The present invention relates to an electrical connector that is fluid submersible while providing separable mating components, being mountable to a DIN rail, providing compensation for pressure changes, and being easily stackable.
Water resistance enclosures are the preferred method of protecting, consolidating and organizing electrical and electronic components used within the industrial control industry. Such enclosures may be used in robotics for ocean exploration, for example, where the enclosure holds and protects cabling for the robot or remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The typical arrangement of such an enclosure would be a five sided metal or plastic box, with a hinged cover that contains a seal, and a mechanism to secure the cover, either by fastener or latch.
Inside the bottom of these enclosures, a base plate is provided for mounting circuit breakers and the like. This base plate stands off the bottom of the enclosure and functions as a platform to attach components, such as circuit breakers, within the enclosure, so that the enclosure walls remain uncompromised and watertight. The components are mounted to the base plate using standard fasteners, e.g. machine screws and nuts.
Another popular method of mounting electrical components or subassemblies within a submersible enclosure is to employ the use of a DIN rail, named after the original German specifying organization. The DIN rail is a standardized method to mount circuit breakers and industrial control equipment in the robotics enclosure. The DIN rail is a formed metal strip that attaches to the enclosure's base plate. The form is standardized to accept components designed to mate with it. The components are typically designed to clip onto the DIN rail. There are three major forms of the DIN rail and are described by standard EN50022, and formerly German Standard DIN 46277.
A need exists, however, for a DIN rail mountable connector that includes separable mating components, such as a plug and receptacle, can withstand a significant increase in pressure, such as when descending in the ocean, and can be easily stacked on the DIN rail.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a submersible electrical connector that includes a first mating component that has a housing with at least one port that has a cable termination end and an opposite interface end, and the port defines a cavity that supports at least one first contact. A second mating component has a housing with at least one port that has a cable termination end and an opposite interface end configured to engage the interface end of the first mating component, and the port of the second mating component defines a cavity that supports at least one second contact configured to engage the at least one first contact. A rail engagement is disposed on at least one of the first and second mating components for mounting the connector on a DIN rail.
The present invention may also provide a method of stacking a plurality of submersible electrical connectors that has the steps of providing a plurality of submersible electrical connectors, each of the connectors including, a first mating component having a housing with at least one port having a cable termination end, an opposite interface end, and a block portion therebetween, the port defining a cavity supporting at least one first contact, and a second mating component having a housing with at least one port having a cable termination end, an opposite interface end configured to engage the interface end of the first mating component, and a block portion therebetween, the port of the second mating component defining a cavity supporting at least one second contact configured to engage the at least one first contact; and mounting the connectors onto the DIN rail via a rail engagement member; and stacking the plurality of connectors on the DIN rail against one another in a flush manner such that the block portions of the connectors abut one another.
The present invention may yet further provide a submersible electrical connector, that includes a first mating component that has a housing with at least one port that has a cable termination end and an opposite interface end, and the port defines a cavity that supports at least one first contact. A second mating component has a housing with at least one port that has a cable termination end and an opposite interface end configured to engage the interface end of the first mating component, and the port of the second mating component defines a cavity that supports at least one second contact configured to engage the at least one first contact. The connector further includes means for mounting the first and second mating components on a DIN rail.
With those and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention that may become hereinafter apparent, the nature of the invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, the appended claims, and the several drawings attached herein.
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing figures:
Referring to
The connectors of the present invention are preferably stackable, as seen in
The first mating component 12 has a housing 22 and one or more ports 24 for supporting the one or more pin contacts 18. Each port 24 has an interface end 26, an opposite cable termination end 28, and a block portion 30, therebetween. Inside each port 24 is a cavity 32 that holds an individual pin contact 18. In a preferred embodiment, the component 12 includes three ports 24 with one of the ports 24 having a different shaped interface end that has a different shape, such as a non-cylindrical shape, than the interface ends 26 of the other ports 24. That different shaped interface end defines a first key 34 of the first mating component 12, as best seen in
The second mating component 14 has a housing 36 and one or more ports 38 corresponding to the ports 24 of the first mating component 12. The ports 38 support the one or more socket contacts 20, as best seen in
The connector 10 of the present invention provides modular contact cavities. Rather than having a single housing dedicated to, for example, three contact positions, the housings 22 and 26 are made modular. Smaller housings could be made that are single cavity contact housings and they could be designed to fit together to make any plurality of ports and contact cavities. The initial housing would be a base housing that would be configured to mate with the DIN rail. The other connector housings would be positioned and attached to any side of the base housing forming a multi-position/cavity assembly.
The rail engagement 16 is designed to facilitate mounting of the connector 10 onto the DIN rail 1, preferably in a snapping manner, where the connector can also be easily released from the rail. The rail engagement 16 could use other types of engagement, rather than snapping, such as latching. As seen in
The snap end 50 includes a flexible catch 56 that hooks onto a first side 2 of the DIN rail 1, for snappingly engaging the DIN rail 1. The grooved end 52 includes a lateral groove 58 located and sized to receive a second side 3 of the DIN rail 1. The support member 54 between the two ends rests on the base 4 of the DIN rail 1. The rail engagement 16 is preferably disposed on the housing 36 of the second mating component 14; however, the rail engagement 16 may be disposed on either component 12 and 14. The rail engagement 16 may be formed integrally with the housing 36 or may be formed separately and attached to the housing 36.
