GB986253A - Improvements in or relating to coupling arrangements - Google Patents

Abstract

986,253. Assemblies facilitating alignment of connector means. COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE. Sept. 27, 1963 [Oct. 5, 1962], No. 38258/63. Heading F2G. [Also in Division H2] Two assemblies A, B facilitating alignment of interengageable connector means comprise means for mounting one of said connector means for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the assemblies and Oldham's coupling means for mounting the same or another connector means for transverse shifting movements in two orthogonal directions. In the embodiments shown, one assembly A is secured to a wall 8 and includes a cylindrical portion 18 carrying an annular boss 20 in the form of a segment of a sphere, and having circumferentially spaced notches 22. Seated on the spherical portion 20 is a frusto-conical recess 26 of a sleeve 24 having rods 34 engaging the notches 22 and being spring loaded between the spherical portion and a retainer sleeve 30 to engage the spherical portion. The free end of the sleeve 24 forms a hollow spigot having a frusto-conical end surface 48 and carrying two spaced annular bosses 50, 52. Mounted inside the spigot is a plate 36 carrying female plug elements 38, 40 of the connector means, e.g. coaxial electrical or multiterminal connectors or fluid connectors between hydraulic or pneumatic lines. The second assembly B comprises a casing 58 secured to a movable frame member 54 and containing a sleeve 78 acting as a socket, having a frusto-conical opening 84, for the spigot portion of sleeve 24 and carrying a plate 92 on which are mounted male plug elements 94, 96 of the connector means. The sleeve 78 is supported from the casing 58 by an Oldham type coupling comprising an annular plate 70 secured to the sleeve 78, an annular plate 66 seated against the cover-plate 60 of the casing, and an intermediate annular plate 68 displaceable transversely relative to end plate 66 (vertically with respect to the Figure) by way of ball bearings 76. Plate 70 is displaceable relative to plate 66 in a direction orthogonal to the first displacement (normal to the Figure) by means of ball bearings. On connecting the assemblies when the axes of the plates 36, 92 are non-coincident, the frusto-conical spigot 48 engages the socket of assembly B and causes the sleeve 24 to rotate about the part-spherical surface 20. As the boss 50 on the sleeve 24 enters the socket, the axes of the assemblies converge and intersect. As the second boss 52 enters the socket the Oldham's coupling mechanism is brought into action to move the sleeve 78 to bring the axes into coincidence and allow coupling of the connector means. In a modification (Fig. 2) rotation of the sleeve 78<SP>1</SP> is allowed to bring the assembly into a predetermined angular orientation produced by means of pins 100 mounted in the sleeve 24<SP>1</SP> engaging slots 102, having flared entrances 106, in an extension 104 of the sleeve 78<SP>1</SP>. The Oldham's coupling is modified for rotation by means of an annular ball bearing 108 mounted between end plate 70<SP>1</SP> and the cover 60<SP>1</SP>. As shown, the plates 66<SP>1</SP>, 68<SP>1</SP>, 70<SP>1</SP> are reversed from those shown in Fig. 1, but the difference is unessential. In the present case end plate 66<SP>1</SP> is spring loaded to resiliently oppose the rotational movements and limit them to a moderate angular extent. In various modifications (a) the rotational movement can be produced by omitting the pins 34 and allowing the sleeve 24 to rotate, (b) the Oldham's coupling can be of the conventional type using groove-and-tongue joints rather than ball bearings, (c) the spherical swivel coupling may be on the movable member B and the Oldham's coupling be on fixed member A or both may be on one member, e.g. B, while the other member is fixed.