CA2182461C - Electrical connector and method of making - Google Patents
Electrical connector and method of making Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2182461C CA2182461C CA002182461A CA2182461A CA2182461C CA 2182461 C CA2182461 C CA 2182461C CA 002182461 A CA002182461 A CA 002182461A CA 2182461 A CA2182461 A CA 2182461A CA 2182461 C CA2182461 C CA 2182461C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- set forth
- connector
- fingers
- bar
- compression
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
- H01R4/28—Clamped connections, spring connections
- H01R4/30—Clamped connections, spring connections utilising a screw or nut clamping member
- H01R4/36—Conductive members located under tip of screw
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R11/00—Individual connecting elements providing two or more spaced connecting locations for conductive members which are, or may be, thereby interconnected, e.g. end pieces for wires or cables supported by the wire or cable and having means for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal, or conductive member, blocks of binding posts
- H01R11/03—Individual connecting elements providing two or more spaced connecting locations for conductive members which are, or may be, thereby interconnected, e.g. end pieces for wires or cables supported by the wire or cable and having means for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal, or conductive member, blocks of binding posts characterised by the relationship between the connecting locations
- H01R11/09—Individual connecting elements providing two or more spaced connecting locations for conductive members which are, or may be, thereby interconnected, e.g. end pieces for wires or cables supported by the wire or cable and having means for facilitating electrical connection to some other wire, terminal, or conductive member, blocks of binding posts characterised by the relationship between the connecting locations the connecting locations being identical
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
- H01R13/52—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
- H01R13/5213—Covers
Abstract
A low resistance electrical connector comprising a flat bar having multiple lateral fingers projecting from the bar to form flat compression pads for attachment of electrical connectors, and an insulating housing surrounding said bar and including relatively short cylindrical projections enclosing a short extent of each finger and presenting a circular shoulder at the proximal end of each finger or the inner end of each compression pad so that a rocket may telescope over the shoulder and seal the connection to each pad. The number of fingers projecting from each bar may vary and they may project from one or both lateral sides of the bar. The connector is made by laser or waterjet cutting a flat sheet or bar of conductive metal such as copper, aluminum or a laminate to form a blank. The sheet is cut to avoid excessive scrap so that the space between fingers becomes the fingers of another blank. The blank is deburred and placed in a mold to formthe insulating housing and cylindrical projections. Holes are drilled and tapped in the projecting pads either before or after molding.
Description
i-- 218246t TITLE: ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF MAKING
This invention re~ates generally to an electrical connector and more particularly to a low cost submersible junction bus connector and to a method ofmaking the connector.
Back~rour~d of the Invention Typically, submersible junction connectors of the compression type are bars with fingered projections extending in one or both lateral directions forming flat pads or taps to which bolted electrical compression connections are made. The conductor extends through the small end of a flexible boot called a rocket whichseals the connection and which has a large end which telescopes over and seals around an insulated annu~ar or cylindrical shoulder. Thus the pad has to be bare, flat and smooth, while the adjacent s~loulder is round and insulated. The pad clamping surface should also be ecceiltric with respect to the circular shoulder to allow room within the inscribed circle oF the shoulder and thus the rocket for the connection and fasteners.
Such connectors have been made by the use of castings which are then machined to form the pads and shoulders. The insulation is usually applied by dip coating. Such connectors can also be made by machining blocks of aluminum or other conductive metal. Whether machining castings or blocks, the operations to make the flat, smooth surface on the fingers for a good low r,zsi~l~,,ce electrical compression connection are exacting and expensive. It would be desirable if the manufacturing process could start wilh an already flat surface.
Many of the prior connectors are made of aluminum or other conductive metal and the cylindrical projections from which the multiple pads or taps are machined are entirely metal saved for the insulating dip coating. Such circular part may be the bulk of the metal and weight used in the connector.
Copper is so",~li",es preferred for electrical connections, but disadvantages of copper are its cost and weight. For more costly metals, excess metal in bulk . ~; 21 8246 1 ERICO.P0291 US
should be avoided, particularly if it is heavy. Also, in prior connectors with machined pads or taps, there is no special relationship between the width of thepad and the lateral distance between the pads other than to allow room to make the connection and properly install the rocket.
