Standard coupling design for mass productio

Jenkins, L. M.

Simmons, W. H.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700032492 2020-03-17T02:11:40+00:00Z
ATTORNEY 
Unhed St-,tes Pg-tenC O6ce 3,%87,03 I - Patented Nov. 22, 1966 
3,287,031 
BNDEXED KEYED COXSECTION 
William H. Sirnn~orls and k: lL ?.!. 3enhin.i. Hlauston, Tey, 
asbignor3 to t h e  United States o" .kmericn 3r rcprekcr~ted 
by tile National .icrorlau:;rs 3nd Sp..ce Adryini-trtltion 
Filed Sept. 21, 1964. Ser. Xo. 398,132 
I Claim. (CJ. 255-27) 
without requiring a separate and expensive indexing step 
for each initiator. In  the present invention, a plurality 
of lon,itudinalIy extending slots lire provided around the 
inner periphery of ;he chamber within the female cou- 
p!ing member v~hic!l receives the niale coup;ing meniber 
of :he conncstion. Special plug menlhers are pi-css-fitted 
or  othinriss secu!-ed into e a t 3  ci these s l o : ~  during the 
a n-ianuiac:u~n=, process .so thal upon corn~letion of manu- 
The invention described herein z a y  be rnanirfaz-tyred facture ail of the ~10:s in eacli female coupling are SIocked 
and used by or for  the Gover!!ment of the Uniled.3alis 10 by i k e  piugs. At the rime of imtailalion or  use df the 
of An ie r i c~  For government:d purposes h.l!hout ihe pay- Fernale conplins. onc o r  rnore of  t!iese plug members are 
mcnt of any royalties rhereoil or  therefor. easily remsved to  provide a predetermined patiern of 
This inventic~n relates to improvements in connc:tions open ~10:s whereby only a ~elei-!eJ m2!e cou~~Iing having 
of the type comprising n:::le fe;nale ccup:i;.g ntem- ke!e arrangnd in the same predcrernmlned paitern can be 
bcrs and more particularly rc:la?es to iinprovernrnts in 15 joined thereto. Furthern~ore, i\e prrsen: invention allows 
such cclnnections which iriclule dn in:!c:ting means as a the male coupling of this conneciion to be n~anuiactured 
part fhercof in order to insure that only scie;icd male and 50 ih21 it can easily be individually indexcd in the same 
female ccuplir;~: members are joined tog th r r .  manner as that of the femaie coupling ar time of i:. us- 
Whenever 15vo or  mere Iike ma12 couppn,"s arc to be or instailation. 'Throu$ use of this invention both fe- 
joined to two o r  more like female cox~p?in_cs in close 20 male and :n:~le cotip!iligs c i ~ n  ix n1i:si pro83l~ced by a 
proximi,:> of earh other, rhe posslbi1i:y of mx:ing a male standardiied rnanuf:lc?:!ring process :s:hich does not re- 
conpli2g to tile virrong frinalc coupling al~vays exists. quire a separate ~pc ra i ion  of indexinp each female or  
This is especialll; t r ~ ~ e  when :he vision of :he person ~nnk-  male coupling mcillbcr indivi,iu,i;Iy during snch process. 
ing t h c x  co:lnettions is obstr:icted. Stich a siia;i?ion A!so, it can be scen that it is i;o longer neies.\aiy for  a 
exists jn several present-day space vehicles wherein a plu- 23 ilqer to s:ock qurintiiies of di9ercrtly :ndescd fe~~:iae and 
raliiy of sn1:ili exp!osiyL.c ch:ir;cs (conls:o~:!y c:illeii ini- male coiip1in:s sliice :I sing!e q~tsnrirq. of Fen~nie :irrS male 
tiators) mgst ?:e coiipled to their cc:-rc.\ponriing e1cc:rical couplings rnade lil accordance piiiil the prcserlt invention 
firing leads. The:* ini!ia!cjis r:re uwd to r:ci:!&;e rt!.:zre wiii F.-r.!c the cnl-;e p1:r;'Fse. 
