阅读说明：本技术 同轴连接器 (Coaxial connector ) 是由 池中一夫 丘田正广 于 2020-02-14 设计创作，主要内容包括：描述了用于连接接触件的装置和方法的技术。母部件可以包含母壳体、外部插座主体、外部弹簧、外部活塞以及中心接触件。所述外部活塞可以是具有第一端部的圆柱形管段,所述第一端部包含在基本上垂直于所述外部活塞的内部表面和外部表面的平面上的平坦表面和凹部。所述外部活塞的第二端部可以包含平坦倾斜表面,所述平坦倾斜表面不在基本上垂直于所述内部表面和所述外部表面的平面上。公部件可以包含公壳体、外部销和中心销。所述母壳体可以与所述公壳体联接。所述外部插座可以与所述外部销联接。所述外部销可以与所述外部活塞接合。所述外部活塞可以在接合时使所述中心接触件与所述中心销接触。(Techniques for apparatus and methods for connecting contacts are described. The female component may include a female housing, an external socket body, an external spring, an external piston, and a center contact. The outer piston may be a cylindrical pipe section having a first end portion comprising a flat surface and a recess on a plane substantially perpendicular to an inner surface and an outer surface of the outer piston. The second end of the outer piston may include a flat inclined surface that is not in a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces. The male component may include a male housing, an outer pin, and a center pin. The female housing may be coupled with the male housing. The external socket may be coupled with the external pin. The outer pin may be engaged with the outer piston. The outer piston may contact the center contact with the center pin when engaged.)

1. A connector for operatively connecting coaxial contacts, the connector comprising:

a female component, wherein the female component comprises:

a female housing;

an external socket body within the female housing;

an external spring within the external socket body;

an outer piston within the outer socket body, wherein the outer piston is a cylindrical tube segment having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer piston having a first piston end and a second piston end, the first piston end having a flat surface on a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the outer surface, the first piston end containing a recess protruding from the flat surface of the first piston end, the second piston end having a flat inclined surface that is not on a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the outer surface, and the second piston end being in contact with an end of the outer spring;

a center contact effective to conduct electricity and within the outer spring and the outer piston; and

a first insulator between the center contact and the outer spring;

a male component, wherein the male component comprises:

a male housing;

an outer pin within the male housing;

a center pin effective to conduct electricity and within the outer pin; and

a second insulator between the center pin and the outer pin;

wherein the first end of the female housing is configured to couple with the first end of the male housing, the external socket is configured to couple with the external pin, the external pin is configured to engage with the external piston, and the external piston is configured to contact the center contact with the center pin when engaged with the external pin.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the recess is a semi-cylinder bisected by a circular face of the cylinder, the recess comprising a flat side and a curved side, the flat side of the recess being continuous with the flat surface of the first piston end, and the curved side of the recess projecting from the flat surface of the first piston end.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the recess reduces a contact area between the first piston end of the outer piston and the outer pin.

4. The connector of claim 2, wherein the recess reduces contact stress between the first piston end of the outer piston and the outer pin.

5. The connector of claim 2, wherein the recess optimizes hertzian stress between the first piston end of the outer piston and the outer pin when the first piston end of the outer piston is in contact with the outer pin.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the outer socket body and the outer piston are non-magnetic.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the external piston compensates for a misalignment of the center contact and the center pin of +/-0.3mm in an axial direction.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the external piston compensates for misalignment between the first end of the female component and the male housing of up to 1 mm.

