Retaining latch, body for receptacle housing and same

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a retaining latch (2) for retaining a plug (4) within a receptacle (33) of an electrical connector (5), especially to be handled by a remotely operated vehicle in subsea use, the retaining latch (2) having a basic structure (20) shaped bent around a central axis (C) of the retaining latch (2) and comprising at least one latching element (23a, 23b) configured to be brought into engagement with the plug (4). Further, the invention relates to a body (3) for a receptacle housing (1) of a socket of an electrical connector (5), especially to be handled by a remotely operated vehicle in subsea use, the body (3) having an opening (32a, 32b) to a receptacle (33) at least partly formed by a wall (30) of the body (3). Finally, the invention relates to a receptacle housing (1) for a socket of an electrical connector (5), especially to be handled by a remotely operated vehicle in subsea use. In order to reliably retain a plug (4) within the receptacle (33) and enable easy handling of the connector (5), the present invention provides that a latching section (21 a, 21 b) of the retaining latch (2) provides the at least one latching element (23a, 23b) as a part of the annular basic structure (20) which is elastically deformable radially away from the central axis (C), the wall (30) is provided with at least one slot (34a, 34b) extending from the outside of the body (3) into the receptacle (33) and perpendicularly to a middle axis (M) of the receptacle (33) along the outer circumference (38) of the body (3), the retaining latch (2) is fitted around the outer circumference (39) of the body (3) such that the at least one latching element (23a,23b) extends through the at least one slot (34a, 34b) into the receptacle (33).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a retaining latch for retaining a plug within a receptacle of an electrical connector, especially to be handled by a remotely operated vehicle in subsea use, the retaining latch having a base structure shaped bent around a central axis of the retaining latch and comprising at least one latching element configured to be brought into engagement with the plug.

[0002] Further, the invention relates to a body for a receptacle housing of a circuit of an electrical connector, especially to be handled by a remotely operated vehicle in subsea use, the body having an opening to a receptacle at least partly formed by a wall of the body.

[0003] Finally, the invention relates to a receptacle housing for a socket of an electrical connector, especially to be handled by a remotely operated vehicle in subsea use.

[0004] Electrical connectors with sockets having receptacle housings comprising bodies with retaining latches of the kind mentioned above are known from the prior art. The electrical connectors further comprise plugs, which are designed to be mated with the sockets in subsea conditions. Hence, connectors have to be very rugged and water tight, since they are exposed to high pressure under water (e.g., -2000 to -3000 meters below sea level), as well as sand and mud. As an operation of the connectors by hand is not possible under these conditions, they are operated by so-called remotely operated vehicles (ROV) or other remotely controlled devices, e.g., robots. Therefore, the connectors are also called wet-matable ROV connectors. Under these circumstances, the connectors have to allow for a connection by simple push/pull action for mating and unmating, respectively. They are designed to ensure e.g., 100 connection cycles. Their design life is e.g., 25 years. Connection and disconnection forces of the connectors are rated.

[0005] The connectors may comprise e.g., 4, 7, 8, or 12 electrical contacts, which are arranged within the receptacle body. The contacts may comprise contact pins, which are not protected by a particular insulation. However, terminals or cavities accommodating these terminals for receiving and electrically contacting the pins may be closed by insulation caps or membranes supported by springs. These insulation caps or membranes have to be pushed out of the way by the contact pins against forces exerted by the springswhen the connector is mated. In the fully mated position of the connector, these springs are always loaded and exert a force onto the plug, which tends to push the plug out of the socket, i.e., unmate the connector. Therefore, the retaining latch is required for holding the plug within the socket in the fully mated position.

[0006] According to the known prior art, the retaining latches are designed as rings received within the housing, i.e., body of the connector, and comprising a plurality of locking tabs (e.g., 8 contact points) extending away from the ring-like basic structure of the retaining latch, essentially in parallel to the plug direction, e.g., central axis. In the fully mated position, the tabs engage with an annular groove formed in the outer circumference of the plug, so that they may exert a retention force onto the plug, which holds the plug in place in the fully mated position.