It would be desirable if a compression connector could be made from flat metal such as copper sheet or lamina in an economical manner and still properly function and seal with the required rocket.
Junction bus connectors can also be made by welding, brazing, or even press fitting the fingers or pads into the central bus. Such connectors as well as comparable cast connectors exhibit an internal resistancc which may lead to higher operating temperatures and higher e~ctrical losses. This adversely affects the efficiency and useful life of the connl~ctor. It would accordingly be desirable to provide a junction bus connector wit~) a lower internal lesi~Ld,~ce.
Summarv of the Invention A submersible electrical connector is formed from ~lat metal conductive sheet, plate, or bar. Copper, alumin~m, or lamina may be employed. The sheet is cut with a laser or waterjet to form blanks of spines with laterally projecting fingers. The fingers may project to one or both sides of the spine depending upon whether a single sided or double sided connector is to be made. The fingers may vary in number from as few as two to as many as eight or more. A typical connector may have four to six fingers. The fingers are spaced laterally from each other, with a gap slightly wider than the finger width. This allows the sheet orplate to be cut so that the normally scrap material is itse~f a blank having theconfiguration desired. The fingers are slightly narrower than the space between the fingers to allow for the kerf of the laser or waterjet cut and any deburringoperation required.
ERICO.P0291 US
The sheet blank is then placed in a two-part mold which closcs about the blank with the fingers projecting outwardly. The mold parts close and seal aboutthe proximal end of the fingers, with the majority of the finger stickin3 out. The mold parts have generally semi-cylindrical cavities. The closing rim of one moldpart l~as recesses accommodating the projecting fingers and the other part clamps tlle fingers in such recesses. This positions one p~ane or surface of the blank at a diameter of the complete cylindrical nnold cavity when the mold parts are closed.
The mold cavity provides a cylindrical projection with a circular face shoulder over the root or proximal end of each finger. With the plate properly positioned and the mold closed, an insulating material such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) is injected into the mold cavil.y. When at least partially cured, the mold is opened and the connector removed. The insulating material then forms a circular shoulder or face at the root or proxinnal portion of each finger over which the rocket is telescoped. The mold may l~roduce an annular bead around the circular projection to cooperate as an O-ring with the interior of the rocket. The fingers exit the circular shoulder with one sulface on the diameter and the other offset. A
pair of holes are drilled and tapped in the projecting fingers either before or after molding to facilitate the attachment of a conductor lug to the finger pad or tap to make a high quality connector.
The resultant connector has improved internal resistance characteristics which result in lower operating temperatures and lower electrical losses. This l~dl~sldles to a more efficient connector having a longer useful life.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, ~he following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.
ERICO.P0291 US
Brief Descrir~tion of the Drawinns Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of connector in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is an elevation of the connector as seen from the bottom of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of tlle connector as seen from the right hand side of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a side elevation of another form of connector;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of tlle connector seen in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a schematic vertical section through the assembly mold in the molding process;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan ~/iew of the mold assembly;
Figure 8 is a front elevation of the mold assembly as seen from the line 8-8 of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a ~a~",e,~aly top plan view partially in section of a connection with a rocket in place; and Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmrntary view of two ~lanks being formed concurrently.
Detailed Descrirtion of the Preferred Emhc ' Ilb Referring initially to Figures 1-3, there is illustrated one form of connector in accordance with the present inventiol~. The connector is shown generally at 10, and comprises a flat blank shown ger~erally at 12 which includes a flat spine or bar 13 having laterally projecting fingers 14, 15, 16, and 17. Thus the fingers project ~aterally from the spine and each projecting finger is provided with two tapped holes seen at 20 and 21 which enabl~3s a lug of a conductor to be bolted theretoas hereinafter described. The connector illustrated, as to the number of laterally _ ~ 21 82461 ERICO.P0291 US
projecting fingers is typica~ snd it will be appreciated that the number of fingers may vary from as few as two to as n-lany as eight or more.
