Electrical connector with locking mechanism
An electrical connector system includes mating pin and socket connectors each designed for improving the mechanical locking capabilities of the electrical connector system. A first connector includes a pin contact having a head portion with grooves formed thereon, and a second connector includes a cavity dimensioned for receiving the pin contact. A pair of channels are formed along an interior wall of the contact-receiving cavity, with a coiled spring seated within each of the channels. When the connectors are mated, one or both of the coiled springs engages one of the grooves of the head portion of the pin contact to latch the first and second connectors together in a locked configuration. The connector system may further include a removable collar that allows the pin to advance further into the contact-receiving cavity to urge the coiled springs into secondary grooves for facilitating decoupling of the connectors.
1. An electrical connector system, comprising:
a first connector including an electrically conductive pin contact, the pin contact including a head portion projecting outwardly along an axial direction from a face of the first connector, wherein the head portion includes a first groove and a second groove each formed along a circumference thereof, wherein the first groove is formed at a first depth relative to an exterior surface of the head portion, and wherein the second groove is formed at a second depth relative to the exterior surface of the head portion, the first depth being shallower than the second depth, the head portion further including a third groove and a fourth groove each formed along a circumference thereof, wherein the third groove is adjacent the second groove and the fourth groove is adjacent the third groove and wherein the first groove and third groove are formed at substantially equal depths relative to one another, and wherein the second groove and fourth groove are formed at substantially equal depths relative to one another;
a second connector having a contact-receiving cavity extending in the axial direction and opening along a rear end of the second connector, wherein the second connector is configured to be mated to the first connector by sliding the connectors along the axial direction to insert the head portion of the pin contact into the contact-receiving cavity, and wherein the second connector further includes an interior wall forming a boundary of the contact-receiving cavity;
a first channel recessed inwardly relative to the interior wall of the second connector; and
a first coiled spring seated within the first channel of the second connector,
wherein, when the first and second connectors are mated in a locked configuration, the first coiled spring engages the first groove of the head portion of the pin contact to latch the first and second connectors together in a locked configuration.
2. The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein the first connector further includes a shoulder portion, the electrical connector system further comprising a collar seated against the shoulder portion of the first connector, the collar contacting the rear end of the second connector to maintain the first and second connectors in the locked configuration.
3. The electrical connector system of claim 1 , further comprising a seal grommet positioned at a junction between the first and second connectors to seal the electrical connector from environmental conditions.
4. The electrical connector system of claim 1 , further comprising a second coiled spring seated within a second channel of the second connector, wherein the second coiled spring contacts the head portion of the pin contact to transfer electrical current between the first and second connectors when mated in the locked configuration.
5. The electrical connector system of claim 4 , wherein a width of the first channel is substantially equal to a width of the second channel.
6. The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein the first coiled spring and the second coil spring each rotate within the respective first and second channels and against the head portion of the pin contact as the head portion is advanced into the contact-receiving cavity.
7. The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second connectors are movable from the locked configuration to an unlocked configuration by driving the head portion of the first connector into the contact-receiving cavity of the second connector, and wherein the first spring disengages from the first groove and engages the second groove of the head portion of the pin contact when the first and second connectors are in the unlocked configuration.
8. The electrical connector system of claim 1 , wherein the second groove further includes an indicator marking formed thereon, the indicator marking indicating whether the first and second connectors are in the locked configuration.
9. An electrical connector comprising:
an electrically conductive pin contact, the pin contact including a head portion projecting outwardly along an axial direction from a face of the first connector;
a first groove formed along a circumference of the head portion at a first depth relative to an exterior surface of the head portion; and
a second groove formed along the circumference of the head portion at a second depth relative to an exterior surface of the head portion, wherein the second groove further includes an indicator marking formed thereon, the indicator marking indicating when the first connector is in a locked configuration.
10. The electrical connector of claim 9 , wherein the electrical connector further includes a shoulder portion formed adjacent the head portion, the electrical connector further comprising a collar seated against the shoulder portion.
11. The electrical connector of claim 9 , wherein the first depth is shallower than the second depth, the electrical connector further comprising a third groove and a fourth groove each formed along a circumference of the head portion on an exterior surface of the head portion, wherein the third groove is adjacent the second groove and the fourth groove is adjacent the third groove, and wherein the first groove and third groove are formed at substantially equal depths relative to one another, and wherein the second groove and fourth groove are formed at substantial equal depths relative to one another.
12. An electrical connector system, comprising:
a first connector including an electrically conductive pin contact, the pin contact including a head portion projecting outwardly along an axial direction from a face of the first connector, wherein the head portion includes a first groove and a second groove each formed along a circumference thereof, and wherein one of the first groove or the second groove further includes an indicator marking formed thereon, the indicator marking indicating whether the first and second connectors are in a locked configuration;
a second connector having a contact-receiving cavity extending in the axial direction and opening along a rear end of the second connector, wherein the second connector is configured to be mated to the first connector by sliding the connectors along the axial direction to insert the head portion of the pin contact into the contact-receiving cavity, and wherein the second connector further includes an interior wall forming a boundary of the contact-receiving cavity;
a first channel recessed inwardly relative to the interior wall of the second connector; and
a first coiled spring seated within the first channel of the second connector,
wherein, when the first and second connectors are mated in the locked configuration, the first coiled spring engages the first groove of the head portion of the pin contact to latch the first and second connectors together in the locked configuration.
13. The electrical connector system of claim 12 , wherein the first coiled spring and the second coiled spring area each made of an electrically conductive material.
14. The electrical connector system of claim 12 , wherein the first connector further includes a shoulder portion, the electrical connector system further comprising a collar seated against the shoulder portion of the first connector, the collar contacting the rear end of the second connector to maintain the first and second connectors in the locked configuration.
15. The electrical connector system of claim 14 , wherein one of the first coiled spring and the second coiled spring is made of copper, and the other of the first coiled spring and the second coiled spring is made of stainless steel.
16. The electrical connector system of claim 12 , further comprising a seal grommet positioned at a junction between the first and second connectors to seal the electrical connector from environmental conditions.
17. The electrical connector system of claim 12 , further comprising a second coiled spring seated within a second channel of the second connector, wherein the second coiled spring contacts the head portion of the pin contact to transfer electrical current between the first and second connectors when mated in the locked configuration.
18. The electrical connector system of claim 17 , wherein a width of the first channel is substantially equal to a width of the second channel.
19. The electrical connector system of claim 12 , wherein the first and second connectors are movable from the locked configuration to an unlocked configuration by driving the head portion of the first connector into the contact-receiving cavity of the second connector, and wherein the first spring disengages from the first groove and engages the second groove of the head portion of the pin contact when the first and second connectors are in the unlocked configuration.
20. The electrical connector system of claim 12 , wherein the first groove is formed at a first depth relative to an exterior surface of the head portion, and wherein the second groove is formed at a second depth relative to the exterior surface of the head portion, the first depth being shallower than the second depth.