A watertight connector

Abstract

This invention discloses a watertight connector, belonging to the field of electrical connector technology. The watertight connector includes a plug assembly and a socket assembly that mat with each other. At least two levels of stepped sealing structures are provided between the inner surface of the right end of the socket housing and the outer cylindrical surface of the left end of the plug housing. When the plug assembly and the socket assembly are mated, each level of stepped sealing structure simultaneously forms a seal. Before the mating is complete, the gap between each level of seal forms an exhaust channel to release gas. The plug assembly also has a tensile-resistant load-bearing structure, including a load-bearing tail cover and a fastening element. The load-bearing tail cover is installed on the right end of the plug housing via the fastening element. The load-bearing tail cover has a load-bearing part for connecting cable load-bearing elements. The load-bearing tail cover transmits longitudinal tensile force to the plug housing through the fastening element. This invention solves the problem of air trapping during mating through the stepped sealing structure and achieves high-load longitudinal tensile resistance through the tensile-resistant load-bearing structure, thereby improving the reliability and service life of the connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electrical connector technology, and more particularly to a watertight connector. Background Technology

[0002] Watertight connectors are core components for achieving stable transmission of electrical signals in underwater environments and are widely used in marine engineering and equipment technology. With the accelerating pace of human exploration and development of the ocean and the widespread use of underwater electrical equipment and devices, underwater connectors have also gradually developed, and the performance requirements for them are increasingly stringent.

[0003] Currently, watertight connectors primarily achieve longitudinal sealing through methods such as glass sintering, inlay compression sealing, and potting sealing. The glass sintering method involves melting glass at high temperatures and then impregnating the metal surface with the molten glass, resulting in a chemical bond between the glass and the metal oxide layer, thus achieving a seal. Several watertight connector solutions already exist in the technology, such as: Patent application CN112713445A discloses a hybrid grid-electric signal transmission composite glass sintered watertight connector, comprising a plug and a socket. The socket's housing, coaxial housing, and pins are formed as a single unit by a glass insulator. Similarly, the plug's housing, coaxial housing, and pins are also formed as a single unit by a glass insulator, achieving a longitudinal seal between the plug and socket through glass sintering. However, this connector is primarily designed for hybrid grid-electric signal transmission, has a limited number of cores, and does not address optimized design for high-load tensile strength structures.

[0004] Patent application CN108649400A discloses a detachable deep-water sealed connector, including a socket, a plug, and a tail accessory for the plug. The connector's socket is a sintered glass socket, with the socket housing and contacts sintered together to achieve a longitudinal seal. The interfaces between the plug and socket, and between the plug and the tail accessory, are sealed using two O-rings. However, this connector has a hydrostatic pressure resistance of only 4.5 MPa, limited tensile strength, and lacks a dedicated high-load-bearing structure, making it unsuitable for the load-bearing requirements of heavy underwater equipment.

[0005] Patent CN222508122U discloses a titanium alloy glass sintered hybrid sealed electrical connector. The plug mechanism and socket employ a longitudinal glass sintered structure, while the transverse sealing utilizes a redundant structure with three O-rings. The connector's contact arrangement uses a four-coaxial high-speed transmission assembly and a 19-pin low-frequency contact, but the number of pins is relatively small, and it also lacks optimization for high-load tensile strength.

[0006] Through long-term research, the inventors discovered that existing watertight connectors still have many technical defects in terms of mating sealing structure and tensile load-bearing capacity: First, conventional longitudinal watertight connectors typically employ double O-rings to achieve a sealed interface. However, during mating, the sealing rings between the plug and socket form a closed cavity, preventing air from escaping and causing air trapping during mating (this problem exists in the O-ring structures used in CN112713445A, CN108649400A, and CN222508122U). This air trapping significantly increases mating resistance, making operation difficult, and uneven pressure on the seals leads to a high risk of water leakage after prolonged use. Currently, no effective solution exists for the air trapping problem in watertight connector mating.

[0007] Secondly, conventional watertight connectors rely primarily on the vulcanization bonding between the outer shell and the vulcanized cable for simple load-bearing, lacking a dedicated tensile-bearing structure, resulting in generally low longitudinal tensile strength. Most existing connectors can only withstand tensile forces of several hundred to several thousand Newtons, making it difficult to withstand large loads. Poor connection between the cable and the connector tail prevents effective transfer of tensile force to the connector shell, leading to problems such as breakage of internal contacts and damage to the vulcanized structure. This fails to meet the load-bearing and sealing requirements of heavy equipment and large underwater installations. Although the CN108649400A uses a detachable tail accessory structure, its tail accessory's primary function is cable sealing and shielding, not design for high load-bearing capacity.

[0008] In summary, existing watertight connectors cannot simultaneously meet the combined technical requirements of high-load longitudinal tensile strength and airtight connection, which restricts the reliability and service life of equipment in underwater engineering, heavy equipment and other fields. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The main objective of this invention is to provide a watertight connector that addresses at least one of the aforementioned technical problems. Specifically, it solves the problem of air trapping during connection by employing at least a two-stage stepped sealing structure, and achieves high-load longitudinal tensile strength through a tensile-bearing structure, thereby improving the connector's watertightness and structural strength, making it suitable for long-term use under harsh operating conditions.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a watertight connector, comprising a plug assembly and a socket assembly that are mated to each other, wherein the plug assembly includes a plug housing and the socket assembly includes a socket housing.

