Patent Grant
9484666
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) to Chinese Patent Application No. 201220447084.X, filed on Sep. 4, 2012, and to International Patent Application No. PCT/IB2013/058153, filed on Aug. 30, 2013.
The invention is generally related to an electrical connector, and more specifically, to an electrical connector that transmits a high current.
Conventionally, electrical connector assemblies designed to transfer high levels of current are generally made of a precious metal like copper, where the metal has a large thickness. In addition, a costly metal, such as gold or silver, is plated on the precious metal to decrease a contact resistance and reduce temperature under the high current.
Chinese patent publication No. 1206509A discloses a conventional electrical connection terminal having a housing electrically connected to a conductive wire. The housing includes an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet. At least three spring contacts are integrally formed on the housing at different positions and extend into the chamber. The spring contacts are elastically biased within the chamber. Thereby, when a mating electrical connection terminal is inserted into the electrical connection terminal through the inlet of the chamber, the spring contacts are deformed to allow the insertion of the mating electrical connection terminal into the chamber. After the mating electrical connection terminal is completely inserted into the chamber, the spring contacts exert a sufficient elastic force on the mating electrical connection terminal to hold the mating electrical connection terminal in the chamber, serving as electrical contacts within the chamber.
In the Chinese patent publication No. 1206509A, at least three spring contacts are used to achieve an electrical contact between the electrical connection terminal and the mating electrical connection terminal at a plurality of points. Accordingly, both the contact resistance and the temperature of the electrical connection terminals are reduced under high current.
However, the electrical connection terminal in Chinese patent publication No. 1206509A comprises at least three spring contacts, complicating the structure of the electrical connection terminal. In addition, it is difficult to ensure that all of the spring contacts remain stably in contact with the mating electrical connection terminal at the same time. Furthermore, the electrical connection terminal has poor heat dissipation characteristics.
There is a need for an electrical connector that can operate under high current conditions, that is relatively easy to manufacture, easy to ensure stable contact with a mating terminal, has a low operating temperature, and has good heat dissipation characteristics.
An electrical connector assembly has a first connector and a second connector. The first connector has a first engagement portion on a first mating end, and at least one first ridge positioned on and protruding outward from an outer surface of the first engagement portion. The second connector has a second engagement portion on a second mating end. The second engagement portion has a first connector receiving chamber having an inner surface, and at least one second ridge positioned on and protruding inward from the inner surface. The at least one second ridge is positioned on, and protrudes inward from, the inner surface, being in electrical contact with the first ridge when the first engagement portion is positioned in the first connector receiving chamber.
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 embodiments 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.
As shown in the embodiments of
In the embodiments of
Referring to
Referring to
The first engagement portion 110 of the first connector 100 is adapted to be inserted into the second engagement portion 210 of the second connector 200 (See
As shown in an embodiment of
Similarly, as shown in an embodiment
In an embodiment of
As shown in the embodiments of
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiments, a pair of first ridges 111 is positioned on the first engagement portion 110 of the first connector 100. In an embodiment, the pair of first ridges 111 extends a distance along the length of the first engagement portion 110 and each are substantially parallel to each other. But the present invention is not limited to two first ridges 111, in other embodiment, there may be one, three, or more first ridges on the first engagement portion 110 of the first connector 100.
As shown in an embodiment of
As shown in the embodiments of
In the illustrated examples, a pair of second ridges 211 is formed on the inner surface of the second engagement portion 210. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in other embodiments, there may be one, three or more second ridges on the second engagement portion 210 of the second connector 200.
In an embodiment of
In the embodiments of
In the embodiments of
Since the second ridges 211 extend in a curved line or a zigzag line and the first ridge 111 extends in a straight line, the first ridge 111 contacts the respective second ridge 211 at two or more points. As a result, the contact resistance is reduced, and an effective and stable electrical contact can be achieved. With the above simple structure, the electrical connector assembly of the present invention can carry a high current, such as 20 A or more.
In an embodiment (not shown), the first and second ridges 111, 211 may both extend in a curved line or a zigzag line as soon as they can electrically contact with each other at a plurality of points.
In an embodiment (not shown), the first ridge 111 may extend in a direction that is angled to a direction in which at least a part of the second ridge 211 extends. In this embodiment, the first and second ridges 111, 211 electrically contact with each other at a plurality of points.
In an embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiments, four first ventilation holes 112 are formed in the first engagement portion 110 and positioned on two opposite side surfaces of the first engagement portion 110. In an embodiment, the side surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the outer surface on which the ridge 111 is positioned. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in other embodiments, there may be one, two, three, five or more first ventilation holes 112 in the first engagement portion 110.
In an embodiment of
In an embodiment, four second ventilation holes 212 are formed in the second engagement portion 210 and positioned on two opposite side surfaces of the second engagement portion 210. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in other embodiments, there may be one, two, three, five or more second ventilation holes 212 in the second engagement portion 210.
Since ventilation holes 112, 212 are formed in the first and second engagement portions 110, 210, the heat generated by them can be rapidly dissipated out of the first and second connectors 100, 200 through the ventilation holes 112, 212. The heat dissipation is accomplished by accelerating air convection, thus preventing the temperature of the electrical connector assembly from reaching high temperatures during operation. For example, the temperature of the electrical connector assembly can be kept below 30° C. under a rated load current of 20 A.
The first and second connectors 100,200 may be made of a metal material, such as a copper-nickel-silicon alloy or a copper-iron alloy, or other suitable metals or alloys having a high thermal and electrical conductivity.
In an embodiment of
In an embodiment of
One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material according to the teachings of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those of ordinary skill 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 pluralities of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present invention 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 2 0447084 U | Sep 2012 | CN | national |
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| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
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| Entry |
|---|
| PCT Notification of Transmittal of the International Search Report and The Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, dated Feb. 14, 2014, 1 page. |
| PCT International Search Report, International Application No. PCT/IB2013/058153, dated Feb. 7, 2014, 11 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150180166 A1 | Jun 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/IB2013/058153 | Aug 2013 | US |
| Child | 14637782 | US |
