ANTI-ROTATION DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS
In one embodiment, an anti-rotation device is designed to prevent de-coupling of an electrical connector pair. The connector pair includes (i) a first electrical connector having a barrel with male threads formed thereon and (ii) a second electrical connector having a nut with female threads formed therein that mate with the male threads of the first connector. The anti-rotation device includes a barrel-locking portion connected by an interconnecting portion to a nut-locking portion. The barrel-locking portion engages the barrel of the first electrical connector to prevent rotation of the anti-rotation device circumferentially around the barrel. The nut-locking portion engages the nut of the second electrical connector to prevent the nut from rotating and backing out. The anti-rotation device inhibits rotation of the nut relative to the barrel, thereby preventing de-coupling of the second electrical connector from the first electrical connector.
1 . An anti-rotation device configured to prevent de-coupling of an electrical connector pair comprising a first electrical connector having a barrel with male threads formed thereon and a second electrical connector having a nut with female threads formed therein configured to mate with the male threads of the first connector, wherein the anti-rotation device comprises:
a barrel-locking portion configured to engage the barrel of the first electrical connector of the connector pair;
a nut-locking portion configured to engage the nut of the second electrical connector of the connector pair; and
an interconnecting portion interconnecting the barrel-locking portion and the nut-locking portion, wherein the anti-rotation device inhibits rotation of the nut relative to the barrel, thereby preventing de-coupling of the second electrical connector from the first electrical connector.
2 . The anti-rotation device of claim 1 , wherein:
the barrel has a “D-shaped” or “DD-shaped” cross-section;
the barrel-locking portion has a corresponding “D-shaped” or “DD-shaped” hole formed therein, wherein the corresponding “D-shaped” or “DD-shaped” hole prevents the anti-rotation device from rotating circumferentially around the barrel of the first electrical connector.
3 . The anti-rotation device of claim 2 , wherein the nut-locking portion comprises a clip configured to engage with an outer surface of the nut of the second electrical connector to prevent the nut from rotating.
4 . The anti-rotation device of claim 1 , wherein the nut-locking portion comprises a clip configured to engage with an outer surface of the nut of the second electrical connector to prevent the nut from rotating.
5 . The anti-rotation device of claim 1 , wherein the barrel-locking portion comprises a clip configured to engage with an outer surface of the barrel of the first electrical connector to prevent the anti-rotation device from rotating circumferentially around the barrel of the first electrical connector.
6 . The anti-rotation device of claim 5 , wherein the nut-locking portion comprises a clip configured to engage with an outer surface of the nut of the second electrical connector to prevent the nut from rotating.
7 . The anti-rotation device of claim 1 , wherein the interconnecting portion comprises a spring positioned between the barrel-locking portion and the nut-locking portion, wherein:
the spring is configured to apply force to the barrel-locking portion to establish friction between the barrel-locking portion and the first electrical connector; and
the spring is configured to apply force to the nut-locking portion to establish friction between the nut-locking portion and the nut.
8 . The anti-rotation device of claim 7 , wherein the barrel-locking portion comprises a washer configured to prevent the anti-rotation device from rotating circumferentially around the barrel of the first electrical connector in a removal direction of the nut.
9 . The anti-rotation device of claim 8 , wherein the nut-locking portion comprises a washer configured to prevent the nut from rotating in a removal direction of the nut.
10 . The anti-rotation device of claim 8 , wherein the nut-locking portion has a hole formed therein configured to mate with an outer surface of the nut, wherein a shape of the hole prevents the nut from rotating.
11 . The anti-rotation device of claim 1 , wherein the nut-locking portion comprises a washer configured to prevent the nut from rotating in a removal direction of the nut.
12 . The anti-rotation device of claim 1 , wherein the nut-locking portion has a hole formed therein configured to mate with an outer surface of the nut, wherein a shape of the hole prevents the nut from rotating.
13 . The anti-rotation device of claim 1 , wherein:
the electrical connector pair is a coaxial connector pair; and
the anti-rotation device is configured to prevent de-coupling of the coaxial connector pair.