1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates to a sealed diagnostic electrical connector having a retractable seal which retracts to a position to at least partially expose the electrical terminals for probing. The electrical terminals can be probed while the electrical connector is connected to a mating connector, and while the system, to which the connector is applied, is operating.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electrical connectors are often times used outside or otherwise in environments which cause corrosion and the like, which eventually causes discontinuity between at least some of the electrical connections, thus connectors of this type should be sealed, protecting the electrical connection from the hazardous environments and resultant corrosion. Often times when a system becomes inoperable, a possible checkpoint is the electrical connection between the mating electrical connections. However to check the electrical connection, the mating electrical connectors must be disengaged, which could temporarily remedy the situation, as the wiping action between the electrical components during disengagement, could clean the mating electrical components sufficiently enough to temporarily recreate an electrical circuit.
Thus it is desireable to have an electrical connector which is sealed, preventing any stages of corrosion and resultant discontinuity between the electrical mating components. It is also desireable for the electrical connector to include a means of probing the connector, if the system, which is interconnected by the electrical connector, becomes inoperale, without having to disconnect the mating electrical connectors.
One method of testing a faulty electrical circuit, presently utilized within the art, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,718,859. This test element is actually a mating connector which is interconnected between the mating electrical connectors. However to utilize such a test element, the mating connectors to which the system is interconnected, must be disconnected, and the test element inserted between the two disconnected mating electrical connectors. If the connection between the mating connectors is faulty, the wiping action on the mating electrical terminals caused by disconnecting the mating connectors may be sufficient to complete the electrical connection between each of the disconnected electrical connectors and between the respective portion of reconnected test element. It may also be possible that an electrical connection can be made between the test element and the electrical connectors, but when the electrical test element is removed and the electrical connectors replaced, the electrical connectors still do not mate properly, or contact each other properly to create an unimpeded electrical connection.
Other methods of testing inoperable systems include disconnecting the mating connectors which interconnect the system, and testing each half of the system which is disconnected. However, some systems fail to function properly only under certain operating conditions of the system, and therefore to test such a system, the system must be operational while the test is made. If the interconnection between the mating connectors is broken to make the test, the system, is per se inoperable under its normal operating conditions.