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WO1987007089A1 - Screw-coupled connectors - Google Patents

Screw-coupled connectors Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1987007089A1
WO1987007089A1 PCT/GB1987/000325 GB8700325W WO8707089A1 WO 1987007089 A1 WO1987007089 A1 WO 1987007089A1 GB 8700325 W GB8700325 W GB 8700325W WO 8707089 A1 WO8707089 A1 WO 8707089A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
nut
sleeve
plunger
hole
connector
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1987/000325
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
William Chambers Wilson Duncan
Original Assignee
Plessey Overseas Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Plessey Overseas Limited filed Critical Plessey Overseas Limited
Publication of WO1987007089A1 publication Critical patent/WO1987007089A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/622—Screw-ring or screw-casing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B31/00—Screwed connections specially modified in view of tensile load; Break-bolts
    • F16B31/02—Screwed connections specially modified in view of tensile load; Break-bolts for indicating the attainment of a particular tensile load or limiting tensile load
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/389—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
    • G02B6/3894—Screw-lock type
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
    • H01R13/621—Bolt, set screw or screw clamp
    • H01R13/6215—Bolt, set screw or screw clamp using one or more bolts

Definitions

  • This invention relates to screw-coupled connectors. It relates particularly to the kind of connector that might be used for applications such as tube connectors, electrical or fibre-optical connectors and where the two halves of a connector fitting are joined by a screw-threaded member.
  • the present invention was devised to provide a solution to this problem.
  • a screw-coupled connector comprising two coupling parts which are capable of being secured together by the rotation of an internally screw-threaded nut carried on one of the parts, in which the said one part includes a sleeve which is
  • the sieve carrying a plunger which is capable of being moved axially under spring pressure in order to enter a hole on the nut when the sleeve and nut are suitably aligned, the said plunger when in the hole serving to hold a ball against axial movement along an inclined plane located on a friction ring, the friction ring also serving as a surface against which the said, other: part of the coupling is to be located when the two: parts; are mated.
  • the rrrcrXinced plane of the friction ring may have an upper ball support position where the ball has been moved axially to push the said plunger out of the hole on the nut, such that the sleeve is disengaged from driving the nut.
  • the inclined plane may have a drive face adjacent a lower ball support position whereby movement of the sleeve in a suitable direction will hold the ball against said face and prevent any- axial movement of the ball.
  • the hole in the nut carries a chamfer on one side thereof, such that the plunger will tend to leave the hole- more easily when the sleeve is rotated in one direction than otherwise.
  • the sleeve may carry a spring cap arranged to permit adjustment when necessary of the spring force applied to the plunger.
  • Figure 1 shows in part an axial cross-sectional view of the screw-coupled connector.
  • Figure 2 is a detail of the nut showing the hole with chamfer on the nut, and.
  • Figure 3 shows part of the friction ring and the profile of the inclined plane.
  • the screw-coupled connector comprises a first connector part 1 which is capable of being coupled to a second connector part 2 by means of an internally screw-threaded nut 3 carried on the second part 2.
  • the first, connector part 1 may in fact be a suitable connector body part or alternatively a flanged shaft or tube which is required to be mated with the second part 2.
  • the second connector part 2 is provided with a body 4 which supports the nut 3 and also a sleeve 6.
  • a rear circlip 5 on the body secures the nut 3 and sleeve 6 in place but permits separate rotation of these parts about the body.
  • the nut 3 includes an internal screw thread portion 7 which is capable of engaging external threads on the first part 1 when the coupling action is being effected.
  • a plunger 8 which is movable by a spring 9 that is supported against a spring cap 11. Since the sleeve 6 can be rotated about the nut 3 when these parts are suitably aligned, the plunger 8 can be caused to enter a hole 12 in the nut. In this position, the plunger 8 can displace a spacer 13 which bears against a ball 14.
  • the ball 14 is thus spring loaded up against a friction ring 16 which is located between the nut 3 and the first connector part 1.
  • the friction ring 16 is provided with an inclined plane 17 ( Figure 3) and this plane has a drive face 18 at one end and an upper ball support position 19 at the other end.
  • the ball is thus capable of resting in either of two a ially-displaced positions on the plane according to whether the ball is located at the drive face 18 or the support position 19.
  • the sleeve 6 In operation of the connector, when it is required to couple the second connector part 2 to the first part 1, the sleeve 6 is rotated clockwise so that the internal thread portion 7 on the nut 3 will engage the thread's on the first part 1. Further rotation of the sleeve 6 tightens the connection and the flange on the first part 1 eventually presses the friction ring 16 against the surface of the nut 3. When enough pressure has been applied to the friction ring 16 this is eventually stopped from further rotation whilst the nut 3 is still able to be moved a short radial distance with respect to the ring 16.
  • the sleeve 6 is rotated in an anticlockwise direction. This causes the plunger 8 to pass across the end of the hole 12 and strike against the wall of the hole at a side opposite to that which carries the chamfer 21. This action permits a small amount of torque to be applied to the nut 3 and the ball 14 is moved from the upper ball support position 19 down the inclined plane 17 to the drive face 18. The resulting axial movement permitted to the ball allows the plunger 8 to enter the hole 12 and the full torque can then be applied to the nut 3. Rotation of the nut 3 by the sleeve 6 allows the screw-thread portion 7 to release the threads on the first part 1 so the two parts can be separated.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Abstract

