Abstract: A plastic connector housing (50) having a plurality of contacts secured therewithin is securable to and within a protective metal shell (12) without a bead of liquid adhesive placed therebetween during assembly, by forming a shallow peripheral channel (76) in a housing flange forward surface (74) and a shallow recess (30) in an abutting rearward surface (24) of a corresponding shell flange (18), the channel and recess defining a confined seal seat (80) extending around the housing body section (70). Lengths of solid sealant preforms (90) such as of epoxy are disposed along the channel during assembly, and the shell (12) and housing (50) held together and heated, thereby melting the sealant to flow and bond to the surfaces of the channel and recess, both joining the housing (50) to the shell (12) and forming a hermetic seal (92) along the interface therebetween, recessed from outer surfaces of the connector (10).

Abstract: A bulkhead connector (100,200) includes an array of bus bars (150,250) extending from a first face to a second face for interconnecting associated power cables (20,30) on opposing sides of the bulkhead (10). Embedded within the connector is a substrate (b 130,230) of fire resistant material extending transversely completely across the bulkhead opening (12), with apertures (144,244) through which extend the bus bars. Exposed contact sections (152,154;252,254) of the bus bars permit terminals (24,34) to be fastened thereto, and the connector is adapted to prevent rotation of the fastened terminals during in-service use.

Abstract: A plastic connector housing (50) having a plurality of contacts secured therewithin is securable to and within a protective metal shell (12) without a bead of liquid adhesive placed therebetween during assembly, by forming a shallow peripheral channel (76) in a housing flange forward surface (74) and a shallow recess (30) in an abutting rearward surface (24) of a corresponding shell flange (18), the channel and recess defining a confined seal seat (80) extending around the housing body section (70). Lengths of solid sealant preforms (90) such as of epoxy are disposed along the channel during assembly, and the shell (12) and housing (50) held together and heated, thereby melting the sealant to flow and bond to the surfaces of the channel and recess, both joining the housing (50) to the shell (12) and forming a hermetic seal (92) along the interface therebetween, recessed from outer surfaces of the connector (10).

Abstract: Keying and fastening of mating connectors includes pairs of mating key members, ones of which include central apertures through which extend respective jackscrews having threaded leading ends, and the others of which have threaded apertures into which the jackscrews are threaded to fasten the connectors together after the pairs of keys permit connector mating. The keys in which the jackscrews are mounted permit rotating the jackscrews. The jackscrew leading ends are recessed slightly behind the leading ends of hood-like keying projections of the key members for protection against damage and misalignment, and the threaded apertures of the other keys extend to the leading ends of the keying projections thereof which are adapted to receive the corresponding hood-like keying projections in axial recesses along the outer surfaces extending about halfway around the circumference of the key.

Abstract: A system of keying and fastening together a pair of mating connectors is provided where each of the connectors is of the type having forward and rearward thin walled metal shells clinched together about their flanged edges to retain a housing means therewithin, with the forward and rearward shells having adjacent aperture lateral flanges. The system includes a pair of key members each securable to the front of the forward shell at a respective lateral flange, seated within correspondingly hexagonally shaped flange apertures of the forward shell only, held against the front surface of the rearward shell. On one of the connectors a pair of jackscrews extend through the flange apertures and through with the apertures being slightly larger than the jackscrew portions extending therethrough, the jackscrews being apertures of the key members of the one connector, secured rearwardly of the connector by means permitting rotation after mounting and simultaneously securing the key members to the connector.