Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
ANTI-VIBRATION CONNECTOR COUPLING
Related Application
[0001] [BLANK]
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to anti-vibration coupling for an
electrical connector.
More specifically, the coupling prevents counter-rotation of the electrical
connector when
engaged with its mating connector and subject to vibration or shock.
Background of the Invention
[0003] Electrical connector assemblies generally include mating plug and
receptacle
connectors. Often a threaded nut or collar is used to mate the plug and
receptacle connectors.
When an electrical connector assembly is subject to vibration or shock,
however, the mating
connectors of the assembly, often become loose or even decouple. The loosening
or
decoupling usually occurs because the coupling nut counter rotates, that is it
rotates in a
direction opposite the mating or locking direction, thereby compromising the
integrity of
both the mechanical and electrical connection between the plug and receptacle
connectors.
[0004] Examples of some prior art couplings for electrical connector
assemblies include
U.S. Patent No. 6,293,595 to Marc et al; U.S. Patent No. 6,123,563; U.S.
Patent No.
6,086,400 to Fowler; U.S. Patent No. 5,957,716 to Buckley et al.; U.S. Patent
No. 5,435,760
to Miklos; U.S. Patent No. 5,399,096 to Quillet et al.; 4,208,082 to Davies et
al.; U.S. Patent
130365.0011o/35993953v.1
CA 2742222 2017-11-14
No. 3,917,373 to Peterson; and U.S. Patent No. 2,728,895 to Quackenbush.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a connector coupling that
comprises
a connector body, a first collar coupled to the connector body, and a second
collar
surrounding the first collar. The first collar has a plurality of locking
members. The second
collar is rotatable with respect to the first collar between first and second
positions. A ratchet
ring is supported by the connector body and has a plurality of locking members
corresponding to the plurality of locking members of the first collar. The
ratchet ring is
axially movable with respect to the connector body between an engaged position
and a
disengaged position. A biasing member is supported by the connector body
adjacent the
ratchet ring. The biasing member biases the ratchet ring in the engaged
position. By rotating
the second collar from the first position to the second position, the ratchet
ring moves from
the engaged position, in which the plurality of locking members of the ratchet
ring engage the
plurality of the locking members of the first collar, to the disengaged
position, in which the
plurality of locking members of the ratchet ring are spaced from the plurality
of locking
members of the first collar, thereby allowing the first collar to rotate with
respect to the
connector body.
[0006] The present invention also relates to a connector coupling that
comprises a
connector body, a first collar coupled to the connector body, and a second
collar surrounding
said first collar. The first collar has a plurality of locking members and a
first engagement
2
130365.00110/35998953v.1
CA 2742222 2017-11-14
CA 02742222 2011-06-06
member. The second collar has a second engagement member that cooperates with
the first
engagement member of the first collar to allow the second collar to rotate
with respect to the
=
first collar between first and second positions. A ratchet ring is supported
by the connector
body. The ratchet ring has a plurality of locking members corresponding to the
plurality of
locking members of the first collar. The ratchet ring is axially movable with
respect to the
connector body between an engaged position and a disengaged position. A
biasing member
is supported by the connector body adjacent the ratchet ring. The biasing
member biases the
ratchet ring in the engaged position. By rotating the second collar from the
first position to
the second position, in which the second locking member is fully engaged with
the first
locking member, the ratchet ring moves from the engaged position, in which the
plurality of
locking members of the ratchet ring engage the plurality of the locking
members of the first
collar, to the disengaged position, in which the plurality of locking members
of the ratchet
ring are spaced from the plurality of locking members of the first collar,
thereby allowing the
first collar to rotate with respect to the connector body.
100071 The present invention may also relate to a connector coupling that
comprises a
connector body, a first collar coupled to the connector body, a second collar
surrounding the
first collar, and an engagement means for engaging the first collar and the
second collar so
that the second collar rotates with respect to the first collar between first
and second
positions. A ratchet ring is supported by the connector body. The ratchet ring
is axially
movable with respect to the connector body between an engaged position and a
disengaged
position. A locking means may be provided for locking the first collar and the
ratchet ring
when the ratchet ring is in the engaged position. A biasing member is
supported by the
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CA 02742222 2011-06-06
connector body adjacent the ratchet ring which biases the ratchet ring in the
engaged position.