[0011] At least two stepped sealing structures are provided between the inner surface of the right end of the socket housing and the outer cylindrical surface of the left end of the plug housing. When the plug assembly and the socket assembly are mated, each stepped sealing structure simultaneously forms a seal. With at least two seals in place simultaneously, the gap between each seal before mating forms an exhaust channel, effectively venting air from the mating gap. This completely solves the problem of air trapped during connector mating, ensuring a smooth mating process, preventing uneven pressure on the seals due to air trapped air, thereby extending the service life of the seals and improving long-term sealing reliability.

[0012] The plug assembly further includes a tensile load-bearing structure, which includes a load-bearing tail cover and a fastening element. The load-bearing tail cover is installed on the right end of the plug housing via the fastening element. The load-bearing tail cover is provided with a load-bearing part for connecting a load-bearing element of the cable. The load-bearing tail cover transmits the longitudinal tensile force on the cable to the plug housing via the fastening element.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the left end of the plug housing is stepped, comprising a first stepped outer circle, a second stepped outer circle, and a third stepped outer circle with successively increasing diameters from left to right. The inner hole of the right end of the socket housing is stepped, comprising a first stepped hole segment, a second stepped hole segment, and a third stepped hole segment with successively increasing diameters from left to right.

[0014] Furthermore, the stepped sealing structure has two levels, wherein: The first-stage stepped sealing structure includes a first annular groove disposed on the outer circle of the second step, a first sealing ring fitted on the first annular groove, and the inner surface of the second stepped bore.

[0015] The second-stage stepped sealing structure includes a second annular groove disposed on the outer circle of the third step, a second sealing ring fitted on the second annular groove, and the inner surface of the third step bore.

[0016] When the plug assembly is engaged with the socket assembly, the inner surface of the second stepped hole section forms a first-level seal with the first sealing ring, and the inner surface of the third stepped hole section forms a second-level seal with the second sealing ring, and both levels of seal are formed simultaneously.

[0017] Because both the outer circumference of the left end of the plug housing and the inner hole surface of the right end of the socket housing adopt a stepped design, and the two-stage sealing rings are respectively set on the second and third stepped outer circles of the plug housing, when the plug assembly and the socket assembly are mated, the two sealing rings simultaneously contact the inner hole surfaces of the corresponding stepped holes to form a seal. Before the two-stage seals are in place simultaneously, the annular gap area between the first and second sealing rings is open to the outside atmosphere. Air squeezed out by the sealing rings during the mating process can be smoothly discharged through this gap, preventing the formation of a closed air-trapping cavity within the mating interface, thus completely solving the air-trapping problem. At the same time, the simultaneous placement of the two-stage seals also ensures that the sealing rings are subjected to uniform force, avoiding premature failure of one sealing ring due to excessive pressure caused by step-by-step sealing, thereby improving the long-term reliability and service life of the sealing structure.

[0018] Furthermore, an annular limiting platform is integrally formed on the inner wall of the socket housing. A third annular groove is provided at the intersection of the right end face of the annular limiting platform and the first stepped hole section, and a third sealing ring is provided in the third annular groove. When the plug assembly and the socket assembly are engaged, the left end of the plug housing is pressed against the third sealing ring to form a seal. This third sealing ring, as an axial end face seal, together with the aforementioned two-stage radial seals, constitutes a triple sealing structure, further improving the watertight reliability of the connector. When the left end of the plug housing presses against the third sealing ring, the third sealing ring undergoes axial compression deformation, forming an end face sealing barrier. Even if the first two stages of radial seals experience minor leakage under extreme conditions, the third sealing ring can still effectively block the liquid penetration path, achieving multiple sealing protections.

[0019] Preferably, the socket assembly further includes multiple first pins disposed inside the socket housing; and the multiple first pins are fixedly connected to the inner wall of the annular limiting platform by a first glass sintering process. Through the glass sintering process, the glass medium fully fills the gap between the pins and the socket housing, and after cooling, forms a dense glass seal, blocking the liquid penetration path and achieving longitudinal sealing of the socket.

[0020] Preferably, a mounting flange is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the socket housing, and multiple mounting holes are formed on the mounting flange. A first screw passes through each mounting hole, and an elastic washer is fitted on the first screw. The socket housing is mounted on the equipment mounting plate via the mounting flange and the first screw. The elastic washer acts as an anti-loosening device, ensuring that the first screw 2 will not loosen under vibration, thus guaranteeing the reliability of the connection between the connector and the equipment mounting plate. A fourth annular groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the left half of the socket housing, and a fourth sealing ring is provided in the fourth annular groove. A fifth annular groove is formed on the left side of the mounting flange, and a fifth sealing ring is provided in the fifth annular groove. The fourth and fifth sealing rings are used to achieve a double seal between the socket housing and the equipment mounting plate. Specifically, the left half of the socket housing is inserted into the equipment mounting plate, and the mounting flange is used to abut against the surface of the equipment mounting plate and is fastened by the first screw. The fourth sealing ring acts as a radial seal, and the fifth sealing ring acts as an end face seal. The two work together to achieve all-round watertight protection of the mounting surface, preventing liquid from seeping in from the mounting gaps.

