Wet mateable underwater connector

摘要

Electrical connectors suitable for wet environments and even underwater mating are provided. A replaceable gel filled cartridge affixes over sockets of a female plug. Water channels and radial holes in the receptacle combine to form a pathway for water ejection during connection formation. A coupling nut secures the female plug to the male connector. A spring housed within the coupling nut allows the coupling nut to further rotate, after pins are seated in respective sockets, to seal water holes. The cartridge is filled with hydrophobic gel and has a diaphragm sandwiched between a front and a rear housing. Contact pins pass through the diaphragm and pass through the gel filled rear housing before mating with respective sockets. Trapping of water is minimized with the escape of water via channels in the receptacle. Contaminated or lost gel is readily replaced via the cartridge affording multiple wet-mateable connections for a given connector.