By rotating the second collar from the first position to the second position,
the ratchet ring
moves from the engaged position, in which the ratchet and the first collar are
locked by said
locking means, to said disengaged position, in which said ratchet ring is
spaced from the first
collar, thereby allowing the first collar to rotate with respect to the
connector body.
100081 Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will
become
apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction
with the
annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Brief Description of the Drawinas
[0009] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant
advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better
understood by
reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. I is a perspective view of a coupling according to a first
exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, showing the coupling disposed on the body
of a
connector;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling and connector body
illustrated in
FIG. I;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling and the
connector body
illustrated in FIG. I;
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CA 02742222 2011-06-06
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an inner collar of the coupling
illustrated in
FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the inner collar illustrated in
FIG. 4;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an outer collar of the coupling
illustrated in
FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the outer collar illustrated in
FIG. 6;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a partial end perspective view of the coupling illustrated in
FIG. 1,
showing the coupling in an engaged position;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a partial end perspective view of the coupling similar to
FIG. 8, showing
the coupling in a disengaged position;
[0019] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a coupling in accordance
with a
second exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0020] FIG. IIA is an end elevational view of an inner collar of the coupling
illustrated
in FIG. 10;
[0021] FIG. 11B is a cross sectional view of the inner collar taken along line
11B-11B of
FIG. 11A;
[0022] FIG. 11C is an end elevational view of the inner collar, showing the
inner collar
from the opposite end of FIG. I IA;
[0023] FIG 12A is an end elevational view of an outer collar of the coupling
illustrated in
FIG. 10;
[0024] FIG. 12B is a cross sectional view of the outer collar taken along line
12B-12B of
FIG. I2A;
CA 02742222 2011-06-06
[0025] FIG. 13A is an end elevational View of a ratchet ring of the coupling
illustrated in
FIG. 10;
[0026] FIG. 13B is a cross sectional view of the ratchet ring taken along line
13B-13B of
FIG. 13A;
[0027] FIG. 14A is an end elevational view of an actuating ring of the
coupling illustrated
in FIG. 10;
[0028] FIG. 14B is a cross sectional view of the actuating ring taken along
line 14B-14B
of FIG. 14A;
[0029] FIG. 15A is a perspective view of the coupling illustrated in FIG. 10,
showing the
outer collar of the coupling in a first position with a portion of the outer
collar cut away;
[0030] FIG. 15B is an enlarged partial perspective view of the coupling
illustrated in FIG.
15A, showing the outer collar in the first position and the ratchet ring in
the engaged position;
[0031] FIG. 16A is a perspective view of the coupling illustrated in FIG. 10,
showing the
outer collar of the coupling in a second position with a portion of the outer
collar cut away;
and
[0032] FIG. 16B is an enlarged partial perspective view of the coupling
illustrated in FIG.
16A, showing the outer collar in the second position and the ratchet ring in
the disengaged
position.
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Detailed Description of the Invention
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1-9, the present invention relates to an anti-
vibration coupling
100 for an electrical connector assembly, such as a plug and receptacle. The
coupling 100
preferably provides a one-way ratchet engagement such that the connectors of
the assembly
can only be disengaged manually by moving the coupling 100 between engaged
(FIG. 8) and
disengaged (FIG, 9) positions. The coupling 100 is preferably disposed on a
connector body
102 and may include an inner collar 204, an outer collar 206, a ratchet ring
208, and a biasing
member 210, as seen in FIG. 2.
[0034] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the coupling 100 coupled to the connector body
102 of the
connector assembly. The connector body 102 may be the shell of a plug
connector, for
example. In the preferred embodiment, the inner collar 204 accepts the
connector body 102
and the outer collar 206 receives the inner collar 204. Both the ratchet ring
208 and the
biasing member 210 are preferably disposed between the connector body 102 and
the inner
and outer collars 204 and 206.
[0035] As best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the inner collar 204 may include a
main body
400 with internal threads 402 for engaging the mating connector (not shown),
such as a
receptacle, and a first set of teeth 404 for engaging the ratchet ring 208.