[0021] Preferably, there are two fastening components, and each fastening component is a semi-annular member. A first arc-shaped locking platform and a second arc-shaped locking platform are integrally formed on the inner arc surface of each fastening component; the first arc-shaped locking platform and the second arc-shaped locking platform are spaced apart to the left and right. A first annular groove is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the right end of the plug housing; a second annular groove is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the left end of the load-bearing tail cover. The two fastening components are joined together to form an annular member, and the two fastening components are connected by a second screw. This annular member together encircles the outer circumferential surface of the right end of the plug housing and the left end of the load-bearing tail cover, with the first arc-shaped locking platform engaged in the first annular groove and the second arc-shaped locking platform engaged in the second annular groove.

[0022] The aforementioned double-lobed snap-fit ​​structure ensures a reliable mechanical connection between the load-bearing tail cover and the plug housing. When the cable is subjected to longitudinal tension, the tension is transmitted through the cable's load-bearing element to the load-bearing part of the load-bearing tail cover, then through the second arc-shaped locking platform to the snap-fit ​​component, and finally through the first arc-shaped locking platform and the first annular groove to the plug housing. The second screw only serves to secure the two snap-fit ​​components and does not participate in bearing the longitudinal tension, thus avoiding the risk of screw breakage under stress. This structure transforms the longitudinal tension into shear force between the annular groove and the arc-shaped locking platform, resulting in a large force transmission area and uniform stress distribution. This avoids localized stress concentration, effectively preventing structural damage to the connector during load-bearing processes and significantly improving the connector's tensile strength.

[0023] Preferably, a stepped outer stop is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the right end of the plug housing; a stepped inner stop is provided on the inner wall of the left end of the load-bearing tail cover. The inner stop at the left end of the load-bearing tail cover is fitted onto the outer stop at the right end of the plug housing, and a sixth sealing ring is provided between the outer stop and the inner stop. Specifically, a sixth annular groove is provided on the outer stop, and the sixth sealing ring is disposed in the sixth annular groove. This sealing structure achieves a seal at the interface between the load-bearing tail cover and the plug housing, preventing water from seeping in from the gap between the two, and ensuring that the connector tail has reliable sealing performance in an underwater environment.

[0024] Preferably, the load-bearing end cover is an earring-type load-bearing end cover, and the load-bearing part is an earring structure disposed on the load-bearing end cover; the load-bearing element of the cable is a Kevlar rope disposed inside the cable, and the Kevlar rope inside the cable is fastened to the earring structure. The earring structure provides a reliable fixing point for the Kevlar rope, allowing the tension to be smoothly transmitted from the load-bearing element of the cable to the load-bearing end cover. The Kevlar rope has the characteristics of high strength and low elongation, and directly fastening it to the earring structure can ensure that the energy loss during the transmission of tension is small and the response speed is fast.

[0025] Furthermore, the outer circumferential surface of the load-bearing tail cover is provided with multiple vulcanization grooves, which are used to bond with the vulcanized outer sheath of the cable. When the plug assembly and the cable are vulcanized to form a single-ended watertight cable, the vulcanized outer sheath is embedded in the vulcanization grooves to form a sealing structure, which greatly improves the vulcanization bonding strength and sealing reliability, and prevents relative slippage or sealing failure between the cable and the load-bearing tail cover when subjected to tensile force.

[0026] Furthermore, a reinforcing rib is provided between the inner wall of the load-bearing tail cover and the load-bearing part, and a rounded corner is provided at the root of the load-bearing part. The reinforcing rib improves the structural strength of the load-bearing part, and the rounded corner reduces stress concentration at the root of the load-bearing part, effectively preventing the load-bearing part from breaking under high tensile load, and further improving the reliability and durability of the tensile load-bearing structure.

[0027] Preferably, the plug assembly further includes an insulating base assembly, a pressure ring, and multiple second pins disposed inside the plug housing. The multiple second pins are fixed to the plug housing by a second glass bonding process to achieve a longitudinal seal. The insulating base assembly includes an upper base, a lower base, and an adapter hole disposed between the upper and lower bases, and is disposed inside the plug housing. The pressure ring is fitted onto the stop on the left outer cylindrical surface of the upper base, and the external thread of the pressure ring mates with the internal thread at the left end of the plug housing. The pressure ring is used to fix the insulating base assembly inside the plug housing. The left end of the second pin is inserted into the inner hole at the right end of the adapter hole. When the plug assembly and the socket assembly are connected, the right end of the first pin is inserted into the inner hole at the left end of the adapter hole, enabling electrical signal conduction. By using a pressure ring and a threaded connection with the plug housing, the insulating base assembly is securely contained inside the plug housing, preventing displacement of the insulating base assembly due to vibration or impact during use, and ensuring the alignment accuracy and electrical contact reliability between the contacts.

[0028] Preferably, the plug assembly further includes a connecting threaded sleeve fitted onto the outside of the plug housing. The outer circumferential surface of the right end of the socket housing is provided with an external thread that mates with the connecting threaded sleeve. The plug assembly and the socket assembly are mated and locked together through the threaded engagement of the connecting threaded sleeve with the socket housing.

[0029] After the plug assembly and socket assembly are mated and locked, the longitudinal tensile force transmission path is as follows: cable tension → load-bearing element inside the cable → load-bearing part of the load-bearing end cover → load-bearing end cover → second arc-shaped locking platform of the fastener → fastener → first arc-shaped locking platform of the fastener → plug housing → connecting screw sleeve → socket housing → mounting flange → first screw → equipment mounting plate. This tensile force transmission path evenly distributes the longitudinal tensile force across the entire connector's plug and socket housings, ultimately transferring it to the equipment mounting plate.

