GB2238917A

GB2238917A - Connector arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2238917A
Application number: GB9019482A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans-Joachim Buscher
Original assignee: Souriau Electric GmbH
Current assignee: Souriau Electric GmbH
Priority date: 1989-09-06
Filing date: 1990-09-06
Publication date: 1991-06-12
Also published as: IT1246192B; FR2651612A1; IT9021361A0; GB9019482D0; IT9021361A1; DE3929567C1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector arrangement comprising an electrical connector 10 for releasable connection to a body such as ammunition 44 movable out of a rest position. The connector 10 comprises a first fixed part 12 and a second detachable part 14. The detachable part 14 is arranged in a holder 30, the detachable part 14 and the holder 30 being mutually biassed by a pretensioning element 36. The connector 10 further comprises a blocking element 40 arranged so that, simultaneous with or immediately following the initial movement of the body 44, the element 40 is moved by the pretensioning element 36 to a release position, the pretensioning element 36 then disconnecting the detachable part 14 from the first part 12 to break their electrical interconnection. The pretensioning element can be constituted by a spring, explosive charges or other means. <IMAGE>

Description

1 55878.309A Connector Arrangement The invention relates to a connector

arrangement comprising a connector for releasabie connection at one end to a body moving kinetically out of a rest position. Connector arrangements of this kind are used e.g. in military engineering. They produce a connection between a central control and regulating unit at a fixed weapon system and the associated ammunition. Information relating to the target acquisition is received or supplied from the system via the connector to the ammunition, said ammunition generally being equipped with its own intelligence, so that it can perform trajectory corrections independently after discharge.

The transmission of information between the connector and the ammunition is effected via an appropriate cable, which breaks away at the connection point to the ammunition as soon as said ammunition is ejected (discharged).

One disadvantage of this is the fact that the cable left behind subsequently acts like an aerial for electromagnetic radiated interference, this interference then being transmitted, via the connector, to the electronics of the associated control unit, where it may lead to incorrect information or to destruction.

Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a connector arrangement of the type specified initially that excludes said sources of error.

Thereforef the invention starts from the idea that the interference factors hereinbefore described can be b prevented, in particular by splitting the connector into a first fixed part (arranged on the weapon system) and a second detachable part, from where the cable extends to the ammunition, wherein it must be ensured, by means of a releasing device, thal the two components (plug- and socket) of the connector are disengaged from one another the moment the ammunition is fired and the connecting cable to the electronics is disconnected. In this manner, it is absolutely guaranteed that no disturbance will be transmitted to the electronics of the weapon system, as said weapon system is no longer connected to the cable left behind as a result of the separation of the connector.

Although the state of the art and the invention are described, both hereinbefore and hereinafter with reference to a connector arrangement for a weapon system, the invention is not limited to this field of application, and the connector arrangement can be used in any situation where a connector is coupled to a body which subsequently moves away and is disconnected from the connector.

According to the present invention there is provided a connector arrangement comprising a connector for releasable connection to a body moving kinetically out of a rest position, wherein the connector comprises a first fixed part and a second detachable part which is detachably interconnectable with said first part in an axial direction of the connector, the detachable part being arranged in a holder, the holder and the detachable part being mutually pretensioned in the rest position of the body by a pretensioning element, a blocking element being arranged between the holder and the detachable part such that it is transferred from a blocking position to a release position under the influence of the pretensioning force simultaneously with - 3 or immediately following the initial movement of the body, such that the detachable part of the connector is simultaneously disconnected from the first part by the force being released by the pretensioning element.

The operating mechanism of the connector arrangement is thus based on the. fact that, in thecase of live ammunition, a blocking element adopts such a position in relation to the other components that there is firm contact between the two parts of the connector. The blocking element here is designed in such a way that is moved out of the blocking position by means of the pretensioning elements described hereinbefore simultaneously to or immediately following the firing of, and thus the initial movement of the ammunition, whereby the detachable part of the connector is simultaneously disconnected from the fixed part of the connector as a result of the pretensioning forces then becoming released.

Although at this point the cable disconnected from the ammunition is still attached, by means of its other end, to the detachable part of the connector, any interference pulses received by the cable can no longer be transmitted to the fixed part of the connector and thus to the electronics of the weapon system.

Consequently, the connector arrangement is characterised by a simple design with a high degree of safety. The pretensioning elements can be mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic or even electrical means, such as explosive charges or the like. In the simplest case, the holder and the detachable part are held in the pretensioned state by means of a compression or tensioning spring.