A screw-coupled connector comprises two coupling parts which are capable of being secured together by the rotation of an internally screw-threaded nut (3) carried on one of the parts, in which the said part includes a sleeve (6) which is rotatable independently of the nut, the sleeve (6) carrying a plunger (8) which is capable of being moved axially under spring pressure in order to enter a hole (12) on the nut when the sleeve and nut are suitably aligned, the said plunger when in the hole serving to drive the nut (3) and also press a ball (14) against an inclined plane (17) on a friction ring (16). When the parts of the coupling are fully secured together, the nut (3) will be moved through a small radial distance with respect to the friction ring (16), this will displace the ball (14), move the plunger (8) from the hole (12) and disengage the drive from the sleeve (6) to the nut (3). The sudden free rotation of the sleeve (6) that appears upon tightening the coupling is a clear indication that full engagement of the parts has been effected.

Description

SCREW-COUPLED CONNECTORS
This invention relates to screw-coupled connectors. It relates particularly to the kind of connector that might be used for applications such as tube connectors, electrical or fibre-optical connectors and where the two halves of a connector fitting are joined by a screw-threaded member.
When the two parts of a screw-coupled connector are to be joined together, it is necessary that* they should be fully engaged together and correctly mated. Under conditions of restricted space or where there are high ambient noise levels, it may be difficult in practice to check that a full engagement has in fact taken place. It would be convenient if the connector could include an indicator that would be able to show when the full engagement state had been reached.
The present invention was devised to provide a solution to this problem.
According to the invention, there is provided a screw-coupled connector comprising two coupling parts which are capable of being secured together by the rotation of an internally screw-threaded nut carried on one of the parts, in which the said one part includes a sleeve which is
~~ rotatable independently of the nut, the sieve carrying a plunger which is capable of being moved axially under spring pressure in order to enter a hole on the nut when the sleeve and nut are suitably aligned, the said plunger when in the hole serving to hold a ball against axial movement along an inclined plane located on a friction ring, the friction ring also serving as a surface against which the said, other: part of the coupling is to be located when the two: parts; are mated.
The rrrcrXinced plane of the friction ring may have an upper ball support position where the ball has been moved axially to push the said plunger out of the hole on the nut, such that the sleeve is disengaged from driving the nut. The inclined plane may have a drive face adjacent a lower ball support position whereby movement of the sleeve in a suitable direction will hold the ball against said face and prevent any- axial movement of the ball.
Preferably, the hole in the nut carries a chamfer on one side thereof, such that the plunger will tend to leave the hole- more easily when the sleeve is rotated in one direction than otherwise. The sleeve may carry a spring cap arranged to permit adjustment when necessary of the spring force applied to the plunger.
By. way of example, a particular embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 shows in part an axial cross-sectional view of the screw-coupled connector. Figure 2 is a detail of the nut showing the hole with chamfer on the nut, and.
Figure 3 shows part of the friction ring and the profile of the inclined plane.
As shown in the drawing, the screw-coupled connector comprises a first connector part 1 which is capable of being coupled to a second connector part 2 by means of an internally screw-threaded nut 3 carried on the second part 2.
The first, connector part 1 may in fact be a suitable connector body part or alternatively a flanged shaft or tube which is required to be mated with the second part 2.