[0030] Due to the adoption of the above technical solution, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: (1) Solving the air-holding problem: At least two-stage stepped sealing structure is adopted. The two stages of sealing are in place simultaneously during docking to form a seal. Specifically, the stepped sealing structure ensures that no sealed cavity is formed before the connector is fully docked, and internal air can always be discharged, thus completely solving the air-holding problem during connector docking. This ensures the operability of docking and avoids the problem of excessive insertion force and difficulty in insertion caused by air-holding.

[0031] (2) High tensile strength: The tensile load-bearing structure adopts an ear-type load-bearing tail cover. The tensile force transmission path is continuous and there is no stress concentration. It can stably withstand large longitudinal tensile loads, avoid cable stress leading to connector damage and contact breakage, and greatly improve the structural reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the watertight connector provided by the present invention.

[0034] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the watertight connector provided by the present invention.

[0035] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0036] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the socket assembly in this invention.

[0037] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the plug assembly in this invention. Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the engagement of the fastening component with the plug housing and the socket housing in this invention.

[0038] Explanation of icon numbers: 100-Plug assembly; 101-Plug housing; 101a-First stepped outer circle; 101b-Second stepped outer circle; 101c-Third stepped outer circle; 101d-First annular groove; 101e-Second annular groove; 101f-First annular slot; 102-Bearing tail cover; 102a-Bearing part; 102b-Second annular slot; 102c-Vulcanizing tank; 102d-Reinforcing rib; 102e-Rounded corner; 103-Snap fastener; 103a-First arc-shaped locking platform; 103b-Second arc-shaped locking platform; 104-First sealing ring; 105-Second sealing ring; 106-Second screw; 107-Sixth sealing ring; 108-Second pin; 109-Second glass; 110-Pressure ring; 111-Upper base; 112-Lower base; 113-Adapter socket; 114-Connecting screw sleeve.

[0039] 200 - Socket assembly; 201 - Socket housing; 201a - First stepped hole section; 201b - Second stepped hole section; 201c - Third stepped hole section; 201d - Annular limiting platform; 201e - Third annular groove; 201f - Mounting flange; 201g - Fourth annular groove; 201h - Fifth annular groove; 202 - Third sealing ring; 203 - First pin; 204 - First glass; 205 - First screw; 206 - Elastic washer; 207 - Fourth sealing ring; 208 - Fifth sealing ring. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0041] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0042] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this invention is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0043] Combination Figures 1 to 6 The image shows a specific embodiment of a watertight connector provided by the present invention, and its specific structure is described below: I. Overall Structure The watertight connector provided by this invention includes a plug assembly 100 and a socket assembly 200 that are mated together. Both the plug assembly 100 and the socket assembly 200 employ a glass sintering process to fuse the contacts and corresponding housings into a single unit, achieving longitudinal sealing of the connector. The plug assembly 100 and the socket assembly 200 are mated and locked together via a connecting sleeve 114 and a threaded connection between the socket housing 201. The tail of the plug assembly 100 is provided with a tensile-bearing structure to transfer the longitudinal tensile force on the cable to the connector housing, preventing the tensile force from directly acting on the contacts or the glass-sintered parts.

[0044] II. Socket Component Structure The socket assembly 200 includes a socket housing 201, a first pin 203, a first glass 204, a mounting flange 201f, a first screw 205, an elastic washer 206, a fourth sealing ring 207, and a fifth sealing ring 208.

[0045] The socket housing 201 is a metal housing, preferably made of titanium alloy or stainless steel. Titanium alloy has the characteristics of low density, light weight, high strength, and excellent corrosion resistance, which can meet the corrosion resistance requirements for long-term use in deep-sea environments. Stainless steel has the advantages of relatively low cost and good processing performance, and the appropriate material can be selected according to the specific application scenario.

[0046] The socket housing 201 has multiple first pins 203 inside. These first pins 203 are sintered and fixed to the inner wall of the annular limiting platform 201d of the socket housing 201 via a first glass 204. Specifically, a glass sintering process is used to sinter and fix the first pins 203 to the socket housing 201 by melting the first glass 204 at high temperature, forming an integrated socket housing sintered part to achieve longitudinal sealing inside the socket assembly 200. In this embodiment, the number of first pins 203 is 148. The glass medium fully fills the gaps between adjacent first pins 203 and between the first pins 203 and the socket housing 201, forming a dense glass seal after cooling, blocking the liquid penetration path.

[0047] A mounting flange 201f is integrally formed on the outer circumferential surface of the socket housing 201. Multiple mounting holes are provided on the mounting flange 201f, and a first screw 205 passes through each mounting hole. An elastic washer 206 is fitted onto the first screw 205. The socket housing 201 is fixed to the equipment mounting plate by the mounting flange 201f and the first screws 205. The elastic washer 206 acts as an anti-loosening device, ensuring that the first screw 205 will not loosen under vibration.

[0048] A fourth annular groove 201g is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the left half of the socket housing 201, and a fourth sealing ring 207 is disposed in the fourth annular groove 201g. A fifth annular groove 201h is formed on the left side of the mounting flange 201f, and a fifth sealing ring 208 is disposed in the fifth annular groove 201h. The fourth sealing ring 207 serves as a radial sealing ring and is disposed within the fourth annular groove 201g, while the fifth sealing ring 208 serves as an end face sealing ring and is disposed within the fifth annular groove 201h. When the socket assembly 200 is mounted on the equipment mounting plate by the first screw 205, the fourth sealing ring 207 forms a radial seal with the inner wall of the mounting hole of the equipment mounting plate, and the fifth sealing ring 208 forms an end face seal with the surface of the equipment mounting plate. The two seals work together to achieve a double seal between the socket housing 201 and the equipment mounting plate, providing all-round watertight protection for the mounting surface and preventing liquid from seeping in through the mounting gaps.

