The present invention is a connector assembly mounted between two panels which are movable relative to each other. It includes a connector plug having a plug shell with an exterior flange, and a connector receptacle shell engageable with the plug shell and having an exterior receptacle flange. The receptacle flange has a multiplicity of openings each having an interior conical surface and an interior cylindrical surface. A multiplicity of self-alignment mounting assemblies is provided for mounting the receptacle flange to one panel. Each self-alignment mounting assembly includes an eyelet placed through the flange opening and mounted to the panel. The eyelet has an exterior conical surface engageable with the interior conical surface of each flange opening, and an exterior cylindrical surface with a reduced dimension for maintaining a clearance between the exterior cylindrical surface of the eyelet and the interior cylindrical surface of the flange opening. Each self-alignment mounting assembly further includes an alignment spring for providing cushioning between the receptacle flange and the eyelet. The connector assembly further includes an adjustable ejection assembly assembled in the receptacle shell for applying an ejection force on the plug shell. The multiplicity of self-alignment mounting assemblies provide proper connection between the connector plug and the connector receptacle during misaligned engagement or separation where the plug shell and the receptacle shell are linearly or angularly shifted relative to each other, and the adjustable ejection assembly provides proper ejection force between the plug shell and the receptacle shell for minimum impulse separation.

The present invention is an electromechanical high load separation apparatus with a smooth release which can be utilized in various applications such as a structural separation mechanism for a nut/bolt, a cable release mechanism, or a replacement of cable cutters.

The present invention is a separation nut for fastening and releasing a threaded bolt under remote or manual controls. The preferred embodiment of the present invention separation nut includes a housing, a base, a ramp which is fitted into the base, and a three-piece segmented threaded nut placed on top of the ramp and enclosed by a three-piece segmented spool, which is in turn bounded by a restraining wire. The three-piece segmented threaded nut and the three-piece segmented spool are held in place by a spring biased plunger. Anti-rotation pins are employed for preventing rotation of the segmented nut. A release pin is provided for inhibiting the restraining wire from releasing the segmented spool. The release pin is connected to a flexible shaft.

An end portion of a multiconductor cable (16, 18) is formed about an edge portion (28) of a sheetlike core (27) with portions of bared cable conductors (26) facing outwardly. The other cable (20, 22) is similarly arranged about an edge of a core (34). On the connector parts- (12, 14) being mated the bared cable conductors of cable (16, 18) are brought into contact with the bared conductors of cable (20, 22).

A cylindrical glass blank (10) has one end received within a rotatable fixture (22) supporting the blank with its axis extending vertically. While rotating the fixture and glass blank at a given rate, a laser beam (54) is directed onto the upper blank end face (12) until the glass softens. The combination of the glass softening, glass surface tension and centrifugal force experienced from the rotation, the glass bank is formed into a convex lens (20).