Abstract: A releasable electrical connector consisting of a connector plug mating with a corresponding connector receptacle which may be disconnected by a separating force applied to a surrounding operating sleeve and the connectorl receptacle. The operating sleeve is shifted axially by the separating force against the bias of compression springs to a release position. The springs are received within grooves formed along the exterior of a segmented spring retaining housing, the segments forming an anchoring flange disposed within a recess formed about the connector plug. A plurality of arcuate threaded coupling segments assembled within the operating sleeve provide a threaded coupling, which segments in the nonreleasing position of the operating sleeve are positioned radially inward to mate with a corresponding thread on the receptacle and serve to create a mating force between the receptacle and plug upon rotation of the operating sleeve and to retain the connector and plug in the connected position.

Abstract: An electrical contact (10) of the hermaphrodite type is disclosed for use in a mateable electrical connector. The contact (10) comprises a tubular body (12) having a mating end (16), a wire receiving end (14) and locking means (18) adapted to secure the contact in the connector. The mating end (16) includes plural contact fingers (30) with each contact finger having a radially extending blade (38) terminating in bevelled edges (40,42). The blades (38) are spaced so that the mating end of one such contact (10) may be axially inserted into the mating end of another such contact (10') with each blade of one contact being wedgingly engaged between the adjacent blades of the other contact. The locking means (18) comprises plural shoulders (44), each shoulder of which constituting a U-shaped leaf spring being formed in the wall (20) of the tubular body (12) and each being substantially compressible in the axial direction.

Abstract: A socket contact is disclosed for miniature electrical connectors of the plug and receptacle type. The socket contact (10) comprises a contact sleeve (12) with two contact fingers (66) each extending as a cantilever beam from its root in the sleeve. A reenforcing ridge (68) in each finger extends from a point spaced from the free end of the contact finger to a point past the root of the finger to increase the stiffness of the finger. The radius of each finger and the location of the ridge thereon is such that the ridge is not engaged by a mating contact pin upon insertion into the socket.

Abstract: A filter connector is disclosed having a compound filter with two filter elements (20,22) connected in cascade in the filter contact (14). Separate ground plates (40,50) are provided for each of the filter elements (20,22). Each filter element, such as a pi section filter, is provided with an electrode arrangement which facilitates connection of filter elements in cascade and minimizes susceptibility to flash-over between electrodes. The filter element comprises a center conductor (74) with a dielectric sleeve (100) coaxially thereof. A ground electrode (80) is disposed on the external surface of the sleeve, one active electrode (78) extends from the internal surface to the external surface of the sleeve over one end surface thereof and another active electrode (82) extends from the internal surface to the external surface of the sleeve over the other end surface thereof.

Abstract: An electrical contact, for use in pin and socket type connectors, is fabricated as a unitary, composite body of metal and plastic. The contact (10) comprises a tubular body (12) having a wire receiving end (16) and a mating end (14). The composite tubular body (12) includes a sleeve (18) of wire cloth which is impregnated to form multiple islands (32) of plastic between the wires (34) on the internal surface and a plastic jacket (24) on the external surface. The contact fingers (22) are surrounded by a plastic hood (40) which provides a closed entry (42) for guiding a mating pin contact (44). The socket contact (10) is fabricated by stamping wire cloth to form a sleeve blank (18') and rolling the blank to form the sleeve (18). The sleeve (18) is fitted with core members (60) and (62) and placed in a mold cavity for injection molding of the plastic.

Abstract: An antirotational means to prevent rotation of contacts retained in a dielectric insert during wire wrapping of the noncircular terminals attached thereto comprises a template 31 secured to the grommet of the assembly, the template having a plurality of apertures 35 therein and a plurality of grooves 37 therein cooperating with the apertures 35, and a plurality of locking elements 33 having lugs 41 thereon and a bore 43 therethrough, with the locking elements matable with the apertures of the template while the noncircular terminals 21 extend through the bore 43 to prevent rotation of the terminal 21 and contact 7, retained with a dielectric insert 3, during wire wrapping of the terminal.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (10) having an improved electrical contact (12) that includes an inner drawn holder (22) and an outer drawn sleeve (20) and a method of making the assembly (10) is disclosed. A bunch of electrical conducting fine wires (24) are axially aligned and crimped within an end portion (27) of a passage (25) which extends completely through the holder (22) such that the wires (24) extend beyond one end (26) of the holder (22). The opposite end (48) of the holder (22) is adapted to receive a wire (54) stripped of insulation (55) so that the end (56) of the wire (54) engages the opposite end (52) of the wires (24) in electric circuit relationship therebetween. The outer sleeve (20) also has an axially extending passage (21) extending completely therethrough.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly in which the electrical connectors may be quickly and easily coupled and decoupled, with a mechanism for preventing accidental decoupling of the connectors as a result of vibration. The connector assembly includes first and second connectors, which are coupled by the provision of a coupling nut mounted on one connector and having an internal screw thread which is adapted to receive a screw thread on a second connector. The mechanism for preventing accidental decoupling includes a spring mounted to the coupling nut and having a plastic forward face for engaging ratchet teeth carried on the edge of the housing. The ratchet teeth are more steeply on the leading edge engaged during decoupling and more gradually angled on the leading edge during coupling, allowing for easy coupling and a greater resistance to decoupling.

