and located on said flange,
said first cam means including a ratchet washer, and a plurality of
ratchet teeth each having a cam face and located on said ratchet
washer,
said means for engaging the cam means comprising a spring on said
one shell for biasing said washer including the cam faces on the
ratchet teeth into engagement with the cam faces on the pawl
teeth,
said ratchet teeth and pawl teeth each projecting axially of said
ring, and said means for automatically disengaging the engaged cam
faces including means keying said ratchet washer to said ring for
movement axially of said ring whereby a cam face on each ratchet
tooth engaging with each cam face on a respective pawl tooth moves
said washer against the bias of said spring in response to the
application of said predetermined force to said ring in said one
direction to disengage said ratchet teeth from said pawl teeth,
and
a stop face on each tooth with each stop face on each ratchet tooth
engaged with a stop face on a respective pawl tooth for resisting
rotation of said ring in a direction opposite said one
direction,
each cam face having one angle to a radial plane and each stop face
having a greater angle to said radial plane whereby a substantially
greater force is required to rotate said ring in said opposite
direction than the force required for rotating said ring in said
one direction.
11. In the assembly claimed in claim 10, in which each stop face
has an angle to said radial plane of less than 90.degree..
12. A coupling assembly for use with electrical connector apparatus
including a first shell carrying a threaded rotatable coupling ring
and a plurality of electrical contacts each adapted to engage a
respective electrical contact of a second plurality of contacts
carried by a second shell having threads for engagement with said
threaded coupling ring to couple the shells to each other in
response to the rotation of said coupling ring in one direction,
the improvement comprising:
a first pawl cam face and a first pawl stop face carried on said
first shell;
a first ratchet cam face and a first ratchet stop face rotatable
with said coupling ring with said ratchet cam face located for
engaging with the pawl cam face in response to rotation of said
ring and ratchet cam face in one direction and the ratchet stop
face located for engaging with the pawl stop face in response to
rotation of said ring and ratchet stop face in the opposite
direction;
and means for biasing and moving each ratchet face relative to each
pawl face independently of said ring whereby the engagement of the
ratchet cam face with the pawl cam face in response to the
application of one force to said ring for rotating said ring and
the ratchet cam face in said one direction enables one of said cam
faces to move against the bias of said means for disengaging the
cam faces to enable the threading of said coupling ring on said
second shell and the engagement of said contacts whereafter the
engagement of the ratchet stop face with the pawl stop face
prevents rotation of the ratchet faces and coupling ring in
response to the application in the opposite direction of a force
greater than said one force.
13. In the assembly claimed in claim 12 a ratchet washer with a
plurality of ratchet teeth on said ratchet washer, one tooth having
said first ratchet cam face and said first ratchet stop face and
each other tooth having a ratchet cam face and a ratchet stop face
corresponding to the first ratchet cam face and first ratchet stop
face respectively.
14. The assembly claimed in claim 13 in which said means for
biasing and moving includes a wave washer engaged between said
ratchet washer and said coupling ring, and means keying said
ratchet washer for rotation with said coupling ring and for
movement of said washer axially relative said ring.
15. In the assembly claimed in claim 14 a flange extending radially
outwardly of said first shell and secured to said first shell with
a plurality of pawl teeth on said flange, one pawl tooth having
said first pawl cam face and said first pawl stop face and each
other pawl tooth having a pawl cam face and a pawl stop face
corresponding to the first pawl cam face and first pawl stop face
respectively.
16. The assembly claimed in claim 15 in which each ratchet tooth is
formed on the front radial face of said washer and each pawl tooth
is formed on the rear radial face of said flange and the cam faces
extend axially at an angle of substantially 30.degree. to the
respective radial face of said washer and flange, and said stop
faces extend axially at an angle of substantially 60.degree. to the
respective radial face of said washer and flange whereby rotation
of said washer and ring in said opposite direction is provided in
response to the application of a force to said ring in said
opposite direction of substantially twice said one force.
17. In the assembly claimed in claim 12 a plurality of ratchet cam
faces, a plurality of ratchet stop faces, a plurality of pawl cam
faces and a plurality of pawl stop faces, said cam faces extending
axially from a respective radial plane at a relatively small angle
and said stop faces extending axially from the respective radial
plane at a second angle greater than said small angle whereby
rotation of said coupling ring in said opposite direction is
enabled in response to the application of a force greater than said
one force by an amount corresponding to the difference in said
small angle and said second angle.
