Abstract: A connector assembly providing uninterrupted protection against electromagnetic interference includes a receptacle having a recess in which a first contact assembly is positioned, and a plug having a mating portion which fits into the recess. The mating portion contains a second recess in which a second contact assembly is positioned to mate with the first contact assembly as it projects into the second recess from the first recess. Pivotally mounted doors within the first and second recesses protect the contact assemblies from radiation when unmated, and a spring contact between the mating portion of the plug and the walls of the first recess protect the contact assemblies from radiation during transition between unmated and mated conditions.

Abstract: A system for automatically deploying a moored sensor array utilizing an elongated cylindrical container with a semispherical weighted nose which will assume a glide angle with respect to the horizontal and descend in a glide path. Cable to a surface buoy is dispensed from the container during the descent with sufficient scope (ratio of cable length to depth) to permit the surface buoy to move about in response to ocean currents without overstressing the cable. A sea anchor suspended from the buoy by an elastic member with extra length of cable between the suspended sea anchor and the buoy isolates wave motion of the buoy from the anchor on the ocean floor. Upon impact with the ocean floor, a switch in the nose of the container is closed to lock up the cable and eject an array package from the container. The array package contains buoyant material to cause it to float upwardly while paying out sensors attached along a length of cable packed in the array package.

Abstract: A feed-through connector is disclosed which allows the interconnection of adjoining electrical circuit modules, such as prewired wall panels, in any one of a variety of angular orientations. The feed-through connector is extremely simple in construction which facilitates its fabrication and assembly and minimizes its cost of manufacture. In addition, it can be conveniently incorporated into the vertical support members used in portable wall structures in such a manner as to increase the number of panels which may be assembled to a single support member and to optimize the variety of configurations in which the panels may be disposed. The connector includes a dielectric housing having at least one recess around its periphery and at least one conductive plate mounted within the recess, the recess and plate together forming a connector receptacle. The recess provides access to the conductive plate such that the contact elements of at least two modules can electrically engage the conductive plate.

Abstract: A modular interface device permits selective interconnection between telephone company network trunk lines and subscriber telephone lines. The device includes a housing having a removable protective cover and a first connector component having a plurality of contact elements aligned in at least two rows. The network trunk line conductors are electrically engageable with the contact elements so that each row of contact elements is associated with one tip or ring conductor, for instance. A second connector component is also provided having a plurality of second contact elements aligned in at least two rows. The subscriber telephone line conductors are electrically engageable with the second contact elements in such a manner that each row of second contact elements is associated with one of the subscriber line conductors.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for automatically loading electrical contacts in the contact mounting pockets of a high density, multiple contact connector. The apparatus includes means for assembling the contacts in proper orientation for insertion into the pockets, means for transferring the contacts from the contact assembly means into an initial mounting position within the pockets, and means for seating and retaining the contacts in a final mounting position within the pockets. The apparatus provides structure to positively control the movement of the contacts throughout the loading operation to thereby minimize jamming or damage to the fragile contacts.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in the insulation piercing contacts of a multiple contact electrical connector is disclosed. The apparatus includes means for mounting a connector in conductor receiving position, means for aligning the conductors adjacent individual contacts of the connector, means for positioning the insertion tool adjacent the contacts, the insertion tool being movable in a non-arcuate path substantially perpendicular to the planes defined by the contacts of the connector. The apparatus will accommodate connectors of different transverse dimensions without the necessity of any adjustment and includes uniquely configured conductor aligning means which enhance and facilitate the terminating operations.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly of the type which optically couples one or more pairs of fiber optic cables together by aligning and closely spacing the terminal ends of each cable pair includes a connector having a cable terminating tubular pin which receives one of the cables and which also has an outer circumferential flange. The pin is received within a channel of the connector body which channel has a forwardly facing annular shoulder portion. A cylindrical retainer coaxially disposed about the pin has a rear surface engaging the channel shoulder and forwardly depending fingers engaging the pin flange. The rearward end of the retainer also includes an integral spring mechanism which urges the pin in the forward direction so that its forward end continuously engages a spacer within a mating connector which causes the terminal ends of the coupled cables to be closely and controllably spaced for efficient light transfer between the fiber optic cables.

