US2017363814A1PendingUtilityA1

Composite connection system

49
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Mar 15, 2013Filed: Jun 27, 2017Published: Dec 21, 2017
Est. expiryMar 15, 2033(~6.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John R. Toth
H02G 15/14G02B 6/3849H01R 13/523G02B 6/3816
49
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

A connector mating system that can enable the coupling and decoupling of electrical or optical communications channels, while in a deep, sub-oceanic, sea-floor environments, during which time the contacting interfaces of the said channels remain fully protected from the destructive effects of the said environment. The system features a Wet-Mate Connector (WMC) that provides a means for electrical, optical and hybrid inter-connection within an extremely hostile environments.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A connector set comprising:
 a plug having a plug front fluid chamber;   a receptacle having a receptacle front fluid chamber, the receptacle being adapted to receive the plug; and   one or more interface valves;   wherein the plug front fluid chamber comprises a plug sealed engagement chamber and the receptacle front fluid chamber comprises a receptacle sealed engagement chamber; and   wherein the plug sealed engagement chamber and the receptacle sealed engagement chamber are configured to mechanically engage with each other forming a contiguous sealed chamber through concurrent actuation of the interface valves forming barrier end-seals between the plug sealed engagement chamber and the receptacle sealed engagement chamber.   
     
     
         38 . The connector set of  claim 37 , wherein the interface valves forming the barrier end-seals between the plug sealed engagement chamber and the receptacle sealed engagement chamber prior to engagement of the plug and the receptacle. 
     
     
         39 . The connector set of  claim 37 , wherein each of the interface valves is installed in a carrier shell providing a sealing interface between the carrier shell and about a perimeter of the interface valve prior to engagement of the plug and the receptacle. 
     
     
         40 . The connector set of  claim 39 , wherein each of the carrier shells has a multi-sided geometry, whereby each of the carrier shells can translate within an outer plug shell without influence from external fowling. 
     
     
         41 . The connector set of  claim 37 , wherein the interface valves provide a sealing interface between the surface of the respective interface valves during engagement of the plug and the receptacle. 
     
     
         42 . The connector set of  claim 37 , wherein each of the interface valves rotates on engagement of the plug and the receptacle. 
     
     
         43 . The connector set of  claim 37 , wherein each of the interface valves, when rotated, provides one or more linear passages between the plug front fluid chamber and the receptacle front fluid chamber. 
     
     
         44 . The connector set of  claim 37 , wherein each of the interface valves, when rotated, provides passage for at least one optical contact. 
     
     
         45 . The connector set of  claim 37 , wherein each of the interface valves, when rotated, provides passage for at least one electrical contact. 
     
     
         46 . The connector set of  claim 37 , wherein each of the interface valves is capable of being scaled in size to accommodate a range of contact diameters. 
     
     
         47 . The connector set of  claim 37 , wherein each of the interface valves comprises one or more interface scallops. 
     
     
         48 . The connector set of  claim 47 , wherein the geometry of each of the interface scallops is defined as a shape that when rotated accommodates at least one contact passage. 
     
     
         49 . A connector set comprising:
 a plug having a plug secondary fluid chamber;   a receptacle having a receptacle secondary fluid chamber, the receptacle being adapted to receive the plug; and   one or more secondary seals;   wherein, during engagement of the plug and the receptacle, the plug secondary fluid chamber and the receptacle secondary fluid chamber are configured to engage with each other through actuation of the secondary seals, forming a contiguous contact chamber.   
     
     
         50 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein, each secondary seal has a corresponding contact pin. 
     
     
         51 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein, during engagement of the plug and the receptacle, the secondary seals form barriers between the contiguous contact chamber and any neighboring contact chambers. 
     
     
         52 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein, during engagement of the plug and the receptacle, the secondary seals form barriers between the contiguous contact chamber and a front fluid chamber of the plug and a front fluid chamber of the receptacle. 
     
     
         53 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein the plug and the receptacle each comprise at least one of the one or more secondary seals, and wherein the secondary seals provide environmental isolation of the plug secondary fluid chamber and the receptacle secondary fluid chamber prior to engagement of the plug and the receptacle. 
     
     
         54 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein each of the secondary seals is configured as a single seal element with multiple entries. 
     
     
         55 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein each of the secondary seals is configured as a single seal element with a single entry. 
     
     
         56 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein the plug secondary fluid chamber and the receptacle secondary fluid chamber are barrier sealed by a combination of torsional and axial loading. 
     
     
         57 . The connector set of  claim 53 , wherein the secondary seals of the plug provide barrier sealing when in contact with the secondary seals of the receptacle. 
     
     
         58 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein the secondary seals are each actuated by mechanical methods. 
     
     
         59 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein the secondary seals each provide linear passages between the plug secondary fluid chamber and the receptacle secondary fluid chamber. 
     
     
         60 . The connector set of  claim 52 , wherein the secondary seals, when actuated, each provide linear passages between the front fluid chamber of the plug and the front fluid chamber of the receptacle. 
     
     
         61 . The connector set of  claim 52 , wherein the secondary seals, when actuated, provide isolation between the plug secondary fluid chamber and the front fluid chamber of the plug. 
     
     
         62 . The connector set of  claim 52 , wherein the secondary seals, when actuated, provide isolation between the receptacle secondary fluid chamber and the front fluid chamber of the receptacle. 
     
     
         63 . The connector set of  claim 61 , wherein the secondary seals, when actuated, provide isolation between the receptacle secondary fluid chamber and the front fluid chamber of the receptacle. 
     
     
         64 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein the secondary seals, when actuated, each provide passage for at least one electrical contact. 
     
     
         65 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein the secondary seals, when actuated, each provide passage for at least one optical contact. 
     
     
         66 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein the secondary seals each provide isolation between a plurality of contact pins in the plug and in the receptacle. 
     
     
         67 . The connector set of  claim 49 , wherein the secondary seals are each actuated through contact with a corresponding contact seal and prevent fluid transfer from each of the secondary contact fluid chambers to each of the front fluid chambers during actuation of the secondary seals. 
     
     
         68 . The connector set of  claim 52 , wherein the secondary seals form a barrier between the contact chamber and the front fluid chamber of the plug and the receptacle. 
     
     
         69 . The connector set of  claim 68 , wherein the secondary seals form a barrier between the contact chamber and the front fluid chamber of the plug and the receptacle before, during, and after engagement of the plug and the receptacle.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2017363814A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.