Electrical power connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10249974-B2
Application number	US-201715853184-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2017
Priority date	Nov 27, 2013
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

An electrical power connector can include an electrically insulative connector housing, a first plurality of electrical contacts supported by the connector housing, and a second plurality of electrical contacts supported by the connector housing. The first plurality of electrical contacts can be of a first type, and the second plurality of electrical contacts are of a second type and positioned adjacent to the first plurality of electrical contacts. The arrangement of the electrical contact can provide creepage protection for the electrical connector. Further, the electrical contacts can include mating portions that are touch proof.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An electrical power connector comprising:
an electrically insulative connector housing that includes a plurality of beams and a plurality of shrouds that each terminate at a respective distal end, the plurality of beams and the plurality of shrouds defining a mating interface configured to mate with a complementary electrical power connector along a mating direction;
a first plurality of electrical contacts supported by the connector housing, wherein at least one electrical contact of the first plurality of electrical contacts is disposed between a beam from the plurality of beams and a shroud from the plurality of shrouds; and
a second plurality of electrical contacts supported by the connector housing, wherein each electrical contact of the second plurality of electrical contacts is disposed within a shroud from the plurality of shrouds, wherein the plurality of shrouds fully surround a mating portion of respective ones of the second plurality of electrical contacts, the mating portion including a distal end and configured to mate with a complementary electrical contact;
wherein the first and second plurality of electrical contacts are arranged in a first and second row that each extend along a row direction of the connector housing, wherein each row comprises at least one of the first plurality of electrical contacts and at least one of the second plurality of electrical contacts.

2. The electrical power connector of claim 1 , wherein adjacent electrical contacts in the first row along the row direction define an alternating pattern of first and second electrical contacts such that no electrical contacts from the first plurality of electrical contacts are immediately adjacent to electrical contacts from the second plurality of electrical contacts along the row direction.

3. The electrical power connector of claim 1 , wherein adjacent electrical contacts in the second row along the row direction define an alternating pattern of first and second electrical contacts such that no electrical contacts from the first plurality of electrical contacts are immediately adjacent to electrical contacts from the second plurality of electrical contacts along the row direction.

4. The electrical power connector of claim 1 , wherein electrical contacts in the first and second rows are arranged in a plurality of columns that extend along a column direction that is perpendicular to the row direction, the columns spaced from each other along the row direction.

5. The electrical power connector of claim 4 , wherein each column includes an electrical contact from the first plurality of electrical contacts and an electrical contact from the second plurality of electrical contacts.

6. The electrical power connector of claim 1 , wherein each electrical contact of the first plurality of electrical contacts extends along a respective length to a mating portion, and the plurality of beams and plurality of shrouds extend beyond the mating portions of the first plurality of electrical contacts such that each of the first plurality of electrical contacts is touch proof.

7. The electrical power connector of claim 1 , wherein each electrical contact of the second plurality of electrical contacts extends along a respective length to a mating portion, and the shroud within which the electrical contact is disposed extends beyond the mating portion of the electrical contact such that each of the second plurality of electrical contacts is touch proof.

8. The electrical power connector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shrouds at least partially surround respective ones of the second plurality of electrical contacts from a plane defined by the lateral and transverse directions.

9. The electrical power connector of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric connector housing further comprises ribs supported by the beams.

10. The electrical power connector of claim 9 , wherein the ribs project out from the beams toward a respective one of the first plurality of electrical contacts.

11. The electrical power connector of claim 1 , wherein at least one electrical contact of the first plurality of electrical contacts is disposed between two shrouds from the plurality of shrouds.

12. The electrical power connector of claim 1 , wherein a row of the first and second rows comprises two electrical contacts from the first plurality of electrical contacts, each of the two electrical contacts disposed between a beam from the plurality of beams and a shroud from the plurality of shrouds.

13. The electrical power connector of claim 1 , wherein:
the first row comprises an electrical contact of the first plurality of electrical contacts disposed between two shrouds from the plurality of shrouds; and
the second row comprises two electrical contacts from the first plurality of electrical contacts, each of the two electrical contacts disposed between a beam from the plurality of beams and a shroud from the plurality of shrouds.

14. The electrical power connector of claim 1 , wherein a beam of the plurality of beams is disposed at a side of the connector housing, such that the side of the connector housing and an outer-side of the beam form an L-shape configured to accept a corresponding L-shape in the complementary electrical power connector along the mating direction.

15. An electrical power connector comprising:
an electrically insulative connector housing that includes a plurality of beams and a plurality of shrouds that each terminate at a respective distal end, the plurality of beams and the plurality of shrouds defining a mating interface configured to mate with a complementary electrical power connector along a mating direction;
a first plurality of electrical contacts supported by the connector housing, wherein at least one electrical contact of the first plurality of electrical contacts is:
disposed between a beam from the plurality of beams and a shroud from the plurality of shrouds; and
spaced from the beam and the shroud; and

a second plurality of electrical contacts supported by the connector housing, wherein each electrical contact of the second plurality of electrical contacts is disposed within a shroud from the plurality of shrouds;
wherein the first and second plurality of electrical contacts are arranged in a first and second row that each extend along a row direction of the connector housing, wherein each row comprises at least one of the first plurality of electrical contacts and at least one of the second plurality of electrical contacts.

16. The electrical power connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein adjacent electrical contacts of the electrical power connector in the first row along the row direction define an alternating pattern of first and second electrical contacts such that no electrical contacts from the first plurality of electrical contacts are immediately adjacent to electrical contacts from the second plurality of electrical contacts along the row direction.

17. The electrical power connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein adjacent electrical contacts of the electrical power connector in the second row along the row direction define an alternating pattern of first and second electrical contacts such that no electrical contacts from the first plurality of electrical contacts are immediately adjacent to electrical contacts from the second plurality of electrical contacts along the row direction.

18. The electrical power connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the complementary electrical connector comprises:
a second electrically insulative connector housing tha

Assignees

• Fci Usa Llc

Inventors

• Copper Charles
• Eppley Nazareth

Classifications

• H01R13/112

  forked sockets having two legs · CPC title

• H01R12/724

  containing contact members forming a right angle · CPC title

• H01R13/44 Primary

  Means for preventing access to live contacts {(making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036)} · CPC title

• H01R12/732

  Printed circuits being in the same plane · CPC title

• H01R13/113

  co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section · CPC title