9. A system for connecting coaxial contacts, the system comprising:

a socket, wherein the socket comprises at least one female member, wherein the at least one female member comprises:

a female housing;

an external socket body within the female housing;

an external spring within the external socket body;

an outer piston within the outer socket body, wherein the outer piston is a cylindrical tube segment having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer piston having a first piston end and a second piston end, the first piston end having a flat surface on a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the outer surface, the first piston end containing a recess protruding from the flat surface of the first piston end, the second piston end having a flat inclined surface that is not on a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the outer surface, and the second piston end being in contact with an end of the outer spring;

a center contact effective to conduct electricity and within the outer spring and the outer piston; and

a first insulator between the center contact and the outer spring;

a plug, wherein the plug comprises at least one male component, wherein the at least one male component comprises:

a male housing;

an outer pin within the male housing;

a center pin effective to conduct electricity and within the outer pin; and

a second insulator between the center pin and the outer pin;

wherein the first end of each female housing is configured to couple with the first end of the respective male housing, the external socket is configured to couple with the external pin, the external pin is configured to engage with the external piston, and the external piston is configured to contact the center contact with the center pin when engaged with the external pin.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the recess is a semi-cylinder bisected by a circular face of the cylinder, the recess comprising a flat side and a curved side, the flat side of the recess being continuous with the flat surface of the first piston end, and the curved side of the recess protruding from the flat surface of the first piston end.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the recess reduces a contact area between the first piston end of the outer piston and the outer pin.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the recess reduces contact stress between the first piston end of the outer piston and the outer pin.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the recess optimizes hertzian stress between the first piston end of the outer piston and the outer pin when the first piston end of the outer piston is in contact with the outer pin.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the outer socket body and the outer piston are non-magnetic and coated with a nickel-phosphorous thin film plating.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the plug and the socket are part of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) device.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the external piston compensates for a misalignment of the center contact and the center pin of +/-0.3mm in an axial direction.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the external piston compensates for misalignment between the first end of the female component and the male housing of up to 1 mm.

18. A method of connecting coaxial contacts, the method comprising:

aligning a first end of a female housing of a female component with a first end of a male housing of a male component, wherein the female component comprises:

a female housing;

an external socket body within the female housing;

an external spring within the external socket body;

an outer piston within the outer socket body, wherein the outer piston is a cylindrical tube segment having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer piston having a first piston end and a second piston end, the first piston end having a flat surface on a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the outer surface, the first piston end containing a recess protruding from the flat surface of the first piston end, the second piston end having a flat inclined surface that is not on a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the outer surface, and the second piston end being in contact with an end of the outer spring;

a center contact effective to conduct electricity and within the outer spring and the outer piston; and

a first insulator between the center contact and the outer spring; and the male component comprises:

a male housing;

an outer pin within the male housing;

a center pin effective to conduct electricity and within the outer pin; and

a second insulator between the center pin and the outer pin;

coupling the first end of the female housing with the first end of the male housing;

coupling the external socket with the external pin;

engaging the outer pin with an outer piston; and

bringing the center contact into contact with the center pin.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the outer piston compensates for a misalignment of the center contact and the center pin of +/-0.3mm in an axial direction.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the external piston compensates for misalignment between the first end of the female component and the male housing of up to 1 mm.

Background

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

Coaxial connectors may be used in industrial applications to connect coaxial cables that transmit data. The coaxial connector may include an outer conductor contact and an inner conductor contact. The coaxial connector may be mechanically coupled to another coaxial connector. The coaxial connector may have a male connector part and a female connector part joined together to form a mating pair. The male connector part may be referred to as a plug or a pin, and the female connector part may be referred to as a socket or a socket. The coaxial connector pairs may be coupled or mated by a screw-on (threading), bayonet-type coupling, or snap-on coupling.

