| 摘要 |
A connector for use underwater or in a wet or severe environment, comprising first and second connector parts adapted to be interengaged to establish an electrical connection, the first connector part 1 having at least one pin 4 comprising an axially extending electrically conductive portion 20 and an axially extending electrically insulating sleeve 22 around said conductive portion, and the pin being supported by and projecting axially forwardly from a support 6, which may be a insert, whereby its insulating sleeve is exposed along a longitudinally extending portion thereof to ambient conditions when the connector parts are disengaged. A protective member is formed around at least a portion of the insulating layer. In a first aspect the protective member is a metal or metalised coating (105, fig.9) deposited on the insulating sleeve 22 and reduces electrical stresses proximal the coating prolonging the life of the insulating layer; the coating also prevents the ingress of water. In a further aspect the protective member is a rigid metal sleeve (36, fig.5A which may extend into and abut the support 6 and offers mechanical support preventing bending and cracking at the interface between the insulating sleeve 22 and the support 6. The insulating sleeve of the pin preferably has a first portion with a first diameter in front of a second portion with a second diameter wider than the first diameter, and the connector part having a protective rigid metal sleeve member is arranged to extend at least partly along the first portion of the insulating sleeve and at least partly along the second portion thereof; o-rings may be provided. In a further aspect of the invention the protective member is an elastomeric seal 26 which may have a tapered end extending along the insulated conductive pin. |
