Connector saver device and method

1 . A connector saver for an electromechanical interface for protecting a target connector from ingress of contaminant, the connector saver comprising:

a body comprising:

a wall having an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface;

first and second apertures extending through the wall between the inward-facing surface and the outward-facing surface;

a first connector, disposed on and extending through the wall between the inward-facing surface and the outward-facing surface, for transmitting electrical current; and

a first jacking fastener and a second jacking fastener for securing the connector saver to a target connector and removing the connector saver from the target connector, the first jacking fastener for disposing in the first aperture and the second jacking fastener for disposing in the second aperture, each of the first and second jacking fasteners further comprising a retaining element coupled to a shaft of the respective jacking fastener, the retaining element configured such that (i) the retaining element prevents the respective jacking fastener from being separated from the body when the jacking fastener is disposed in the respective aperture, and (ii) the retaining element applies a jacking force to the body when the respective jacking fastener is loosened, thereby jacking the body away from the target connector to ease removal of the connector saver.

2 . The connector saver of claim 1 , further comprising a redundant connector disposed on the surface of the body, and wherein the first connector and the redundant connector each comprise two connectors.

3 . The connector saver of claim 1 , further comprising a tethering point coupled to the body, the tethering point for securing the connector saver to an external mounting point.

4 . The connector saver of claim 1 , further comprising an alignment port for aligning the connector saver during mating to the target connector, the alignment port configured to mate with a corresponding alignment feature of the target connector.

5 . The connector saver of claim 1 , wherein the first and second jacking fasteners are captive fasteners.

6 . The connector saver of claim 1 , wherein the first connector is configured to mate with a target connector interface of the target connector, the target connector having a housing including a surface on which the target connector interface is disposed; and wherein the inward-facing surface comprises a geometry complementary to the surface of the housing such that, when the first connector is mated to the target connector interface, the inward-facing surface of the body is positioned in close-fitting relation to the surface of the housing.

7 . The connector saver of claim 1 , wherein the first connector includes a first connector interface exposed on the inward-facing surface of the wall and a second connector interface exposed on the outward-facing surface of the wall, wherein the first connector interface is configured to mate with a target connector interface of the target connector, and wherein the second connector interface is substantially identical in form factor to the target connector interface.

8 . The connector saver of claim 4 , wherein the alignment port comprises a recess with a tapered or conical profile and the alignment feature is an alignment pin with a tapered or conical tip.

9 . The connector saver of claim 1 , further comprising first and second alignment ports, separate and distinct from the first and second apertures, for aligning the connector saver during mating to the target connector, the first and second alignment ports configured to mate with respective first and second alignment features on the target connector, wherein the first and second alignment ports are offset from one another.

10 . The connector saver of claim 9 , wherein the offset includes having the first and second alignment ports generally opposite one another along a perimeter of the body.

11 . The connector saver of claim 4 , wherein the first aperture, the second aperture, and the alignment port are disposed such that the first jacking fastener, the second jacking fastener, and the alignment feature are substantially parallel to one another when the connector saver is secured to the target connector.

12 . The connector saver of claim 1 , wherein the first and second jacking fasteners each include a threaded portion that is received by a threaded receiver on the target connector.

13 . The connector saver of claim 1 , wherein the retaining element is an annular or disc shaped element protruding from a body of the respective jacking fastener.

14 . The connector saver of claim 1 , further comprising at least two grooves or channels in the body of the connector saver that promote alignment with the target connector when mating.

15 . The connector saver of claim 14 , wherein the at least two grooves or channels includes a first groove or channel and a second groove or channel that are offset from one another.

16 . A method of protecting an electrical connector, the method comprising:

aligning a connector saver with a target connector, the target connector comprising a first target connector and the connector saver comprising:

a body comprising:

a wall having an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface;

first and second apertures extending through the wall between the inward-facing surface and the outward-facing surface;

a first connector, disposed on and extending through the wall between the inward-facing surface and the outward-facing surface, for transmitting electrical current; and

a first jacking fastener and a second jacking fastener for securing the connector saver to a target connector and removing the connector saver from the target connector, the first jacking fastener for disposing in the first aperture and the second jacking fastener for disposing in the second aperture, each of the first and second jacking fasteners further comprising a retaining element coupled to a shaft of the respective jacking fastener, the retaining element configured such that (i) the retaining element prevents the respective jacking fastener from being separated from the body when the jacking fastener is disposed in the respective aperture, and (ii) the retaining element applies a jacking force to the body when the respective jacking fastener is loosened, thereby jacking the body away from the target connector to ease removal of the connector saver;

coupling the first connector of the connector saver to the first target connector of the target connector;

tightening the first and second jacking fasteners to secure the connector saver to the target connector; and

loosening first and second jacking fasteners, jacking the connector saver away from the target connector.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the aligning comprises aligning alignment features of the target connector with respective complimentary alignment ports of the connector saver.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the coupling comprises mating alignment features of the target connector with respective complimentary alignment ports of the connector saver which when mated, urge the connector saver into alignment with the target connector.

19 . A method of manufacturing a connector saver for an electromechanical interface for protecting a target connector from ingress of contaminant, the connector saver configured to couple to the target connector, the method comprising:

inserting a first fastener into a first aperture of a body of the connector saver, and a second fastener into a second aperture of the body;

wherein the body includes a wall having an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface, the first and second apertures extending through the wall between the inward-facing surface and the outward-facing surface;

wherein a first connector is disposed on and extends through the wall between the inward-facing surface and the outward-facing surface, for transmitting electrical current; and

coupling a first retaining element to a shaft of the first fastener and a second retaining element to a shaft of the second fastener when the first and second fasteners are inserted into the first and second apertures, forming a first jacking fastener and a second jacking fastener, the retaining elements preventing each respective jacking fastener from removal from each respective aperture by mechanically interfering with the body.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the connector saver is configured such that when the connector saver is coupled to the target connector and the jacking fasteners are torqued, the retaining element applies a jacking force to the body when each respective jacking fastener is loosened, thereby jacking the body away from the target connector to facilitate removal of the connector saver.