[0049] The fourth sealing ring 207 and the fifth sealing ring 208 are preferably made of nitrile rubber or fluororubber, which have good water resistance, oil resistance and aging resistance. The compression of the sealing rings is designed within a reasonable range to ensure the sealing effect while avoiding excessive compression that could lead to premature failure of the sealing rings or installation difficulties.

[0050] III. Plug Assembly Structure The plug assembly 100 includes a plug housing 101, a second pin 108, a second glass 109, an insulating base assembly, a pressure ring 110, a connecting screw sleeve 114, a load-bearing tail cover 102, a fastening element 103, a first sealing ring 104, a second sealing ring 105, and a sixth sealing ring 107.

[0051] The plug housing 101 is a metal housing, preferably made of titanium alloy or stainless steel. Multiple second pins 108 are disposed inside the plug housing 101, and the multiple second pins 108 are sintered and fixed to the plug housing 101 by a second glass 109. The multiple second pins 108 are also sintered and sealed to the plug housing 101 using a glass sintering process, achieving a longitudinal seal inside the plug assembly 100. In this embodiment, the number of second pins 108 is 148.

[0052] The insulating base assembly includes an upper base 111, a lower base 112, and an adapter socket 113. The adapter socket 113 is inserted into the corresponding mounting holes of the upper base 111 and the lower base 112, and the three are assembled to form the insulating base assembly. The adapter socket 113 is a metal elastic socket, and its two end walls are provided with a slotted structure to form a reliable electrical contact with the pin.

[0053] An insulating base assembly is disposed inside the plug housing 101, located in the inner hole at the left end of the plug housing 101. A retaining ring 110 is fitted onto the stop on the outer cylindrical surface at the left end of the upper base 111. The external thread of the retaining ring 110 engages with the internal thread at the left end of the plug housing 101. By tightening the retaining ring 110, the insulating base assembly is fixed inside the plug housing 101. The left end of the second pin 108 is inserted into the inner hole at the right end of the adapter socket 113, realizing the electrical connection between the second pin 108 and the adapter socket 113. When the plug assembly 100 and the socket assembly 200 are connected, the right end of the first pin 203 is inserted into the inner hole at the left end of the adapter socket 113, realizing the conduction of electrical signals.

[0054] The connecting screw sleeve 114 is fitted onto the outside of the plug housing 101. The outer circumferential surface of the right end of the socket housing 201 is provided with external threads that mate with the connecting screw sleeve 114. The plug assembly 100 and the socket assembly 200 are mated and locked together through the threaded engagement of the connecting screw sleeve 114 and the socket housing 201. The outer surface of the connecting screw sleeve 114 is provided with a groove for easy manual tightening or tightening with tools.

[0055] IV. Stepped sealing structure The outer peripheral surface of the left end of the plug housing 101 is stepped, comprising a first stepped outer circle 101a, a second stepped outer circle 101b, and a third stepped outer circle 101c with successively increasing diameters from left to right. The inner hole of the right end of the socket housing 201 is stepped, comprising a first stepped hole segment 201a, a second stepped hole segment 201b, and a third stepped hole segment 201c with successively increasing diameters from left to right.

[0056] The stepped sealing structure has two levels: The first-stage stepped sealing structure includes a first annular groove 101d disposed on the outer circle 101b of the second step, a first sealing ring 104 fitted on the first annular groove, and the inner surface of the second-stage bore section 201b.

[0057] The second-stage stepped sealing structure includes a second annular groove 101e disposed on the outer circle 101c of the third step, a second sealing ring 105 fitted on the second annular groove, and the inner surface of the third-stage bore section 201c.

[0058] When the plug assembly 100 is connected to the socket assembly 200, the inner surface of the second stepped hole section 201b forms a first-level seal with the first sealing ring 104, and the inner surface of the third stepped hole section 201c forms a second-level seal with the second sealing ring 105, and the two levels of seals are formed simultaneously.

[0059] Because both the outer peripheral surface of the left end of the plug housing 101 and the inner bore surface of the right end of the socket housing 201 adopt a stepped design, and the two-stage sealing rings are respectively set on the second stepped outer circle 101b and the third stepped outer circle 101c of the plug housing 101, when the plug assembly 100 and the socket assembly 200 are mated, the two sealing rings simultaneously contact the inner bore surfaces of the corresponding stepped bore sections to form a seal. Before the two-stage seals are in place simultaneously, the annular gap area between the first sealing ring 104 and the second sealing ring 105 is open to the outside atmosphere. The air squeezed out by the sealing rings during the mating process can be smoothly discharged through this gap, and a closed air-trapping cavity will not be formed in the mating interface, thus completely solving the air-trapping problem.

[0060] The first sealing ring 104 and the second sealing ring 105 are preferably O-rings made of nitrile rubber or fluororubber, which have good water resistance and elasticity. The cross-sectional diameter of the sealing ring and the size of the annular groove are precisely matched to ensure that the sealing ring can form a reliable sealing interface after compression. The compression rate of the sealing ring is preferably controlled between 15% and 30%, which ensures the sealing effect without causing excessive insertion force or premature aging of the sealing ring due to excessive compression.