Disclosure of Invention

One embodiment of the present invention is a connector for operatively connecting coaxial contacts. The connector may comprise a female component. The female component may comprise a female housing. The female component may comprise an external socket body within the female housing. The female member may comprise an external spring within the external socket body. The female member may comprise an external plunger within the external socket. The outer piston may be a cylindrical pipe section having an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer piston may have a first piston end and a second piston end. The first piston end may have a flat surface in a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces. The first piston end may include a recess protruding from the planar surface of the first piston end. The second piston end may have a flat inclined surface that is not on a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the outer surface. The second piston end may be in contact with an end of the external spring. The female component may contain a center contact that is effective to conduct electricity and within the outer spring and the outer piston. The female member may include a first insulator between the center contact and the outer spring. The connector may comprise a male part. The male component may comprise a male housing. The male component may comprise an external pin within the male housing. The male component may include a center pin that is effective to conduct electrical power and is within the outer pin. The male part may include a second insulator between the center pin and the outer pin. The first end of the female housing may be configured to couple with the first end of the male housing. The external socket may be configured to couple with the external pin. The outer pin may be configured to engage with the outer piston. The outer piston may be configured to contact the center contact with the center pin when engaged with the outer pin.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a system for connecting coaxial contacts. The system may include a receptacle. The socket may comprise at least one female part. The at least one female component may comprise a female housing. The female component may comprise an external socket body within the female housing. The female member may comprise an external spring within the external socket body. The female member may comprise an external plunger within the external socket. The outer piston may be a cylindrical pipe section having an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer piston may have a first piston end and a second piston end. The first piston end may have a flat surface in a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces. The first piston end may include a recess protruding from the planar surface of the first piston end. The second piston end may have a flat inclined surface that is not on a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the outer surface. The second piston end may be in contact with an end of the external spring. The female component may contain a center contact that is effective to conduct electricity and within the outer spring and the outer piston. The female member may include a first insulator between the center contact and the outer spring. The system may include a plug. The plug may comprise at least one male part. The at least one male component may comprise a male housing. The male component may comprise an external pin within the male housing. The male component may include a center pin that is effective to conduct electrical power and is within the outer pin. The male part may include a second insulator between the center pin and the outer pin. The first end of each female housing may be configured to couple with the first end of a respective male housing. The external socket may be configured to couple with the external pin. The outer pin may be configured to engage with the outer piston. The outer piston may be configured to contact the center contact with the center pin when engaged with the outer pin.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method of connecting coaxial contacts. The method may include aligning a first end of a female housing of a female component with a first end of a male housing of a male component. The female component may comprise a female housing. The female component may comprise an external socket body within the female housing. The female member may comprise an external spring within the external socket body. The female member may comprise an external plunger within the external socket. The outer piston may be a cylindrical pipe section having an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer piston may have a first piston end and a second piston end. The first piston end may have a flat surface in a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces. The first piston end may include a recess protruding from the planar surface of the first piston end. The second piston end may have a flat inclined surface that is not on a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the outer surface. The second piston end may be in contact with an end of the external spring. The female component may contain a center contact that is effective to conduct electricity. The center contact may be within the outer spring and the outer piston. The female member may include a first insulator between the center contact and the outer spring. The male component may comprise a male housing. The male component may comprise an external pin within the male housing. The male component may comprise a core pin that is effective to conduct electrical power. The center pin may be within the outer pin. The male part may include a second insulator between the center pin and the outer pin. The method may include coupling the first end of the female housing with the first end of the male housing. The method may include coupling the external socket with the external pin. The method may include engaging the outer pin with the outer piston. The method may include contacting the center contact with the center pin.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

Drawings

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a female component of a coaxial connector and a male component of the coaxial connector;

FIG. 2A is a side perspective view of an outer piston of the female component of the coaxial connector;

FIG. 2B is a side perspective view of a recess of an outer piston of the female member of the coaxial connector;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a female component of the coaxial connector coupled to a male component of the coaxial connector;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a female component of the coaxial connector coupled to a male component of the coaxial connector;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a female component of the coaxial connector coupled to a male component of the coaxial connector;

FIG. 6A is a side perspective view of a plug and receptacle;

FIG. 6B is a side perspective view of the plug coupled with the receptacle;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a medical testing device utilizing a plurality of plugs and receptacles;

fig. 8 is a long side sectional view of a plug and receptacle having a clam shell;

figure 9 is a short side cross-sectional view of a plug and receptacle having a clamshell; and is