The connector of Figures 1-3 also includes an insulating cQsing shown generally at 30 which encloses the spine 13 with its main body portion 31 which includes projecting from its front face 32 cylindrical projections 33 34 35 and 36 These projections encase the proximal ends of the fingers 14 15 16, and 17 respective~y. Each projection forms a circular shoulder as seen at 38, 39, 40 and 41, from which the bare fingers 14, 15 16, and 17 project. Thus the distal ends of such fingers are flat and ba~e, not covered by the insulating material. It is the projecting fingers which form the flat compression pads or taps for the connection of conductors.
As seen more clearly in Figures 2 and 3 the top or upper surface of the compression pads provided by the bare projecting fingers are disposed dia",~i,ic.,lly with the circle of the shoulders which encaso the proximal end of each finger.
Each projectiorl near the faco 32 is provided with an annular bead as seen at 4344 45, and 46 respectively. As hereinafter described such beads act as 0-rings to form a seal with the rocket.
While Figures 1-3 illustrate a single sided four position connector, Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a double sided four position connector. The connector of Figures 4 and 5 comprises a flat metal blank shown generally at 50 which includes a central fiattened spine or bar 51 with laterally projecting fingers on each side. The fingers on the left hand side of Figures 4 and 5 are shown at 52, 53 54, and 55 respectively, while the fingers on the right hand side are shown at 56 57, 58, and 59. Each finger is provided with two tapped holes seen at 60 and 61 so that a compression connection can quickly be made to the bare exposed surface of such fingers.
The connector 50 also includes an insu~ating casing 63 which has parallel side walls 64 and 65 from which project circular shoulders forming projections 66, ERICO.P0291 US
67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, and 73 for tl1e fingers 52 through 59, respectiveiy. Each projection is proYided with an annular O-ring-likc bead as seen at 75 and 76 in Figure 4 relatively close to the casing faces 64 and 65. Like the connector of Figures 1-3, the flat metal blank is offset with respect to the circular face of the shoulders formed by the projections so that the upper surface of each of the projecting fingers as seen in Figure 4 is on a diameter of the circular face of the respective projection.
The insulating casing is preferably made of an elastomeric material such as an EPDM while the blank formincJ the bus bar and the projecting fingers is made of a flat or planar sheet of copper, aluminum, or a conductive lamination.
Referring now to Figures 6-8, there is illustrated schematically the mold assembly for providing the casing 30 for the embodiment of the connector shown in Figures 1-3. The process utilizes an upper mold part 80 and a lower mold part81. The mold parts may be mountedl in a press or clamp with the lower part 81 situated on fixed base 82, while the l~pper mold part is secured to platen 83 mounted on the rod 84 of clamp pist~n-cylinder assembly 85. As seen more clearly in Figure 8, the mold parts w~len closed have abutting parting faces seen at 86 and 87, respectively, which is nol mally at the mid-point or about which the cavity is symmetrical.
As seen in Figure 6, on the rig~t hand side of the mold as illustrated, the parting faces are provided with a sprue opening 89 which receives the tip 90 of injection molding machine shown generally at 91. The machine typically includes a heated barrel 92 and a rec ",roc~ g screw 93 which heats and pl~ctici~es the elastomer in the chamber 95. As the screw rotates, it retracts to the right handside of Figure 6 and then moves forvvard or to the left for injection as indicated by the double arrow 96. The injection c)ccurs after the blank 12 has been placed inthe mold and the mold parts closed.
6 _, .--~ i 2 1 8246 1 ERICO.P0291 US
In order to accommodate the fingers of the bl%nk, each parting plane 86 of the mold part 81 is provided with a closely fitting recess seen at 98 in Figure 6.
The blank is thus positioned in a bott,~m mold part when the mold p3rts are opened with the fingers seated in the notche~i 98 and projecting beyond the mold part.
The position of the blank may be controlled by a suitable gauge, not shown. The mold parts are then closed and the parting plane surface 80 of the upper mold part 80 clamps against the top of the projecting finger. The mold parts upon injection then form the complete casing which includes the projecting circular shoulders enciosing the proximal end of each fir~ger and including the annular ridge or bead which is formed by the semi-circular grooves 99 and 100.
