Claims
- 1. An electrical connector assembly for receiving and transmitting an electrical signal comprising a hollow cylindrical metal shell having a mating forward and a rearward end portion, a dielectric insert having an array of first passages extending therethrough, each first passage receiving an electrical first contact, said first contact comprising a mating forward and rearward end portion and a medial portion having circuit protection means electrically connected thereto for preventing transmission of signals from the assembly which exceed a predetermined value, grounding means electrically connected to each first contact for grounding the contacts to the shell, and mounting means for releasably mounting the first contacts in the shell, the mounting means comprising a removable insert assembly having a like array of second passages extending therethrough and carrying an electrical contact in each respective second passage thereof, each second contact being nonremovably mounted in the insert assembly and having a forward end portion for mating with the rearward end portion of a first contact and a rearward end portion for further interconnection to transmit a protection signal, means for removably securing the insert assembly to the rearward end portion of the shell and means for aligning the dielectric insert and insert assembly so that the arrays of first and second passages are aligned with one another, said first contacts being individually removable from the rearward end portion of the shell upon removal of the insert assembly.
- 2. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein a coupling nut is rotatably disposed on the outer periphery of the insert assembly, and further including engagement means for engaging the coupling nut with the rearward end portion of the shell.
- 3. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for aligning the inserts includes a key and a keyway, respectively, on one end and the other said insert assembly and shell.
- 4. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein each second contact has a front portion comprising a socket, and each first contact has its rearward end portion formed into a pin for receipt in its associated socket.
- 5. The electrical connector assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the forward end portion of each first contact comprises a pin.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 926,479, filed Nov. 3, 1986, now abandoned.
This invention relates to an electrical connector with rear removable contacts.
In some applications electrical circuits need protection from transient signals such as electromagnetic pulses, lightning, and other voltages having pulses of extemely short duration and high amplitudes. Silicon diodes and metal oxide varistors provide such circuit protection to signals and recently they have been incorporated on associated contacts of matable connectors. Typically these circuit protected contacts were premanently encapsulated within the connector shell. While suitable for many users, if one circuit were to become defective it was necessary to replace the entire connector. Accordingly a need arises for circuit protected contacts to be removed from its connector either to repair the contact or possibly to change the protection provided to that circuit.
When installed in the field, the mated end portions of shells are oftentimes lockwired together and the only access to the user is from the rear of the shell. Accordingly a connector assembly would include circuit protected contacts which are rear releasable from their shell.
An electrical connector assembly includes a hollow cylindrical metal shell, a dielectric insert having an array of passages extending between its faces and receiving a first contact in each passage, grounding means electrically connected to the contacts for grounding the contacts to the shell, and circuit protection means electrically connected to each respective contact for preventing transmission of signals from the assembly which exceed a predetermined value.
The connector assembly is characterized by mounting means for releasably mounting the contacts in the shell. The mounting means includes a removable insert assembly having a like array of passages extending between its end faces and carrying a second contact in each passage thereof, means for aligning the inserts so that each array of passages is aligned with one another, and means for removably securing the insert assembly to a rearward end portion of the shell. The first contacts include mating forward and rearward end portions and a medial portion including a circuit protection element, the mating rearward end portion for completing an electrical interconnection with its respective second contact.
Advantageously such an electrical connector allows contacts to be provided with a silicon diode or varistor and be removed from the rearward end portion of the shell either for repair or for replacement another contact having different circuit protection.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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926479 |
Nov 1986 |
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Patent Grant
4789360