The main body 400
may include first and second opposite ends 406 and 408 that define first and
second openings
410 and 412, respectively, through which the connector body 402 extends.
[0036] Extending from the second end 408 of the main body 400 is a first set
of a
plurality of projections 420. The projections 420 define the diameter d of the
second opening
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412 of the collar's main body 400 such that the second opening 412 is smaller
than the first
opening 410. Each projection 420 includes opposite inner and outer surfaces
422 and 424
where the inner surfaces 422 faces the internal threads 402 of the main body
400 and the
outer surfaces 424 faces outside of the main body 400. Between each of the
projections 420
are slots 430, as best seen in FIG. 5.
[0037] As seen in FIGS. 4 and 9, the first set of teeth 404 extend from the
inner surfaces
422 of each projection 420. Each tooth of the first set of teeth 404 may
include a flat surface
902 that is preferably substantially perpendicular to the inner surface 422 of
each respective
projection 420, and an angled surface 904 that is angled with respect to the
flat surface 902.
[0038] The inner collar 204 is coupled to the connector body 102 such that it
is rotatable
with respect to the connector body 102; however its axial movement relative to
the connector
body 102 is restrained by a retaining clip 220 (FIGS. 2 and 3). More
specifically, the
retaining clip 220 surrounds the connector body 102 and resides in an inner
annular groove of
the inner collar 204. An outer flange 230 of the connector body 102 creates a
stop to prevent
the retaining clip 220 and the inner collar 204 from moving axially forward
with respect to
the connector body 102. Retaining ring 320 restrain axial movement of the
inner collar 204
in the opposite or back direction.
[0039] The outer collar 206 surrounds the inner collar 204 to provide a
mechanism for
manually unlocking the inner collar 204. The outer collar 206 is designed to
slide axially
with respect to the inner collar 204 and the connector body 102. As seen in
FIGS. 2, 6 and 7,
the outer collar 206 generally includes a main body 600 opposite first and
second ends 602
and 604 that define first and second openings 606 and 608, respectively. The
first opening
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606 is sized to receive the inner collar 204, and the second opening 608 is
sized to receive
only the connector body 102. The main body 600 may include an outer gripping
surface 610
to facilitate rotational and axial movement of the outer collar 206.
[0040] Extending from the second end 604 of the main body 600 is a second set
of
projections 620 which define the diameter d of the second opening 608 of the
main body 600.
The second opening 608 of the outer collar 206 is substantially the same size
as the second
opening 412 of the inner collar 204. Slots 630 are defined between the
projections, as best
seen in FIG. 7. Each projection 620 of the second set of projections includes
opposite inner
and outer surfaces 622 and 624. Each projection 620 of the second set of
projections is
shaped to correspond to or match the slots 430 of the inner collar 204.
Likewise, each
projection 420 of the first set of projections is shaped to correspond to the
slots 630 of the
outer collar 206.
[0041] As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ratchet ring 208 is positioned on the
connector body
102 between its outer flange 230 and the outer collar 206. The ratchet ring
208 may include
opposite first and second surfaces 300 and 302. The first surface 300 is
generally flat and is
adapted to engage the biasing member 210. The second surface 302 includes a
second set of
teeth 304 extending therefrom that are adapted to engage the first set of
teeth 404 of the inner
collar 204 in a one-way ratchet engagement. Similar to the teeth of the first
set of teeth 404
of the inner collar 204, each tooth of the second set of teeth 304 of the
ratchet ring 208
includes a first surface 910 that is generally flat such that it is
substantially perpendicular to
the first surface 300 of the ratchet ring 208, and a second surface 912 that
is angled relative to
the flat first surface 910.
9
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[0042] When assembling the coupling 100 to the connector body 102, the
connector body
102 extends through the first and second openings 410, 606 and 412, 608 of the
inner and
outer collars 204 and 206, respectively, with the outer collar 206 surrounding
the inner collar
204. A retaining clip 320 may be provided on the connector body 102 outside of
the outer
collar 206, thereby retaining the inner collar 204, the outer collar 206, the
ratchet ring 208
and the biasing member 210 on the connector body 102. The retaining clip 220
restricts the
axially movement of the inner collar 204 relative to the connector body. A
grounding band
340 may be provided between the connector body 102 and the inner collar 204.
