THERMOCOUPLE CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR ARRANGEMENT WITH ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY FEATURES

Abstract

A thermocouple connector arrangement that has a first connector configured to have a thermocouple probe lead extending therefrom and a second connector configured to have an electrical connection lead extending therefrom. Each connector has an interior configured to receive a terminus of the respective lead. The connectors include electrically conductive mating parts that, when mated, provide an electrical conduction path. At least one of the first and second connectors includes housing parts that mate in a snap-lock arrangement without the use of a threaded fastener to secure the housing parts together and to enclose the respective interior, one of the housing parts engages the respective terminus and secures the respective terminus against removal by shrouding an end of the respective conductive mating part and pressing the respective terminus into electrical contact with the respective conductive mating part during the mating of the housing parts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a thermocouple system utilizing a thermocouple arrangement in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a lower plug assembly for a thermocouple arrangement in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of a lower plug assembly for a thermocouple arrangement in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top cross-sectional view of a lower plug assembly for a thermocouple arrangement in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a negative prong for a lower plug assembly in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a positive prong for a lower plug assembly in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a thermocouple arrangement in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of another lower plug assembly for a thermocouple arrangement in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

Claims

1. A thermocouple connector arrangement including: a first connector configured to have a thermocouple probe lead extending therefrom, and having an interior configured to receive an electrical connection terminus of the thermocouple probe lead; anda second connector configured to have an electrical connection lead extending therefrom, and having an interior configured to receive a terminus of the electrical connection lead;the first and second connectors include electrically conductive mating parts that, when mated, provide an electrical conduction path between the thermocouple probe lead and the electrical connection lead; andat least one of the first and second connectors includes housing parts that mate in a snap-lock arrangement without the use of a threaded fastener to secure the housing parts together and to enclose the respective interior, one of the housing parts engages the respective terminus and secures the respective terminus against removal by shrouding an end of the respective conductive mating part and pressing the respective terminus into electrical contact with the respective conductive mating part during the mating of the housing parts.

2. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the conductive mating part has a slot through which the respective terminus extends.

3. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the one of the housing parts includes a projection extending within an interior of the one of the housing parts to press upon the respective terminus.

4. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thermocouple probe is elongate and rigid, and the first connector has structure to support the thermocouple probe in a static position relative to the first connector.

5. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrical connection lead is elongate and flexible, and the second connector has structure to grasp the electrical connection lead.

6. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the snap-lock arrangement includes structure to resist separation of the housing parts subsequent to mating of the parts.

7. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 6, wherein the snap-lock arrangement includes a sloped surface and a shoulder on one of the parts and a portion for sliding against the sloped surface during mating of the parts and resting against the shoulder upon completion of the mating of the parts.

8. A thermocouple connector arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one mating part of one of the first and second connectors is a prong that includes a strip of conductive material twisted into a helix.