mechanisms as. for instn2ce. in se?lirr:rin: roikCt stages -.-,- . i 1.c :r:;.:.:icin will 1ic i>ct:tr understood hy rcfcrring 
ollc from ano!her, ra sl:ir-t varii;:ls mo?or\ loc:!!e;? thro~i;h- 30 to :he drauin:s in i ~ h i i h  like iiiin:ernIs itlen:ify like parts 
out the vehicle, r:nd male to perfcmm a \side \.crie:y of  i n  tiic Jii?e;ent ft;ili.cb and iri which: 
other functio:is each of which is vi;::i l o  ?be c~~ccessr i~l  FIG. I is a yer>pect;\ve view of the r:,ale and fenlalo 
upi.r;;.tion o f  these vehic!es. Due to the !in~i:.rd s p c e  ccua::ng rr~elnbcrs oi ;his inx,cr,tiz~n .lien tiisconncc~ed; 
a.i.ailab!e on sric:? vchicIes, s a n e  &reas in \\:iiih %;-\'era1 FIG. 2 is a vcrlic:!? sl-e:ianal view of !he fem:ilz con- 
of these ini:irjtors arc !iiztlteJ side !-). side arc :lizhI! con- 2.j plii?g member of the in:eniic~n and a p;>rtii~l ,vertical set- 
gesred aiid :he ri;iual cor:ilcc;!r!g of  the e-lcciricai firing lion of the ~?lnic oupling n ? e m h r  o i  the inveniion when 
leads to ?heir sclc;tcd iniiiaior: <;in he dolne oiiiy 55- the disconnected; 
feel of the opera:or since he csnnot i+~!ii;ili:i see \\.hat he FIG. 3 is an enit vicw of the female ii-rember taken 
is doing. It can easily he seen ih:!l if a Srii:: .ie:?d iz cox- 3'0ng ihi: plane of line 3--3 of FIG. 2; 
pled lo :he wrong initiator. disjsier co111J 2nd. probribly 4 0  FIG. 4 is a verlicnl sec:ion;tI view of the fernale and 
iynuld re5ti:t i1ieref;'om. ?'herefore. >.erne ixeeni nwst ;7c m:ilt: cou,.iling mernSers of :his invention whi.11 connected 
inilliidcd in e:?ch of  thcr: coniiections which :;iii eiimi- to~elher ;  
nate any possibility of  rnismating I hc firirig leads and :heir F'G. 5 is an exploded pcrspeclive view of the female 
selected initiators. coupling memhi.r and one of the plug n:ec.ilui.rs tbejlefor; 
Sysiems of color coi?es have been propo7ed -crf;ich aid 45 FIG. 6 is an end vicn of 3 mod:fisd iorm of the f en~a le  
in identifying ina!ching con:ponen:s bi!t the% s?.i;lems cou ;? l i .~  rnci-i-ibcr of this inven:lon: 
have no1 proved entirely satisfric~ory i n  and of them- I'iG. 7 is on ezd view of :lie female coupling member 
srivrs since they d3 not' inclild.2 any mcs;:s which will of FIG. 3 ~ i l h  di!fer-nt pius meil~bers re;;io\,ed to  illus- 
positively i:~surc against the niisma:ing oE ic;npo;ients. !.:.are a tfiiTei.cnt index pzttern; ;:nd 
Also, since only a rela~ively fcw ini!ia.c-s are used in 50 FIG. 8 is an e:~d view o: a modified form of the male 
each space vehicle. jt is iniprac:ic:ii frcrir: ti cost stlndpoiilt co!~plin: n i emkr  si~own in FIG. 1. 
to male  each initia!or of a diflerent size 2nd sh.i?e in Tne connection in nccortl.~rice .uviih the present inve,n- 
order to iilsure ag;lli:st the accideii:?.I misco'dpli::i_l cl the tion conui.;ls of a :n:iie cou?:iin,7 o r  coiirie:tcr I1 2nd a 
. . firing Icads. As a gar-ti21 ~11iuii011 :o this pro>4r!n. a fe:?l:+lc co!ipiin: 12. The coilcector 2 1  is cc~nlpiiseci of 
standard type ir!jti:l!or i ~ a s  bcc~i  .derclopi.J uhich c l n  be 55 23 icnc:- e!e,nanf 13 b a v i : ~ ~  3 longi!udin;il passage 
ubed throl~ghont the space vehicle lo perqcrrn an) o i  the 14 :?~crethro;]gh (see IYG. < j  5:1d a ::;.:i;c 15 e~iending 
desired variety of func:ions but which is ir:divido~liy in- outward fronl the o!iter peripl?eiy lh r i c  _,i. A socket 
dexed axording to the particular fcnction it is ;o ,%r- inenlbei I7 of any i:.~?oan ins?:idtion :n;llciia] is pi-ess- 
form so that onIy the correct firing !eaJ can be coupled fitfed, bonded, or olhcruiw wc!~rec! into pasqage 1.1. 