[0043] The biasing member 210, which may be a wave spring, for example, biases
the
coupling 100 into the engaged position, as seen in FIG. 8. In the engaged
position, the inner
collar 204 can be rotated in only one direction to couple to the mating
connector via its inner
threads 402. The shaped of the teeth of the first and second sets of teeth 404
and 304 of the
inner collar 204 and the ratchet ring 208, respectively, allow for rotation or
ratcheting in one
direction only, e.g. counter-clockwise when viewed from front end 104, and not
in the
opposite direction, i.e. a counter rotation. This arrangement generally
prevents decoupling of
the mating connectors due to vibration. More specifically, the angled surfaces
904 and 912
of the teeth of the first and second sets of teeth 404 and 304 allow the inner
collar 204 to
rotate or ratchet, for example clockwise with respect to the ratchet ring 208
and the connector
body 102. Because the flat or substantially perpendicular surfaces 902 and 910
of the teeth of
the first and second sets of teeth 404 and 304 abut one another, the inner
collar 204 is
prevented from rotating or ratcheting back in the opposite direction.
CA 02742222 2011-06-06
[0044] In the engaged position, illustrated in FIG. 8, the first set of teeth
404 of the inner
collar 204 are engaged with the second set of teeth 304 of the ratchet ring
208. In addition,
the projections 420 of the inner collar 204 are received in the slots 630 of
the outer collar
206. Similarly, the projections 620 of the outer collar 206 are received in
the slots 430 of the
inner collar 204. The outer surfaces 424 and 624 of the inner collar
projections 420 and the
outer collar projections 620, respectively, are substantially flush. Also, the
inner surfaces 622
of the projections 620 of the outer collar 208 abut some of the teeth 304 of
the ratchet ring
208, as best seen in FIG. 8.
[00451 The coupling 100 may be manually unlocked to allow the inner collar 204
to
rotate in the opposite direction, e.g. clockwise when viewed from front end
104 of the
connector body 102. The manual unlocking allows decoupling the inner threads
402 of the
inner collar 204 from the mating connector. To unlock the coupling 100, the
outer collar 206
is moved axially relative to the inner collar 204 and the connector body 102
in the forward
direction, i.e. towards the forward end 104 of the connector body 102. The
outer collar 206
moves against the biasing of the biasing member 210 to separate the first and
second sets of
teeth 404 and 304.
[0046] FIG. 9 illustrates the coupling 100 in the disengaged position after
the coupling
100 is manually unlocked. As the outer collar 206 is moved forward, the inner
surfaces 622
of the projections 620 of the outer collar 206 push against the teeth of the
ratchet ring 208 and
against the bias of the biasing member 210 to separate the teeth 304 from the
teeth 404 of the
inner collar. As seen in FIG. 9, the outer surfaces 624 and 424 of the outer
collar's
projections 620 and the inner collar's projections 420, respectively, are no
longer flush and
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CA 02742222 2011-06-06
are instead offset from one another by a distance equal to the distance the
outer collar 206 is
axially moved forward. Because the teeth 304 of the ratchet ring 208 and the
teeth 404 of the
inner collar 204 are now spaced from one another, the inner collar 204 may
freely rotate in
either direction relative to the connector body 102.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 10-16B, a connector coupling 1000 according to a
second
exemplary embodiment is similar to the coupling 100 of the first embodiment in
that it
provides a one-way ratchet that can only be disengaged manually. Like the
coupling 100, the
coupling 1000 of the second embodiment includes an inner collar 1004 that
receives the
connector body 1002, an outer collar 1006 that surrounds the inner collar
1004, and a ratchet
ring 1008 that is disposed on the body and is spring biased by a biasing
member 1010. The
manual release of the connector coupling 1000 of the second embodiment differs
from the
coupling 100 of the first embodiment in that it adds an engagement mechanism
between the
coupling's collars 1004 and 1006.