In this connection, it is advantageous to arrange the appropriate spring (or springs) concentrically in 1 relation to the connector, the components thus being tensioned in a uniform manner.

To this end, it is proposed to arrange the spring in a cavity formed between tTie detachable part and thi holder. The cavity, viewed in the axial direction of the connector, can then be defined dt the ends by appropriate stops of the detachable part and/or the housing. in one embodiment comprising a compression spring, the stop at the detachable part is then used simultaneously as a stop face for pushing the detachable part away from the fixed part of the connector.

In this connection, according to an advantageous embodiment, it is proposed to use this stop simultaneously as a stop for a blocking member in the form of a blocking pin. This can be effected in a particularly advantageous manner in that the stop has an inclined surface on its side facing the blocking pin in the blocking position, and the blocking pin has a corresponding inclined surface on its corresponding face, so that the blocking pin can be slidably moved into the release position via the inclined surface.

In this embodiment, it is possible to arrange the blocking pin in such a way that, in the blocking position, it is arranged on the side of the holder disposed opposite the detachable part, projects out of the holder and rests against the ammunition. If the ammunition is discharged, the path of motion of the blocking pin in the direction of the ammunition is free, so that the blocking pin is pushed out via the inclined surface under the influence of the spring, wherein the detachable part of the connector is simultaneously uncoupled by the spring action.

A further advantage of the connector arrangement t described hereinbefore is that both the plug and the socket and, indeed, the cable can be reused several times.

The invention will nowbe described in more detail with reference to one embodiment, provided by way of example only and illustrated in diagrammatic form in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a partial sectional view of a connector arrangement in the interlocking position, Figure 2 shows the connector arrangement according to Figure 1, the connector being in the uncoupled state, is and Figure 3 shows the connector arrangement according to Figure 1 after discharge of ammunition, the connector being uncoupled.

Figure 1 shows a connector 10, consisting of a plug 14 and socket 12, shown here in the interlocking position. A plurality of contacts 16a, b extend along the plug 14 and socket 12. For the sake of greater clarity, only the upper half of the connector 10, comprising a contact pair 16a, b, is shown in the drawings. The contact 16b of the plug 14 then contacts, by means of its pencil-shaped free end 18, associated contact springs 20 in a holder 22 of the socket 12.

The socket 12 is arranged fixedly in a frame 24, which is part of a weapon system 25. The socket 12 is connected to a control and/or regulating unit (not shown) by means of the free ends of the contacts 16a, disposed on the left in the drawings.

The plug 14 is arranged fixedly in a cylindrical sleeve 1L 26 having a radial projection or stop 28 on its external face 26a. The left end face 28a of the stop 28 extends radially in relation to the centre longitudinal axis m of the connector 10. The right end face 28b extends so that it is inclined at'dn acute angle in relation to the centre longitudinal axis M. This gives the stop 28 an appropriate tapered shape.

The sleeve 26 projects out beyond the plug 14 at either side in the axial direction.

In the arrangement according to Figure 1, the left portion 261 lies on the external face of the frame 24 or abuts a vertical portion 24a of the frame 24 via its end face.

A cylindrical holder 30 is arranged around the sleeve 26, said holder having a stop 32 projecting in the direction of the sleeve 26 at its end disposed on the left in the drawings. In this connection, the holder 30 is designed in such a way that it rests via its inner face 30a against the upper end face 28c of the stop 28 and the stop 32 rests against the portion 261 of the sleeve 26.

In this arrangement, an annular cavity 34 is formed between the stops 28, 32, in which a compression spring 36 is enclosed, said compression spring being supported at its free ends against the faces 28a, 32a of the stops 28, 32.

In the position illustrated in Figure 1, the holder 30 has a circular opening 38 directly above the end face 28b of the projection 28, a blocking pin 40 being enclosed in said opening. The blocking pin 40 projects out from the opening 38 both towards the bottom and towards the top. At its lower end, the blocking pin 40 has an inclined surface 40a corresponding to the inclined surface 28b, so that the blocking pin 40 lies flat against the stop 28. At its opposite end, the blocking pin 40 is flat and rests against an external wall 42 of the ammuniti76n 44.

