Socket housing, connector plug and connector

Abstract

The application discloses a socket shell, a connector plug and a connector, and belongs to the technical field of connectors. The socket shell has an insertion end and an insertion cavity formed in the interior. The socket shell is provided with drainage holes penetrating through the side wall and communicating with the insertion cavity. The drainage holes are distributed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the socket shell. The cavity bottom of the insertion cavity is provided with a protruding part filled in the region between adjacent drainage holes. The application improves the deposition of silt by arranging the protruding part, and improves the discharge efficiency of silt by cooperating with the guiding effect of the obliquely arranged drainage holes. The problem of deposition and adhesion of silt in the insertion cavity is improved, and the wear or even damage of the skin bag and other components exposed to the insertion end of the plug is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of connector technology, and particularly relates to socket housings, connector plugs and connectors. Background Technology

[0002] Underwater pluggable connectors are mainly categorized into all-electric, all-fiber, and hybrid optoelectronic types. Underwater pluggable electrical connectors are primarily used for underwater power supply connections and electrical signal transmission; underwater pluggable fiber optic connectors are mainly used for underwater optical signal transmission and connections between optical fibers and related equipment; underwater pluggable hybrid optoelectronic connectors combine the functions of both types of connectors, simultaneously meeting the needs of underwater optical and electrical signal transmission.

[0003] Underwater pluggable connectors are high-end products among watertight connectors, with complex structures and high requirements for constituent materials and processing technology. Like other watertight electrical connectors, underwater pluggable connectors consist of two parts: a watertight plug and a watertight socket.

[0004] Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of a socket in the prior art. The socket includes a socket housing, composite pins, a socket insulator, a socket epoxy resin potting body, and an O-ring rubber seal. Underwater plug-in connectors need to work underwater for a long time, and their mating and disassembly are often completed in complex underwater environments. Therefore, a drain hole 11 communicating with the mating cavity is opened on the socket housing so that water in the socket can be discharged through the drain hole 11 during the process of plug insertion into the socket.

[0005] While the traditional structure of the drainage hole can achieve the purpose of insertion and drainage, problems such as loss of electrical signal and wear of sealing components such as the bladder may occur during the insertion and removal process in complex aquatic environments due to sediment deposition. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention addresses the technical problem that existing technologies, such as opening holes in sockets, cannot meet the protection requirements for connector components during insertion and removal in complex aquatic environments. Through related exploration, it was found that when the wear of seals such as the bladder is severe, a considerable amount of mud and sand, especially granular mud and sand, remains on the surface of the bladder and in the inner cavity of the socket. This mud and sand can scratch the seals such as the bladder, leading to wear or even damage to the seals.

[0007] Based on this, the inventor proposes the following technical solution:

[0008] A socket housing has an insertion end and an insertion cavity formed inside it. The socket housing has at least two drainage holes that penetrate the sidewall and communicate with the insertion cavity. All the drainage holes are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the socket housing. The bottom periphery of the insertion cavity is provided with a protrusion that fills the area between adjacent drainage holes.

[0009] Preferably, the protrusion is a spindle shape with a gradually decreasing thickness as it protrudes from the center toward the drain hole, and the exposed surface of the protrusion in the insertion cavity is a convex arc surface.

[0010] Preferably, the drain hole is an inclined hole that extends radially outward while the distance from the insertion end of the insertion cavity gradually increases.

[0011] Preferably, the included angle of the drainage hole is 30° to 60°.

[0012] Preferably, the protrusions and drainage holes are evenly distributed at alternating intervals.

[0013] Preferably, the protrusion has a shape in which the thickness gradually decreases from the center toward the drain hole, and both ends of each protrusion extend to the inner wall edge of the drain hole.

[0014] Preferably, the distance between any two adjacent drain holes is equal.

[0015] Preferably, the centers of all the drain holes are on the circumference of the same circle.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector socket comprising:

[0017] The socket housing described in any of the above descriptions;

[0018] and the plug assembly fixed inside the socket housing.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector comprising:

[0020] The aforementioned connector socket;

[0021] and a plug that can be plugged into the connector socket.

[0022] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0023] (1) Improve sediment deposition: By setting a protrusion at the bottom of the insertion cavity to fill the concave interception area between adjacent drainage holes, sediment is prevented from depositing in this area during drainage. The problem of sediment deposition in the insertion cavity is greatly improved, thereby avoiding the problem of electrical signal failure and wear or even damage to components such as the bladder exposed to the plug insertion end.

