BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention relates generally to medium voltage connector assemblies for industrial electrical power systems, and more particularly to industrial cable secureness attachment assemblies and methods for locking connector assemblies used in hazardous environments.

Conventional connector assemblies are known to include a plug coupled to a receptacle with electrical contacts included inside. The connectors, including plugs and receptacles, are in turn used to interconnect to electrical cables.

In hazardous industrial environments, such as mines, refineries and petroleum chemical plants, ignitable gas, vapors or dust or otherwise flammable substances are present in the ambient environment of the connector assemblies. In such environments, additional safeguards are therefore required, including but not necessarily limited to securing electrical connections inside the connectors to prevent possible ignition risks associated with a disconnection of a circuit under load in the hazardous environment.

While known secureness mechanisms and techniques are effective to provide the desired locking interconnections of connectors and electrical cables for industrial applications in hazardous environments, they are prone to certain problems and improvements are desired.

