Harsh Environment Connector Rotating Seal Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater electrical and optical connectors face challenges in maintaining a reliable seal against seawater and dielectric fluid leakage during repeated mating and de-mating, with existing sealing mechanisms losing effectiveness over time and failing to provide consistent, repeatable connections in harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring rotating seal assemblies with elastomeric seal elements that rotate between sealed and open conditions, allowing contact stems to pass through aligned openings for engagement while maintaining a sealed chamber, utilizing cam lugs and slots to actuate the seals between closed and open positions during mating and de-mating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an elastomeric sphincter seal mechanism is used to pinch closed the entrance to the contact chamber, then the seal can effectively exclude seawater when unmated, but the seal loses its memory after repeated mating and de-mating and fails to close completely or quickly enough
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic rotating seal element that actively rotates between open and closed positions rather than relying on passive elastomeric memory. The seal element is driven by cam mechanisms that rotate it into precise positions, ensuring consistent sealing performance regardless of the number of mating cycles. This dynamic approach replaces the deteriorating elastomeric sphincter with a mechanically actuated system that maintains reliability over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the elastomeric sphincter's elastic mechanical system with a rigid rotating seal element actuated by cam mechanisms. This replacement eliminates the memory loss issue inherent in elastomeric materials by using a rigid structure with precisely controlled positioning through mechanical cam-driven rotation, ensuring consistent sealing geometry throughout the connector's service life.
2Reliability
If a rotating seal element with offset openings is used to seal the contact chamber, then the seal can provide repeatable connections, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the rotating seal element: it serves as both the sealing barrier and the rotational actuator interface. The seal element integrates the sealing surface, the cam follower engagement features, and the rotational movement mechanism into a single component, reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining reliable repeatable connections through its precisely controlled rotation between open and closed positions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The rotating seal assemblies ensure reliable and repeatable optical and electrical connections by effectively sealing the contact chambers during both mating and de-mating, preventing seawater ingress and dielectric fluid leakage, even after repeated cycles, thus maintaining the integrity of the connections in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
rotating seal assemblies with elastomeric seal elements which rotate about the longitudinal axis of the connector when actuated to allow the contact stems of a first connector unit to pass through the seals
Data Source
AI summary
A harsh environment connector has first and second connector units which each have at least one contact chamber in which at least one contact is located. Seal assemblies at the front ends of the respective contact chambers include seal members which rotate about the longitudinal axis of the connector as the units are mated to allow contacts of one connector unit to pass through aligned seal openings and into engagement with contacts in the other connector unit. Each seal assembly has a seal clamp member and the seal and seal clamp members are relatively rotatable during mating and de-mating between a first position when the units are unmated in which the seal openings are clamped shut by the seal clamp member and a second position when the units are mated in which clamp portions of the seal clamp member are offset from the seal openings.