[0024] (2) Improve the efficiency of sediment discharge. The protrusion is defined as a spindle shape with a convex arc surface on the exposed surface, which reduces the obstruction to sediment and improves the guiding effect of sediment discharge, which is conducive to improving the smoothness of sediment discharge. On the other hand, the drainage hole is set at an angle to reduce the flow velocity loss caused by the water flow turning back, reduce the flow velocity difference of water discharge, and improve the smoothness of water discharge. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a socket in the prior art;

[0026] Figure 2 What is shown is Figure 1 Sectional view of AA;

[0027] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a schematic representation of the structure of a plug in the prior art;

[0028] Figure 4 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the connector in the embodiment;

[0029] Figure 5 The image shown is a front view of the socket in the embodiment;

[0030] Figure 6 What is shown is Figure 5 Sectional view of BB;

[0031] Figure 7 What is shown is Figure 5 Sectional view of CC;

[0032] Figure 8 The diagram shown is a partial cross-sectional view of the socket housing in the embodiment;

[0033] Figure 9 The diagram shown is a partial cross-sectional view of another socket housing in the embodiment;

[0034] Figure 10 The diagram shows a partial cross-sectional view of another socket housing in the embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0035] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the embodiments.

[0036] Combination Figures 1-3 The drainage structure of the socket in the prior art is described, in which... Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a socket in the prior art; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Sectional view of AA; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a plug in the prior art. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As can be seen from the existing socket structure, the drain hole 11 is radially arranged (i.e., perpendicular to the socket axis). During plug insertion, the plug will draw water from the socket along... Figure 2 The discharge point is in the direction of the middle arrow, but the internal cross-section of the socket is as follows: Figure 2As shown in the diagram, the circular or similar circular shape means that the drain holes 11 on the socket can only be spaced out, which will create a shape like... Figure 2 The concave trapping area M shown in the figure forms a recessed structure between adjacent drain holes 11. Figure 3 In this design, the plug 2 includes a socket housing 21, which has an installation cavity. The installation cavity houses a support sleeve 22, a large bladder 23, a small bladder 24, a contact 25, a sliding pin 26, a compression spring 27, a socket assembly 28, and necessary sealing rings. The contact 25, sliding pin 26, compression spring 27, and socket assembly 28 together form the plug core. The number of plug cores can be configured as single-core or multi-core according to design requirements. The plug core is tightly covered by the small bladder 24. The large bladder 23 has through holes corresponding to the number of plug cores, and it tightly covers the small bladder 24. The support sleeve 22 is positioned between the large bladder 23 and the socket housing 21. Both the large bladder 23 and the small bladder 24 are made of soft material and have internal cavities filled with liquid, typically oil, to provide a tight seal for the plug core, thus achieving a waterproof effect during underwater insertion and removal.

[0037] During the drainage process, on the one hand, the water flow rate in the concave interception area M is slower than that in the direction perpendicular to the drain hole 11, making it easier for sediment to settle; on the other hand, the concave interception area M itself is a recessed structure, which is also more likely to be an area for sediment accumulation. As a result, after the plug is inserted, there is still sediment in the socket. This sediment accumulates more at the bottom of the insertion cavity and will directly contact the insertion end of the plug, which will lead to wear or even damage to the components such as the bladder exposed at the insertion end of the plug.

[0038] Example

[0039] Figure 4 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a connector as a specific example in this embodiment. The connector includes a plug 2 and a socket 1, which are mated together to achieve contact and conduction of conductive parts, thereby completing signal transmission.

[0040] Plug 2 and socket 1 are opposing components in a connector, wherein socket 1 refers to a connecting portion having an insertion cavity, as shown in prior art 1, and socket 1 can be as follows: Figure 1 The pin-type socket (with a pin as the contact element) shown can also be a hole-type socket (with a hole as the contact element); correspondingly, the plug 2 refers to a connecting part having a mating insertion cavity into the socket 1. The plug 2 can be either a hole-type plug corresponding to the pin-type socket or a pin-type plug corresponding to the hole-type socket. As shown in this embodiment, the pin-type socket is mated with the hole-type plug.

[0041] Figures 5-8The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a socket 1 as described in this embodiment. Figure 5 The image shown is a front view of socket 1. Figure 6 What is shown is Figure 5 Sectional view of BB, Figure 7 What is shown is Figure 5 Sectional view of CC, Figure 8 The diagram shows a partial cross-sectional view of the socket housing.

