[0001] The present invention relates to connector arrangements and to methods of connecting.
The present invention is particularly, although not exclusively, applicable to rack
panel connector assemblies.
[0002] In a prior rack panel connector assembly, one panel with one rectangular and one
square array of connections has been fixed in position. The two arrays are located
such that a centre line along the major direction of the rectangular array passes
through the adjacent centre of the square array. Another panel with a corresponding
array of connectors has then been slid along a rack to bring the connectors of the
two panels into contact with each other. Adjacent panels having the features discussed
above can be mounted side by side with each cooperating panel being movable relative
to each other.
[0003] Each panel is restricted in the number of contacts, or different arrays of contents,
that it can have as if there are too many arrays then misalignment can occur and the
connector assembly simply will not make up.
[0004] Each cooperating panel must be surrounded by an electro magnetic compatibility protection
device which take the form of a flange. The protection device stops the signals from
adjacent panels from corrupting each other. However those flanges take up a considerable
space and that, coupled with the separate racks and connections required for adjacent
panels means that the overall connector density is low.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome some of the above
described disadvantages.
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention a connector arrangement includes
a first part and a second part, each part comprising at least one connector portion
with the connector portion on one part being arranged to cooperate with the connector
portion on another part upon relative movement of one part relative to the other in
a first direction in which the first part has its connector portion mounted thereon
whereby the connector portion of the first part is able to move relative to the first
part.
[0007] The connector portion of the first part may extend through an opening in the first
part such the connector portion is able to move in the opening relative to the first
part in a direction transverse to the extent of the first direction.
[0008] The relative movement of the connector portion of the first part to the first part
may be translational movement which may be generally in line with the first direction
and which may be against a resilient bias. The translational movement may be generally
transverse to the first direction and may be in two different directions both transverse
to the first direction. Alternatively or additionally the relative movement of the
connector portion of the first part to the first part may be arranged to be arcuate
movement generally about the extent of the first direction. The connector portion
of the first part and the first part may be arranged to cooperate to restrict relative
rotational movement of those parts generally about the extent of the first direction.
[0009] The connector portion of the first part may be arranged to cooperate with the first
part to permit restricted relative movement by a lug on one of the connector portion
or the first part cooperating with an opening of the other of the connector portion
or the first part.
[0010] The movement of the connector portion of the first part relative to the first part
may be arranged to be caused by abutment of the connector portion of the first part
with a connector portion of the second part.
[0011] The first part may include a plurality of connector portions each of which are mounted
such that they can move separately relative to each other.
[0012] The present invention also includes a method of connecting a first part and a second
part in which each part includes at least one connector portion, the method comprising
moving one of the parts towards the other part such that the connector portions on
each part become connected with the connector portion of the first part moving relative
to the first part during the relative movement of the first and second parts.
[0013] The movement of the connector portion on the first part may be as previously referred
to.
[0014] The method may comprise a plurality of connector portions on the first part each
moving relative to the first part when the first part and the second part move towards
each other to connect the connector portions of the respective parts. The method may
comprise the connector portions on the first part each moving in a different manner
relative to the first part during relative movement of the first and second parts
to connect their respective connector portions.
[0015] The connector arrangement may include a guide for one of the first or second parts
whereby movement of that part along the guide moves that part accurately towards the
other part.
[0016] According to a further aspect of the present invention a connector arrangement includes
a first part and a second part, each part including at least three separate connector
portions with the connector portions of one part being arranged to cooperate with
the connector portions on the other part upon relative movement of those parts.
[0017] A line through the centre of each connector portion on each part may include at least
one angle.
[0018] The connector portions may be arranged in a plurality of rows.
[0019] At least two of the connector portions on the first part may be arranged to be of
different sizes. Alternatively or additionally at least two of the connector portions
on the first part may be arranged to be of the same size. The connector portions on
the first part may be arranged to be generally circular in a plane perpendicular to
the direction of relative movement of the parts.
[0020] The arrangement may include a guide for one of the parts whereby that part can be
moved relative to the other part to move the parts accurately towards each other.
[0021] According to a further aspect of the present invention a connector arrangement includes
a first part and a second part, each part including at least two separate connector
portions with the connector portions on one part being arranged to cooperate with
the connector portions on the other part upon relative movement of one part relative
to the other, the connector portions of one part being protected from electro magnetic
interference with other connector portion or portions on that part.
[0022] The protection from electro magnetic interference may comprise a protector surrounding
at least one connector. The protector may comprise a sprung protector.
[0023] According to another aspect of the present invention a connector arrangement includes
a first part and a second part with each part including a plurality of separate connector
portions with the connector portions of one part being arranged to cooperate with
the connector portions of the other part upon relative movement of one part in a first
direction relative to the other part, the connector portions being generally circular
when viewed in the first direction.
[0024] The connector portions as described anywhere above may comprise connectors. Each
connector may be detachable or, alternatively or additionally, replaceable or, alternatively
or additionally, interchangeable on the part that they are mounted on. Each connector
may include a plurality of separate connections.
