Patent Grant
11837825
This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. CN 202010985542.4 filed on Sep. 18, 2020 in the China National Intellectual Property Administration, the whole disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly, to an electrical power connector for mating with a bus bar.
Power connectors according to the prior art typically include an insulation housing and positive and negative terminals disposed in the insulation housing. The power connectors may electrically connect a first wire and a second wire to a first bus bar and a second bus bar by the positive terminal and the negative terminal, respectively. Further, according to the prior art, the positive terminal and the negative terminal are generally arranged at both sides of the insulation housing in a width direction thereof, and the first wire and the second wire are usually electrically connected to outer sides of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power connector, respectively, which may increase a size of the power connector in the width direction. In addition, the positive terminal and the negative terminal are typically flat terminals, which may unnecessarily increase the width of the connector.
Accordingly, improved power connectors suitable for mating to one or more bus bars are desired.
A connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a first terminal assembly having a longitudinally extending first plate-shaped fixing portion, a longitudinally extending first terminal portion, and a substantially laterally extending first connection portion to connect the first plate-shaped fixing portion and the first terminal portion. A second terminal assembly is arranged opposite to, and spaced apart from, the first terminal assembly and includes a longitudinally extending second plate-shaped fixing portion, a longitudinally extending second terminal portion, and a substantially laterally extending second connection portion to connect the second plate-shaped fixing portion and the second terminal portion. A spacing between the first plate-shaped fixing portion and the second plate-shaped fixing portion is greater than a spacing between the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein the like reference numerals refer to the like elements. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a connector includes a first terminal assembly having a longitudinally extending first plate-shaped fixing portion, a longitudinally extending first terminal portion, and a substantially laterally extending first connection portion to connect the first plate-shaped fixing portion and the first terminal portion. A second terminal assembly of the connector is arranged opposite to the first terminal assembly at intervals and has a longitudinally extending second plate-shaped fixing portion, a longitudinally extending second terminal portion, and a substantially laterally extending second connection portion to connect the second plate-shaped fixing portion and the second terminal portion. A spacing between the first plate-shaped fixing portion and the second plate-shaped fixing portion is greater than a spacing between the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion.
As shown in
The connector further includes a first wire 21 and a second wire 22. The first wire 21 is electrically connected to the first terminal assembly 210 at one end thereof. The second wire 22 is electrically connected to the second terminal assembly 220 at one end thereof. The first wire 21 and the second wire 22 are electrically connected to opposite inner sides of the first terminal assembly 210 and the second terminal assembly 220, respectively.
Still referring to
The connector further includes a second conductive block 320 electrically connected to an inner surface of the second plate-shaped fixing portion of the second terminal assembly 220. The second wire 22 has a second electrical connection piece 22a crimped on one end thereof. The second electrical connection piece 22a is configured to be electrically connected to an inner surface of the second conductive block 320. The second electrical connection piece 22a may be connected to the inner surface of the second conductive block 320 by welding, riveting or bolting, for example.
Referring now to
The first plate-shaped fixing portion of the first terminal assembly 210 is formed and defined by the first substrate portion 211b and the second substrate portion 212b together. The first terminal portion of the first terminal assembly 210 is formed and defined by the first cantilever portion 211d and the second cantilever portion 212d together. The first connection portion of the first terminal assembly 210 is formed and defined by the first connection plate portion 211c and the second connection plate portion 212c together. The first cantilever portion 211d has a plurality of first elastic arms 211a, and the second cantilever portion 212d has a plurality of second elastic arms 212a. The plurality of first cantilever portion 212a and the plurality of second elastic arms 212a are alternatively arranged in a row to be in electrical contact with one first bus bar 11.
The second terminal assembly 220 includes a third terminal 221 and a fourth terminal 222 abuts or is laminated on an outer side of the third terminal 221. The third terminal 221 has a third substrate portion 221b at one end thereof, a third cantilever portion 221d at the other end thereof, and a third connection plate portion 221c to connect the third substrate portion 221b and the third cantilever portion 221d. The fourth terminal 222 has a fourth substrate portion 222b at one end thereof, a fourth cantilever portion 222d at the other end thereof, and a fourth connection plate portion 222c to connect the fourth substrate portion 222b and the fourth cantilever portion 222d. In one exemplary embodiment, the third substrate portion 221b abuts or is laminated on an inner surface of the fourth substrate portion 222b, and the second conductive block 320 abuts or is laminated on an inner surface of the third substrate portion 221b.