[0061] Furthermore, an annular limiting platform 201d is integrally formed on the inner wall of the socket housing 201. A third annular groove 201e is provided at the intersection of the right end face of the annular limiting platform 201d and the first stepped hole section 201a, and a third sealing ring 202 is provided in the third annular groove 201e. When the plug assembly 100 and the socket assembly 200 are engaged, the left end of the plug housing 101 (i.e., the left end face of the first stepped outer circle 101a) abuts against the third sealing ring 202 to form an end face seal. This third sealing ring 202 serves as an axial end face seal, and together with the aforementioned two-stage radial seal, constitutes a triple sealing structure, further improving the watertight reliability of the connector.

[0062] When the plug assembly 100 and the socket assembly 200 are mated, the third sealing ring 202 is axially compressed by the left end face of the plug housing 101, generating an axial sealing force. Since the third sealing ring 202 is located at the intersection of the annular limiting platform 201d and the first stepped hole section 201a, its installation position is stable and will not shift or fall off during the mating process.

[0063] V. Tensile load-bearing structure The plug assembly 100 also includes a tensile load-bearing structure, including a load-bearing tail cover 102 and a fastening member 103. The load-bearing tail cover 102 is mounted to the right end of the plug housing 101 via the fastening member 103.

[0064] There are two fasteners 103, each of which is a semi-circular component. A first arc-shaped locking platform 103a and a second arc-shaped locking platform 103b are integrally formed on the inner arc surface of each fastener, and the first arc-shaped locking platform 103a and the second arc-shaped locking platform 103b are spaced apart on the left and right.

[0065] A first annular groove 101f is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the right end of the plug housing 101. A second annular groove 102b is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the left end of the load-bearing tail cover 102.

[0066] Two fastening pieces 103 are joined together to form a ring-shaped component, and the two fastening pieces are connected by a second screw 106. The ring-shaped component together surrounds the outer circumference of the right end of the plug housing 101 and the left end of the load-bearing tail cover 102. The first arc-shaped locking platform 103a is locked in the first annular locking groove 101f, and the second arc-shaped locking platform 103b is locked in the second annular locking groove 102b.

[0067] The aforementioned double-lobed buckle structure ensures a reliable mechanical fastening connection between the load-bearing tail cover 102 and the plug housing 101. The second screw 106 only serves to secure the two fastening parts 103 and does not participate in bearing longitudinal tensile forces, thus avoiding the risk of screw breakage under stress.

[0068] The first arc-shaped clamping platform 103a and the second arc-shaped clamping platform 103b have rectangular cross-sectional shapes, forming a tight fit with the corresponding annular clamping groove. The contact surfaces of the clamping platforms and the clamping grooves are surface-hardened to improve wear resistance and shear resistance.

[0069] A stepped outer stop is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the right end of the plug housing 101, and a stepped inner stop is provided on the inner wall of the left end of the load-bearing tail cover 102. The inner stop at the left end of the load-bearing tail cover 102 is fitted onto the outer stop at the right end of the plug housing 101, and a sixth sealing ring 107 is provided between the outer stop and the inner stop. Specifically, a sixth annular groove is provided on the outer stop, and the sixth sealing ring 107 is disposed in the sixth annular groove. This sealing structure achieves a seal at the interface between the load-bearing tail cover 102 and the plug housing 101, preventing water from seeping in from the gap between the two.

[0070] The load-bearing end cover 102 is an ear-type load-bearing end cover, and the load-bearing part 102a is an ear-type structure set on the load-bearing end cover. The load-bearing element of the cable is a Kevlar rope set inside the cable, and the Kevlar rope inside the cable is tightened to the ear-type structure. The ear-type structure provides a reliable fixing point for the Kevlar rope, so that the tension can be smoothly transmitted from the Kevlar rope of the cable to the load-bearing end cover 102.

[0071] The outer circumferential surface of the load-bearing tail cover 102 is provided with multiple vulcanizing grooves 102c, which are used to bond with the vulcanized outer sheath of the cable. When the plug assembly 100 and the cable are vulcanized to form a single-ended watertight cable, the vulcanized outer sheath is embedded in the vulcanizing groove, forming a sealing structure, which greatly improves the vulcanization bonding strength and sealing reliability. The cross-sectional shape of the vulcanizing groove 102c is rectangular. Multiple vulcanizing grooves 102c are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the load-bearing tail cover, forming multiple sealing barriers.

[0072] A reinforcing rib 102d is provided between the inner wall of the load-bearing tail cover 102 and the load-bearing part 102a, and a rounded corner 102e is provided at the root of the load-bearing part 102a. The reinforcing rib 102d improves the structural strength of the load-bearing part, and the rounded corner 102e reduces the stress concentration at the root of the load-bearing part 102a, effectively preventing the load-bearing part 102a from breaking under large tensile loads.

[0073] VI. Tension Transmission Path After the plug assembly 100 and the socket assembly 200 are mated and locked together, when the cable is subjected to longitudinal tension, the tension transmission path is as follows: Cable tension → Load-bearing element inside the cable (Kevlar rope) → Load-bearing part 102a of load-bearing tail cover 102 → Load-bearing tail cover 102 → Second arc-shaped locking platform 103b of fastener 103 → Fastener 103 → First arc-shaped locking platform 103a of fastener 103 → Plug housing 101 → Connecting screw sleeve 114 → Socket housing 201 → Mounting flange 201f → First screw 205 → Equipment mounting plate.