After the encasement is molded to form the insulation with tl1e annular sealing shoulders at the proximal end of each finger, the insulation is at leastpartially cured before the mold is ope~ed and the connector removed from the mold. If desired, post heating may be employed to accelerate the cure.
Otherwise, the connector will complete its cure at room temperature.
Referring now to Figure 9, there is illustrated a rocket at 104 which encloses and seals the electrical compression connection shown generally at 105. The rocket includes a smaller stepped end 1 0O designed tightly to girdle the insulation 107 of conductor 108. The conductor bare end 109 of the conductor is secured in tubular sleeve 110 of lug 1 11. The conductor may be secured to the lug by soldering, brazing, welding, or crimpir~g, for example. The lug includes a flat pad 112 and the flat pad is secured to the bare pad of the exposed finger by the fasteners 1 13 and 1 14. When the fastener are tightened, a good compression connection is made and the rocket is then slid to the left as seen so that its larger end or mouth 116 which has a slightly increased wall thickness 117 telescopes over the shoulder 38 of the projection 33. The ridge 43 engages the elastic interior of the mouth 116 acting as al1 O-ring seal. With the rocket in position as 7 _, .--. 2 1 8246 1 ERICO.P0291 US
shown in Figure 9, a high quality yet low cost submersible co",plession electrical connection is made.
Referring to Figure 10 snd back to Figures 1 and 5, it will be noted that when the blank is formed from the flat or planar conductive material, the distance between adjacent fingers is siightly wider than tlle fingers themselves. The dimensional variation is to allow for cutting of the blank material and subsequent deburring. In t~lis manner, two adiacent blanks shown at 120 and 121 in Figure 10 may be formed at the same time by the cutting operation with minimal scrap orwaste in the process. The cutting operation is preferably performed by a programmed laser or waterjet cutter. In any event, as the fingers 123, 124, and 125 of the blank 120 are cut at tile kerf 126, so are the fingers 127, 128, and 129 of the blank 121, and thus two blanks are being formed simultaneously. Afterthe blank is deburred, it may be tinned or tin plated to minimize corrosion and help maintain a low resistance connection Ibetween the compression pad and lug.
As can now be seen there is provided a low cost, yet high quality low resistance submersible electrical connector which is made by blanking a flat sheet of conductive metal to form a bar or spine blanlc having a plurality of laterally projecting fingers. The blank may be tin coated then inserted into a mold to encase the bar in insulation while leaving the fingers bare to form compression pads. As the insulation is molded onto the blank, the insulation is formed to provide annular sealing shoulders at t~le proximal end of each finger. After theinsulation is cured, an electrica~ connection is made by clamping to the finger pad and simply telescoping the rocket over the annular shoulder formed thus completely enclosing and sealing the electrical connection made.
This invention re~ates generally to an electrical connector and more particularly to a low cost submersible junction bus connector and to a method ofmaking the connector.
Back~rour~d of the Invention Typically, submersible junction connectors of the compression type are bars with fingered projections extending in one or both lateral directions forming flat pads or taps to which bolted electrical compression connections are made. The conductor extends through the small end of a flexible boot called a rocket whichseals the connection and which has a large end which telescopes over and seals around an insulated annu~ar or cylindrical shoulder. Thus the pad has to be bare, flat and smooth, while the adjacent s~loulder is round and insulated. The pad clamping surface should also be ecceiltric with respect to the circular shoulder to allow room within the inscribed circle oF the shoulder and thus the rocket for the connection and fasteners.
Such connectors have been made by the use of castings which are then machined to form the pads and shoulders. The insulation is usually applied by dip coating. Such connectors can also be made by machining blocks of aluminum or other conductive metal. Whether machining castings or blocks, the operations to make the flat, smooth surface on the fingers for a good low r,zsi~l~,,ce electrical compression connection are exacting and expensive. It would be desirable if the manufacturing process could start wilh an already flat surface.
Many of the prior connectors are made of aluminum or other conductive metal and the cylindrical projections from which the multiple pads or taps are machined are entirely metal saved for the insulating dip coating. Such circular part may be the bulk of the metal and weight used in the connector.