[0048] As seen in FIGS. 11A-11C, the inner collar 1004 may include a main body
1100
with internal threads 1102 for engaging the mating connector, and a plurality
of locking
members 1104, which may be teeth, for engaging the ratchet ring 1008. The main
body 1100
may include first and second opposite ends 1106 and 1108 that define first and
second
openings 1110 and 1112, respectively, through which the connector body 1002
extends. The
second end 1108 is adapted to engage the outer collar 1006 via an engagement
mechanism
that allows the outer collar 1006 to rotate with respect to the inner collar
1004 between a first
position, as seen in FIG. 15A, and a second position, as seen in FIG. 16A.
Part of the
engagement mechanism, may be, for example, one or more bayonet channels 1040
disposed
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on the outer surface of the inner collar 1004 at its second end 1108. Each
bayonet channel
1040 includes an open end 1042 and an opposite closed end 1044, as seen in
FIG. 10.
[0049] The locking members 1104 preferably extend from spaced apart
projections 1120
extending inwardly from the second end 1108 of the inner collar 1004, as seen
in FIGS. 11A
and 11B. The locking members 1104 extend axially with respect to the main body
1100 of
the collar and toward the interior of the body 1100. Between each of the
projections 1120 are
slots 1130, as best seen in FIG. 11C.
[0050] The inner collar 1004 rotates relative to the connector body 1002. An
outer flange
1030 of the connector body 1002 creates a stop to prevent the inner collar
1004 from moving
axially forward with respect to the connector body 1002. Interference bumps
1150 may be
provided on the exterior of the inner collar 1004 that engage the outer collar
1006.
[0051] Like the first embodiment, the outer collar 1006 provides a mechanism
for
manually unlocking the inner collar 1004 from the ratchet ring 1008. The outer
collar 1006
receives the inner collar 1004 and is designed to rotate with respect to the
inner collar 1004
and the connector body 1002. As seen in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the outer collar
1006 generally
includes a main body 1200 that has opposite first and second ends 1202 and
1204 that define
first and second openings 1206 and 1208, respectively. The main body 1200 may
include an
outer gripping surface 1212 to facilitate rotational movement of the outer
collar 1006.
Extending radially from the inner surface of the outer collar 1006 are one or
more bayonets
pins 1210 which are adapted to cooperate with the bayonet channels 1040 of the
inner collar
1004. That pins 1210 are preferably integral with the collar 1006, as seen in
FIG. 12B.
However, the pins 1210 may be separately formed and attached to the collar
1006. Adjacent
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=
the pins 1210 is an inner radial groove 1220 that receives an actuating ring
1050.
Interference bumps 1250 may be provided on the inner surface of the outer
collar which
correspond to bumps 1150 on the inner collar 1004.
[0052] The ratchet ring 1008 is positioned on the connector body 1002 between
its outer
flange 1030 and the outer collar 1006. As seen in FIGS. 10, 13A and 1313, the
ratchet ring
1008 may include opposite first and second surfaces 1300 and 1302. The first
surface 1300 is
generally flat and is adapted to abut the biasing member 1010. The second
surface 1302
includes a plurality of locking members 1304, such as teeth, extending
therefrom that are
adapted to engage the locking members 1104 of the inner collar 1004, as seen
in FIG. 15B.
Like the teeth of the first embodiment, the locking members 1104 of the inner
collar 1004
and the locking members 1304 of the ratchet ring 1008 have cooperating angled
and flat
surfaces to create a one-way ratchet engagement.
[0053] The actuating ring 1050 (FIG. 10) is designed to be received in the
radial inner
groove 1220 of the outer collar 1006 and is adapted to surround the
projections 1120 at the =
second end 1108 of the inner collar 1004, as seen in FIG. 15B. The actuating
ring 1050 may
include one or more inner radial projections 1400, as seen in FIGS. 14A and
14B. The
projections 1400 are spaced and sized to be received in the slots 1130 between
the projections
1120 of the inner collar, as seen in FIG. 15B. Each projection 1400 includes a
surface 1410
that is adapted to abut the locking members 1304 of the ratchet ring 1008.
[0054] The coupling 1000 is assembled in a similar manner to that of the
coupling 100 of
the first embodiment. The outer collar 1006 receives the actuating ring 1050
in its inner
groove 1220 and receives the inner collar 1004 such that the actuating ring
1050 surrounds
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CA 02742222 2011-06-06
the portion of the second end 1108 of the inner collar 1004 that includes the
projections 1120
and the outer collar 1006 surrounds both the inner collar 1004 and the
actuating ring 1050.