[0074] The aforementioned tensile force transmission path evenly transmits the longitudinal tensile force to the entire connector's plug housing 101 and socket housing 201, and finally to the equipment mounting plate. The tensile load-bearing structure ensures that the connector can stably withstand large longitudinal tensile loads.

[0075] VII. Overall Assembly Process Socket assembly processing and assembly: A glass sintering process is used, where the first pin 203 is sintered and fixed to the socket housing 201 by melting the first glass 204 at high temperature, forming an integrated socket housing sintered part, thus completing the longitudinal sealing of the socket body. The fourth sealing ring 207 and the fifth sealing ring 208 are respectively installed into the fourth annular groove 201g and the fifth annular groove 201h. The socket assembly 200 is fixed to the equipment mounting plate by the first screw 205 and the elastic washer 206, and the double sealing rings achieve sealing of the installation interface under pressure.

[0076] Plug assembly processing and assembly: Multiple second pins 108 and plug housing 101 are sintered together using a second glass 109 process to form a sintered plug housing component. The adapter socket 113 is inserted into the corresponding mounting holes of the upper base 111 and lower base 112 to form an insulating base assembly, which is then inserted into the sintered plug housing component and fixed with a pressure ring 110 to achieve insulation isolation of the contacts. A first sealing ring 104 is installed in the first annular groove 101d of the plug housing 101, and a second sealing ring 105 is installed in the second annular groove 101e. The load-bearing tail cover 102 is fitted onto the right end of the plug housing 101, and two fasteners 103 are used to engage and encircle the connection between the plug housing 101 and the load-bearing tail cover 102, so that the first arc-shaped locking platform 103a engages with the first annular locking groove 101f, and the second arc-shaped locking platform 103b engages with the second annular locking groove 102b. Finally, the two fasteners are secured with a second screw 106.

[0077] Cable vulcanization connection: The cable and plug assembly 100 are vulcanized, and the vulcanized outer sheath is tightly bonded to the vulcanization groove 102c on the load-bearing end cover 102 to improve sealing and connection strength. The Kevlar rope inside the cable is tied to the lug structure of the load-bearing end cover 102 to complete the integrated connection between the single-ended watertight cable and the plug assembly 100.

[0078] For mating: Align the plug assembly 100 with the socket assembly 200, and rotate the connecting sleeve 114 to lock the plug assembly 100 and socket assembly 200 together. The two-stage stepped sealing structure prevents the formation of a sealed cavity before the connector is fully mated, ensuring that internal air is always expelled and avoiding excessive insertion force or difficulty in insertion caused by air entrapment. Continue rotating the connecting sleeve to achieve a fully watertight connection of the connector.

[0079] VIII. Working Principle of Core Structure Sealing Principle: The glass sintering process ensures the glass medium fully fills the gap between the connector pin and the housing, forming a dense longitudinal sealing structure upon cooling, blocking the liquid penetration path. The fourth sealing ring 207 and the fifth sealing ring 208 achieve radial and end-face dual-sealing, respectively. This two-stage stepped sealing structure, in conjunction with the first and second sealing rings, ensures a simultaneous seal, guaranteeing reliable mating sealing while allowing venting through the gap between the two seals, preventing mating difficulties caused by air entrapment. The left end face of the connector housing 101 forms an end-face seal with the third sealing ring 202, further enhancing sealing reliability.

[0080] Tensile principle: When the cable is subjected to longitudinal tension, the tension is first transmitted to the Kevlar rope inside the cable, then to the load-bearing tail cover 102 through the ear ring structure, then to the fastener 103 through the second arc-shaped locking platform 103b, then to the plug housing 101 through the first arc-shaped locking platform 103a, then to the socket housing 201 through the connecting screw sleeve 114, and finally to the equipment mounting plate through the mounting flange 201f and the first screw 205.

[0081] This invention solves the problems of high insertion force, weak tensile strength, and air trapping during docking of existing watertight connectors through three core structural innovations: glass sintering sealing, two-stage stepped anti-air trapping sealing, and high load-bearing tensile strength structure. It can be widely used in fields such as marine engineering, underwater exploration, heavy machinery and equipment, and shipbuilding that require high core count, high tensile strength, and high watertight signal transmission.

[0082] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A watertight connector comprising a plug assembly (100) and a socket assembly (200) mating with each other, the plug assembly (100) comprising a plug housing (101), and the socket assembly (200) comprising a socket housing (201), characterized in that: At least two stepped sealing structures are provided between the inner surface of the right end of the socket housing (201) and the outer cylindrical surface of the left end of the plug housing (101). When the plug assembly (100) and the socket assembly (200) are in contact, each stepped sealing structure forms a seal simultaneously. The plug assembly (100) further includes a tensile bearing structure, which includes a bearing tail cover (102) and a fastener (103). The bearing tail cover (102) is installed on the right end of the plug housing (101) through the fastener (103). The bearing tail cover (102) is provided with a bearing part (102a) for connecting the bearing element of the cable. The bearing tail cover (102) transmits the longitudinal tensile force on the cable to the plug housing (101) through the fastener (103).