[0007] Disadvantages arising from the known retaining latches are that the retaining forces exerted thereby may not be sufficient for operations in very deep seas. This is because especially tolerances of the material, also as a result of pressure and temperature changes at large depths, cause variations in the retention force, with a risk of unintended disconnection.

[0008] In view of the disadvantages of connectors with receptacle housings comprising bodies with retaining latches according to the prior art mentioned above, an object underlying the invention is to provide a retaining latch, body, and receptacle housing enabling high and stable retention forces over the desired number of connection cycles and design life under subsea conditions.

[0009] For the retaining latch mentioned in the beginning of the description, this object is achieved in that a latching section of the retaining latch provides the at least one latching element as a part of the bent basic structure, which is elastically deformable radially away from the central axis.

[0010] For the body mentioned in the beginning of the description, the object is achieved in that the wall is provided with at least one slot extending from outside of the body into the receptacle and perpendicularly to a middle axis of the receptacle along the outer circumference of the body for receiving a latching section of a retaining latch according to the present invention.

[0011] For the receptacle housing mentioned in the beginning of the description, the object is achieved in that the receptacle housing comprises a retaining latch according to the present invention and a body according to the present invention, wherein the retaining latch is fitted around the outer circumference of the body such that the at least one latching element extends through the at least one slot into the receptacle.

[0012] These solutions have the advantage that the functional dimensions of the retaining latch may be maximized and not limited by the space available within the body. Thereby, impacts of the manufacturing tolerances as well as temperature and pressure changes on the connection force may be minimized. The design of the retaining latch and the body may be very robust for withstanding subsea conditions and manipulation. The latching section may be formed as a part of the base structure of the retaining latch. A part of this structure may constitute the latching element. Hence, the latching element may be formed directly at the basic structure, i.e., base body of the retaining latch. The latching element may jut above the inner circumference of the wall of the body into the receptacle. The plug may then simply push the latching element away radially while it is axially fixed within the slot. In order to facilitate this, the plug may be formed so that it comprises a lead-in angle between a counter lead-in chamfer and a central axis of the retaining latch, which counter lead-in angle is bigger than a lead-out angle between a counter lead-out chamfer and the central axis, so that during mating, i.e., insertion of the plug into the socket, the latching element is smoothly pushed away, while higher retention forces than insertion forces have to be overcome when unmating the connector, i.e., pulling the plug out of the socket.

[0013] The solutions according to the invention can be combined as desired and further improved by the following further embodiments, which are advantages on their own in each case:

[0014] According to a first embodiment the basic structure may be U-shaped or essentially annular, such as ring-like, around the central axis, which provides an embracing property of the latch.

[0015] In a further embodiment of a retaining latch according to the present invention, the latching section may extend essentially perpendicularly to the central axis. At least increments of the latching section may extend perpendicularly to the central axis. Thereby, the latching section with the latching element may be easily bent radially outwards during insertion of the plug and snap back into place behind a retaining bulge, rim, and/or within a counter-latching element, e.g., a groove of the plug in order to retain it in a fully mated position.

[0016] For enhancing the elasticity of the retaining latch, the latching section may extend essentially linearly between two rounded spring sections of the retaining latch. Between the rounded spring sections, the retaining latch, i.e., the latching sections thereof, may extend essentially straight lined, whereas in the spring sections, the retaining latch may extend non-linearly. Thereby, the latching section may overlap in a projection along the central axis, i.e., plug direction of the electrical connector comprising the receptacle.

[0017] To further improve the elasticity of the latching section in a desired direction, a height of the retaining latch measured between the rounded spring sections may be bigger than a width of the retaining latch measured between the latching section and a section of the retaining latch opposing the latching element with respect to the central axis. In other words, the height of an aperture formed by the basic structure may be bigger than a width of the aperture. The retaining latch may have an oblong shape, so that the latching section is located at one of the long sides, which may more easily be elastically deformed than the narrow sides comprising the spring sections. The oblong shape of the retaining latch also enables that a circular diameter arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis may overlap with the latching section, but not with the spring sections. Hence, a plug and socket with a circular diameter may be easily brought in engagement, i.e., overlap along the plug direction with the latching section.