thereto. GO Socket 17 has a plurality n i  ~rohe-receiving opcninps 18 
Such an initiator is presenBy in me. However, i t  has in which contact r le~ncnts 19 are n?oun?ed which in tlirn 
been found tiiat e\.en rhough the ii?iti.?ror i!%]f czn he are ccllncclc6 !o eircirical !c;23s 20. A t  onc end of ele- 
produced on a large sc?le, the actual indexing opera'lion Jnellt 13, a plurali :~ of el~:i?gsred Etcys 22 extend Ion@- 
still makes its use extremely expensive since tach ini~iator tudinal!~ aloiig element l i  r.nd are secured abcii: :he cil-- 
requires a scparate handling s:!p in the m:inufac:ufing 6s cunlference :hereof in 3 predetermined paiiei-n for a put- 
process to properij index it for 11s particular fu~kt ion.  pose sct forth k luw.  The other end of elenlent 13 is 
The present invention prqvidr's a means by which a threaded as shown at 23. 
standard female coupling (such as rhe one on rhe above The ou:er element 24 hss a Iongitudir " r l ) ~  extending 
mentioned initiator) can be produced i3 l a r s  qu.?ntities. passage 25 tberethrough and b;s a Batiju 2fE exrending 
. . 
3 4 
inPard lheTefrom. A plurality of spiral-like Iockin,o .ent indexing pa:terns can.be provided in fema7e coupling 
grooves 27 temlinatirlg in :ock holes 270 are proviiicd at  I t  5y merely removing different keys (see FIG. 7 ) .  
on? end Of ele,nenr 2: for a pilrpose wl~ich will be ex- Also, the number of open s:ots can vary which f!lriher 
p!ziilcd be!o~v. increase the of patterns availabl-, with this ic- 
To assenlhir ccnnector 1 1 ,  niale element 13 is in~erted 5 vention. 
inta ouler e;emi.r;t 18. A sprinz 75 is positioned on Tn FIG. S [here is shown a male connector F l h  xv!:ic11 . 
13 before zssrmbly sc th;:t it wiil coact be;\r,et-n can be indexed : I ;  the time of installation. Coiineslor 
fiange 15 on e!r:nent 13 tind ftanze 2G on element 54. I f b  is i'dcnticsl In ?hat shown in FIGS. 3 Z T ; ~  2 with th? 
\\'23:;cr 3 is then cvei t:lre:lrlcd cnd 23 of ele- excep!ior~ of the inner ,o: male element . 3 h  \.;i;ich is pro- 
mer.t p~ and lock nut 39 is r?ire:?ded thereon !o lock vided with 3 pluraiily of grooves 53. tt the time of manu- 
eiemenrs 13, 11 in an assernbkd pcGtion. facture. A pli~r.:tlity of keys 220 can be press-fi1:ed or 
It car, read;{? seen that menlt.er 13 ::,n znovc: bath crhwrwi.se azcurc-d in se!ected grcoves to form ;I ~ r ede fe r -  
ic.as:udinsl!y and  rol;iiicnali:; relation t o  rnemiyr mined inds?: pst:ern at the time of l ice 01 ~::ich of the - 
23 iod fh:?t ,sprint 23 ,;;]I no;r;>rrlly hias the elements grooves 51 can be fiiled by keys 22h at time of manufac- 
- 
of the connccror to the posirion shown in F!G. 2. !LIE with certain of i h ~ s e  keys &ing rernoved at  tinle 
7-112 fernale niernbfr 12 c>f the connection (which is o i  use: 
shavin here as an e1sct:ically ignited iniiiator) has a body ?'he ni;>dification shown in FIG. 6 is identical to that 
31 \vhich is thieafisL at  one 2nd 3.1 :so th;!t it can he con- shown in FIG. 3 except for the con5gura:ion of the , 
nrc:ed to a thrended s3ck-.t or acxy,b]y jn lrse. grooves :ind the. design of the plugs therefor. Female 
since ths exp!c,si\r of the initialor forms no part "1 nv'en~ber 32.b hhas a plurality of dovetailed Ion~itndinaIly ' 
of :he present invention, onIy :be indexed end 36 thereof cxtendiilg grooves 41h ixlo which dovetailed shape(! plugs 
has been sho\\.n in defai!. ne end 75 of body 32 43b are ~ i a c e d .  n i s  dovet3iled-configurz~on prcvides a 
. a  ma!p m e m h r  re2eiving chaii.lhcr 37 therein zn,j has a means for hoiding the ~ I U S S  in place irnlll their reinoval 
p?r?r21i:y Of lockng lugs 33 .,?ace& about ike cutcr c,r- is'desired. These p!ugs cannot be tapped oilt :IS those 
~ u ~ f s ; r n c e  ihcreof. :.i ?Iuraiiry o f  probes probes39 ex;enc frorn 25 in the previously disclosed rilodific;i!ioi~ kilt can he i:asily 
rhrc.a&j ..j 34 of feI;lale ncmber 12 through a removed by 17irrciy pu!ling the plugs fornard oat rhe 
JO of hsuia:ion mo;erial into rccei\ing chanlbcr 37. grooves. This czn 'ce done with a ho2l;ed wire or  ;he 
The inner per;,iher?r of ch2mjzr 37 is ,;.i;h iike. I t  s?:oaid hi: noted thrit Ihe sizi?g of the piugs 
3 ..y~,-- c!uicl;itv of lonzitlIdina?~:,r e.v,teni)i:,g FI-,:r,--es 41 (see arid their CO~!-esponding rooves is ~ u c h  ihs t  friction be- 
FIGS. 1 and d ) .  T;vej-,te grc ;o~ss  have been 5iiov.,n here 20. :ween the tG.0 u i j i  ;rrvCnt the plligs from rnei.ily slipping 
but tt s:30u!d be and-rs;ood :hz: this nu;nber vaT out brioye renlov:lj of the plilgs is dcslred . . 