[0025] When the first and second parts as anywhere described above had been moved such that
their respective connector portions are connected, at least one of the connector portions
on one part may be resiliently biased towards a connector portion on the other part.
The resilient bias may be arranged to be applied or effected during connection of
the connector portions.
[0026] The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features
or limitations.
[0027] The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways but one embodiment
will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a female connector 10 and a male connector 12;
Figure 2 is a view of the rear of a static panel 14 that accommodates a plurality
of male connectors 12;
Figures 3 and 4 are a rear view and a front view respectively of a rack panel 16 that
accommodates a plurality of female connectors 10;
Figures 5 and 6 are front and side views respectively of the connector housing for
a male connector 12;
Figures 7 and 8 are front and side views respectively of the connector housing for
a female connector 10, and
Figure 9 is a cross sectional side view of a static panel 14 and a rack panel 16.
[0028] The connectors used in the embodiment described are typically those that conduct
power, fibre optics, bus data, filter contacts or gas, for instance for cooling of
infra red equipment.
[0029] Figure 1 shows an electrical connector comprising a female counter 10 having a plurality
of sockets 18 that are arranged to receive a plurality of male contact pins 20. The
male connector 12 includes a cylindrical housing 22 that is arranged to surround the
cylindrical housing 24 of the female connector when the two are connected.
[0030] Axially extending guide channels 26 located around the inside of the male housing
22 receive outwardly extending lugs 28 on the female housing 24 to guide the correct
male contact pins into the required female sockets. The guide channels and the lugs
28 also ensure that the connectors only fit together in one relative rotational orientation.
The inner surface of the outer portion of the male housing 22 diverges outwardly as
shown at 30 to allow the male and female connectors to adjust for any slight misalignment
between the connectors when they are first brought into contact with each other.
[0031] Figure 2 shows a box panel 14 that is arranged to be mounted typically on a part
of an aircraft such that the panel does not move. The panel 14 includes a plurality
of male connectors 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D of varying diameter with the connectors 12 having
different electrical or non electrical function and with some of the male connectors
possibly having a different number of pins or perhaps some dummy pins that serve no
function.
[0032] Figure 4 shows a front view of a rack panel 16 that includes female connectors 10A,
10B, 10C, 10D and 10E that are aligned with the corresponding male connectors on the
panel 14 whereby movement of the rack panel towards the box panel effects connection
of all male and female connectors on the panel in one movement.
[0033] The rack panel 16 is mounted on slides (not shown) that cooperate with recess 32
formed in the lower surface of the panel 16, seen in Figure 3. The other peripheral
surfaces of the panel 16 may also slide along guide surfaces in order that, when the
rack panel 16 is pushed towards the panel 14 each of the connections are substantially
correctly aligned. The slides and guides could be provided separately from the box
panel. Alternatively those slides and guides could be integral and part of the box
panel, for instance by housing a hood extending forwardly from the box panel within
which the rack panel is received.
[0034] As the panels approach each other openings 34 on the rack panel (only two of which
are shown) are brought over the threaded end of studs 35 that project forwardly from
the box panel which may assist in the alignment of the panels. Then the panels are
manually pushed together, possibly all the way home or possibly only partially. Then
the ends of the studs 35 that now extend through the rack panel are engaged by threaded
members (not shown) whereby tightening of the threaded members (possibly in turn or
together) keeps the panels together or urges the panels to their final relative position.
[0035] The female connectors are mounted on their panel by springs 36 (described later)
to bias each connector towards the rack panel. Accordingly as the threaded studs bring
the rack panel home, the female connectors can move axially against that spring bias
such that the connectors are both held together and urged together by the springs.
The studs can have enlarged abutments against which the rack panel bears to resist
movement of the panels towards each other and to allow tightening of the threaded
members to a considerable extent without undue force being exerted on each individual
connector.
[0036] It will be appreciated that all of the connectors on the male and female connectors
may not be completely accurately aligned with each other. Accordingly relative translational
movement in the "X" and "Y" direction is able to take place as the connectors are
being brought into contact with each other in a manner to be described below. Any
misalignment is relatively slight and each housing 24 of the female connector will
always be brought into the diverging portion 30 of the male housing, albeit that the
housings are not perhaps concentric.
[0037] Any eccentricity of the housings causes the fixed male housing to bear against the
side walls of the female housing as the two are pushed together to cause the female
housing to shift translationally in the "X" and "Y" direction, as required. The guide
channels 26 of the male housing also diverge circumferentially outwardly in their
outer extent. This allows the lugs 28 on the female member to start off slightly misaligned
but to bear against the axial side walls of the channels upon movement of the connectors
towards each other to cause limited relative rotational movement of the connectors
to thereby correctly align the connectors.