-The second connector part 2 is provided with a body 4 which supports the nut 3 and also a sleeve 6. A rear circlip 5 on the body secures the nut 3 and sleeve 6 in place but permits separate rotation of these parts about the body.
The nut 3 includes an internal screw thread portion 7 which is capable of engaging external threads on the first part 1 when the coupling action is being effected.
Mounted for axial movement on the sleeve 6, is a plunger 8 which is movable by a spring 9 that is supported against a spring cap 11. Since the sleeve 6 can be rotated about the nut 3 when these parts are suitably aligned, the plunger 8 can be caused to enter a hole 12 in the nut. In this position, the plunger 8 can displace a spacer 13 which bears against a ball 14.
The ball 14 is thus spring loaded up against a friction ring 16 which is located between the nut 3 and the first connector part 1. The friction ring 16 is provided with an inclined plane 17 (Figure 3) and this plane has a drive face 18 at one end and an upper ball support position 19 at the other end. The ball is thus capable of resting in either of two a ially-displaced positions on the plane according to whether the ball is located at the drive face 18 or the support position 19.
In operation of the connector, when it is required to couple the second connector part 2 to the first part 1, the sleeve 6 is rotated clockwise so that the internal thread portion 7 on the nut 3 will engage the thread's on the first part 1. Further rotation of the sleeve 6 tightens the connection and the flange on the first part 1 eventually presses the friction ring 16 against the surface of the nut 3. When enough pressure has been applied to the friction ring 16 this is eventually stopped from further rotation whilst the nut 3 is still able to be moved a short radial distance with respect to the ring 16.
This further movement of the nut 3 causes the ball 14 to be carried up the inclined plane 17 and the ball comes to rest in the upper ball support position 19. The axial movement which the ball 14 experiences in being moved up the plane causes the ball to push the spacer 13 and the plunger 8 to the right as shown in Figure 1. Eventually the plunger 8, is pushed out of the hole 12 (via a chamfer 21 located at one side of the hole) on the nut and there is then no remaining connection permitting a drive to take place between the sleeve 6 and the nut 3. Consequently, the sleeve 6 becomes freely rotatable and any further movement of the sleeve 6 in a clockwise direction will have no driving action on the nut 3.
The sudden change to a freely rotatable action of the sleeve which becomes apparent upon fastening the connector is a clear indication that the parts of the connector have been fully engaged and correctly mated.
Further rotation of the sleeve 6 in a clockwise direction has no additional effect on the connector.
In order to separate the two parts of the connector, the sleeve 6 is rotated in an anticlockwise direction. This causes the plunger 8 to pass across the end of the hole 12 and strike against the wall of the hole at a side opposite to that which carries the chamfer 21. This action permits a small amount of torque to be applied to the nut 3 and the ball 14 is moved from the upper ball support position 19 down the inclined plane 17 to the drive face 18. The resulting axial movement permitted to the ball allows the plunger 8 to enter the hole 12 and the full torque can then be applied to the nut 3. Rotation of the nut 3 by the sleeve 6 allows the screw-thread portion 7 to release the threads on the first part 1 so the two parts can be separated.
The foregoing description of an embodiment of the invention has been given by way of example only and a number of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance, it is not essential that the sleeve 6 should use only a single plunger to apply the driving force to the nut 3, in a different embodiment an alternative number of plungers such as two or three could be used.