The first and second mating components 12 and 14 may be securely fastened together using a coupling component 60. Any known fastening mechanism may be used to mate the two housings or components of the connector 10 together. For example, the coupling component 60 may be a screw fastener that is extended through cooperating and axially aligned bores 62 and 64 of the housings 22 and 36 of the first and second mating components 12 and 14, as seen in
The threaded fastener is inserted from top of the housing 22 through bore 62 and threads into the receiving end of the bore 64 of the housing 36. Alternatively, the bores may include a tri-lobular feature that allows for the threaded fastener 60 to remain attached to the housing even when the housing is not paired with its counterpart. A shoulder may be molded in the bore that permits the fastener to enter through the bore, and once through, prevents it from detaching itself from the housing. Another alternative method for coupling the housings 22 and 36 is with a common cotter pin instead of a threaded fastener. The straight end of the pin may be inserted through the bore 62 in the housing 22 and into the bore 64 of the housing 36. This allows for quick attachment and release. Another option for mating is using a latching mechanism. A latch may be incorporated into the housing 22 of the first component 12, on the top, bottom or any side of the housing, and a reciprocal latch may be provided on the housing 36 of the second component 14. A clip may also extend from the housing 22 of the first component 12 can attach to the housing 36 of the second component to ensure securement.
As seen in
Each of the cavities 32 of the first mating component 12 and each of the cavities 46 of the second mating component 14, may include a retention clip 70 for retaining the pin and socket contacts 18 and 20 in the cavities 32 and 46, respectively, as seen in
Due to the depth and rate in which an enclosure holding the connector 10 may descend, the connector 10 preferably includes a pressure relief feature, as illustrated in
Creepage distance is the shortest path across the insulation surface between two conductive parts. Proper creepage distance protects against tracking, which is an electrical leak that could cause deterioration on the surface. Clearance distance denotes the shortest path through air between two conductive parts. Adequate clearance helps prevent dielectric breakdown between electrodes caused by the ionization of air. Both creepage and clearance are preferred to avoid any potential failure within the product. The required distances vary depending on voltage, location and material. For the connector of the present invention, the creepage and clearance are measured from contact to contact per housing. The mating end of the contact preferably either meets or exceeds the required distances as specified in IEC-60079-7, specification for hazardous area equipment. The same is true for the crimp end. For the receptacle housing, creepage and clearance also proves acceptable from the contacts to the DIN rail.
Similar to the first embodiment, the first mating component 112 of the second embodiment has a housing 122 and one or more ports 124 for supporting one or more contacts. Each port 124 has an interface end 126, an opposite cable termination end 128, and a block portion 130, therebetween. The block portion 130 may include detents 204 on one side and indents 206 on an opposite side of the housing 122, which facilitate vertical stacking and alignment of like mating components 112, as seen in
The second mating component 114 has a housing 136 and one or more ports 138 corresponding to the ports 124 of the first mating component 112. The ports 138 support the one or more contacts. Each port 138 has an interface end 140 that is adapted to receive the interface end 126 of a corresponding port 124 of the first mating component 112, an opposite cable termination end 142, and a block portion 144, therebetween. Like the first mating component 112, the block portion 144 includes detents 208 and opposite indents 210 to facilitate vertical stacking of multiple components 114. And like the first mating component 112, at least one port 138 of the second mating component 114 defines a second key 148 for aligning the second mating component 114 with the first mating component 112 when engaging the same.
The rail engagement 116 of the second embodiment is similar to the rail engagement 16 of the first embodiment, except for the base plate 200. The base plate 200 is configured to span along a portion of the length of the DIN rail 1. A single or multiple connectors 100 may be fastened to the base plate 200 by extending a coupling component 160, such as a treaded fastener, through designated bores 162 and 164 in the housings of the first and second mating components, as seen in
Like the rail engagement 16 of the first embodiment, the rail engagement 116 of the second embodiment may generally include a snap end 150, a grooved end 152 opposite the snap end 150, and a support member 154 therebetween. The snap end 150, grooved end 152 and support member 154 extend from the base plate 200 away from the stacked connectors, as seen in
Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the disclosed invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variations and modifications of the various embodiments shown and described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the applicable rules of law. For example, the first and second mating components may be either plug or receptacle components supporting either pin or socket contacts. The connector of the present invention may accept a range of conductor sizes. The mating end of the contacts may remain the same, however the contact wire wells may be sized to accommodate different wire sizes. In this commonality, the housings accept all contacts, regardless of wire size.
This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/045,930, filed on Sep. 4, 2014.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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62045930 | Sep 2014 | US |