Abstract: Connector assemblies having a housing, a pin, and a spring length having two free ends are used as a mechanical connector to secure two objects or components together or an electrical connector for placing two sources in electrical communication with one another. The spring length can be a canted coil spring in which the two free ends are not connected to one another and the coils can have an elliptical shape or a complex coil shape. The spring length can be used with a retaining component, can be used in a recessed slot formed with the housing or the pin, or both with a retaining component and with a recessed slot.

Abstract: A spring latching connector includes a housing having a bore therethrough, a piston slidably received in said bore, a circular groove formed in one of said bore and piston and a circular coil spring disposed in said groove for latching said piston and housing together. The groove is sized and shaped for controlling, in combination with a spring configuration, disconnect and connect forces of the spring latching connection.

Abstract: Floating seal assemblies having a seal element, a support band, and at least two loading springs that produce different spring forces to apply different sealing loads at the first and second sealing flanges of the seal element. The seal assembly is without a locking ring to enable the seal assembly to float along an axis of one of the components to be sealed. The different sealing loads allow the seal assembly to grip against one surface to prevent relative rotation and to enable sealing and relative rotation with another surface.

Abstract: A connector assembly having a pin and a housing. The pin having an insulator layer or material separating two adjacent electrical contacts. The electrical contacts can each include a contact band and a tab extending from the contact band. An electrical contact can be established with a spring contact and the contact band can at least partially surrounds the insulator around the lengthwise axis of the pin. Two electrical contacts can be positioned in an axial or longitudinal offset configuration.

Abstract: A coil spring for use in a cavity, such as in a groove of a pin, a housing, or both. The cavity can also be part of a seal assembly. The coil spring can have a longitudinal component positioned within the plurality of interconnected coils that runs along the spring coil axis in order to increase rigidity of the coil spring. The longitudinal component applies a load against the coil spring and/or provides restriction against the coil spring taking a shape or size different than that of the coil spring retaining groove.

Abstract: Spring rings and closed wire loops each can have two ends that are connected. The connected ends can be welded. The connected ends can be aligned for welding by incorporating complementary surfaces so that when joined, the tip at the first end mate to the tip at the second end. The mating can be self-aligning spatially and radially. The spring rings and the closed wire loops can be used in many applications, including in connector applications and seal applications.

Abstract: A face to face contact assembly having at least one electrically conductive spring element and at least one shielding spring element separated from one another by a spacing element. From the perspective of a centerline and extending radially outwardly, electrically conductive spring element is located closest to the centerline, then the spacing element, and then the shielding spring element. The electrically conductive spring element electrically connects two adjacent faces, which in one example can be adjacent printed circuit boards, and the shielding spring element at least partially shields such electrical connection. Other face to face contact assembly arrangements are also disclosed.

Abstract: A spring assembly having at least two canted coil spring lengths nested together are disclosed. Two sections of coils of a canted coil spring length can each be positioned between two adjacent coils of another canted coil spring. Each section of the coils of the canted coil spring length includes at least one coil and up to several coils or a plurality of coils. The canted coil spring lengths are nested together to increase the deflection force of the overall spring assembly. The spring assembly having two or more nested spring lengths can be used in connector applications.

Abstract: Supported face seal assemblies and related methods are disclosed. The supported face seal assemblies have spring energized seal element supported by a backing ring. When the two components are joined, they form an interlocking face seal assembly that is less prone to separate during installation and/or service. The methods disclosed include the steps of forming a spring energized sealing element with a convex outer surface, forming a backup or support ring with a concave inner surface, assembling the sealing element into the inner bore of the backup or support ring such that the concave inner surface accepts a portion of the convex outer surface and the sealing element is retained within the backup or support ring.

Abstract: A spring latching connector includes a housing having a bore therethrough, a piston slidably received in said bore, a circular groove formed in one of said bore and piston and a circular coil spring disposed in said groove for latching said piston and housing together. The groove is sized and shaped for controlling, in combination with a spring configuration, disconnect and connect forces of the spring latching connection.

