Patent Application
20190393663
The invention generally relates to sealed connectors, particularly to a method and a tool for treating a seal wiping surface of a sealed connector.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of preparing a sealed connector system for connection is provided. The sealed connector system has a male connector body, a female connector body defining a shroud in which the male connector body is received, and a resilient seal axially surrounding a portion of the male connector body. The method incudes the steps of a) applying a lubricant on a seal wiping surface on the interior of the shroud and b) inserting the male connector body within the female connector body such that the resilient seal is in compressive contact with the seal wiping surface.
In an example embodiment having one or more features of the method of the previous paragraph, the lubricant is applied to the seal wiping surface using a spraying process.
In an example embodiment having one or more features of the method of the previous paragraph, step b) of the method also includes the step of disposing an insert within the shroud. The insert defines a central cavity and a plurality of passages extending from the central cavity to portals defined in an outer surface of the insert that are arranged adjacent to the seal wiping surface. The second step of the method also further includes disposing a spray valve disposed within the insert, dispensing the lubricant as a mist into the central cavity and through the plurality of passages to the portals, and depositing the lubricant mist onto the seal wiping surface of the shroud.
In an example embodiment having one or more features of the method of the previous paragraph, step b) is performed prior to initial insertion of the male connector body into the female connector body.
In an example embodiment having one or more features of the method of the previous paragraph, application of the lubricant is limited to the seal wiping surface.
In an example embodiment having one or more features of the method of the previous paragraph, the lubricant comprises a perfluoropolyether based lubricant.
In an example embodiment having one or more features of the method of the previous paragraph, the lubricant consists of a perfluoropolyether lubricant.
In an example embodiment having one or more features of the method of the previous paragraph, the lubricant comprises a phenylmethyl polysiloxane based lubricant.
In an example embodiment having one or more features of the method of the previous paragraph, the lubricant consists of a phenylmethyl polysiloxane lubricant.
According to one embodiment of the invention, tool configured for preparing a sealed connector system for connection is provided. The sealed connector system has a male connector body, a female connector body defining a shroud configured to receive the male connector body, and a resilient seal axially surrounding a portion of the male connector body. The tool includes an insert that is configured to be disposed within the shroud. The insert defines a central cavity and a plurality of passages extending from the central cavity to portals that are defined in an outer surface of the insert. The tool further includes a spray valve disposed within the insert configured to dispense a lubricant mist into the central cavity and through the plurality of passages to the portals. The portals are configured to deposit the lubricant mist onto a seal wiping surface of the shroud.
In an example embodiment having one or more features of the tool of the previous paragraph, the insert is configured to limit application of the lubricant to the seal wiping surface.
In an example embodiment having one or more features of the tool of the previous paragraph, the insert and spray valve are configured to accommodate a perfluoropolyether based lubricant.
In an example embodiment having one or more features of the tool of the previous paragraph, the insert and spray valve are configured to accommodate a phenylmethyl polysiloxane based lubricant.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.
A sealed electrical connector assembly 100, such as the example shown in
The inventors have observed that the force required for mating the male connector 110 with the female connector 120 is greater on the initial connection 132 of the sealed electrical connector assembly 100 than on subsequent connections 134, 136 as illustrated in the force-travel diagram of the sealed connector assembly in
Based on these observations, the investors have developed a method 200 to reduce the mating force required on the initial connection of male and female connectors 110, 120 of the sealed electrical connector assembly 100.
STEP 202, APPLY A LUBRICANT ON A SEAL WIPING SURFACE ON THE INTERIOR OF A SHROUD OF A FEMALE CONNECTOR BODY, includes applying a lubricant 152 on a seal wiping surface 128 on the interior of the shroud 124. The lubricant 152 must compatible with both the polymer material forming the male and female connector bodies 112, 122 as well as the silicone-based material forming the seal 114, such as a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) based lubricant, such as OSIXO®, and/or a phenylmethyl polysiloxane based lubricant, such as DOWSIL™ 550 Fluid. Application of the lubricant 152 is preferably limited to only the seal wiping surface 128 so as not to risk contamination of the electrical terminals by the lubricant 152. The lubricant 152 is preferably applied to the seal wiping surface 128 using a spraying process which incorporates a specially designed tool 300 (see
STEP 204, INSERT A MALE CONNECTOR BODY WITHIN THE FEMALE CONNECTOR BODY SUCH THAT A RESILIENT SEAL ON THE MALE CONNECTOR BODY IS IN COMPRESSIVE CONTACT WITH THE SEAL WIPING SURFACE, includes inserting the male connector body 112 within the female connector body 122 such that the seal 114 is in compressive contact with the seal wiping surface 128. The step (STEP 202) of applying the lubricant 152 on the seal wiping surface 128 is performed prior to initial insertion (STEP 204) of the male connector body 112 into the female connector body 122.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Accordingly, a method 200 of preparing the sealed electrical connector assembly 100 for initial connection and a tool 300 for performing the method 200 is provided. The method 200 provides the benefit reducing the initial mating force required to mate the male connector 110 with the female connector 120 to levels comparable with the mating force required for subsequent connections where the seal 114 is made of a high oil bleed connect silicone material. The resultant reduction in friction also decreases the likelihood of bunching, pinching, or rolling of the seal 114 during mating of the male connector body 112 with the female connector body 122 that could cause a leak path past the seal 114. The tool 300 provides the benefit of applying the lubricant 152 only to the seal wiping surface 128 of the shroud 124.
The example presented herein is directed to a method 200 and tool 300 for treating a sealed electrical connector assembly 100 to reduce mating force on initial connection, however other embodiments of the method may be envisioned that are adapted for treating sealed connectors used with connectors of fiber optic cables, pneumatic tubes, or hydraulic tubes.
While this invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be so limited, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to configure a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely prototypical embodiments.
Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the following claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
As used herein, ‘one or more’ includes a function being performed by one element, a function being performed by more than one element, e.g., in a distributed fashion, several functions being performed by one element, several functions being performed by several elements, or any combination of the above.
It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.
The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context.
Additionally, while terms of ordinance or orientation may be used herein these elements should not be limited by these terms. All terms of ordinance or orientation, unless stated otherwise, are used for purposes distinguishing one element from another, and do not denote any particular order, order of operations, direction or orientation unless stated otherwise.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/688,423, filed Jun. 22, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62688423 | Jun 2018 | US |
