Claims
- 1. An electrical connector capable of suppressing an electrical arc extending between a closely separated first and second terminal, the electrical connector comprising:
the first terminal having a contact surface; a gassing wall engaged to the first terminal and disposed directly adjacent to the contact surface; and the electrical arc having a column and two roots, the column disposed between the two roots, one of the two roots being in contact with the contact surface, wherein a gas released by the gassing wall when heated by the arc cools the root disposed adjacent to the contact surface.
- 2. The electrical connector set forth in claim 1 wherein the gassing wall is also an electrical insulator.
- 3. The electrical connector set forth in claim 2 comprising:
the first terminal being a receptacle having a rearward hole defined by the contact surface; and the second terminal being a male pin projecting through the hole of the receptacle and being engaged to the contact surface when the electrical connector is mated.
- 4. The electrical connector set forth in claim 3 comprising;
the contact surface having an annular portion and an axial portion, the annular portion extending radially between an inner and outer perimeter, the outer perimeter being directly adjacent to the gassing wall, the axial portion extending rearward from the inner perimeter and engaged to the pin when the electrical connector is mated; and the gassing wall having a leading surface surrounding the annular portion of the contact surface.
- 5. The electrical connector set forth in claim 4 wherein the annular portion of the contact surface and the leading surface of the gassing wall each lie substantially within an imaginary plane that traverses the electrical connector.
- 6. The electrical connector set forth in claim 2 wherein the gassing wall is polymer.
- 7. The electrical connector set forth in claim 6 wherein the polymer releases hydrogen gas when heated.
- 8. The electrical connector set forth in claim 7 wherein the gassing wall is heat shrink tubing.
- 9. The electrical connector set forth in claim 2 wherein the gassing wall is heat shrink tubing.
- 10. The electrical connector set forth in claim 2 wherein the gassing wall is flame retardant intumescent material.
- 11. The electrical connector set forth in claim 2 wherein the gassing wall is ceramic.
- 12. The electrical connector set forth in claim 2 wherein the gassing wall is selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene, rubber, neoprene, gel, flame retardant paint and oil.
- 13. The electrical connector set forth in claim 5 wherein the receptacle is a spring based terminal having spiraling gaps, and wherein the gassing wall is a gel, disposed in the gaps and encasing the spring based terminal.
- 14. The electrical connector set forth in claim 5 wherein the receptacle is a spring based terminal having spiraling gaps and wherein the gassing wall is flame retardant paint disposed in the gaps and encasing the spring based terminal.
- 15. An electrical connector capable of suppressing an electrical arc extending between a closely separated elongated terminal pin and elongated receptacle, the electrical connector comprising:
the receptacle having a rearward hole and a contact surface having an annular portion facing rearward and a radial portion facing radially inward and projecting axially forward and congruently from an inner perimeter of the annular portion, the annular portion defining the rearward hole, the terminal pin being inserted through the hole when the electrical connector is mated; a gassing wall engaged to the annular portion of the contact surface of the receptacle, the gassing wall disposed axially between the receptacle and the terminal pin when the electrical connector is un-mated, the gassing wall being an electrical insulator; and the electrical arc having a column and two roots, the column disposed between the two roots, one of the two roots being in contact with the radial portion of the contact surface of the receptacle and disposed directly adjacent to the gassing wall, wherein a gas released by the gassing wall when heated by the arc cools the root disposed adjacent to the contact surface.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This patent application claims priority of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/303,652 filed Jul. 6, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60303652 |
Jul 2001 |
US |