[0042] The socket 1 includes a socket housing 12, which has an insertion end 121 and an insertion cavity 122. The insertion end 121 is the end of the socket 1 that first contacts the plug 2 during the insertion process of the plug 2 and the socket 1. The insertion cavity 122 is used to accommodate the plug 2 until the conductive parts make contact and conduction. The socket 1 also has a ferrule assembly fixed inside, consisting of a composite pin 13, a socket insulator 14, a socket epoxy resin potting body 15, and necessary sealing rings. See [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 1 The plug assembly inside the socket housing 12 is existing technology, and no technical improvements to this part are involved in this embodiment.

[0043] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 The socket housing 12 is provided with a drain hole 124, which penetrates the socket housing 12 to connect the insertion cavity 122 to the outside, so that water in the insertion cavity 122 can be discharged through the drain hole 124 during the insertion of the plug 2.

[0044] To improve the problem of easy sediment deposition during drainage, a protrusion 123 is provided inside the insertion cavity 122. The protrusion 123 is located on the periphery of the bottom of the insertion cavity 122, between adjacent drainage holes 124. Here, "bottom of cavity" refers to the side of the insertion cavity 122 away from the insertion end 121; see reference. Figure 2 The position of the protrusion 12 corresponds to the concave interception area M. That is, the protrusion 123 fills the concave interception area M between adjacent drain holes 124, turning the original concave structure into a protruding structure. This prevents the sediment from accumulating in this area during drainage, allowing the sediment to be discharged with the water from the drain hole 124 to the outside of the socket housing 12. The problem of sediment accumulation in the insertion cavity 122 is greatly improved, thereby avoiding the problem of wear or even damage to components such as the bladder exposed to the plug insertion end.

[0045] See Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 8The protrusion 123 is spindle-shaped, expanding in the middle and gradually narrowing towards both ends. Specifically, in the insertion cavity 122, the protrusion 123 protrudes from both the side wall 1221 and the bottom 1222 of the insertion cavity 122. That is, the protrusion 123 spans between the side wall 1221 and the bottom 1222 of the insertion cavity 122. The protrusion thickness at the junction of the protrusion 123 and the drain hole 124 is very small or even zero. As the protrusion 123 moves away from the drain hole 124, the protrusion thickness gradually increases, forming a spindle shape. The exposed surface of the protrusion 123 in the insertion cavity 122 is a convex arc surface.

[0046] By defining the protrusion 123 as the aforementioned spindle shape, the obstruction to sediment during drainage can be reduced. In particular, the irregular structure causes sediment to decelerate due to collision and obstruction with the water flow, which in turn promotes sediment deposition and improves the smoothness of sediment discharge.

[0047] This embodiment further improves the drainage hole 124, combining... Figure 1 As can be seen, in the prior art, the drain hole 124 is arranged radially, that is, the drain hole 124 is perpendicular to the side wall of the socket housing 12. Although this structure design does not affect drainage and can fully meet the drainage requirements during the insertion process, when the water contains mud and sand, during the process of the plug 2 being inserted into the insertion cavity 122, the water containing mud and sand is pressed from the insertion end 121 to the bottom of the insertion cavity 122. At the bottom of the cavity, it is obstructed and then flows back from axial to radial. During this process, the mud and sand mixed in the water flow will lose a lot of flow velocity, and thus are more likely to be deposited.

[0048] Reference Figure 7 and Figure 8 The drain hole 124 is set in an inclined state, which means that the distance between the drain hole 124 and the insertion end 121 gradually increases as the drain hole 124 extends radially outward. That is, the axis of the drain hole 124 forms an angle β with the axis of the socket housing 12, and the angle β is less than 90°.

[0049] Based on the above description, after the drain hole 124 is inclined, most of the water flow near the wall of the insertion cavity 122 will not undergo excessive changes in flow direction at the bottom of the cavity, and thus will not lose a lot of flow velocity due to the change in flow direction. This allows the mud and sand mixed in the water to be discharged with the water flow at a higher flow velocity, avoiding deposition. On the other hand, since the insertion cavity 122 is also provided with a protrusion 123, during the process of inserting the plug 2 into the insertion cavity 122, the protrusion 123 can not only prevent mud and sand deposition, but also guide the water flow to a certain extent due to its spindle-shaped structural design. This allows the water containing mud and sand to enter the drain hole 124 with less loss of flow velocity and be discharged smoothly through the drain hole 124.