Abstract: Canted coil spring rings each with a first plurality of coils having first coil major and minor axes; a second plurality of coils each having second coil major and minor axes; the coils of the first plurality of coils alternating with the coils of the second plurality of coils according to an alternating pattern. The spring rings having inner and outer perimeters and wherein the inner perimeter of the spring ring is defined by at least said first plurality of coils. The resulting configuration of the spring ring has improved spacing along the inner perimeter, among others, with respect to a similar canted coil spring ring having a constant coil cross section, such as a coil length with all similar coils.

Abstract: Canted coil spring rings each with a first plurality of coils having first coil major and minor axes; a second plurality of coils each having second coil major and minor axes; the coils of the first plurality of coils alternating with the coils of the second plurality of coils according to an alternating pattern. The spring rings having inner and outer perimeters and wherein the inner perimeter of the spring ring is defined by at least said first plurality of coils. The resulting configuration of the spring ring has improved spacing along the inner perimeter, among others, with respect to a similar canted coil spring ring having a constant coil cross section, such as a coil length with all similar coils.

Abstract: A spring latching connector includes a housing having a bore therethrough, a piston slidably received in said bore, a circular groove formed in one of said bore and piston and a circular coil spring disposed in said groove for latching said piston and housing together. The groove is sized and shaped for controlling, in combination with a spring configuration, disconnect and connect forces of the spring latching connection.

Abstract: Connector housings and connector assemblies for mechanically connecting a pin to a housing with or without electrical conductivity. A connector housing can be formed by attaching two housing sections together with one or both housing sections formed at least in part by a stamping process. The connector housing can have an outer contour, such as an outer perimeter, with one or more sides and with a joining section connecting two adjacent sides together. The two or more sides can be used for handling, aligning, and/or assembling of the connector housing to a cavity.

Abstract: Canted coil springs with a plurality of interconnected coils that can deflect in at least two different directions with respect to a centerline are disclosed. The ability to deflect in at least two different directions may be utilized in applications that include electrical/mechanical connectors and rotary/static seals. The ability to deflect in at least two different directions may bring increased benefits in terms of geometrical requirements, tolerances, spring orientation, and spring force.

Abstract: Connector assemblies formed by attaching two stamped housing sections to form a connector housing having a housing groove with a groove bottom and two side walls are disclosed. Using stamped housing sections can reduce manufacturing costs and simplifies assembly, among other things. The connector housings with a canted coil spring can be used as a mechanical connector and/or as an electrical connector for numerous applications and across numerous industries. The canted coil springs can have complex shapes, with optional dimples.

Abstract: Lip type rotary seal assemblies are generally discussed herein and particularly those with double directional sealing, wherein the tip of the two sealing lips point in opposite directions. A locking ring is incorporated to retain the seal assembly in the housing. The seal is configure to provide different sealing forces at each end to provide flexibility and enhanced performance where two different conditions on each side of the seal can exist, such as different sealing medium, fluid viscosity, pressure, and rotary speed.

Abstract: Connector housings and connector assemblies for mechanically connecting a pin to a housing with or without electrical conductivity. A connector housing can be formed by attaching two housing sections together with one or both housing sections formed at least in part by a stamping process. The connector housing can have an outer contour, such as an outer perimeter, with one or more sides and with a joining section connecting two adjacent sides together. The two or more sides can be used for handling, aligning, and/or assembling of the connector housing to a cavity.

Abstract: Seal assembly designs for extreme temperatures that include material and structural designs to counteract sealing component shrinkage or expansion caused by thermal expansion or contraction. Provisions can be included to increase sealing stress along the outer seal lip of the seal assembly for low temperature applications where shrinkage can be an issue and to increase sealing stress along the inner seal lip of the seal assembly for high temperature applications where expansion can be an issue.

Abstract: A connector assembly having a housing and a shaft; at least a groove in the housing or on the shaft; one of the housing and the shaft has a first component and a second component; there being at least a first groove configuration and a second groove configuration resulting from two different relative positions of the first and second components; the first and second groove configurations resulting in a first insertion force and a first removal force of the shaft into and from the housing and a second insertion force and a second removal force of the shaft into and from the housing, respectively.