18. The assembly claimed in claim 17 in which said second angle is
substantially twice as great as said relatively small angle.
19. The coupling assembly claimed in claim 17 in which said stop
faces extend axially from a respective radial plane at an angle of
less than 90.degree. to enable rotation of said coupling ring and
ratchet teeth in said other direction.
20. A coupling assembly for use with electrical connector apparatus
including a first shell carrying a plurality of electrical contacts
each adapted to engage a respective electrical contact of a second
plurality of contacts carried by a second shell having a threaded
periphery, the improvement comprising:
a plurality of axially extending pawl teeth fixed to said first
shell with each tooth having a cam face and a stop face;
a plurality of axially extending ratchet teeth movable axially
relative said shell with each ratchet tooth having a cam face for
engagement with a cam face of each pawl tooth and a stop face for
engagement with a stop face on each pawl tooth;
a coupling ring rotatably carried on said first shell and having
threads for engaging the threaded periphery of said second shell to
secure said second shell to said first shell in response to the
rotation of said coupling ring in one direction; and
means for keying said ratchet teeth to said ring for rotation with
said ring and for axially biasing said ratchet teeth independently
of said ring against said pawl teeth with a cam face on each
ratchet tooth engaging a cam face on a respective pawl tooth for
enabling said ratchet teeth to move axially against the bias of
said means in response to the application of one force to said
coupling ring for rotating said coupling ring and ratchet teeth in
one direction to thread said coupling ring on said second shell to
engage said contacts, whereafter the stop face on each ratchet
tooth engaged with a stop face on a respective pawl tooth prevents
rotation of said ratchet teeth and coupling ring in the opposite
direction under a greater force than said one force.
21. A coupling assembly for use with electrical connector apparatus
including a first shell carrying a plurality of electrical contacts
each adapted to engage a respective electrical contact of a second
plurality of contacts carried by a second shell having a threaded
periphery, the improvement comprising:
a flange secured on said first shell and extending radially
outwardly from said first shell;
a plurality of pawl teeth integrally formed on said flange and
extending axially rearwardly of said first shell with each pawl
tooth having a cam face extending at a relatively small angle from
a radial plane of said flange and a stop face extending at a
relatively large angle to said radial plane;
a ratchet washer having a plurality of axially extending ratchet
teeth integrally formed on said washer for engagement between the
pawl teeth with the ratchet teeth each having a cam face extending
at said relatively small angle to a radial plane of said ratchet
washer for engaging a cam face on a pawl tooth and a stop face on
each ratchet tooth extending at said large angle to a radial plane
of said ratchet washer for engaging a stop face of a pawl
tooth;
a coupling ring rotatably carried on said first shell and having
threads for engaging the threaded periphery of the second shell to
secure said second shell to said first shell in response to
rotation of said coupling ring in one direction with each contact
carried by said first shell engaged with a respective contact
carried by said second shell;
means on said ratchet washer and said coupling ring for rotating
said ratchet washer in response to rotation of said coupling ring
and for enabling said ratchet washer to move axially of said
coupling ring;
and means for biasing said ratchet washer axially of said ring
against said flange with said ratchet teeth engaged between the
pawl teeth and the cam face on each ratchet tooth engaging a cam
face on a respective pawl tooth for enabling said washer to move
axially against the bias of said means in response to the
application of one force to said ring for rotating said ring and
ratchet washer in one direction and for threading said coupling
ring on said second shell to engage said contacts and the stop face
on each ratchet tooth engaged with a stop face on a respective one
of the pawl teeth for preventing rotation of said washer and
coupling ring in the opposite direction under a greater force than
said one force.
22. The coupling assembly claimed in claim 21 in which the large
angle at which said stop faces extend is substantially less than
90.degree. to enable rotation of said ratchet washer and coupling
ring in said opposite direction in response to the application of
another force greater than said one force.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to electrical connector coupling
assemblies and more particularly to an improved economical coupling
assembly for use in providing threaded engagement between
electrical connector shells.