[0038] The features of the female connector mounting that permit its relative movement to
the rack panel, both in the translational X and Y direction and also translationally
in the Z direction and rotational movement about the Z axis will now be described
with reference to Figures 7 and 8.
[0039] The female connector includes a rear portion 38 comprising an outer threaded portion
40 for connecting to other parts of the connector in a manner that is well known and
an enlarged flange 42. During assembly, before the spring 36 is mounted, the connector
is pushed through an opening 44 (see Figure 1) in the panel 16 until the front of
the flange 42 abuts the panel. The connector includes a cylindrical portion 46 that
lies within the panel opening with there being a gap between the cylindrical portion
46 and the wall of the panel defining the opening in the panel to permit the two parts
to move in the X and Y direction relative to each other.
[0040] The flange 42 also includes forwardly extending cylindrical lugs 48 on diametrically
opposite sides of the opening 44 which lugs 48 extend into slots 50 in the panel 16.
The slots 50 extend radially out from the opening. The slots 50 are of slightly greater
dimension than the lugs 48 such that translational movement of the connector can occur
in the X and Y direction and also a restricted amount of rotational movement around
the Z axis can occur.
[0041] After the female connector has been pushed through the opening in the panel 16, a
shim 52 is slid along the connector to bear against the front of the panel followed
by the annular sinusoidal disc spring 36, a further shim 54 and then a circlip 56
that is held axially in a groove (not shown) in the connector such that the spring
36 in always under slight flexure.
[0042] It can be seen from Figure 8 that the connector can move to the right relative to
the panel on which it is mounted in the Z direction, against the bias of the spring
36.
[0043] Each female electrical connector is also provided with its own electro magnetic compatibility
protection spring 62, as seen in Figure 8, that is located axially between spaced
flanges 64. These flanges 64 also each have the lugs 28 axially aligned with each
other. The protection spring 62 shields each connector in a panel off from every other
connector.
[0044] The male connector mounting on the panel 14 is shown in Figures 5 and 6. The connector
has an enlarged flange that abuts the panel 14 either at front or rear surface of
the panel. The flange includes four openings 60. Bolts can be pushed through these
openings 60, and aligned openings in the panel, with nuts then being used to fix the
connectors firmly to the panel 14.
[0045] Figure 9 shows the different sizes and types of connectors that can be brought together
simultaneously by the panels 14 and 16 with a gas connector 60 being shown at the
bottom and with the other connectors being electrical.
[0046] The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently
with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which
are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such
papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.
[0047] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims,
abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed,
may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such
features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
[0048] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims,
abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same,
equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly
stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of
equivalent or similar features.
[0049] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The
invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed
in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings),
or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process
so disclosed.
1. A connector arrangement including a first part (14) and a second part (16), each part
comprising at least one connector portion (12A,12B,12C,12D,10A,10B,10C,10D,10E) with
the connector portion on one part being arranged to cooperate with the connector portion
on the other part upon relative movement of one part relative to the other in a first
direction in which the first part has its connector portion mounted thereon whereby
the connector portion of the first part is able to move relative to the first part.
2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 in which the connector portion of the first part
is able to move in a direction transverse to the extent of the first direction.
3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 2 in which the connector portion of the first part
extends through an opening in the first part such that the connector portion is able
to move in the opening relative to the first part in a direction transverse to the
first direction.
4. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the relative movement of the
connector portion of the first part to the first part is translational movement.
5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the relative movement of
the connector portion of the first part to the first part is generally in line with
the first direction.
6. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 5 in which the relative movement of the connector
portion of the first part to the first part is against a resilient bias.
7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the relative movement of
the connector portion of the first part to the first part is arranged to be arcuate
movement generally about the extent of the first direction.
8. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the connector portion of
the first part and the first part are arranged to cooperate to restrict relative rotational
movement of those parts generally about the extent of the first direction.
9. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the movement of the connector
portion of the first part relative to the first part is arranged to be caused by abutment
of the connector portion of the first part with a connector portion of the second
part.
10. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the first part includes
a plurality of connector portions each of which are mounted such that they can move
separately relative to each other.
11. A method of connecting a first part and a second part in which each part includes
at least one connector portion, the method comprising moving one of the parts towards
the other part such that the connector portions on each part become connected with
the connector portion of the first part moving relative to the first part during the
relative movement of the first and second parts.
12. A method as claimed in Claim 11 in which the movement of the connector portion on
the first part relative to the first part is effected upon a connector arrangement
as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10.
13. A method as claimed in Claim 11 or 12 comprising a plurality of connector portions
on the first part each moving relative to the first part when the first part and the
second part move towards each other to connect the connector portions of the respective
parts.
14. A method as claimed in Claim 13 comprising the connector portions on the first part
each moving relative to each other and relative to the first part during relative
movement of the first and second parts to connect their respective connector portions.
15. A method as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 14 including a guide for one of the first
or second parts whereby movement of that part along the guide moves that part accurately
towards the other part.