[0018] Performing the latching operation between the latching section of the retaining latch and the counter-latching or retaining section of the plug may be facilitated in that a radial elasticity of the retaining latch in the region of the latching section exceeds a radial elasticity of the retaining latch in the region of the spring section. Thereby, the retaining latch may be easily widened radially away from the central axis when inserting or withdrawing the plug into or out of, respectively, the socket.

[0019] The spring section may extend along at least two different radii. Thereby, the elasticity and spring characteristics of the spring section may be adapted to the particular requirements the retaining latch has to fulfill in a certain application. A first radius of the at least two radii may be arranged between the latching section and a second radius of the at least two radii, wherein the first radius is smaller than the second radius. The second radius may be an encompassing radius of a circle line arranged concentrically to the central axis. The first radius may be a connecting radius of a circle line arranged acentric to the central axis, which connects the latching section to the region of the spring section with the encompassing radius. Thereby, the shape, e.g., oblong shape, and spring characteristics of the retaining latch may be easily adapted to the respective requirements.

[0020] At least the latching section may be provided with a lead-in chamfer and a lead-out chamfer. In other words, the latching section may be provided with a bevel facing in against the plug direction. For providing the bevel or chamfer, at least in the latching section, the retaining latch may have an hexagonal cross-section in a cross-sectional plane extending in parallel to the central axis. This facilitates widening the retaining latch in a latching section when the plug impinges on the respective bevel, i.e., lead-in chamfer or lead-out chamfer, when being inserted into or withdrawn from, respectively, the socket.

[0021] In order to increase the retaining forces of the retaining latch, it may comprise at least one second-latching section, arranged opposite to the first-latching section with respect to the central axis. Each of the latching sections may provide a latching element, so that e.g., two latching elements may extend into the receptacle perpendicularly to the plug direction in a way that they oppose each other with respect to the middle axis of the body. Thereby, the plug may be held firmly within the at least two latching sections. Providing at least two latching sections opposing each other may also help to center the plug about the middle axis of the body and the central axis of the retaining latch, and therefore within the socket. As an alternative, an odd number of latching sections may also be provided, which latching sections may be distributed in a polygonal arrangement around the central axis, e.g., in the form of a isosceles triangle in case three latching sections are provided.

[0022] The retaining latch may be formed symmetrically with respect to at least one of a vertical axis extending perpendicularly to and through the central axis, and a horizontal axis extending perpendicularly to the horizontal axis and the central axis through their crossing point. The retaining latch may be formed point-symmetrically with respect to the central axis. This facilitates evenly distributing the retaining forces and centering the plug within the socket.

[0023] The retaining latch may be integrally formed of plastic. As a plastic, e.g., an organic thermoplastic polymer, especially polyether ether ketone (PEEK) may be used, because of its good ratio of elastic limit in proportion to rigidity.

[0024] The retaining latch may be precisely held at the body of the receptacle housing in that lateral abutment faces are formed in the at least one slot and extend essentially perpendicularly to the middle axis for supporting the latching section. The abutment faces may face outwardly so that the latching section may be supported on the abutment faces.

[0025] At least one of the spring sections may be held at a distance from the outer circumference of the body. Thereby, the spring sections may have sufficient clearance in order to approach the body when the retaining latch is widened by the at least one latching section without limiting the movement of the spring section towards the receptacle housing by the other circumference thereof. Both spring sections may be distanced from the body. At least a part of the spring sections may extend concentrically to at least one of the inner and outer circumference of the body. The central axis of the retaining latch and the middle axis of the tubular body may be superimposed for a symmetrical arrangement of the retaining latch and the body with respect to each other.

[0026] The invention will be described in more detail by way of examples hereinafter, using advantageous embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Described embodiments are only possible configurations in which individual features may, however, as described above, be implemented independently of each other or may be omitted. Equal elements illustrated in the drawings are provided with equal reference signs. Redundant parts of the description relating to equal elements illustrated in different drawings are left out.