2. Summary of the Prior Art
Electrical connector apparatus usually includes a plug shell
carrying a plurality of contacts each engageable with a respective
contact of a plurality of contacts carried by a receptacle shell. A
coupling ring rotatably mounted on one shell may be arranged for
threaded engagement with the other shell to move the shells axially
of each other and ensure electrical engagement between the
respective contacts.
A flange on the one shell has a front radial face abutting an
internal shoulder of the coupling ring and a rear radial face on
the flange engages a wave washer captured between the flange and a
retaining ring secured to the rear end of the coupling ring. The
rings are thus capable of limited axial movement relative the one
shell against the bias of the wave washer to permit the coupling
ring to be threaded on the other shell. The biasing force of the
spring wave washer acting in an axial direction provides a force
for holding the threads engaged; however, this force is of
substantially the same magnitude as the force required to thread
the coupling ring on the other shell. Occasionally vibrational or
other forces, having a magnitude corresponding to the force holding
the threads engaged, are applied to the shells and therefore loosen
the coupling ring from the other shell.
Arrangements for resisting loosening or unthreading forces between
connector shells have incorporated axially extending smoothly
curved contoured teeth fixed on a coupling ring and engaging
similarly contoured fixed teeth on one connector shell with the
ring and its teeth biased toward the mating shell. As the teeth
move past each other in response to rotation of the ring, both the
coupling ring and the mating shell must reciprocate axially to
permit the rotation and therefore considerable force is required.
In addition, the smooth contour provides no greater resistance to
rotation of the ring in the loosening direction than for
tightening. Alternatively teeth having faces which are
perpendicular to each direction of rotation have been employed, but
these must be disengaged to permit threading, and after the
threading operation is completed, the perpendicular faces on the
teeth are re-engaged to prevent loosening. Disassembly is permitted
on retraction or disengagement of the engaged perpendicular faces
of the teeth from one another against a spring bias. As may be
visualized, this arrangement, while it holds the members against
loosening and also permits disassembly, is relatively expensive,
cumbersome and difficult to operate, since the teeth must be held
disengaged while the ring is either tightened or loosened. Other
arrangements may incorporate spring detents. Such detents can
deform to move past a set of teeth in response to the threading
rotation, but disassembly cannot be provided without auxiliary
means for disengaging the detents from the teeth. In addition,
springs used in electrical connector coupling assemblies require
considerable wall thickness and sturdy construction in order to
provide the desired spring force and therefore cannot be easily
fabricated to provide reliable and durable operation or enable
facile disengagement in the event disassembly is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention avoids the above problems through the simple
provision of a ratchet washer keyed to the coupling ring and
interposed between the conventional wave washer and the flange on
one connector shell. The ratcher washer has axially extending
ratchet teeth for nesting engagement between axially extending pawl
teeth on the one shell flange with each tooth having a leading or
cam face formed at a small angle to a radial plane for enabling
facile threading of the coupling ring against the force of the wave
washer and a stop face formed at a steep or large angle to the
radial plane for strongly resisting rotation in the opposite or
unthreading direction. Reference to the radial plane refers, of
course, to a plane transverse to the axis of the particular part
such as the flange, washer, ring or shell.
With the described teeth on the washer and flange, no special
retraction effort is required and rotation of the coupling ring to
couple the mating shells rotates the washer therewith. The leading
or cam faces of the teeth simply cam the wave washer against its
bias to enable the teeth to move past each other with only a small
force in addition to the normal threading force. The simple
rotation of the coupling ring automatically disengages the teeth to
permit the ratchet washer to rotate with the ring. As the coupling
ring tightens, the force required to thread the same increases, and
as the operator hears or feels the clicks of the teeth as they move
past each other, he knows when the teeth on the ratchet washer are
in nesting engagement between the teeth on the flange.
Thereafter the stop faces on the teeth are engaged against each
other to prevent reverse rotation or unloosening of the coupling
ring. The force required to move the ring and washer in the reverse
direction is considerably greater than that required to thread the
ring on the mating shell as the stop faces of the teeth are then
engaged, and these faces are at a large angle to the radial planes
of the flange and washer. This prevents the coupling ring from
inadvertently becoming loose under vibrational or other ambient
forces since rotation in the unthreading or loosening direction
requires considerably greater force than the threading force. On
the other hand, unthreading or loosening rotation of the coupling
ring is possible, since the stop faces are not perpendicular to the
radial plane. Therefore with a somewhat larger torque or force than
is applied for threading rotation, the stop faces on the teeth will
also compress the wave washer to enable the teeth to move past each
other and permit unthreading of the coupling ring in the event
disassembly of the connector apparatus is desired.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide an improved and economical electrical connector coupling
assembly.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become
apparent on examination of the following specification and claims
together with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating an electrical connector
coupling assembly utilizing the principles of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is an isometric view illustrating a portion of the ratchet
washer and coupling ring; and
FIG. 3 is an end view illustrating the pawl flange with a related
portion of the shell and ring in section.
