Patent Application
20190067840
The present disclosure relates to an aircraft generator assembly, and more particularly, to an electrical terminal device of the aircraft generator assembly.
Electrical terminal devices are known to include terminal blocks and covers having electrical insulating properties to protect internal terminal connections and electrical conductors. Materials that include such electrical insulating properties may not possess heat resistant properties.
An electrical terminal device adapted to mount to a structure, the electrical terminal assembly according to one, non-limiting, embodiment of the present disclosure includes an electrically non-conductive substructure in contact with the structure; an electrically non-conductive cover engaged to the substructure, wherein the substructure and the cover define a chamber and the substructure defines at least in-part a sealed passage in communication with the chamber; a heat resistant shroud substantially covering the cover, wherein the cover is substantially located between the shroud and the substructure; and an electric terminal located in the chamber and attached to the substructure.
Additionally to the foregoing embodiment, the heat resistant shroud is made of a material capable of withstanding temperatures of about, or greater than, two thousand degrees Fahrenheit for a time period in excess of fifteen minutes.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the heat resistant shroud is made of Inconnel.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the heat resistant shroud is made of stainless steel.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the heat resistant shroud is made of a nickel-chrome alloy.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the electrical terminal device includes at least one fastener extending through the heat resistant shroud, the cover, and the substructure, and projecting into the structure for engaging the electrical terminal assembly to the structure.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the at least one fastener is a threaded bolt.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the substructure includes a base defining the at least in-part the sealed passage and at least one partition projecting outward from the base, and wherein each one of the at least one partition includes a longitudinal distal end and the cover is in contact with the longitudinal distal end.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the cover, the base and adjacent partitions of the at least one partition define a first opening.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the cover is at least in-part disposed between a central portion of the shroud and the substructure, and the shroud includes a peripheral sidewall projecting from and disposed substantially normal to the central portion, the peripheral sidewall including opposite end segments, and wherein the opposite end segments and the central portion define a second opening aligned to and in direct communication with the first opening.
An aircraft electric generator assembly according to another, non-limiting, embodiment includes an electric generator; and an electrical terminal device including an electrically non-conductive substructure attached to the electric generator and a metallic shroud adapted to at least in-part cover the electrically non-conductive substructure.
Additionally to the foregoing embodiment, the electrical terminal device includes an electrically non-conductive cover disposed between the electrically non-conductive substructure and the metallic shroud.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the metallic shroud is substantially spaced from the electrically non-conductive cover.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the aircraft electric generator assembly includes an electric conductor including a first segment extending through a sealed passage defined by the electric generator and the substructure for connection to a terminal of the electrical terminal device, and a second segment connecting to the terminal and extending through an opening in the shroud.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the shroud incudes a central portion and a peripheral sidewall having opposite end segments, and the opposite end segments and the central portion define the opening.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the shroud is made of a material capable of withstanding temperatures of about, or greater than, two thousand degrees Fahrenheit for a time period in excess of fifteen minutes.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the shroud is made of Inconnel.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the shroud is made of stainless steel.
In the alternative or additionally thereto, in the foregoing embodiment, the shroud is made of a nickel-chrome alloy.
The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.
Various features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the disclosed non-limiting embodiments. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:
Referring to
Referring to
The substructure 28 may be, at least in-part, located between the generator housing 38 and the cover 30 such that the cover 30 generally covers the substructure 28 to electrically protect the terminal 34 (e.g., electrical shorts). The cover 30 may be located, at least in-part, between the substructure 28 and the shroud 32, such that the shroud 32 functions as a heat shield to protect the cover 30, the substructure 28, and the terminal 34 from excessive heat and flame. The fastener 36 may generally extend through the shroud 32, the cover 30, and the substructure 28, and into the generator housing 38 to generally hold the electrical terminal device 22 together, and attach the electrical terminal device 22 to the generator 26. In one example, the fastener 36 may be a treaded bolt that threads into the housing 38.
The substructure 28 and the cover 30 may be electrically non-conductive to prevent electrical faults. In one example, the substructure 28 may be one homogeneous piece that may be molded. Similarly, the cover 30 may be one homogeneous piece that may be molded. The shroud 32 is made of a heat resistant material that may be capable of withstanding temperatures of about two thousand degrees Fahrenheit or greater. In one example, the shroud 32 may be metallic, and/or may be made of stainless steel, Inconnel, a nickel-chrome alloy, and others. The substructure 28 and the cover 30 may be made of an electrically non-conductive material that may be a polymer or thermoplastic (e.g., Torlon® by Solvay Inc.).
The substructure 28 of the electrical terminal device 22 may include a base 40 and a plurality of partitions 42 (i.e., three illustrated in
The cover 30 of the electrical terminal device 22 may be generally shaped like a scoop having a central segment 48 and a peripheral sidewall 50. When assembled, the peripheral sidewall 50 projects away from the central segment 48 and generally attaches to the base 40 of the substructure 28. The central segment 48 may be spaced from and substantially parallel to the base 40, and is in contact with, and spans across, longitudinal distal ends 52 (i.e., edges) of the partitions 42.
The shroud 32 of the electrical terminal device 22 may be generally shaped like a scoop having a central portion 54 and a peripheral sidewall 56. When assembled, the peripheral sidewall 56 projects away from, and is at least in part substantially normal to, the central portion 48. A distal edge 58 of the sidewall 56 may be in contact with, or close proximity to, the base 40 of the substructure 28. To enhance thermal protection of the cover 30 by the shroud 32, the shroud 32 may be spaced from the cover 30 except for selected and limited locations. One such location may be where the fastener 36 connects the terminal device 22 together.
The peripheral sidewall 56 of the shroud 32 may include opposite end segments 60, 62 (see
Referring to
Advantages and benefits of the present disclosure include a terminal device that is robust and/or capability of meeting stringent government regulations.
The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