2. A watertight connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer peripheral surface of the left end of the plug housing (101) is stepped, including a first stepped outer circle (101a), a second stepped outer circle (101b) and a third stepped outer circle (101c) with increasing diameter from left to right. The inner hole at the right end of the socket housing (201) is stepped, including a first stepped hole section (201a), a second stepped hole section (201b) and a third stepped hole section (201c) with increasing diameter from left to right. The stepped sealing structure has two levels, wherein: The first-stage stepped sealing structure includes a first annular groove (101d) disposed on the outer circle (101b) of the second step, a first sealing ring (104) fitted on the first annular groove (101d), and the inner surface of the second stepped hole section (201b). The second-stage stepped sealing structure includes a second annular groove (101e) disposed on the outer circle (101c) of the third step, a second sealing ring (105) fitted on the second annular groove (101e), and the inner surface of the third stepped hole section (201c). When the plug assembly (100) is engaged with the socket assembly (200), the inner surface of the second stepped hole section (201b) forms a first-level seal with the first sealing ring (104), and the inner surface of the third stepped hole section (201c) forms a second-level seal with the second sealing ring (105), and both levels of seal are formed simultaneously.

3. A watertight connector according to claim 2, characterized in that, An annular limiting platform (201d) is integrally formed on the inner wall of the socket housing (201). A third annular groove (201e) is provided at the intersection of the right end face of the annular limiting platform (201d) and the first stepped hole section (201a), and a third sealing ring (202) is provided in the third annular groove (201e). When the plug assembly (100) is engaged with the socket assembly (200), the left end of the plug housing (101) forms a seal against the third sealing ring (202).

4. A watertight connector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The socket assembly (200) further includes a plurality of first pins (203) disposed inside the socket housing (201); and the plurality of first pins (203) are sintered and fixed to the inner wall of the annular limiting platform (201d) by a first glass (204).

5. A watertight connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, A mounting flange (201f) is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the socket housing (201), and a plurality of mounting holes are provided on the mounting flange (201f). A first screw (205) is inserted into each mounting hole, and an elastic washer (206) is fitted on the first screw (205). A fourth annular groove (201g) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the left half of the socket housing (201), and a fourth sealing ring (207) is provided in the fourth annular groove (201g). A fifth annular groove (201h) is provided on the left side of the mounting flange (201f), and a fifth sealing ring (208) is provided in the fifth annular groove (201h). The fourth sealing ring (207) and the fifth sealing ring (208) are used to achieve a double seal between the socket housing (201) and the device mounting plate.

6. A watertight connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of fasteners (103) is two, and each fastener (103) is a semi-circular component; Each fastener (103) has a first arc-shaped locking platform (103a) and a second arc-shaped locking platform (103b) integrally formed on its inner arc surface; and the first arc-shaped locking platform (103a) and the second arc-shaped locking platform (103b) are spaced apart on the left and right. A first annular groove (101f) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the right end of the plug housing (101); a second annular groove (102b) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the left end of the load-bearing tail cover (102). Two fasteners (103) are joined together to form a ring-shaped component, and the two fasteners (103) are connected by a second screw (106); the ring-shaped component together surrounds the outer circumference of the right end of the plug housing (101) and the left end of the load-bearing tail cover (102), and the first arc-shaped locking platform (103a) is locked in the first annular locking groove (101f), and the second arc-shaped locking platform (103b) is locked in the second annular locking groove (102b).

7. A watertight connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, A stepped outer stop is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the right end of the plug housing (101); A stepped inner stop is provided on the inner wall of the left end of the load-bearing tail cover (102); The inner stop of the left end of the load-bearing tail cover (102) is fitted onto the outer stop of the right end of the plug housing (101), and a sixth sealing ring (107) is provided between the outer stop and the inner stop; a sixth annular groove is provided on the outer stop, and the sixth sealing ring (107) is provided in the sixth annular groove.

8. A watertight connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The load-bearing tail cover (102) is an earring type load-bearing tail cover, and the load-bearing part (102a) is an earring structure set on the load-bearing tail cover (102); the load-bearing element of the cable is a Kevlar rope set inside the cable, and the Kevlar rope inside the cable is tied to the earring structure. The outer circular surface of the load-bearing tail cover (102) is provided with a plurality of vulcanization grooves (102c), which are used to combine with the vulcanized outer sheath of the cable; A reinforcing rib (102d) is provided between the inner wall of the load-bearing tail cover (102) and the load-bearing part (102a). The root position of the load-bearing part (102a) is provided with a rounded corner (102e).

9. A watertight connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plug assembly (100) also includes an insulating base assembly, a pressure ring (110), and multiple second pins (108) disposed inside the plug housing (101). Multiple second pins (108) are sintered and fixed to the plug housing (101) by a second glass (109); The insulating base assembly includes an upper base (111), a lower base (112), and a transition socket (113) disposed between the upper base (111) and the lower base (112). The insulating base assembly is disposed inside the plug housing (101). The pressure ring (110) is sleeved on the stop on the left end of the outer cylindrical surface of the upper base (111), and the external thread of the pressure ring (110) is engaged with the internal thread on the left end of the plug housing (101). The pressure ring (110) is used to fix the insulating base assembly inside the plug housing (101). The left end of the second pin (108) is inserted into the inner hole at the right end of the adapter socket (113).

10. A watertight connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plug assembly (100) also includes a connecting threaded sleeve (114) fitted onto the outside of the plug housing (101). The outer peripheral surface of the right end of the socket housing (201) is provided with an external thread that mates with the connecting screw sleeve (114). The plug assembly (100) and the socket assembly (200) are mated and locked together through the threaded engagement of the connecting screw sleeve (114) and the socket housing (201).

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