[0027] In the drawings:

Fig. 1

is a schematic perspective view of a receptacle housing comprising a retaining latch and a body according to an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state;

Fig. 2

is a schematic front view of the retaining latch illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

is a schematic cross-sectional view of the retaining latch illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 along the cross-sectional line E-E depicted in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

is a schematic perspective view of the body illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

is a schematic cross-sectional view along the middle axis of the receptacle housing illustrated in Fig. 1 where a plug is inserted into the receptacle of the receptacle housing in a pre-mated position;

Fig. 6

is a schematic cross-sectional view of the plug and the receptacle housing illustrated in Fig. 5 along the cross-sectional line E-E depicted therein; and

Fig. 7

is a schematic cross-sectional view of the plug inserted into the receptacle housing in a fully mated position along the cross-sectional line E-E depicted in Fig. 5.

[0028] An exemplary construction of a receptacle housing 1 comprising a retaining latch 2 and a tubular body 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be first described in the following with reference to Fig. 1, which shows a schematic perspective view of the receptacle housing in a pre-assembled state B with a plug 4 inserted therein in a fully mated position M. In the pre-assembled state B, the retaining latch 2 is joined with the tubular body 3 in order to form a receptacle housing 1 as a part of a mating plug element (not shown), e.g., socket that is able to receive and retain the plug element 4 (see Figs. 5 to 7). The receptacle housing 1 and the plug element 4 together at least form a part of an electrical connector 5 according to the present invention.

[0029] A longitudinal direction X, a transverse direction Y, and a height direction Z may be assigned to the receptacle housing 1, as well as the retaining latch 2 and the tubular body 3 thereof and the plug 4. The longitudinal direction X, the transverse direction Y, and the height direction Z are extending perpendicularly with respect to each other such that they may be regarded as constituting a cartesian coordinate system together. All mentions of a front or a rear side, or in front or in rear of elements or parts of the receptacle housing 1 may be associated with the longitudinal direction X. All mentions of a left or right side may be associated with the transverse direction Y. All mentions of an upper or lower side, or above or below may be associated with the height direction Z. A central axis C of the retaining latch 2 extends centrally through the retaining latch. A middle axis M of the body 3 extends centrally through the body 3. The central axis C and middle axis M run in parallel to the longitudinal direction X and a plug direction P for inserting the plug element 4 into the receptacle housing 1.

[0030] Fig. 2 shows the retaining latch 2 in a schematic front view. The retaining latch 2, in the shown exemplary embodiment, has an annular basic structure 20, which comprises two latching sections 21 a, 21 b, and two spring sections 22a, 22b. Likewise, a U-shaped bent basic structure (20) could be used. The latching sections 21 a, 21 b stand essentially parallel to each other in a linear manner, perpendicularly to the central axis C and essentially in parallel to the height direction Z, as well as a vertical axis V of the retaining latch 2. The vertical axis V extends along the height direction Z perpendicularly to a horizontal axis H of the retaining latch 2, which horizontal axis H extends in parallel to the transverse direction Y. At least a portion of each of the latching sections 21 a, 21 b may constitute a latching element 23a, 23b.

[0031] The spring sections 22a, 22b connect the latching sections 21 a, 21 b so that together they form the annular basic structure 20. Each of the spring sections 22a, 22b comprises a connecting portion 24 and an encompassing portion 25. The connecting portion 24 has a first radius or connecting radius r₂₄, the center point of which is located at a distance from the central axis C. the encompassing portion 25 has a second radius or encompassing radius r₂₅, the center point of which lies on the central axis C.

[0032] Further, a lead-in chamfer 26a and a lead-out chamfer 26b (see Fig. 3) extend along the entire basic structure 20 between a front face 27a and the inner circumference or inside 28, as well as between a rear face 27b (see Fig. 3) and the inside 28, respectively, of the retaining latch 2. An outer circumference or outside 29 of the retaining latch 2 faces away from the central axis C. An aperture 28a defined by the inner circumference or inside 28 has a height h_28a measured in parallel to the vertical axis V, which height h_28a exceeds a width w_28a of the aperture 28a measured in parallel to the horizontal axis H.