Fig. 10 illustrates a flow diagram of an example process for connecting coaxial contacts, all arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, like numerals generally identify like components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a female component of a coaxial connector and a male component of the coaxial connector arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. System 100 may include a coaxial connector 10. The coaxial connector 10 may include a female connector 120 and a male connector 160. The female connector 120 may include a female member 20 and a female housing 55. The female member 20 may contain an insulator 25, an external spring 30, an external piston 35, an external socket body 40, a center contact 45 that effectively conducts power, and an internal spring 50. The external socket body 40 may be within the female housing 55. The outer spring 30 and the outer piston 35 may be within the outer socket body 40. The center contact 45 may be within the outer spring 30 and the outer piston 35. The insulator 25 may be between the center contact 45 and the outer spring 30. The female housing 55 may include a first end 52 and a second end 53. The male connector 160 may include a male component 60 and a male housing 80. The male component 60 may include an outer pin 65, an insulator 70, and a center pin 75 that is effective to conduct electricity. The insulator 70 may be between the center pin 75 and the outer pin 65. The male housing 80 may include a first end 82 and a second end 83. The first end 52 of the female housing 55 may be configured to couple with the first end 82 of the male housing 80. The first end 52 of the female housing 55 may be aligned with the first end 82 of the male housing 80, and the first end 52 of the female housing 55 may fit within the first end 82 of the male housing 80. The first end 52 of the female housing 55 may be configured to facilitate coupling of the center contact 45 of the outer socket body 40 of the female component 20 with the outer pin 65 of the male component 60. When the female member 20 and the male member 60 are coupled, the outer pin 65 may fit within the outer socket body 40, and the outer pin 65 may engage with the outer piston 35. The outer socket body 40 and the outer piston 35 may be non-magnetic and may be coated with a nickel-phosphorous thin film plating or a ternary alloy thin film plating of copper, tin, and zinc. All of the metal components of the female component 20 may be non-magnetic. The outer pin 65 may engage the outer piston 35 and compress the outer spring 30 when the female component 20 is coupled with the male component 60. All of the metal components of the male component 60 may be non-magnetic. The spring 30 may be a beryllium copper alloy and may be non-magnetic. The outer piston 35 may move with the compression spring 30 and may expose the center contact 45 when the male member 60 is mated with the female member 20. The center contact 45 of the female component 20 may fit within the outer pin 65 and may engage the center pin 75 of the male component 60. When the center contact 45 engages the center pin 75, the inner spring 50 may compress. The center pin 75 may be non-magnetic and may be coated with a nickel-phosphorous thin film plating or a ternary alloy thin film plating of copper, tin, and zinc. As explained in more detail below, the outer piston 35 may be configured to engage with the outer pin 65 and facilitate coupling of the center contact 45 of the female component 20 with the center pin 75 of the male component 60.

Fig. 2A is a side perspective view of an outer piston of a female component of a coaxial connector arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Fig. 2B is a side perspective view of a recess of an outer piston of a female component of a coaxial connector arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components of fig. 2A and 2B that are identically labeled to components of fig. 1 will not be described again for the sake of brevity.

The outer piston 35 may be a hollow cylindrical tube segment having a first end 205, a second end 210, an outer surface 212a, and an inner surface 212 b. The outer piston may be a copper alloy, such as brass or bronze. The inner surface 212b or the outer piston 35 may define a passage 215 through the outer piston 35 from the first end 205 to the second end 210. The first end 205 of the outer piston 35 may have a flat surface 220 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the outer surface 212a and the inner surface 212 b. The second end 210 of the outer piston 35 may have a flat inclined surface 222. The sloped surface 222 may not be on a plane substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface 212a and the interior surface 212b and may be angled from the planar surface 220 of the first end 205. Due to the inclined surface 222, the length of the outer piston 35 is not uniform and may range from the longest length 214a to the shortest length 214 b. The planar surface 220 of the first end 205 may include a recess 225 protruding from the planar surface 220. The recess 225 may be a semi-cylinder divided in two by the circular face of the cylinder, the recess having a flat side 230 and a curved side 235. The flat side 230 of the recess 225 may be connected with the flat surface 220 of the outer piston 35, and the curved side 235 may protrude from the flat surface 220 of the outer piston 35.

Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a female component of a coaxial connector coupled to a male component of the coaxial connector, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components of fig. 3 that are identically numbered to the components of fig. 1-2 will not be described again for the sake of brevity.

When the male member 60 and the female member 20 are coupled, the external pin 65 of the male member 60 may be fitted into the external socket body 40 of the female member 20. The outer pin 65 may contact and engage the recess 225 of the outer piston 35. The recess 225 may reduce the contact area between the outer piston 35 and the outer pin 65. The recess 225 may reduce contact stress between the outer piston 35 and the outer pin 65. The recess 225 may optimize hertzian stress between the outer piston 35 and the outer pin 65 during contact.

The outer pin 65 may engage the recess 225 of the outer piston 35 and compress the outer spring 30. The outer piston 35 may move with the compression spring 30 and may expose the center contact 45. The center contact 45 of the female component 20 may fit within the outer pin 65 and may engage the center pin 75 of the male component 60. The outer spring 30, when compressed, may apply a force 310 to the deflection surface 222 of the outer piston 35 at the longest side length 214a and may apply a second force 320 to the deflection surface 222 of the outer piston 35 at the shortest side length 214 b. Since the spring 30 is compressed by the deflection surface 222 of the outer piston 35 to a greater extent at the longest side length 214a than the deflection surface 222 of the outer piston 35 at the shortest side length 214b, the force 310 may be greater than the force 320. A force 310 greater than the force 320 may in turn apply a force 330 toward the outer socket body 40 at an end adjacent the longest side length 214a of the angled surface 222. A force 310 greater than the force 320 may in turn apply a force 340 toward the outer socket body 40 at the end of the shortest side length 214b and adjacent to the planar surface 220. The forces 330 and 340 may allow the outer piston 35 to slide within the outer socket body 40 with low contact resistance. The external piston 35 engaging the external pin 65 may facilitate contact between the center contact 45 of the female member 20 and the center pin 75 of the male member 60.

Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a female component of a coaxial connector coupled to a male component of the coaxial connector, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components of fig. 4 that are identically numbered to the components of fig. 1-3 will not be described again for the sake of brevity.

The first end 52 of the female housing 55 may be configured to couple with the first end 82 of the male housing 80. The first end 52 of the female housing 55 may fit within the first end 82 of the male housing 80 and may be configured to facilitate coupling of the contacts of the external socket body 40 of the female component 20 with the external pins 65 of the male component 60. The first end 52 of the female housing 55 and the first end 82 of the male housing 80 may be aligned and may encompass a gap between a side of the first end 52 of the female housing 55 and a side of the first end 82 of the male housing 80. When the male member 60 and the female member 20 are coupled, the external pin 65 of the male member 60 may be fitted into the external socket body 40 of the female member 20. The outer pin 65 may contact and engage the recess 225 of the outer piston 35. The outer pin 65 may engage the recess 225 of the outer piston 35 and compress the outer spring 30. The outer piston 35 may move with the compression spring 30 and may expose the center contact 45. The center contact 45 of the female component 20 may fit within the outer pin 65 and may engage the center pin 75 of the male component 60.

As explained above, the outer spring 30 may apply a force to the outer piston 35 when compressed and may allow the outer piston 35 to slide within the outer socket body 40 with low contact resistance. The external piston 35 engaging with the external pin 65 may facilitate contact between the center contact 45 of the female member 20 and the center pin 75 of the male member 60 and may compensate for misalignment of the external pin 65 and the external socket body 40, e.g., coupling at an oblique angle. The external piston 35 may compensate for +/-0.3mm misalignment of the center contact 45 of the female member 20 and the center pin 75 of the male member 60 in the axial (X, Y) direction.

Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a female component of a coaxial connector coupled to a male component of the coaxial connector, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components of fig. 5 that are identically labeled to components of fig. 1-4 will not be described again for the sake of brevity.

The first end 52 of the female housing 55 may be configured to couple with the first end 82 of the male housing 80. The first end 52 of the female housing 55 may fit within the first end 82 of the male housing 80 and may be configured to facilitate coupling of the external socket body 40 of the female component 20 with the external pin 65 of the male component 60. The first end 52 of the female housing 55 and the first end 82 of the male housing 80 may be aligned and may contain a gap 510 between the end of the first end 52 of the female housing 55 and the male housing 80. When the male member 60 and the female member 20 are coupled, the external pin 65 of the male member 60 may be fitted into the external socket body 40 of the female member 20. The outer pin 65 may contact and engage the recess 225 of the outer piston 35. The outer pin 65 may engage the recess 225 of the outer piston 35 and compress the outer spring 30. The outer piston 35 may move with the compression spring 30 and may expose the center contact 45. The center contact 45 of the female component 20 may fit within the outer pin 65 and may engage the center pin 75 of the male component 60.

As explained above, the outer spring 30 may apply a force to the outer piston 35 when compressed and may allow the outer piston 35 to slide within the outer socket body 40 with low contact resistance. The external piston 35 engaging the external pin 65 may facilitate contact between the center contact 45 of the female member 20 and the center pin 75 of the male member 60. The outer piston 35 may compensate for misalignment of the outer pins 65 and the outer socket body 40. The external piston 35 may compensate for misalignment clearance of up to 1mm between the first end 52 of the female housing 55 and the male housing 80.

Fig. 6A is a side perspective view of a plug and receptacle arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Fig. 6B is a side perspective view of a plug coupled with a receptacle arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components of fig. 6A and 6B that are identically labeled to components of fig. 1-5 will not be described again for the sake of brevity.

The system 600 may include a plug 610 and a receptacle 620. In an embodiment, the plug 610 may contain multiple male components 60 and the receptacle 620 may contain multiple female components 20. The plug 610 may be configured to couple with the receptacle 620 such that each male component 60 couples to a respective female component 20 within the receptacle 620. The plug 610 and receptacle 620 may be components of a coaxial connector. The plug 610 and receptacle 620 may be waterproof and may be used in industry. All of the metallic components of the plug 610 and receptacle 620 may be non-magnetic. The plug 610 and the receptacle 620 may be used with medical testing equipment, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment. The plug 610 and the receptacle 620 may also be used as a catheter connector or an endoscope connector for medical devices.

Fig. 7 is a side perspective view of a medical testing device utilizing multiple plugs and receptacles arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components of fig. 7 that are identically labeled to components of fig. 1-6 will not be described again for the sake of brevity.

The medical testing device 710 may include a cover 720 and a base 730. The cover 720 may contain a plurality of male connectors 160 with male members 60. The base 730 may contain a plurality of female connectors 120 with female members 20. The male connector 160 of the cover 720 may be coupled with the female connector 120 of the base 730.

Fig. 8 is an elongated side cross-sectional view of a plug and receptacle having a clamshell arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components of fig. 8 that are identically numbered to the components of fig. 1-7 will not be described again for the sake of brevity.

The system 800 may include a plug 810 and a receptacle 820 having a clamshell 815. In an embodiment, plug 810 may comprise a clamshell 815 and a plurality of male components 60. Clamshell 815 may be a water-tight barrier for plug 810. The socket 820 may contain a plurality of female members 20. The plug 810 may be configured to couple with the socket 820 such that each male component 60 couples to a respective female component 20 within the socket 820. The plug 810 and receptacle 820 may be components of a coaxial connector.

Fig. 9 is a short side cross-sectional view of a plug and receptacle having a clamshell arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. Those components of fig. 9 that are identically numbered to the components of fig. 1-8 will not be described again for the sake of brevity.