v<:3oat in any \ ~ : I J . .  af7eciing :he suc:.cssful ft~ncticn of A i!;gl~:ly iiiffcrcnt ?lug rncmher 50 Is shown also in 
the inveiition. The ~ l ! r ; s : ~ ;  =ra=vc $10 at the bo!tcrul FIG. 6 which !?as a parlion exrendir,g out of its gi.aove 
iz no;m,?!ly larger o;her gro.oves to inin receiving c!ln;nb:.r 37h. Wlien unc or more plugs 
reir;eace pfilnt fo; x.arioas inds*ing patterns. f ~ o i c s  42 35 30 N'" L : S ~  cnrrespondin_: g?oovfs are provi:'ed ic. trFe- 
:%re t?.;ped ;h-ocgh body 32 2nd inlo frOcvcs 131 f o r  3 i':leni 13 uf csnnertor i I .  Rp using SLIC~I  2 pi~ig. 1h6 
purpo* dr5c;j>e,j bcjow. ~ ~ z i . ~ ; ~ i u : ~ j  p! g memhe;~r. 13 pahsi'r.!~ nil:giber of ri;6errnt :in$ iiisrinct indexing pat:c:-ns 
,?re ~j~~.;--T:r:ed fir O~?)Er;visC secCit'd inlo CrOClveS 41  zit c:in hi: increaxcl without changing the s!acdnrd fcnlale ' 
rhe :inle of n?s,;.,r:fnzrnre. 
-!'he pju2 men?hcrs 41 have a i l ~ u n k r  Or Itsm:mufactirring process. 
l:ig 43 ;isidly secd-cd thcrecm. This l u 2  43 fils inio hOie 40 It bc obvious that t!ie pi.c:cnt. invtstion pro- 
42  in tbe ~ r o ? v c  wacn :he r;lL;: is t.t,erc;n :iild pro- " k f e ~  both i n d e  and fenlaic co~plil ig ::?eri'tbcrs of a con- 
vi9-s a merns for easy ren;o,iai cf ;he p]ilCS when lhe nec~ion th;;! can be nJr?ss procicccd an3 a t  the same time 
ac:-2aZ iniisxiag -;pe;a:ion is perinrmed. ~ r o v i d e  ce~ip:in_c inenihers v~hich c:?il also he recidily 
. . I1 pi-3c::c;n~ the in\cn!icil, male eleincnt 13 of  con- ind'"t~d sa that they will only mate with each other. 
nti t i lr  11 i s  provided u.il]l a pii;rrriity of keys 22 in a 45 ;vhile p'3rticular ernhodlm~.nls of the fen~zlt: and male 
pr&c?crmined ;:?::em as shova.n i s  FIG. 1. ~h~ fell,:'.le . n:enjhflf hhai: been i l l i ~ i : r a ~ e d  and tlrscrihcd, il' will & 
~>c->!ir?~ I 2  is in~qcxcd lo  co~re~poi :d  with this key pattc;n obvioi :~  :hat change and ~nodifications can be nacic jviih- 
I-:- 1sin3~ting the necessary p!:lps 43 from gi.ooces $1. Out d"?acing fro;;: :he spirit of the invrnlisn and the 
- - 
cnn  e:isiiy 52 ~ c . 1 ~  by 2)l-2ir.g punch or  tikc Iosi Scope of the appsn?': : claim. 