[0050] The included angle β of the aforementioned drain hole 124 is preferably set to 30° to 60°. In principle, the smaller the included angle β, the better. However, on the one hand, the smaller the included angle β, the longer the drain hole 124 becomes, which is not only inconvenient to process, but also not conducive to ensuring the strength of the socket housing 12. Therefore, the minimum value of the included angle β is 30°. On the other hand, in order to meet the requirement of smooth drainage of water containing mud and sand, the included angle β cannot be too large. Therefore, the maximum value of the included angle β is 60°.

[0051] See Figure 5 Within the insertion cavity 122, the protrusions 123 and drain holes 124 are evenly distributed at alternating intervals, meaning the distance between any two adjacent drain holes 124 is equal. The number of protrusions 123 and drain holes 124 is the same. On the periphery of the bottom of the insertion cavity 122, each protrusion 123 has drain holes 124 at both ends, and each drain hole 124 has protrusions 123 at both ends. The number of protrusions 123 and drain holes 124 can be determined according to specific design requirements. The even distribution of protrusions 123 and drain holes 124 is primarily for the rational use of their positional layout, ensuring that water and sediment within the connector can be evenly discharged from the different drain holes 124, resulting in more thorough sediment removal and guaranteeing the uniformity of the drainage process and the consistency and thoroughness of the sediment discharged with the water flow.

[0052] In conjunction with the foregoing explanation and Figure 5 , Figure 7 In order to improve the efficiency of silt discharge, the protrusion 123 is shaped with a gradually decreasing thickness from the middle towards the drain hole 124. Both ends of each protrusion 123 extend to the inner wall edge of the drain hole 124 to reduce or even eliminate the concave interception area M, thereby reducing silt deposition.

[0053] Further combining the foregoing explanation and Figure 5 All the drainage holes 124 are centered on the circumference of the same circle, ensuring the uniformity of the drainage process and the consistency and thoroughness of the mud and sand discharged with the water flow.

[0054] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the axial and radial directions described refer to the socket housing 12 as a reference. The axial direction refers to the direction along which the plug 2 is inserted during the insertion process, and the radial direction refers to any direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0055] Furthermore, in other embodiments, the protrusion 123 is not limited to... Figure 8 The exposed surface shown is a convex arc surface, and it can also be as follows: Figure 9 and 10 The state shown is as follows, where Figure 9 The exposed surface of the protrusion 123 shown is flat. Figure 10 The exposed surface of the protrusion 123 shown is a concave arc surface, but the state of the protrusion 123 is not limited to this. Figures 8-10 As shown in the figure, as long as it meets the characteristics of being located at the bottom of the insertion cavity 122, having an overall spindle shape, having a very small or even zero protrusion thickness at the junction with the drainage hole 124, and having a gradually increasing protrusion thickness as the protrusion 123 moves away from the drainage hole 124, it meets the technical requirements of the protrusion 123 described in this invention. It can fill the concave interception area M between adjacent drainage holes 124, thereby preventing the sediment from depositing in the concave interception area M.

[0056] It should be noted that since connectors typically include a plug 2 and a socket 1, when the socket 1 in the invention is provided with the protrusion 123 as described above, the end of the plug 2 should also be designed with a clearance structure that matches the protrusion 123 to meet the mating requirements. For example, the clearance structure can be a recess on the plug 2 that matches the shape of the protrusion 123.

[0057] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it.

Claims

1. A socket housing having an insertion end and an insertion cavity formed therein, the socket housing having at least two drainage holes penetrating a side wall and communicating with the insertion cavity, all the drainage holes being spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the socket housing, characterized in that, The bottom circumferential side of the insertion cavity is provided with a protrusion that fills the area between adjacent drainage holes; The protrusion is a spindle shape with a gradually decreasing thickness as it protrudes from the center toward the drain hole, and the exposed surface of the protrusion in the insertion cavity is a convex arc surface or a slope surface. The drainage hole is an inclined hole that extends radially outward while the distance from the insertion end of the insertion cavity gradually increases. The included angle of inclination of the drainage hole is 30°~60°; The protrusions and drainage holes are evenly distributed at alternating intervals; The protrusions are shaped such that their thickness gradually decreases from the center toward the drain hole, and both ends of each protrusion extend to the inner wall edge of the drain hole.

2. The socket housing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance between any two adjacent drain holes is equal.

3. The socket housing according to claim 2, characterized in that, The centers of all the drain holes are on the circumference of the same circle.

4. A connector socket, characterized in that, include: The socket housing according to any one of claims 1 to 3; and the plug assembly fixed inside the socket housing.

5. A connector, characterized in that, include: The connector socket as claimed in claim 4; and a plug that can be plugged into the connector socket.

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