[0033] Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the retaining latch 2 along the cross-sectional lines E-E depicted in Fig. 2. Here it becomes apparent that the retaining latch 2, in particular the basic structure 20 thereof has a hexagonal cross-section providing the lead-in chamfer 26a, the lead-out chamfer 26b, the front face 27a, the rear face 27b, the inside 28, and the outside 29. The retaining latch 2 is shaped mirror-symmetrically with respect to the central axis C, the horizontal axis H, and the vertical axis V. Therefore, the retaining latch 2 is shaped point-symmetrically with respect to the crossing point of the central axis C, the horizontal axis H, and the vertical axis V.

[0034] Fig. 4 shows the body 3 in a schematic perspective view. The body 3 has a wall 30 and comprises a front portion 30a and a rear portion 30b, which are separated from each other by a circumferential edge or shoulder 31. The front portion 30a provides a front opening 32a to a receptacle 33 at least section-wise formed by the body 3 within the inner space thereof. The inner space of the body 3 is further accessible through a rear opening 32b (see Fig. 5) provided at the rear portion 30b. Slots 34a, 34b are formed in the wall 30 at front portion 30a, extend essentially in parallel to the height direction Z, and each provides abutment places 35 facing in and against the transverse direction Y, as well as a front edge 36a facing in a direction opposite to the longitudinal direction X and a rear edge 36b facing into the longitudinal direction X.

[0035] Fig. 5 shows the receptacle housing 1 and the plug 4 in a schematic cross-sectional view along the central axis C and middle axis M in a pre-mated position A. The retaining latch 2 is joined with the body 3. The body 3 further comprises a seating 37 in the form of a circumferential groove extending along the inner circumference of the body 3, in particular the rear portion 30b thereof. The seating 37 is adapted to receive a bottom (not shown) for limiting the receptacle 33 and mounting electrical contact elements (not shown). In order to provide enough material for forming the seating 37 in the wall 30, an outer circumference 39 of the body 3 and the rear portion 30b has a bigger diameter than at the front portion 30a.

[0036] The plug 4 has a plug portion 40, which in the pre-mated portion N shown in Fig. 5 is half-way inserted into the socket 33 in a plug direction P extending essentially in parallel to the longitudinal direction X. The plug portion 40 has a tip 41 facing in the plug direction P. A bevel 42 extends circumferentially around the tip 41 and separates the tip 41 from a retention section 43 of the plug 4. The retention section 43 has a retention element 44 in the form of a rim or bulge extending along the circumference of the plug 4. The retention element 44 provides a counter lead-in chamfer 44a facing in the plug direction P and a counter lead-out chamfer 44b facing in the direction opposite to the plug direction P. A counter-latching element 45 is formed between the retention element 44 and a shaft section 46 as a part of a counter latching section of the plug 4. The shaft section 46 has a bigger diameter than the retention section 43 in order to precisely guide the plug 4 within the socket 33, and so that the inner circumference 38 closely encompasses the shaft section 46.

[0037] Fig. 6 shows the plug 4 and the receptacle housing 1 in the pre-mated position N in a schematic cross-sectional view along the cross-sectional line E-E depicted in Fig. 5. Here it becomes apparent that in the pre-mated position N, the counter lead-in chamfer 44a of the plug 4 abuts or impinges on the lead-in chamfer 26a of the retaining latch 2, in particular, the latching sections 21 a, 21 b thereof. By being further pushed into the socket 33 in the plug direction P, the plug 4, in particular, the counter lead-in chamfer 44a formed at the retention element 44 will widen the retaining latch 2, i.e., the latching sections 21a, 21b thereof away from each other radially outwards. The latching sections 21 a, 21 b are held in the slots 34a, 34b, respectively, such that movements of the retaining latch 2 with respect to the body 3 in the plug direction P are limited in that the rear face 27b of the retaining latch 2, in particular, of the latching section 21a, 21b thereof is supported at the rear edge 36b of the slot 34a, 34b. Movements of the retaining latch 2 with respect to the body 3 in a direction opposite to the plug direction P are limited in that the front face 27a of the retaining latch 2, in particular, the latching section 21 a, 21 b thereof is supported at the front edge 36a of the slot 34a, 34b.

