Sealed connector with barriers to contact bridging

Abstract

Abstract A plug with blade type contacts is shown in which such contacts enter a receptacle via self-sealing slits to matingly engage contacts in a dielectric filled chamber wherein adjacent receptacle contacts, and hence adjacent plug contacts engaging them, are separated by plates extending radially from a central flexible member to the chamber wall. The plates in the example shown are integral with a central sleeve or tube, and are prevented from movement out of contact separating position via interference relations of portions of the plates and portions of the receptacle housing or contacts. For foreign conductive matter entering the fluid and which might otherwise be able to bridge adjacent contacts, the plates constitute barriers to prevent such bridging and degradation of electrical integrity that would occur therefrom. For pressure compensation in use of plates and tube that are rigid, holes are provided in the lateral surface of the tube intermediate adjacent plates.

Inventors

• 👤 James L. Cairns

Bibliographic Details