The second plate-shaped fixing portion of the second terminal assembly 220 is formed and defined by the third substrate portion 221b and the fourth substrate portion 222b together. The second terminal portion of the second terminal assembly 220 is formed and defined by the third cantilever portion 221d and the fourth cantilever portion 222d together. The second connection portion of the second terminal assembly 220 is formed and defined by the third connection plate portion 221c and the fourth connection plate portion 222c together. The third cantilever portion 221d has a plurality of third elastic arms 221a, and the fourth cantilever portion 222d has a plurality of fourth elastic arms 222a. The plurality of third elastic arms 221a and the plurality of fourth elastic arms 222a are alternatively arranged in a row to be in electrical contact with one second bus bar 12.
Still referring to
The first conductive block 310, the first terminal 211 and the second terminal 212 are riveted together by a first rivet 410. The second conductive block 320, the third terminal 221 and the fourth terminal 222 are riveted together by a second rivet 420. The first auxiliary terminal 201, the first terminal 211 and the second terminal 212 are riveted together by a third rivet 510. The second auxiliary terminal 202, the third terminal 221 and the fourth terminal 222 are riveted together by a fourth rivet 520.
The connector further includes an insulation housing 100 into which the first terminal assembly 210 and the second terminal assembly 220 are mounted. The first conductive block 310, the first terminal 211 and the second terminal 212 are connected to the insulation housing 100 by a first pin 610. The second conductive block 320, the third terminal 221 and the fourth terminal 222 are connected to the insulation housing 100 by a second pin 620.
The first terminal assembly 210 is identical to the second terminal assembly 220, and the first terminal assembly 210 and the second terminal assembly 220 are symmetrically arranged in the insulation housing 100. Each of the first terminal 211, the second terminal 212, the third terminal 221 and the fourth terminal 222 are bent into a zigzag or Z shape (i.e., a shape having alternating opposite turns along its length), so that the first terminal assembly 210 and the second terminal assembly 220 are in a zigzag or Z shape.
The first wire 21 and the second wire 22 extend into the insulation housing 100 from one side of the insulation housing 100, and the first bus bar 11 and the second bus bar 12 are inserted into the insulation housing 100 from the other side of the insulation housing 100.
A first elastic contact arm 210a of the first terminal assembly 210 is formed by the plurality of first elastic arms 211a and the plurality of second elastic arms 212a together. A second elastic contact arm 220a of the second terminal assembly 220 is formed by the plurality of third elastic arms 221a and the plurality of fourth elastic arms 222a together.
In the exemplary illustrated embodiment, a slot 110 is formed in the other side of the insulation housing 100, and the first elastic contact arm 210a and the second elastic contact arm 220a are located in the slot 110 and adapted to be brought into electrical contact with the first bus bar 11 and the second bus bar 12 of the bus bar plug assembly 10 inserted into the slot 110, respectively.
The bus bar plug assembly 10 further includes an insulation separation layer 13 disposed between the first bus bar 11 and the second bus bar 12, and the first bus bar 11 and the second bus bar 12 are integrated on both sides of the insulation separation layer 13. The bus bar plug assembly 10 further includes an insulation body 14, in which the first bus bar 11, the second bus bar 12 and the insulation separation layer 13 integrated together are assembled.
In one embodiment, the connector includes a plurality of first wires 21 arranged in a row and electrically connected to the first terminal assembly 210 so as to be electrically connected to the first bus bar 11 via the first terminal assembly 210. The connector includes a plurality of second wires 22 arranged in a row and electrically connected to the second terminal assembly 220 so as to be electrically connected to the second bus bar 12 via the second terminal assembly 220.
According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the connector may be a power connector. In this case, one of the first wire 21 and the second wire 22 is a positive wire, and the other is a negative wire. Further, one of the first bus bar 11 and the second bus bar 12 is a positive bus bar, and the other is a negative bus bar.
It should be appreciated for those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrated, and not restrictive. For example, many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various features described in different embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle.
Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, an element recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202010985542.4 | Sep 2020 | CN | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9142902 | Glick et al. | Sep 2015 | B2 |
| 9484656 | Doi et al. | Nov 2016 | B2 |
| 10193258 | Balser | Jan 2019 | B2 |
| 10826215 | Zhang | Nov 2020 | B2 |
| 11177599 | Horning | Nov 2021 | B2 |
| 11211734 | Hung | Dec 2021 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 104347994 | Feb 2015 | CN |
| 108258483 | Jul 2018 | CN |
| 109510015 | Mar 2019 | CN |
| 110391528 | Oct 2019 | CN |
| 111564721 | Aug 2020 | CN |
| 2015035352 | Feb 2015 | JP |
| 109111668 | Apr 2020 | TW |
| Entry |
|---|
| Chinese First Office Action dated May 31, 2023 with English translation thereof, corresponding to Application No. 202010985542.4, 20 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220094122 A1 | Mar 2022 | US |