Copper is so",~li",es preferred for electrical connections, but disadvantages of copper are its cost and weight. For more costly metals, excess metal in bulk . ~; 21 8246 1 ERICO.P0291 US
should be avoided, particularly if it is heavy. Also, in prior connectors with machined pads or taps, there is no special relationship between the width of thepad and the lateral distance between the pads other than to allow room to make the connection and properly install the rocket.
It would be desirable if a compression connector could be made from flat metal such as copper sheet or lamina in an economical manner and still properly function and seal with the required rocket.
Junction bus connectors can also be made by welding, brazing, or even press fitting the fingers or pads into the central bus. Such connectors as well as comparable cast connectors exhibit an internal resistancc which may lead to higher operating temperatures and higher e~ctrical losses. This adversely affects the efficiency and useful life of the connl~ctor. It would accordingly be desirable to provide a junction bus connector wit~) a lower internal lesi~Ld,~ce.
Summarv of the Invention A submersible electrical connector is formed from ~lat metal conductive sheet, plate, or bar. Copper, alumin~m, or lamina may be employed. The sheet is cut with a laser or waterjet to form blanks of spines with laterally projecting fingers. The fingers may project to one or both sides of the spine depending upon whether a single sided or double sided connector is to be made. The fingers may vary in number from as few as two to as many as eight or more. A typical connector may have four to six fingers. The fingers are spaced laterally from each other, with a gap slightly wider than the finger width. This allows the sheet orplate to be cut so that the normally scrap material is itse~f a blank having theconfiguration desired. The fingers are slightly narrower than the space between the fingers to allow for the kerf of the laser or waterjet cut and any deburringoperation required.
ERICO.P0291 US
The sheet blank is then placed in a two-part mold which closcs about the blank with the fingers projecting outwardly. The mold parts close and seal aboutthe proximal end of the fingers, with the majority of the finger stickin3 out. The mold parts have generally semi-cylindrical cavities. The closing rim of one moldpart l~as recesses accommodating the projecting fingers and the other part clamps tlle fingers in such recesses. This positions one p~ane or surface of the blank at a diameter of the complete cylindrical nnold cavity when the mold parts are closed.
The mold cavity provides a cylindrical projection with a circular face shoulder over the root or proximal end of each finger. With the plate properly positioned and the mold closed, an insulating material such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) is injected into the mold cavil.y. When at least partially cured, the mold is opened and the connector removed. The insulating material then forms a circular shoulder or face at the root or proxinnal portion of each finger over which the rocket is telescoped. The mold may l~roduce an annular bead around the circular projection to cooperate as an O-ring with the interior of the rocket. The fingers exit the circular shoulder with one sulface on the diameter and the other offset. A
pair of holes are drilled and tapped in the projecting fingers either before or after molding to facilitate the attachment of a conductor lug to the finger pad or tap to make a high quality connector.
The resultant connector has improved internal resistance characteristics which result in lower operating temperatures and lower electrical losses. This l~dl~sldles to a more efficient connector having a longer useful life.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, ~he following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.
ERICO.P0291 US
Brief Descrir~tion of the Drawinns Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of connector in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is an elevation of the connector as seen from the bottom of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of tlle connector as seen from the right hand side of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a side elevation of another form of connector;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of tlle connector seen in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a schematic vertical section through the assembly mold in the molding process;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan ~/iew of the mold assembly;
Figure 8 is a front elevation of the mold assembly as seen from the line 8-8 of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a ~a~",e,~aly top plan view partially in section of a connection with a rocket in place; and Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmrntary view of two ~lanks being formed concurrently.
Detailed Descrirtion of the Preferred Emhc ' Ilb Referring initially to Figures 1-3, there is illustrated one form of connector in accordance with the present inventiol~. The connector is shown generally at 10, and comprises a flat blank shown ger~erally at 12 which includes a flat spine or bar 13 having laterally projecting fingers 14, 15, 16, and 17. Thus the fingers project ~aterally from the spine and each projecting finger is provided with two tapped holes seen at 20 and 21 which enabl~3s a lug of a conductor to be bolted theretoas hereinafter described. The connector illustrated, as to the number of laterally _ ~ 21 82461 ERICO.P0291 US
projecting fingers is typica~ snd it will be appreciated that the number of fingers may vary from as few as two to as n-lany as eight or more.