Abstract: A quick-release electrical connector having a coupling member captive on and rotatable about a body of the connector, the member including circumferentially-spaced, forwardly-projecting tangs of polymeric material constituting a gapped barrel and having an internal screwthread thereon for engagement with an external screwthread of a mating connector. The tangs are resilient and allow rapid disconnection of the connectors upon application of an axial force sufficient to cause interaction of the internal and external screwthreads and expansion of the barrel to allow the internal screwthreads to ride over the external screwthreads. An inhibitor device is provided to selectively inhibit expansion of the barrel and separation of the connectors.

Abstract: An apparatus useful in a system for analyzing an input waveform for generating precisely-timed strobe sampling pulses. In response to detection of the waveform leading edge, a timing source operating at a very high frequency initiates a series of strobe pulses which occur at a considerably lower frequency. The strobe pulses are then used to successively sample the waveform. Depending upon the time duration of the input waveform, the waveform can be sampled at different effective rates by utilizing the same series of strobe pulses and disregarding selected samples.

Abstract: A tool for facilitating the insertion of an electrical contact into a contact receiving bore of a resilient electrical connector together with a unitary control mechanism for such a tool. The tool has bore enlarging means including a sleeve and a rod coaxially aligned within the sleeve for insertion into the bore of the connector for enlargement thereof. The tool also includes a unitary control mechanism operatively associated therewith which enables relative movement between the sleeve and the rod. The unitary control mechanism includes spring release means which in a first position resists rearward movement of the sleeve and the rod, in a second position permits rearward movement of the rod but resists rearward movement of the sleeve, and again in the first position permits rearward movement of the sleeve for relative sequential movement between the sleeve and the rod.

Abstract: An apparatus for concentrically aligning and terminating an optical fiber within the terminal end of a fiber optic connector includes the use of a resilient jig having a bore dimensioned for receiving the optical fiber. The jig is aligned relative to the connector so that the jig bore is concentric to the outer dimension of the connector terminal end. The resilient jig is uniformly compressed in a chuck to cause the jig bore to contract about an optical fiber threaded through the connector and the jig bore. As a result, the optical fiber is firmly held in concentric alignment to the outer dimension of the connector terminal end for subsequent curing of adhesive material within the connector for terminating the optical fiber to the connector.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical connector assembly including apparatus for securing a metallic coupling ring on a connector body or shell. A metallic retaining ring is secured into the rear of the coupling ring bore through the interaction of an annular sawtooth groove pattern formed on the outside of the retaining ring and on the rear inside of the coupling ring bore. The dimensions of the sawtooth groove pattern are carefully selected so as to permit metallic materials to be used for both rings. The connector assembly includes a pair of shells, each having electrical contacts carried by a dielectric retention disc secured in a respective shell for engagement with the electrical contacts of the other shell. Each shell has a large diameter recess for receiving a large diameter portion of each disc force fit through a small diameter portion of the respective shell to thereafter retain the disc.

Abstract: An electrical ribbon connector is disclosed having a protective hood which is assembled to or disassembled from a locked position on the connector insert member by either a sliding or pivoting technique. The hood is also automatically locked or secured in its final assembled position, and the locked or latched structure may be easily disengaged using a simple prying device such as a screwdriver. The connector body or insert member also includes retent structure for maintaining the plug and receptacle connectors in fully mated assembly but which also prevents contaminants from reaching the interior of the fully mated connectors.

Abstract: A tool for simultaneously inserting each of a plurality of wires in respective non-deforming insulation piercing terminals disposed in a terminal retaining body. The terminal retaining body is supported in the tool so that each terminal is aligned with a guide slot through which the wires are forced by the action of insertion tabs. The ends of the wires are retained in coil springs which are coupled to releasing handles so that the springs may be extended to facilitate removal of the wires. As the insertion tabs are forced through the guide slots, a cutting member disposed in each of the slots cooperates with an edge of the insertion tabs to cut the wire at a predetermined point. The tool is adjustable to accept terminal retaining bodies of various shapes and sizes.