The connector body 1002 extends through the first and second openings of the
inner and
outer collars 1004 and 1006. A retaining clip 1060 may be provided on the
connector body
1002 outside of the outer collar 1006 to retain the inner collar 1004, the
outer collar 1006, the
ratchet ring 1008 and the biasing member 1010 on the connector body 1002. A
grounding
band 1080 may be provided between the connector body 1002 and the inner collar
1004.
[0055] Referring to FIGS. 15A-15B, the assembled coupling 1000 is shown in its
engaged position wherein the inner collar 1004, which is threadably coupled to
a mating
connector (not shown) via its inner threads 1102, is prevented from rotating
in the release
direction, thereby avoiding decoupling of the two mating connectors. In this
position, the
locking members 1104 of the inner collar 1004 and the locking members 1304 of
the ratchet
ring 1008 are engaged, as seen in FIG. 15B, such that the inner collar 1004
may rotate in a
locking direction via a ratcheting action but may not rotate in the opposite
or release
direction. The biasing member 1010 acts to push the ratchet ring 1008 towards
the locking
members 1104 of the inner collar 1004. The projections 1400 of the actuating
ring 1050 rest
in the slots 1130 between the projections 1120 of the inner collar 1004, as
best seen in FIG.
15B. The abutment surfaces 1410 of each of the actuating ring projections 1400
may abut or
be slightly spaced from the locking members 1304 of the ratchet ring 1008.
[0056] In this engaged position, the outer collar 1006 is oriented relative to
the inner
collar 1004 in its first position, as best in FIG. 15A. In the first position,
the pins 1210
extending inwardly from the outer collar 1006 engage the corresponding
channels 1040
CA 02742222 2011-06-06
disposed in the outer surface of the inner collar 1004. More specifically, the
pins 1210 rest in
the open ends 1042 of the channels 1040. Tabs 1032 may be provided extending
from the
body's flange 1030 which interface with a shoulder on the inside of the inner
collar 1004.
The tabs 1032 help to prevent the spring 1010 from being over compressed.
[0057] Once in its engaged position, the coupling 1000 may only be released by
manually
unlocking the inner collar 1004 and the ratchet ring 1008 using the outer
collar 1006. FIGS.
16A-16B illustrate the coupling in its released or disengaged position after
actuating the outer
collar 1006. More specifically, the outer collar 1006 is rotated in a
tightening direction
relative to the inner collar 1004 to its second position so that the pins 1210
of the outer collar
1006 move up the ramp of the channels 1040 of the inner collar 1004 until the
pins 1210 are
received in the closed ends 1044 of the channels 1040, as best seen in FIG.
16A. This action
of rotating and tightening the outer collar 1006 axially advances the outer
collar 1006 and the
actuating ring 1050 received therein toward the ratchet ring 1008 against the
bias of the
biasing member 1010. In doing so, the projections 1400 of the actuating ring
1050 also move
toward the ratchet ring 1008 such that the projection abutment surfaces 1410
push the locking
members 1304 and the ratchet ring 1008 away from the locking members 1104 of
the inner
collar 1004, as best seen in FIG. !6B. With the locking members 1104 and 1304
spaced and
disengaged from each other, the inner collar 1004 is allowed to rotate in the
release direction
to decouple the two mating connectors.
[0058] Although the preferred engagement mechanism between the inner and outer
collars 1004 and 1006 for manually unlocking the coupling 1000 is cooperating
bayonets pins
1210 and channels 1040, other known engagement mechanisms may be used, such as
a
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CA 02742222 2011-06-06
threaded engagement. Also, the pins 1210 and the channels 1040 may be located
on either
one of the inner and outer collars 1004 and 1006.
[0059] While particular embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the
invention, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and
modifications can be made
therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
For example, any number of projections 420 on the inner collar 204 and any
number of
projections 620 on the ratchet ring 208 may be employed. Also, the biasing
member is not
limited to a wave spring and may be any type of biasing mechanism, such as a
compression
spring.
17