The connector of Figures 1-3 also includes an insulating cQsing shown generally at 30 which encloses the spine 13 with its main body portion 31 which includes projecting from its front face 32 cylindrical projections 33 34 35 and 36 These projections encase the proximal ends of the fingers 14 15 16, and 17 respective~y. Each projection forms a circular shoulder as seen at 38, 39, 40 and 41, from which the bare fingers 14, 15 16, and 17 project. Thus the distal ends of such fingers are flat and ba~e, not covered by the insulating material. It is the projecting fingers which form the flat compression pads or taps for the connection of conductors.
As seen more clearly in Figures 2 and 3 the top or upper surface of the compression pads provided by the bare projecting fingers are disposed dia",~i,ic.,lly with the circle of the shoulders which encaso the proximal end of each finger.
Each projectiorl near the faco 32 is provided with an annular bead as seen at 4344 45, and 46 respectively. As hereinafter described such beads act as 0-rings to form a seal with the rocket.
While Figures 1-3 illustrate a single sided four position connector, Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a double sided four position connector. The connector of Figures 4 and 5 comprises a flat metal blank shown generally at 50 which includes a central fiattened spine or bar 51 with laterally projecting fingers on each side. The fingers on the left hand side of Figures 4 and 5 are shown at 52, 53 54, and 55 respectively, while the fingers on the right hand side are shown at 56 57, 58, and 59. Each finger is provided with two tapped holes seen at 60 and 61 so that a compression connection can quickly be made to the bare exposed surface of such fingers.
The connector 50 also includes an insu~ating casing 63 which has parallel side walls 64 and 65 from which project circular shoulders forming projections 66, ERICO.P0291 US
67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, and 73 for tl1e fingers 52 through 59, respectiveiy. Each projection is proYided with an annular O-ring-likc bead as seen at 75 and 76 in Figure 4 relatively close to the casing faces 64 and 65. Like the connector of Figures 1-3, the flat metal blank is offset with respect to the circular face of the shoulders formed by the projections so that the upper surface of each of the projecting fingers as seen in Figure 4 is on a diameter of the circular face of the respective projection.
The insulating casing is preferably made of an elastomeric material such as an EPDM while the blank formincJ the bus bar and the projecting fingers is made of a flat or planar sheet of copper, aluminum, or a conductive lamination.
Referring now to Figures 6-8, there is illustrated schematically the mold assembly for providing the casing 30 for the embodiment of the connector shown in Figures 1-3. The process utilizes an upper mold part 80 and a lower mold part81. The mold parts may be mountedl in a press or clamp with the lower part 81 situated on fixed base 82, while the l~pper mold part is secured to platen 83 mounted on the rod 84 of clamp pist~n-cylinder assembly 85. As seen more clearly in Figure 8, the mold parts w~len closed have abutting parting faces seen at 86 and 87, respectively, which is nol mally at the mid-point or about which the cavity is symmetrical.
As seen in Figure 6, on the rig~t hand side of the mold as illustrated, the parting faces are provided with a sprue opening 89 which receives the tip 90 of injection molding machine shown generally at 91. The machine typically includes a heated barrel 92 and a rec ",roc~ g screw 93 which heats and pl~ctici~es the elastomer in the chamber 95. As the screw rotates, it retracts to the right handside of Figure 6 and then moves forvvard or to the left for injection as indicated by the double arrow 96. The injection c)ccurs after the blank 12 has been placed inthe mold and the mold parts closed.
6 _, .--~ i 2 1 8246 1 ERICO.P0291 US
In order to accommodate the fingers of the bl%nk, each parting plane 86 of the mold part 81 is provided with a closely fitting recess seen at 98 in Figure 6.
The blank is thus positioned in a bott,~m mold part when the mold p3rts are opened with the fingers seated in the notche~i 98 and projecting beyond the mold part.