In FIG. 1, a coupling assembly 10 is shown for securing one
electrical connector shell 12 to a second electrical connector
shell 14.
The shells 12 and 14 are generally cylindrical and only a relevant
portion of the front end 16 of a conventional plug shell 12 being
shown for telescoping engagement within the front end 18 of
receptacle shell 14. The front end 16 of shell 12 has one or more
radially outwardly extending keys such as 20 for engagement in
respective keyways 22 located in the internal surface at the front
end 18 of shell 14. The keys and keyways serve to properly align
the shells ensuring correct engagement between socket contacts, one
of which is indicated by broken lines 24 in shell 12 and pin
contacts, one of which is indicated by broken lines 26 in shell 14.
The contacts 24 and 26 are secured in conventional dielectric
inserts (not shown) in turn secured in the respective shells in
accordance with accepted and conventional practice.
The coupling assembly 10 includes a coupling ring 28 having threads
29 formed on the internal surface thereof adjacent the front end of
the ring for engagement with threads 30 on the external surface of
the front end 18 of shell 14 to axially move the shells toward each
other and provide secure electrical engagement between the
contacts. An enlarged bore 31 formed in the ring 28 receives a
radially outwardly extending flange 32 formed on shell 12
intermediate opposite axial ends of shell 12 with the bore having a
shoulder 34 for engaging the front radial face of flange 32. The
flange 32 and shoulder 34 limit movement of the ring 28 relative
shell 12 in one or a rearward direction. The bore 31 also receives
a ratchet washer 36 having integrally formed axially extending
ratchet teeth 38 on the front radial face thereof for engagement
with axially extending pawl teeth 40 integrally formed on the rear
radial face of flange 32.
A spring wave washer 42 having a nominal wall thickness between 0.1
inch and 0.125 inch, depending on the connector shell size, is
located in bore 31 to engage the rear radial face of washer 36 and
the washers 36 and 40 are held in bore 31 by a retaining ring 44.
Retaining ring 44 is secured in the rear end of ring 28 by a series
of closed annular teeth on the external surface thereof which are
force fit past similarly sized and shaped teeth on the internal
surface of the rear end of bore 31 to interlock the teeth and
secure the rings and washers on the shell 12.
Axially extending slots or recesses 46 are formed in the enlarged
diameter surface of rear bore 31 of ring 32 for receiving teeth or
keys 48 extending radially outwardly from the periphery of ratchet
washer 38 and integrally formed thereon. The plurality of keys and
keyways aid in maintaining the angle of the ratchet washer relative
the axis of the ring and distribute the load transferred between
the ring and washer. The ratchet washer 36 will therefore rotate
with the ring 28 and is biased axially of shell 12 by the wave
washer 42 against the flange 32 with the wave washer 42 resisting
full compression with a force between 60 and 80 pounds, for
example, dependent on the connector type or size. The ring 28 and
washer 36 are thus rotatably mounted or carried by the shell 12
with both capable of limited axial movement of the shell and the
washer capable of limited axial movement relative the ring.
The ratchet teeth 38 and the detent or pawl teeth 40 may be formed
accurately by investment casting, for example, and project axially
in opposite directions from the respective front and rear radial
faces of washer 36 and flange 32 for nesting engagement between
each other to resist relative rotation in each direction. Teeth 40
are provided about the complete periphery of the respective radial
face or plane of flange 32 perpendicular to the shell axis, but
only four equi- angularly spaced teeth 38 are provided on the
corresponding radial face or plane of washer 36. Each tooth 40 on
flange 32 has a leading or pawl cam face 50 having a relatively
small angle of substantially 30.degree. to the radial face or plane
of the flange for engagement with a respective leading or ratchet
cam face 52 of similar small angle to the front radial face or
plane of washer 36 on each of the four teeth 38.
