Sealed Connector Assembly With Pivoting Valves

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connector sealing mechanisms are inefficient in harsh environments as they require removal before coupling, leading to dust and humidity contamination, bulkiness, and risk of damage or interference, and do not effectively seal circular connectors.

Innovation Solution

A sealed connector assembly with pivoting valves that house inside the connectors during coupling, eliminating external elements and optimizing space for contacts, ensuring dust confinement and efficient sealing without prior removal of sealing means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If blanking plugs or hinged lids are used for sealing connectors in harsh environments, then protection against dust and humidity is improved, but the connectors require removal of sealing means before coupling and create external bulk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against dust and humidityVSAvoidcoupling operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing valves are nested within the connector bodies themselves. The plug contains a valve that pivots into the plug body, and the socket contains a valve that pivots into the socket body. This nesting eliminates the need for external blanking plugs or covers, allowing coupling to proceed without removing separate sealing components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing mechanism uses dynamic pivoting valves instead of static external covers. The valves are designed to pivot from an initial sealed position to a retracted position within the connector bodies during coupling, enabling automatic sealing action that simplifies the coupling operation while maintaining protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If external sealing means are mounted on connectors, then protection against dust and humidity is improved, but the connectors interfere with external elements and cables

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against dust and humidityVSAvoidcompatibility with external elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing valves are integrated within the connector housings rather than mounted externally. The plug valve is housed in the plug body and the socket valve is housed in the socket body, eliminating external protrusions that would interfere with cables, pulleys, or other external elements while maintaining effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If blanking plugs are used for sealing connectors, then protection against dust and humidity is improved, but cleaning operations are required before coupling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against dust and humidityVSAvoidcoupling preparation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing valves are positioned in an initial closed state that seals the connector openings before coupling begins. This preliminary sealing action prevents dust and contaminants from entering during the coupling process, eliminating the need for manual cleaning operations that would otherwise be required with external blanking plugs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If thick deformable seals are used for underwater connectors, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the surface area ratio for contacts is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidcontact surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is segmented from the contact area. The valves are positioned radially on the front faces of the plug and socket, separating the sealing action from the contact interface. This segmentation allows the sealing surfaces to be optimized for sealing effectiveness while the contact area remains fully available, unlike thick deformable seals that reduce the contact surface area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2523261B1Sealed connection assembly

Publication Date: 2015.02.25 SOURIAU & CO

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Figure 3A~3E

AI summary

The invention relates to a connector assembly comprising: - a plug (10) comprising a body (11), an insert (12), contacts (13) housed longitudinally in the insert, and a front face closed by a first flap (15) positioned radially on the plug; - a base (20) comprising a body (21), a spacer (27), an insert (22), contacts (23) housed longitudinally in the insert, and a front face closed by a second flap (25) positioned radially on the base; - the body (11) of the plug being adapted to be inserted into the body (21) of the base during coupling, ensuring a connection of the contacts (13) of the plug with the contacts (23) of the base; - the first and second flaps (15, 25) being adapted to pivot simultaneously and to fit inside the plug and the base during coupling of said plug and said base.