The position of the blank may be controlled by a suitable gauge, not shown. The mold parts are then closed and the parting plane surface 80 of the upper mold part 80 clamps against the top of the projecting finger. The mold parts upon injection then form the complete casing which includes the projecting circular shoulders enciosing the proximal end of each fir~ger and including the annular ridge or bead which is formed by the semi-circular grooves 99 and 100.
After the encasement is molded to form the insulation with tl1e annular sealing shoulders at the proximal end of each finger, the insulation is at leastpartially cured before the mold is ope~ed and the connector removed from the mold. If desired, post heating may be employed to accelerate the cure.
Otherwise, the connector will complete its cure at room temperature.
Referring now to Figure 9, there is illustrated a rocket at 104 which encloses and seals the electrical compression connection shown generally at 105. The rocket includes a smaller stepped end 1 0O designed tightly to girdle the insulation 107 of conductor 108. The conductor bare end 109 of the conductor is secured in tubular sleeve 110 of lug 1 11. The conductor may be secured to the lug by soldering, brazing, welding, or crimpir~g, for example. The lug includes a flat pad 112 and the flat pad is secured to the bare pad of the exposed finger by the fasteners 1 13 and 1 14. When the fastener are tightened, a good compression connection is made and the rocket is then slid to the left as seen so that its larger end or mouth 116 which has a slightly increased wall thickness 117 telescopes over the shoulder 38 of the projection 33. The ridge 43 engages the elastic interior of the mouth 116 acting as al1 O-ring seal. With the rocket in position as 7 _, .--. 2 1 8246 1 ERICO.P0291 US
shown in Figure 9, a high quality yet low cost submersible co",plession electrical connection is made.
Referring to Figure 10 snd back to Figures 1 and 5, it will be noted that when the blank is formed from the flat or planar conductive material, the distance between adjacent fingers is siightly wider than tlle fingers themselves. The dimensional variation is to allow for cutting of the blank material and subsequent deburring. In t~lis manner, two adiacent blanks shown at 120 and 121 in Figure 10 may be formed at the same time by the cutting operation with minimal scrap orwaste in the process. The cutting operation is preferably performed by a programmed laser or waterjet cutter. In any event, as the fingers 123, 124, and 125 of the blank 120 are cut at tile kerf 126, so are the fingers 127, 128, and 129 of the blank 121, and thus two blanks are being formed simultaneously. Afterthe blank is deburred, it may be tinned or tin plated to minimize corrosion and help maintain a low resistance connection Ibetween the compression pad and lug.
As can now be seen there is provided a low cost, yet high quality low resistance submersible electrical connector which is made by blanking a flat sheet of conductive metal to form a bar or spine blanlc having a plurality of laterally projecting fingers. The blank may be tin coated then inserted into a mold to encase the bar in insulation while leaving the fingers bare to form compression pads. As the insulation is molded onto the blank, the insulation is formed to provide annular sealing shoulders at t~le proximal end of each finger. After theinsulation is cured, an electrica~ connection is made by clamping to the finger pad and simply telescoping the rocket over the annular shoulder formed thus completely enclosing and sealing the electrical connection made.
Claims (27)
1. A submersible electrical connector comprising a flat bar having laterally projecting fingers for forming flat pads for compression connections, and an insulating casing surrounding said bar, but leaving a portion of said fingersexposed, said casing including a cylindrical projection forming a cylindrical shoulder near the proximal end of each finger to seal a rocket thereon to enclose and seal the connections.
2. A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein each finger includes flat surfaces, one of which forms a diameter of the cylindrical projection and shoulder so that the flat pad compression connection surface is in the middle of the shoulder.
3. A connector as set forth in claim 2 including an annular bead on said cylindrical projection to act as an O-ring against the interior of the rocket.
4. A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flat bar has fingers projecting to only one side thereof.
5. A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flat bar has fingers projecting to both sides thereof.
6. A connector as set forth in claim 1 including a conductor with a lug clamped to said pad.
7. A connector as set forth in claim 6 including a rocket enclosing the connection sealed around the conductor at one end and around the projection and shoulder at the other end.