The system 900 may include a plug 810 and a receptacle 820 having a clamshell 815. Plug 810 may include clamshell 815, locking bar 910, and a plurality of male components 60. The socket 820 may include a plurality of female members 20 and a protrusion 920. Plug 810 may be configured to couple with socket 820 such that locking bar 910 clips to protrusion 920 and locks plug 810 to socket 820, and each male component 60 couples to a respective female component 20 within socket 820.

The device according to the present disclosure may allow the coupling of the coaxial contacts to experience a mating cycle of over 100,000 times. The device according to the present disclosure may provide a spring-loaded coaxial contact that may compensate for +/-0.3mm misalignment between the male and female components in the axial (X, Y) direction. A device according to the present disclosure may provide spring-loaded coaxial contacts that may compensate for misalignment gaps between the end of the female housing and the male housing of up to 1 mm. An apparatus according to the present disclosure may provide a plug and socket for a medical device, such as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) device.

Fig. 10 illustrates a flow diagram of an example process for connecting coaxial contacts arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein. An example process may contain one or more operations, actions, or functions as illustrated by one or more of blocks S2, S4, S6, S8, and/or S10. Although shown as discrete blocks, the various blocks may be divided into additional blocks depending on the desired implementation; combined into fewer blocks or excluded from the described blocks.

The process may begin at block S2, "aligning a first end of a female housing of a female component with a first end of a male housing of a male component, wherein the female component comprises: a female housing; an external socket body within the female housing; an external spring within the external socket body; an outer piston within the outer socket, wherein the outer piston is a cylindrical tube section having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer piston having a first piston end and a second piston end, the first piston end having a flat surface that is on a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the outer surface, the first piston end containing a recess that protrudes from the flat surface of the first piston end, the second piston end having a flat inclined surface that is not on a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the outer surface, and the second piston end being in contact with an end of the outer spring; a center contact that is effective to conduct electricity and within the outer spring and the outer piston; and a first insulator between the center contact and the outer spring; and the male component comprises: a male housing; an external pin within the male housing; a center pin that efficiently conducts electricity and is inside the outer pin; and a second insulator between the center pin and the outer pin ". At block S2, a first end of the female housing of the female component may be aligned with a first end of the male housing of the male component. The female component may include a female housing, an outer socket body within the female housing, an outer spring within the outer socket body, an outer piston within the outer socket, a center contact, and a first insulator between the center contact and the outer spring. The outer piston may be a cylindrical pipe section having an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer piston may have a first piston end and a second piston end. The first piston end may have a flat surface in a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner and outer surfaces. The first piston end may include a recess protruding from a planar surface of the first piston end. The second piston end may have a flat inclined surface that is not on a plane substantially perpendicular to the inner surface and the outer surface. The second piston end may be in contact with an end of an external spring. The center contact can efficiently conduct electricity. The center contact may be within the outer spring and the outer piston. The male component may include a male housing, an outer pin within the male housing, a center pin, and a second insulator between the center pin and the outer pin. The center pin can effectively conduct electricity. The center pin may be within the outer pin.

From block S2, the process may continue to block S4, "couple the first end of the female housing with the first end of the male housing. At block S4, the first end of the female housing may be coupled to the first end of the male housing. The first end of the female housing may be configured to couple with the first end of the male housing.

From block S4, the process may continue to block S6, "couple external socket with external pin. At block S6, the external socket of the female component may be coupled with the external pin of the male component. The external socket of the female component may be configured to couple with the external pin of the male component.

From block S6, the process may continue to block S8, "engage outer pin with outer piston. At block S8, the outer pin of the male component may engage with the outer piston of the female component. The external pin of the male component may be configured to engage with the external piston of the female component.

From block S8, the process may continue to block S10, "bring the center contact into contact with the center pin". At block S10, the center contact of the female component may be in contact with the center pin of the male component. The outer piston may be configured to contact the center contact with the center pin when engaged with the outer pin.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.