[0038] Fig. 7 shows the receptacle housing 1 with the plug 4 in the fully mated position N. The retention element 44 has been pushed in the plug direction P, past the latching section 21 a, 21 b, such that the latching section 21 a, 21 b at least section-wise acts as a latching element 23a, 23b engaging the counter-latching element 45. During transferring the plug 4 from the pre-mated position N in the fully mated position M, a clearance d_22,30 between the inner side 28 of the retaining latch 2 at the spring sections 22a, 22b, in particular, the encompassing portion 25 thereof, allows the spring sections 22a, 22b to move towards the body 3 while allowing for an elastical widening of the retaining latch 2 at the latching sections 21 a, 21 b. Further, it becomes apparent in Fig. 7 that in the fully mated position M, the counter lead-out chamfer 44b of the plug 4 abuts or is at least arranged in the vicinity of the lead-out chamfer 26b of the retaining latch 2, so that the plug 4 is securely held within the socket 33. The latching sections 21 a, 21 b overlap with the retention element 44 in the plug direction P and thereby block movements of the plug 4 with respect to the body 3 in a direction opposite to the plug direction P.

[0039] Deviations from the above-described embodiments are a receptacle housing 1, a retaining latch 2, a body 3, and a plug 4 being part of an electrical connector 5 without departing from the scope of the invention and/or the inventive idea. The receptacle housing 1 may comprise retaining latches 2 and bodies 3 in whatever number and form desired in order to receive a plug 4. The retaining latch 2 may have a basic structure 20 with latching sections 21 a, 21 b, spring sections 22a, 22b, latching elements 23a, 23b, connecting portions 24, and encompassing portions 25, lead-in chamfers 26a, lead-out chamfers 26b, front faces 27a, rear faces 27b, inner circumferences or insides 28, apertures 28a and/or outer circumferences or outsides 29, in whatever number and form desired in order to retain one or multiple plugs in a reliable manner. The body 3 may be shaped tubular, as shown herein, or may have any other polygonal or free shape, and may have walls 30 and provide front portions 30a, rear portions 30b, edges or shoulders 31, front openings 32a, rear openings 32b, receptacles 33, slots 34a, 34b, abutment faces 35, front edges 36a, rear edges 36b, seatings 37, inner circumferences 38, and/or outer circumferences 39, in whatever number and form desired in order to be provided with at least one retaining latch 2, as well as any desired number of electrical contacts (not shown) in order to securely accommodate a plug 4, and electrically contact the mating contact (not shown) provided therein. The plug 4 may comprise plug portions 40, tips 41, bevels 42, retention sections 43, retention elements 44, counter lead-in chamfers 44a, counter lead-out chamfers 44b, counter-latching elements 45, and surge or shaft sections 46, in whatever number and form desired in order to complement the base socket comprising the receptacle housing 1, retaining latch 2, and body 3.

Reference Signs

[0040] 