ayainz; lug 44 on p!u: $3 u:ili:l.. is exp;ed through :lo]e 58 %'hat is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters 
41 2nd tzppiag rhc pbnch to ioriz the plug orlt of the Palcnt is: 
y r ~ ~ v e .  A f i c r  rh t  desired piugs are removed from tile A fen:a:e coupling comprising an elonsated body ha.\.- 
frtn?Te coup l i a~ ,  an!y the proper inzle connector can in5 3 ch=b:r Ihcrcin ac!apled to receive a n~a ie  coupling, 
be ~mu;i.ed tkereto. said bod!? having a piorality of elonsated longitudiilnily 
It car, easily be seen from FIG. 4 that keys 3.2 07 nn le  35 estznc!ln;: 510:s rhzltiin u hic11 sre sp:,crd the periph- 
deaxli 13 lvil! rn:itt ?sith o Iyn  giGoLJes 41  in receiving e;l: of s;si.d ch~n:ber, snid sldis havlnz one o;~rniqg 
c:-,,?:n'r,er 37 and rr:.ii a ~ ! o ~ v  na!e element 33 to be received into said cSnn?hr,  sai? bodJ! a!so havl:12 2 p],,r;ilily sf 
*ha.-. 
~l.-.,-in. ?'his 3'110it.s P ~ O ~ C S  39 to enter o p c ~ ~ i i ~ g s  18 holes czch of w~,jch from ouisit:r s::id body 
ZTT~ conisit ne:riYtrs 13 i o  eslabjisi? c!ectrical commuui- one cf S1otS, iLnd l,ing rclnovahiy in 
c ~ d o n  beriveen I>,- circ:ric~l firing leads 20 and the inilia- 60 eac~,  of slots s,.iti mr,?cs :i.,. isg a rherzon tor. t?nce :he ke>s 2nd ;lots aie mated, Gulesr element 
21 is ro~::;er? ~vi:h rcspect xi: elenient 13 unlil tocLng cstending inlo said ho!c. 
gr.xx,es 27 s ; ~ '  a!igazd wilh Iockin? lugs 33 on the ierr,ale References Cirei  by t h e  Examirrer 
mcxhcr. %-';en ::his occurs. conlinueii rotation of cle- 
men; 94 slang uii:h slighr forward pressurz will cause 1:;~s 65 . UNITED STATES PATENTS 
38 rn ride dcwn goovr:  17 in a thr-adiag-like action 743.713 I I /I903 G o m a n  -----_-- 287-52.05 ): 
un.5 luzs 38 ensage 'iock !iol.s 270 to iock the two coa- 808.219 i2.'1905 Schroeder -------- 285-362 5 
~i.inss rogc.i3er. Dz:'ir!= this !oi'L:Inz osi-alion. the con- 1,460,135 6/!923 ]ones. 
st--ustion of the isrnsctc;r i~llows the element 24 to move 27;72,7-69 3,~1935 ~ , ~ l ~ ~  ------------- gs-32 x 
f c ~ w x r 3  rt!'itive ta  c : r ~ e n t . f 3  against Lhe bias of sgrinz 70 2 , 4 4 3 , 6 ~ ~  6/1')48 M c ~ a r l a n d  ---------- 287--53 
2% as s i ow?  in FIG. 4. The compression force of spring 3,,9!.C,X!9 .12/1957 Cook ------------- 287-52.05 
28 a-;?I :en,; tc f ~ c -  maie elemen! 13 inla the innerinost ~ , 3 9 2 , 9 9 ~  6 / 1 9 5 9  Beebee el ------- 285-a3 
. w.i~i.sn within r k  e!lamber 37. This insures a tight 7,905,490 4,1959 Tralldel -----_--- 287-52.c5 
c~nnrcrion between the coup!in~. members. 
l i  should l.e of.>tsiis from this dcsir>tios that difier- z.5 (Ozhcr ref ercuees on P~>JIIO)S inp page) 
5 
References Cited by the Applicant 
UNITED STATES PATENTS 
1,034,910 8/1912 Grenway. 
2,890,445 6/ 1959 Korry. 
. 2,928,998 3/ 1960 Brilmfield. 
2,935,338 5/1960 Mills. 
3,008,116 11/1961 Blanchenot. 
3,287,031 
6 
3,023,394 2/1962 Hubbell. 
3,035,243 5/ 1962 Bourling. 
3,052,393 3/1963 Hahn et al. 
3,046,135 7/1963 Feustel et a]. 
6 3,097,905 7ii967 Shzarer et al. 
Tk-3MAS F. CALLrZGHrZX, Pritnary Exmn:izer. 
I>. W. AROLA, Assistant E.mnziner. 


Indexed keyed connection Patent

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server