Coupler with a slidable actuator for electrical, fluid and/or optical transmission

摘要

An apparatus to connect a connector half (13) at an end of a first cable (15) to a second cable (6) is described as having a male member (32) coupled to the first cable (15) and a female member (31) coupled to the second cable (6). An actuation mechanism includes a tapered surface (33U; 33L) where at least a part (16) of one of the first and second cables is connected to the tapered surface (33U; 33L) by a trapping means (33L; 16L). Preferably, the apparatus is arranged such that movement of the tapered surface (14; 33U; 33L) along a longitudinal axis in a first direction forces the said part (16) to move radially outwardly to form the connection and movement of the tapered surface (33U; 33L) in the opposite direction along the longitudinal axis forces the said part (16) to move radially inwardly to break the connection. Preferably, the trapping means (33L; 16L) is a key (16L) provided on the said part (16) and a slot (33L) formed in the mandrel (14) in which the key (16L) is trapped. A guide means (36) is also provided to constrain the said part (16) to move only in the radial direction.