1

receptacle housing

2

retaining latch

3

(tubular) body

4

plug

5

connector

20

basic structure

21a,b

latching section

22a,b

spring section

23a,b

latching element

24

connecting portion

25

encompassing portion

26a

lead-in chamfer

26b

lead-out chamfer

27a

front face

27b

rear face

28

inner circumference / inside

28a

aperture

29

outer circumference / outside

30

wall

30a

front portion

30b

rear portion

31

edge / shoulder

32a

front opening

32b

rear opening

33

receptacle

34a,b

slot

35

abutment face

36a

front edge

36b

rear edge

37

seating

38

inner circumference

39

outer circumference

40

plug portion

41

tip

42

bevel

43

retention section

44

retention element

44a

lead-in chamfer

44b

lead-out chamfer

45

counter-latching element

46

shaft section

d_22,23

clearance

h₂

height of retaining latch

w₂

width of retaining latch

h₃

height of body

w3

width of body

h_28a

height of aperture

W_28a

width of aperture

r₂₄

first radius / connecting radius

r₂₅

second radius / connecting radius

A

unassembled state

B

pre-assembled state

C

central axis

M

middle axis

P

plug direction

V

vertical axis

H

horizontal axis

N

pre-mated position

O

fully mated position

X

longitudinal direction

Y

transverse direction

Z

height direction

Claims

1. Retaining latch (2) for retaining a plug (4) within a receptacle (33) of an electrical connector (5), especially to be handled by a remotely operated vehicle in subsea use, the retaining latch (2) having a basic structure (20) shaped bent around a central axis (C) of the retaining latch (2) and comprising at least one latching element (23a, 23b) configured to be brought into engagement with the plug (4), characterised in that a latching section (21a, 21b) of the retaining latch (2) provides the at least one latching element (23a, 23b) as a part of the bent basic structure (20) which is elastically deformable radially away from the central axis (C).

2. Retaining latch (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the basic structure is U-shaped or essentially annular around the central axis (C).

3. Retaining latch (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the latching section (21 a, 21 b) extends essentially perpendicularly to the central axis (C).

4. Retaining latch (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the latching section (21 a, 21 b) extends essentially linearly between two rounded spring sections (22a, 22b) of the retaining latch (2).

5. Retaining latch (2) according to claim 4, characterised in that a height (h₂) of the retaining latch (2) measured between the rounded spring sections (22a, 22b) is bigger than a width (w₂) of the retaining latch (2) measured between the latching section (21 a, 21 b) and a section of the retaining latch (2) opposing the latching element (23a, 23b) with respect to the central axis (C).

6. Retaining latch (2) according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that a radial elasticity of the retaining latch (2) in the region of the latching section (21 a, 21 b) exceeds a radial elasticity of the retaining latch (2) in the region of the spring section (22a, 22b).

7. Retaining latch (2) according to at least one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the spring section (22a, 22b) extends along at least two different radii (r₂₄, r₂₅).

8. Retaining latch (2) according to claim 7, characterised in that a first radius (r₂₄) of the at least two radii (r₂₄, r₂₅) is arranged between the at least one latching section (21 a, 21 b) and a second radius (r₂₅) of the at least two radii (r₂₄, r₂₅), wherein the first radius (r₂₄) is smaller than the second radius (r₂₅).

9. Retaining latch (2) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that at least the latching section (21a, 21b) is provided with a lead-in chamfer (26a) and a lead-out chamfer (26b).

10. Retaining latch (2) according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the retaining latch (2) comprises at least one second latching section (21 a, 21 b) arranged opposite to the first latching section (21 a, 21 b) with respect to the central axis (C).

11. Retaining latch (2) according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the retaining latch (2) is formed symmetrically with respect to at least one of a vertical axis (V) extending perpendicularly to and through the central axis (C), and a horizontal axis (H) extending perpendicularly to the vertical axis (V) and the central axis (C) through their crossing point.

12. Body (3) for a receptacle housing (1) of a socket of an electrical connector (5), especially to be handled by a remotely operated vehicle in subsea use, the body (3) having an opening (32a, 32b) to a receptacle (33) at least partly formed by a wall (30) of the body (3), characterised in that the wall (30) is provided with at least one slot (34a, 34b) extending from the outside of the body (3) into the receptacle (33) and perpendicularly to a middle axis (M) of the receptacle (33) along the outer circumference (38) of the body (3) for receiving a latching section (21 a, 21 b) of a retaining latch (2) according to at least one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Body (3) according to claim 12, characterised in that lateral abutment faces (35) are formed in the at least one slot (34a, 34b) and extend essentially perpendicularly to the middle axis (M) for supporting the latching section (21 a, 21 b).

14. Receptacle housing (1) for a socket of an electrical connector (5), especially to be handled by a remotely operated vehicle in subsea use, characterised in that the receptacle housing (1) comprises a retaining latch (2) according to at least one of claims 1 to 11 and a body (3) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the retaining latch (2) is fitted around the outer circumference (39) of the body (3) such that the at least one latching element (23a, 23b) extends through the at least one slot (34a, 34b) into the receptacle (33).

15. Receptacle housing (1) according to claim 14, characterised in that at least one of the spring sections (22a, 22b) is held at a distance from the outer circumference (39) of the body (3).

Drawing