Method and connector having conductive elastomeric material encircled by a continuous layer of insulation in intimate contact therewith

Claim 2

An electrical connector, comprising: an electrically conducting housing, a propellant charge in said housing, two pistons slidably mounted in said housing and having electrical contacts thereon electrically engaging said charge, a group of radially movable electrically conducting jaws mechanically and electrically connected to a corresponding piston, an electrical contact through each piston connected to said charge, each electrical contact being encircled by a corresponding group of said jaws, said housing having an opening in communication with each corresponding contact and in communication with a space defined between each corresponding group of said jaws, a voltage distributing means encircling said housing, and a continuous unseamed layer of insulation completely encircling said housing and said distribution means, said layer of insulation extending generally in cylindrical fashion beyond each opening of said housing, said layer of insulation being formed of a resiliently radially compressible sealant material having generally central openings therethrough and in communication with corresponding openings of said housing, whereby said layer of insulation will compressibly encircle and form moisture impervious seals around corresponding end portions of electrical cables when inserted into said openings of said layer of insulation, and whereby said electrical cables when further inserted into corresponding openings of said housing will engage said contacts and provide a circuit path for a voltage applied through said electrical cables and through said propellant charge, thereby discharging said propellant charge to force said pistons and said groups of jaws slidably along said tapered housing and further to force said groups of jaws radially inwardly into electrical engagement on said electrical cables.

Claim 3

The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said distributing means includes a molded seamless layer of electrically conducting elastomeric material bonded in intimate contact with said housing, said layer of electrically conducting elastomeric material being provided with terminal end portions adjacent to corresponding openings of said housing, thereby assuring distribution of voltage from said housing throughout the entire mass of said layer of electrically conducting elastomeric material, said layer of insulation material substantially encircling and being bonded to and in intimate contact with said layer of electrically conducting elastomeric material, and a tough layer of conducting material provided over said layer of insulation material forming an outer moisture impervious jacket for said connector.

Claim 6

The method as recited in claim 3, wherein, the step of applying an electrical charge across said propellant charge includes the step of: applying an electrical charge on said cable and electrically grounding said propellant charge to a reference potential, thereby causing detonation of said propellant charge.

Claim 7

An electrical connector, comprising: an electrically conducting housing generally of cylindrical form having two openings therein, a propellant charge generally centrally within said housing, two pistons slidably mounted in said housing, each of said pistons having an electrical contact thereon engaging said propellant charge, a group of spaced apart electrically conducting jaws in contact with a corresponding piston and defining a space therebetween, each group of said jaws encircling a corresponding contact received in the space defined therebetween, a voltage distributing means adjacent said two openings of said housing and in contact with said housing, a generally cylindrical unseamed layer of insulation material encircling said housing and said voltage distributing means, said layer of insulation material extending beyond the openings of said housing to define moisture impervious seals adjacent the openings of said housing, each of said seals having an opening centrally thereof in communication with the space defined between a corresponding group of said jaws, and an outer shell of metal encircling said layer of insulation material and defining a tough and moisture impervious jacket, whereby ends of electrical cables when inserted through the openings of said insulation material will be radially compressed and encircled by said insulation material to form moisture impervious seals encircling said electrical cables, and whereby said ends of electrical cables when inserted between corresponding groups of said jaws will engage corresponding electrical contacts and provide a circuit path through said electrical cables and through said propellant charge, whereby said propellant charge will be detonated to force said pistons slidably within said housing and further to force said groups of jaws both slidably within said housing and radially inwardly into electrical engagement on said electrical cables.

Claim 8

An electrical connector, comprising: an electrically conducting housing generally of cylindrical form having two openings therein, a propellant charge generally centrally within said housing, two pistons slidably mounted in said housing, each of said pistons having an electrical contact thereon engaging said propellant charge, a group of spaced apart electrically conducting jaws in contact with a corresponding piston and defining a space therebetween, each group of said jaws encircling a corresponding contact received in the space defined therebetween, a voltage distributing means adjacent said two openings of said housing and in contact with said housing, a generally cylindrical unseamed layer of insulation material encircling said housing and said voltage distributing means, said layer of insulation material extending beyond the openings of said housing to define moisture impervious seals adjacent the openings of said housing, each of said seals having an opening centrally thereof in communication with the space defined between a corresponding group of said jaws, and an outer shell of metal encircling said layer of insulation material and defining a tough and moisture impervious jacket, whereby ends of electrical cables when inserted through the openings of said insulation material will be radially compressed and encircled by said insulation material to form moisture impervious seals encircling said electrical cables, and whereby said ends of electrical cables when inserted between corresponding groups of said jaws will engage corresponding electrical contacts and provide a circuit path through said electrical cables and through said propellant charge, whereby said propellant charge will be detonated to force said pistons slidably within said housing and further to force said groups of jaws both slidably within said housing and radially inwardly into electrical engagement on said electrical cables.

Claim 9

The structure as recited in claim 5, wherein said distributing means includes a molded seamless continuous layer of electrically conducting elastomeric material bonded to and in intimate contact with and encircling said housing, said electrically conducting elastomeric material having generally flared end portions adjacent to said openings of said housing to assure distribution of voltage from said housing throughout the entire mass of said continuous layer of electrically conducting elastomeric material, said layer of insulation material being bonded to and encircling said layer of electrically conducting elastomeric material.