IP Library Granted Patent US 10,658,790
Granted Patent B2
US 10,658,790 · App. 15/993,386 · Granted May 19, 2020

Splice connector assemblies with sealing gland

Inventor: Michael Santos Finona (Fountain Valley, CA)
Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
H01R13/622H01R13/5202H01R13/5205H01R13/59H01R13/641H01R24/20H01R24/28H01R43/005H01R2101/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,658,790
App. No.
15/993,386
Granted
May 19, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various splice connector assemblies are disclosed. The splice connector assembly can include a connection unit mating a female and male terminals. The splice connector assembly can include an outer housing with an inner passage configured to receive the terminals. A first securing mechanism can be engaged with a first end of the outer housing and a second securing mechanism can be engaged with a second end of outer housing. The first and second securing mechanisms can each include a coupling nut engaged with the housing, a washer that is non-rotatably connected to the housing, and a sealing gland that comprises an aperture having a non-concentric cross sectional shape.

Claims (67)

1. A splice connector assembly comprising:

a connection unit comprising:

a female terminal configured to receive an end of a first cable; and

a male terminal configured to receive an end of a second cable and to mate with the female terminal to provide an electrical connection between the first and second cables;

an outer housing comprising a first end, a second end, and an inner passage, the first and second ends each comprising a first anti-rotation feature, the inner passage configured to receive the connection unit;

a first securing mechanism on the first end of the outer housing;

a second securing mechanism on the second end of the outer housing;

wherein the first and second securing mechanisms each comprise:

a coupling nut engaged with the outer housing, the coupling nut comprising a second anti-rotation feature;

a washer comprising:

an inner face comprising a third anti-rotation feature that is engaged with the first anti-rotation feature of the outer housing; and

an outer face comprising a fourth anti-rotation feature that is engaged with the second anti-rotation feature of the coupling nut; and

an elastomeric sealing gland longitudinally compressed between the washer and the connection unit.

2. The splice connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and third anti-rotation features comprise a mating flange and recess.

3. The splice connector assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second and fourth anti-rotation features comprise mating teeth.

4. The splice connector assembly of claim 3 , wherein the elastomeric sealing gland comprises an aperture having a non-concentric cross-sectional shape.

5. The splice connector assembly of any of claim 4 , wherein the coupling nut is threaded to the housing.

6. The splice connector assembly of claim 5 , wherein the male and female terminals each comprise:

an outer body comprising a first locking mechanism;

a retention cap comprising a second locking mechanism that is engaged with the first locking mechanism;

an inner body received in the outer body;

a plurality of contacts received in the inner body; and

a removable securing door positioned radially between any of the plurality of contacts and the outer body.

7. The splice connector assembly of claim 6 , wherein the outer housing further comprises a first orientation feature, and wherein the connection unit further comprises a second orientation feature that mates with the first orientation feature in only one circumferential orientation of the connection unit relative to the outer housing.

8. The splice connector assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first orientation feature comprises one of a projection and a slot and the second orientation feature comprises the other of the projection and the slot.

9. A splice connector assembly comprising:

a connection unit comprising:

a female terminal configured to receive an end of a first cable; and

a male terminal configured to receive an end of a second cable and to mate with the female terminal to provide an electrical connection between the first and second cables;

an outer housing comprising a first end, a second end, and an inner passage, the inner passage configured to receive the connection unit;

a first securing mechanism on the first end of the outer housing;

a second securing mechanism on the second end of the outer housing;

wherein the first and second securing mechanisms each comprise:

a coupling nut engaged with the outer housing;

a washer comprising a flange that is fit in a corresponding recess of the outer housing; and

an elastomeric sealing gland longitudinally compressed between the washer and the connection unit.

10. The splice connector assembly of claim 9 , wherein the elastomeric sealing gland comprises an aperture having a non-concentric cross-sectional shape.

11. The splice connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the coupling nut is threaded to the outer housing.

12. The splice connector assembly of claim 11 , wherein the coupling nut further comprises a plurality of teeth and the washer further comprises a plurality of teeth, the teeth of the coupling nut and the washer being engaged together, thereby inhibiting rotation of the coupling nut relative to the washer.

13. The splice connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the outer housing further comprises a flange that is fit in a corresponding recesses of the washer.

14. The splice connector assembly of claim 13 , wherein the washer further comprises a plurality of flanges that are fit in corresponding recesses of the outer housing.

15. The splice connector assembly of claim 14 , wherein the male and female terminals each comprise:

an outer body comprising a first locking mechanism;

a retention cap comprising a second locking mechanism that is engaged with the first locking mechanism;

an inner body received in the outer body;

a plurality of contacts received in the inner body; and

a removable securing door positioned radially between the one or more of the plurality of contacts and the outer body.

16. The splice connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the outer housing further comprises a first orientation feature, and wherein the connection unit further comprises a second orientation feature that mates with the first orientation feature in only one circumferential orientation of the connection unit relative to the outer housing.

17. The splice connector assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first orientation feature comprises one of a projection and a slot and the second orientation feature comprises the other of the projection and the slot.

18. A method of splicing a cable, the method comprising:

inserting a socket connected to a first cable into a first end of a housing, the housing comprising a longitudinal axis;

inserting a pin connected to a second cable into a second end of the housing, the second end opposite the first end;

coupling the socket and the pin inside the housing to form a connection unit;

connecting a first securing mechanism to the first end of the housing, wherein connecting the first securing mechanism comprises:

connecting a first coupling nut to the first end of the housing;

pressing, with the first coupling nut, a first washer longitudinally;

engaging a flange of the first washer with a first mating recess of the housing;

compressing a first sealing gland between the first washer and the connection unit; and

forming, with the compressed first sealing gland, a seal around the first cable;

and

connecting a second securing mechanism to the second end of the housing, wherein connecting the second securing mechanism comprises:

connecting a second coupling nut to the second end of the housing;

pressing, with the second coupling nut, a second washer longitudinally;

engaging a flange of the second washer with a second mating recess of the housing;

compressing a second sealing gland between the second washer and the connection unit; and

forming, with the compressed second sealing gland, a seal around the second cable.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising engaging teeth on a face of the first coupling nut with mating teeth on a face of the first washer, and engaging teeth on a face of the second coupling nut with mating teeth on a face of the second washer.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2024
From: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES LLC
To: ITT CANNON LLC
Reel/Frame 068891/0138 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2019
From: FINONA, MICHAEL SANTOS
To: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 048915/0663 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62512946 · May 31, 2017
Provisional Application 62539867 · Aug 1, 2017
Related Publication 20180351292A1 · Dec 6, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,350,759