Claims

CLAIHS :
1. A screw-coupled connector comprising two coupling parts which are capable of being secured together by the rotation of an internally screw-threaded nut carried on one of the parts, in which the said one part includes a sleeve which is rotatable independently of the nut, the sleeve carrying a plunger which is capable of being moved axially under spring pressure in order to enter a hole on the nut when the sleeve and nut are suitably aligned, the said plunger when in the hole serving to hold a ball against axial movement along an inclined plane located on a friction ring, the friction ring also serving as a surface against which the said other part of the coupling is to be located when the two parts are mated.
2. A connector as claimed in Claim 1, in which the said inclined plane of the friction ring has an upper ball support position where the ball has been moved axially to push the said plunger out of the hole on the nut, such that the sleeve is disengaged from driving the nut.
3. A connector as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the said inclined plane has a drive face adjacent a lower ball support position whereby movement of the sleeve in a suitable direction will hold the ball against said face and prevent any axial movement of the ball.
4. A connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the said hole in the nut carries a chamfer on one side thereof, such that the plunger will tend to leave the hole more easily when the sleeve is rotated in one direction than otherwise.
5. A connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the said sleeve carries a spring cap arranged to permit adjustment of the spring force applied to the plunger.
6. A connector substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawing.
PCT/GB1987/000325 1986-05-12 1987-05-12 Screw-coupled connectors WO1987007089A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8611575 1986-05-12
GB08611575A GB2192035A (en) 1986-05-12 1986-05-12 Screw coupled connectors

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1987007089A1 true WO1987007089A1 (en) 1987-11-19

Family

ID=10597749

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1987/000325 WO1987007089A1 (en) 1986-05-12 1987-05-12 Screw-coupled connectors

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2192035A (en)
WO (1) WO1987007089A1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0290964A2 (en) * 1987-05-15 1988-11-17 Nec Corporation Plug of fiber optic cable connector
GB2246030A (en) * 1990-04-16 1992-01-15 Sumitomo Wiring Systems Electrical connector
FR2670617A1 (en) * 1990-12-14 1992-06-19 Alcatel Cable Fraudproof connection assembly
WO1996021957A1 (en) * 1995-01-11 1996-07-18 W. L. Gore & Associates (Uk) Limited Connector

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2217927B (en) * 1988-03-12 1992-04-01 Electronic Components Ltd Bayonet coupling connector
FR2831720A1 (en) * 2001-10-25 2003-05-02 Framatome Connectors Int REINFORCED LOCKING CONNECTION SYSTEM

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2729134A (en) * 1953-02-02 1956-01-03 Standard Parts Co Predetermined torque release thumb screw
US2948173A (en) * 1959-04-15 1960-08-09 Paul F Herrmann Hand tool with adjustable torque release
US3920269A (en) * 1974-05-28 1975-11-18 Coop Ind Inc Self-locking connector
FR2448794A1 (en) * 1979-02-06 1980-09-05 Bunker Ramo ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IN TWO PARTS COUPLED BY SCREWING

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2729134A (en) * 1953-02-02 1956-01-03 Standard Parts Co Predetermined torque release thumb screw
US2948173A (en) * 1959-04-15 1960-08-09 Paul F Herrmann Hand tool with adjustable torque release
US3920269A (en) * 1974-05-28 1975-11-18 Coop Ind Inc Self-locking connector
FR2448794A1 (en) * 1979-02-06 1980-09-05 Bunker Ramo ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IN TWO PARTS COUPLED BY SCREWING

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0290964A2 (en) * 1987-05-15 1988-11-17 Nec Corporation Plug of fiber optic cable connector
EP0290964A3 (en) * 1987-05-15 1989-07-26 Nec Corporation Plug of fiber optic cable connector
GB2246030A (en) * 1990-04-16 1992-01-15 Sumitomo Wiring Systems Electrical connector
US5330369A (en) * 1990-04-16 1994-07-19 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Connector
GB2246030B (en) * 1990-04-16 1994-11-30 Sumitomo Wall Systems Ltd Connector
US5429527A (en) * 1990-04-16 1995-07-04 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Connector
FR2670617A1 (en) * 1990-12-14 1992-06-19 Alcatel Cable Fraudproof connection assembly
WO1996021957A1 (en) * 1995-01-11 1996-07-18 W. L. Gore & Associates (Uk) Limited Connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8611575D0 (en) 1986-06-18
GB2192035A (en) 1987-12-31

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