Abstract: A terminal for mating the end of a high voltage cable with a standard receptacle comprises a flanged bushing extending along the cable and a ceramic sleeve which slides over the bushing and abuts the flange. A ferrule slidable on the cable and over the ceramic sleeve retains a single helical compression spring which bears against the bushing and ceramic sleeve to apply a preselected spring force to an electrical contact retained in the end of the ceramic sleeve. A resilient annular grommet slidably engages the exterior surface of the ceramic sleeve through an internal annular bead on the grommet and is axially compressed between the ferrule and a mating part on the receptacle to effect an altitude seal.

Abstract: An improved insulation displacing electrical contact (14) and method of making the contact (14) is disclosed. The contact (14) comprises a holder (16), a retention sleeve (18) and brush wires (22). The holder includes a body portion (20) having an axial passage (24) extending therethrough and a head portion (28) connected to the body portion (20) by a curved interconnecting neck portion (30). The head portion (28) includes a pair of angled legs (38, 40) and an interconnecting bent portion (42). A slot (32) extends through the bent portion (42) and through the legs (38, 40). Each leg has a pair of opposing stripping surfaces (48, 50) for stripping insulation (13) from a wire cable (12) inserted through the slot (32) and each leg has a pair of opposing gripping surfaces (52, 54) for holding the stripped wire cable (12) in the slot (32).

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (10), having one or more electrical contacts (110) mounted therein, each contact (110) including a forward mating end (112) and a rear portion (114) adapted to mate with an insulated electrical conductor (210) without requiring the preparation of the insulated electrical conductor (210) by removal of the external insulation (212). The electrical contact in the assembly includes a plurality of fine, axially aligned wires (114) at the rear portion of the contact, with each wire having an acutely angled end portion (118). The acutely angled end portions of the fine wires project through the insulation (212) of the insulated electrical conductor (210) into the central conductor (214) to provide an electrical connection between the central (metallic) conductor (214) which is located proximate to, and transverse of, the axially aligned wires.

Abstract: An electrical contact 47 includes a tubular liner 1 stamped and rolled from a sheet of an electrically conductive material with an annular connector retention recess 13 provided in the external surface thereof between a mating end and a wire receiving end. One or more sleeves 21, 27 are telescoped over the liner 1 with at least one sleeve deformed in place into the annular recess 13. One of the sleeves 21 can be axially aligned preparatory to deforming it into the recess by an internal projection 25 which engages an annular groove 19 on the liner 1. A second sleeve can be axially aligned by lancing it to the liner 1 and by prick-punching the sleeve.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly that is readily coupled or uncoupled is provided with means for retarding premature uncoupling thereof. The connector assembly comprises a first shell 100 having a flange 140 thereabout and bosses 111 on the periphery thereof adjacent the flange, and a coupling nut 300 that has stop members 311 on the inner wall thereof. A spring 500 is situate between the flange 140 of the first shell 100 and the end wall 305 of the coupling nut, with the stop members preventing rotational movement of the spring 500 relative to the coupling nut 300, while the bosses 111 retard movement of the spring 500 relative to the first shell 100.

Abstract: A method of making an electrical contact wherein the contact includes a plurality of axially aligned wires (200) extending from a forward end (110) of a holder which has a rear portion (130) for receiving an electrical conductor (300). The holder (100) is manufactured by stamping it as a flat metallic piece with enlarged forward and rear portions then forming the forward portion (110) in a die to form a socket like portion for the plurality of fine, axially aligned wires and forming the rear portion (130) to receive the conductor (300).

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly having a plastic disc (30) adjacent a moisture sealing grommet (20) to prevent radial forces applied to a wire (40) entering the grommet from deflecting the passage (21) in the grommet and allowing moisture to enter the passage (21).