Importance

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Abstract

A high ambient liquid pressure-resistant electrical connector is shown with an airgun having a solenoid actuated valve mounted on the airgun. A multi-conductor electrical cable is connected by this pressure-resistant connector to a plurality of terminals of the solenoid valve for protecting from ambient liquid the terminals and the adjacent portions of the conductors. This pressure-resistant electrical connector includes a connector housing having an upper end and a lower end, with the lower end of the housing being mounted to the airgun. The connector housing has a fluid sealant chamber for enclosing the electrical terminals and adjacent portions of the conductors connected to the terminals and includes at least one barrier for engaging the cable to protect against ambient liquid seeping past the barrier to the electrical terminals. The connector housing defines a cylindrical space carrying a spring-loaded piston. The inner end of this cylindrical space communicates with the liquid sealant chamber, and the outer end is exposed to the ambient liquid for applying ambient pressure to the piston for urging the piston away from the outer end of the cylindrical space toward the inner end. The fluid sealant chamber and the inner end of the cylindrical space are filled with waterproof sealant fluid material, for example such as waterproof grease. Thus, ambient liquid pressure plus the pressure resulting from spring force on the piston is applied to the waterproof sealant fluid material filling the sealant chamber enclosing the terminals and adjacent portions of the conductors. Consequently, this sealant material is always at a pressure exceeding the pressure of ambient liquid for preventing ambient liquid from seeping into the chamber enclosing the terminals. A second sealant chamber containing fluid sealant material similarly maintained at pressure exceeding ambient pressure is shown surrounding the end of the cable sheath where the conductors exit from the cable sheath for preventing seepage of ambient fluid within the cable sheath around the conductors.

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First Claim