8. An electrical compression connector comprising a flat bar having multiple lateral fingers forming compression pads for compression style electrical connections, and an insulated casing over said bar including projecting shoulders at the proximal end of each finger defining the inner limit of the compression pad, and means to seal a rocket to the respective shoulder when a compression connection is made.
9. A connector as set forth in claim 8 wherein said shoulders are circular and are at the ends of short cylindrical projections.
10. A connector as set forth in claim 9 wherein each finger includes flat surfaces, one of which forms a diameter of the cylindrical projection and shoulder so that the flat pad compression connection surface is in the middle of the shoulder.
11. A connector as set forth in claim 10 including an annular bead on said cylindrical projection to act as an O-ring with regard to the interior of the rocket.
12. A connector as set forth in claim 11 including a conductor with a lug clamped to said pad.
13. A connector as set forth in claim 12 including a rocket enclosing the connection sealed around the conductor at one end and around the projection and shoulder at the other end.
14. A method of making a submersible compression electrical connector comprising the steps of blanking a flat sheet of conductive metal to form a bar blank having a plurality of laterally projecting fingers, inserting the blank in a mold to encase the bar in insulation while leaving the fingers bare to form compression pads, molding such insulation to form annular sealing shoulders at the proximal end of each finger, curing the insulation, and removing the connector from the mold.
15. A method as set forth in claim 14 including using two mold parts to form the insulation.
16. A method as set forth in claim 15 including the step of accommodating the fingers in recesses in one mold part while clamping the fingers with the other mold part.
17. A method as set forth in claim 16 including positioning said fingers in the mold so that the compression pads substantially form a diameter of the annular sealing shoulders.
18. A method as set forth in claim 17 including the step of placing the fingers in recesses in one mold part to position the pads on such diameter.
19. A method as set forth in claim 18 including the step of clamping the fingers with the other mold part.
20. A method as set forth in claim 14 including the step of forming two blanks concurrently.
21. A method as set forth in claim 20 including the step of laser cutting the sheet.
22. A method as set forth in claim 21 including the step of deburring the blank.
23. A method as set forth in claim 20 including the step of waterjet cutting the sheet.
24. A method as set forth in claim 23 including the step of deburring the blank.
25. A method as set forth in claim 20 including the step of tinning the blanks after forming.
26. A method as set forth in claim 14 including the step of installing a compression connection on one or more of the pads.
27. A method as set forth in claim 26 including the step of enclosing the connection with a rocket sealed around said respective annular sealing shoulder.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US666,010 | 1996-06-19 | ||
| US08/666,010 US5915998A (en) | 1996-06-19 | 1996-06-19 | Electrical connector and method of making |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2182461A1 CA2182461A1 (en) | 1997-12-20 |
| CA2182461C true CA2182461C (en) | 2001-08-07 |
Family
ID=24672450
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002182461A Expired - Lifetime CA2182461C (en) | 1996-06-19 | 1996-07-31 | Electrical connector and method of making |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5915998A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2182461C (en) |
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| TW201628277A (en) * | 2015-01-26 | 2016-08-01 | 台達電子工業股份有限公司 | Connector structure and transmission line |
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| US9570730B2 (en) * | 2015-05-29 | 2017-02-14 | Tyco Electronics Corporation | Bridge power connector |
| DE102017222427A1 (en) * | 2016-12-16 | 2018-06-21 | Yazaki Corporation | Wiring element, manufacturing method for a wiring member and wiring member connection structure |
| US11189887B2 (en) * | 2017-03-16 | 2021-11-30 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Busbar assembly for an electrified vehicle and method of forming the same |
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| US3183476A (en) * | 1960-08-26 | 1965-05-11 | Burndy Corp | Connector |
| US4241975A (en) * | 1979-03-22 | 1980-12-30 | International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation | Cast bus bar connector having hollow cross-sectional area |
| US5533912A (en) * | 1995-01-23 | 1996-07-09 | Erico International Corp. | Submersible electrical set screw connector |
-
1996
- 1996-06-19 US US08/666,010 patent/US5915998A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-07-31 CA CA002182461A patent/CA2182461C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2182461A1 (en) | 1997-12-20 |
| US5915998A (en) | 1999-06-29 |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
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