Umbilical connectors and in-flight disconnects

Mil-Aero, defense and space connectors, backshells and contacts

Eaton offers an extensive range of mechanically, electrically, and redundantly-actuated umbilical connectors and in-flight disconnects including heritage-proven G&H Technology solutions.

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Core features

Electrically, mechanically, and redundantly actuated connectors utilizing integral lanyards, pin pullers and cable assemblies.
Highly-integrated umbilical connectors that support electrical, fluid and pneumatic connectivity.
Innovative, reusable solutions such as umbilical connectors that utilize MIL-DTL-38999 derived shells and inserts to reduce costs, shorten development time, and facilitate upgradeability

Umbilical connectors

The umbilical receptacle depicted to the left has extensive heritage providing electrical and pneumatic connectivity between launch vehicles and gantries. Redundancy is facilitated by dual lanyards and release collets. The electrical-deadfacing door automatically closes when the connector is unmated.

Additional heritage-proven capabilities include:

Blind mate, rack and panel solutions.
Mechanical, electrical, and redundant actuation mechanisms.
MIL-DTL-38999 plugs with single and dual-lanyard releases.
Ceramic-insert receptacles that withstand temperatures up to 5000 degrees F.

In-flight disconnects

A broad range of flight-proven technologies can be leveraged to quickly develop custom in-flight disconnects. Design options include:

Fully integrated connector-and-actuator solutions in mechanically and electrically initiated configurations.
Release redundancy facilitated by any combination of mechanical lanyard releases and/or electrical pin puller release mechanisms.
Anti-bind roll-off shells, 360-degree EMI protection, electrically and thermally deadfaced configurations, push-pull snap action couplings, and visual and tactile mating indicators.
Single and dual-lanyard-release connectors in custom, MIL-DTL-38999 Series III and Series IV form factors.

Interstage-raceway connectors

This interstage-raceway connector incorporates three isolated insert compartments for flight, ordinance, and instrumentation contact groups and has been qualified for use on an ICBM.

Mechanical release is initiated by a lanyard during missile-stage separation. The connector separation sequence is assisted by an integral ejector spring.

Positive mating of this mission-critical connector is facilitated by a center-screw mechanism that provides mechanical leverage and a visual indicator that confirms mating status.

Innovative, cost effective, reusable solutions

One example of Eaton's track record of innovation is the launch-vehicle umbilical connector (depicted to the left) that utilizes MIL-DTL-38999 Series III derived shells and inserts mounted on launch vehicle and gantry-cable umbilical plates; design features include:

MIL-DTL-38999 connector designs reduce costs, increase reliability and provide the capability to readily upgrade the inset arrangements to support changing mission requirements.
Umbilical plate separation is facilitated by a resetable release mechanism based on a separation-nut design with over 40 years of flight heritage.
Environmentally-sealed feedthroughs and mounting plates protect expensive avionics equipment against water intrusion during splashdown.

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Umbilical connectors and in-flight disconnects

Core features

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