Minerally insulated cable connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9543690-B2
Application number	US-201514947235-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2015
Priority date	Nov 26, 2014
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly for the electrical connection of one or more minerally insulated cables ( 11 ), the assembly comprising a pot seal arrangement ( 10 ) arranged in use to connect the minerally insulated cable ( 11 ) to a connector ( 22 ); at least one cable alignment plate ( 21, 31 ); and, a backshell ( 20 ) shaped so as to contain the pot seal ( 10 ) and cable alignment plate ( 21 ); the cable alignment plate ( 21 ) and pot seal ( 10 ) being arranged so as to locate within the backshell ( 20 ) such that in use, connecting the backshell ( 20 ) to the connector ( 22 ) forces the backshell ( 20 ), cable alignment plate ( 21 ) and pot seal ( 10 ) into a cooperative engagement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrical connector assembly for the electrical connection of one or more minerally insulated cables ( 11 ), the assembly comprising:
a pot seal ( 10 ) arranged in use to connect the minerally insulated cable ( 11 ) to a connector ( 22 );
at least one cable alignment plate ( 21 ); and,
a backshell ( 20 ) shaped so as to contain the pot seal and cable alignment plate ( 21 );

the cable alignment plate ( 21 , 31 ) and pot seal ( 10 ) being arranged so as to locate within the backshell ( 20 ) such that in use, connecting the backshell ( 20 ) to the connector ( 22 ) forces the backshell ( 20 ), cable alignment plate ( 21 , 31 ) and pot seal ( 10 ) into a cooperative engagement.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the backshell ( 20 ) and connector ( 22 ) comprise attachment members arranged to attach the backshell ( 20 ) to the connector ( 22 ).

3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the backshell ( 20 ) comprises one or more cable location features ( 32 ).

4. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein each cable alignment plate ( 21 , 31 ) comprises one or more cable location features ( 32 ).

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the cable location features ( 32 ) of the cable alignment plate ( 21 , 31 ) and backshell ( 20 ) are aligned in use such that cable ( 11 ) passes through the backshell ( 20 ) and cable alignment plate ( 21 , 31 ).

6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein the cable passing through the alignment plate ( 21 , 31 ) and backshell ( 20 ) is aligned according to the cable location features ( 32 ) of the connector ( 22 ).

7. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the cable location features ( 32 ) comprised within the cable alignment plate ( 21 , 31 ) are shaped so as to at least partially inhibit the withdrawal of the cable from the cable location feature ( 32 ).

8. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein the cable location features ( 32 ) comprised within the cable alignment plate ( 21 , 31 ) are shaped so as to support the cable ( 11 ) in both a radial and axial direction.

9. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the connector assembly comprises an environmental seal.

10. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the connector assembly comprises an interfacial seal.

11. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the pot seals ( 10 ) may locate within shapes, recesses or protrusions within the cable alignment plate ( 21 , 31 ).

12. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the connector ( 22 ) comprises recesses which resist lateral and axial forces acting on the pot seals ( 10 ).

13. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one cable alignment plate ( 21 , 31 ) is comprised of a substantially flexible elastomeric or polymeric material.

14. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one cable alignment plate ( 21 , 31 ) is comprised of a substantially rigid elastomeric, polymeric, ceramic or metallic material.

15. A method of electrically connecting a minerally insulated cable ( 11 ), the method comprising the steps of:
Passing at least one cable ( 11 ) through a backshell ( 20 );
Passing said cable through an alignment plate ( 21 , 31 );
Matably receiving said cable ( 11 ) within a pot seal arrangement ( 10 );
Connecting the pot seal ( 10 ) and cable ( 11 ) arrangement to an electrical connector ( 22 ); and,
Connecting the backshell ( 20 ) to the connector ( 22 ) in order to force the backshell ( 20 ), cable alignment plate ( 21 ) and pot seal ( 10 ) into cooperative engagement with the electrical connector ( 22 ).

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Plc

Inventors

• Broughton Paul

Classifications

• H01R43/005

  for making dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof connection, coupling, or casing · CPC title

• H01R24/86

  Parallel contacts arranged about a common axis · CPC title

• H01R13/5205 Primary

  Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet (H01R13/5221 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/533 Primary

  Bases, cases made for use in extreme conditions, e.g. high temperature, radiation, vibration, corrosive environment, pressure (H01R13/52 takes precedence) · CPC title