Abstract: An identification means is disclosed for use with lead wires of electrocardiographic monitoring instruments or the like. The identification means includes a terminal body member secured at one end of a lead wire and has a peripheral recess extending substantially thereabout. An identification member having identifying means corresponding to one of a plurality of commonly recorded anatomical positions is positionable onto the terminal body member and has an interior lip snap fit within the recess of the terminal body member to retain the identification member onto the terminal body member and prevent unintentional removal therefrom. The identifying means on the identification member comprises raised indicia and is color coded to the anatomical positions. The identification member exclusive of the raised indicia also is color coded to different color codifications than the raised indicia. A plurality of identification members are provided, each comprising one of a set thereof of differently color coded members.

Abstract: An electrical connector for removable connection with a plurality of spaced conductors in a flat strip, such as a length of ribbon wire. The connector includes a housing containing a plurality of contacts and a conductor supporting member movable relative to the housing between an insertion position and a clamping position. The contacts and the conductors supporting the member define a plurality of conductor-receiving passages, the passages becoming smaller in size when the supporting member is moved from the insertion position to the clamping position. The conductors of a flat strip may be easily inserted into the passageways when the supporting member is in the insertion position, and the conductors are securely clamped between the contacts and the supporting member when the supporting member is in the clamping position.

Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for mounting and for connectorizing an electronic switching device containing a heat generating semiconductor to an associated heat sink, wherein the switching device includes a body portion containing the semiconductor, a plurality of leads protruding from the body portion and a metallic heat conductive mounting tab carried by the body portion and protruding in a direction opposite to the leads. The assembly comprises a housing of dielectric material. The housing has a body cavity for receiving the body portion of the switching device and for preventing lateral movement thereof relative to the housing. The depth of the body cavity is slightly greater than the thickness of the body portion of the switching device to receive the complete body portion therein. The housing has a tab cavity for receiving the mounting tab of the switching device, and bias means formed integrally with the tab cavity for biasing the mounting tab outwardly from the housing.

Abstract: A pin or socket type electrical contact of an efficient modular design selectively provides transient voltage overload protection, inductive and capacitive filter impedance for frequency discrimination, and series DC resistance and a fusing element for appropriate current limiting functions. In all forms, the filter contact may include resilient, electrically conductive bushings interposed between the aforesaid impedance components and the input and output ends of the contact both to accommodate simplified and reliable assembly of the modular components and to assure a negligible probability of mechanical stress damage in installation of the contact in its system operating environment.

Abstract: A method and assembly are disclosed for terminating a plurality of signal and ground or shield conductors of a ribbon cable. The assembly includes a contact plate having a plurality of termination tabs each joined to a carrier strip and a ground member. The active signal conductors of the cable are electrically connected to each of the tabs while the ground conductors are connected to the ground member. The terminated cable is then insert molded in an integral dielectric housing, leaving only the carrier strip and portions of the termination tabs and ground member exposed. The carrier strip is then severed from the connector, thereby electrically isolating the termination tabs from each other and the ground member. The resulting connector is mechanically and electrically reliable and may be interfaced with compatible electrical components without damage to the individual terminations.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a plurality of electrical contact elements disposed therein for terminating one end of an insulated conductor and a shroud securable to the connector housing to cover the electrical contact elements. Improved strain relief for the terminated conductor is provided by base clamp means securable to the housing and engageable with the conductor, and fastener clamp means engageable with the conductor and securable to the base clamp means. The base clamp means includes first detent means adjustably matable with second detent means disposed on the fastener clamp means to enable adjustable locking engagement between the base and fastener clamp means to grip the insulated conductor therebetween, the base and fastener clamp means being easily engaged or disengaged without the use of tools and adjustable relative to each other to accept conductors of different sizes.