A cable (not shown) extends from the free contact ends 46 of the contacts 16b to a plug (again not shown) at the ammunition 44.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the fixed part, i.e. the socket 12, and the detachable part, i.e. the plug 14, of the connector 10 are in the interlocking position, the blocking pin 40 preventing release of the is parts 12, 14.

The connector can then only be released by removing the entire assembly consisting of sleeve 26, holder 30 and ammunition 44, together with the plug 14, from the socket 12, as illustrated in Figure 2. To this end, the holder 30 must first be released from the weapon system 25. For the sake of greater clarity, the appropriate interlocking means are not shown.

Figure 3 shows the arrangement of the individual components at the point at which the ammunition 44 is discharged. After the ammunition 44 has advanced in the direction of fire (arrow P), the associated stop face for the blocking pin 40 is missing, so that said blocking pin is pushed upwards along the inclined surface 28b under the influence of the force of the spring 36 in the direction of the point at which the ammunition 44 was disposed previously. The compression spring 36 simultaneously pushes the sleeve 26 towards the right together with the plug 14 (as the blocking pin no longer blocks). In parallel to this, the free ends 18 of the contacts 16b are moved out of the holders 4 22 of the sockets 12 and the plug 14 is simultaneously removed from the socket 12. The connector 10 is then unlocked.

Upon discharge of the 61-munition 44, the cable c6upling to the connector 10 is first broken, so that the plug 14, together with the cable, is only removed from the socket 12 to the extent allowed by the spring force of the compression spring 36. An additional stop can be provided on the holder 30 in order to limit the length of the displacement.

By virtue of the fact that the plug 14 and socket 12 are separated at the same moment that the ammunition is discharged, there is absolutely no possibility of electromagnetic radiation interference or interference pulses entering via the socket 12 into the electronics of the weapon system. This applies in particular to any electromagnetic radiation interference received by the cable.

A further advantage of the connector arrangement described hereinbefore is that both the plug and the socket and, indeed, the cable can be reused several times. To this end, the connector arrangement is returned to the position illustrated in Figure 1, wherein assembly can be simplified by means of an assembly aid for return of the blocking pin 40.

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Claims

1. A connector arrangement comprising a connector for releasable connection to a body moving kinetically out of a rest position, wherein the connector comprises a first fixed part and a---seconddetachable part which is detachably interconnectable with said first part in an axial direction of the connector, the detachable part being arranged in a holder, the holder and the detachable part being mutually pretensioned in the rest position of the body by a pretensioning element, a blocking element being arranged between the holder and the detachable part such that it is transferred from a blocking position to a release position under the influence of the pretensioning force simultaneously with or immediately following the initial movement of the body, such that the detachable part of the connector is simultaneously disconnected from the first part by the force being released by the pretensioning element.

2. A connector arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the holder and the detachable part are held in the pretensioned state by means of a compression spring.

1

3. A connector arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holder and the detachable part are held in the pretensioned state by means of a tensioning spring.

4. A connector arrangement according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the spring is enclosed in a cavity formed between the detachable part and the holder.

5. A connector arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the cavity, viewed in an axial direction of the connector, is defined at the ends by appropriate stops of the detachable part and/or the holder.

6. A connector arrangement according to claim 5, 1 wherein the detachable part has a sleeve on its circumference, on which a stop is formed.

7. A connector arrangement according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a stop of the detachable part has an inclined surface, against which the blocking element rests in the blocking position and along which the blocking element slides when moving into the release position.

8. A connector arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the sliding direction of the blocking element is substantially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the connector.

9. A connector arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the blocking element rests against the movable body in the blocking position.

10. A connector arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the movable body is arranged in use on the side of the holder disposed opposite the detachable part.

11. A connector arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the holder is designed as a sleeve, in which the detachable part is enclosed.

12. Use of a connector arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 11 for the connection to ammunition at a weapon system.

13. A connector for connect-ion to a projectile comprising a first fixed part, a second detachable part detachably connectable to the first part and releasably connnectable to the projectile and a releasing device operable to forcibly disconnect the second part from the first part substantially simultaneously with movement of :i k 1 0 the projectile such that the second detachable part arranged between the first part and the projectile is disconnected from the first part as the projectile moves so as to substantially isolate the first part from any associated electromagnetic interference.

14. A connector arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 atThe Patent Office. State House, 66171 High Holborn, London WC I R 47P. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch, Unit 6. Nine Mile Point Cwmielinfach. Cross Keys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Mary Cray, Kent.