The faces 50 and 52 enable rotation of the ring 28 under relatively
little additional force in one direction of rotation of the
coupling ring 28 and washer 42 for threading ring 28 on shell 14,
since the teeth faces 50 and 52 act as cams or as cam means and cam
follower means to compress the spring wave washer 42 against its
bias. The key means enables relative axial movement of the teeth
for automatic disengagement against the bias of spring 42 so that
the teeth may move past each other during rotation of ring 28 in
the threading direction. Thus, the engaged teeth hold or resist
rotation of the ring until a predetermined force or torque is
applied to the coupling ring for threading it on the mating shell
whereupon the cam faces automatically move the teeth independently
of the shell and ring to disengage the ratchet teeth and washer
from the pawl teeth and flange. This enables rotation of the ring
without other than normal axial movement of the shells or ring and
after the shells are coupled, the detent or stop means engage to
prevent rotation in the loosening or opposite direction unless a
substantially greater force is applied to loosen the rings than the
force required to couple the rings.
The detent or pawl stop face 54 of each pawl tooth 40 is inclined
at a relatively large or steep angle of substantially 60.degree. to
the radial face of flange 32 for engagement with a detent or
ratchet stop face 56 on each ratchet tooth 38 of washer 36 and
arranged at a similar steep angle to the washer radial plane or
face to resist rotation in the opposite direction between the
flange and washer and thereby prevent loosening of the coupling
assembly 10 from shell 14. With the described angles of the cam and
stop faces, substantially twice the force is required to loosen the
threads 29 and 30 as is required to thread the same, since the
difference between the threading and unthreading forces is related
to the difference between the angles of the cam and stop faces.
To assemble the coupling ring assembly on shell 12, the ring 28
receives the flange 32 in bore 31 in abutment with shoulder 34.
Then the washer 36 is assembled in the bore 31 with key 48 located
in the slot or keyway 46. The wave washer 42 is assembled in bore
31 followed by the assembly of retaining ring 44 so that the
coupling assembly 10 is retained on shell 12 with the teeth 38
biased axially by the washer 42 for engagement between teeth
40.
Thereafter, to assemble shells 12 and 14 the front end 16 of shell
12 is telescoped in the front end 18 of shell 14 with the key 20
engaged in keyway 22 to angularly align the contacts 24 and 26. The
thread 29 on coupling ring 28 is engaged with the thread 30 on
shell 14 and the coupling ring 28 rotated in a threading or one
direction in response to the application of a predetermined force
to move the front ends of the shells toward each other as indicated
by dashed lines 58 for coupling the shells. Rotation of the ring
28, of course, rotates the ratchet washer 36 since the washer 36 is
keyed to ring 28 by the key means 46 and 48. The cam face 52 on
each ratchet washer tooth 38 moves past respective cam faces 50 on
the pawl teeth 40 against the bias of wave washer 42 by compressing
the spring or wave washer enough to enable axial displacement
corresponding to the height of the teeth. When sufficient
tightening has occurred, usually as the leading edge of shell 14
engages the front radial face of flange 32, the reverse or stop
faces 54 will act as pawls or detents in cooperation with stop
faces 56 to prevent rotation in the opposite or unthreading
direction despite the application of a second force substantially
greater than the force required to thread the ring onto shell 14.
The shells 12 and 14 are now held securely against vibration and
other forces tending to loosen the coupling ring.
If disassembly is desired, the stop faces 54 and 56 will also act
as cam means and cam follower means and move past each other
against the bias or pressure of the spring wave washer 42; however,
the force required for this movement in the opposite or uncoupling
direction is substantially greater than that required for rotation
in the direction for coupling the shells or the second force
resulting from ambient conditions.
It will be noted that the operator may hear or feel the teeth 38 as
they move past the teeth 40 and thereby notes when they are in
proper nesting engagement, while the bias of the spring 42 also
tends to ensure that the crowns of the teeth disengage from each
other for placing the teeth in nesting engagement and that since
the washer 36 and flange 32 together with their teeth are of
substantial cross section, deformation of the parts is avoided.
The foregoing constitutes a description of an improved coupling
assembly for electrical connector apparatus incorporating the
principles of the present invention; however, those principles are
not limited to the described embodiment, but are believed set forth
in the accompanying claims.
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