Bus bar connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12237629-B2
Application number	US-202217900110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2022
Priority date	Aug 31, 2021
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

A connector for plugging into a bus bar comprises a housing with a first side wall, a second side wall, and a connecting channel between the first side wall and the second side wall. A plurality of power terminals each having an electrical connection part are provided inside the connecting channel and are adapted to electrically connect with the bus bar. A plurality of grounding terminals are each disposed on the first side wall and the second side wall outside the connecting channel respectively. Each of the grounding terminals have an elastic first finger. An auxiliary support member is provided and supports the first finger.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for plugging into a bus bar, comprising:
a housing with a first side wall, a second side wall, and a connecting channel between the first side wall and the second side wall;
a plurality of power terminals each having an electrical connection part provided inside the connecting channel and configured for electrically connecting with the bus bar;
a plurality of grounding terminals each disposed on the first side wall and the second side wall outside the connecting channel respectively, each of the grounding terminals having a first finger which is elastic; and
an auxiliary support member supporting the first finger.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary support member comprises:
a first auxiliary arm located between the first finger and one of the first side wall or the second side wall;
a fixing part fixed to a respective one of the grounding terminals on a side thereof opposite to the connecting channel; and
a connecting component extending from the fixing part through a gap between the first fingers to the first auxiliary arm.

3. The connector according to claim 2 , wherein the housing further includes two shoulders located on opposite sides of the connecting channel, respectively, one of the shoulders extending from the first side wall away from the connecting channel, and the other one of the shoulders extending from the second side wall away from the connecting channel.

4. The connector according to claim 3 , wherein each of the grounding terminals further includes:
two fixing fingers fixed to a respective one of the shoulders; and
an elastic second finger located between the two fixing fingers and extending obliquely outside of a plane defined by the two fixing fingers.

5. The connector according to claim 4 , wherein each of the grounding terminals further includes:
two first plug-in parts, each of which protrudes from a respective one of the fixing fingers for plugging into the respective shoulder; and
a second plug-in part located between and protruding from between roots of two second fingers for plugging into the corresponding shoulder.

6. The connector according to claim 5 , wherein each of the grounding terminals further comprises a second auxiliary arm connected between the two fixing fingers and located between the respective shoulder and the two second fingers, the second auxiliary arm projecting curvedly towards the two second fingers.

7. The connector according to claim 6 , further comprising a mating plate, including:
a main body fixed to the two shoulders, the two fixing fingers and the two second fingers of each of the grounding terminals are clamped between the shoulders and the main body; and
two wings extending longitudinally from the main body in respective directions away from the connecting channel and provided with a plurality of perforations.

8. The connector according to claim 7 , wherein the main body defines an opening through which the connecting channel passes.

9. The connector according to claim 8 , further comprising two power terminals, wherein respective electrical connection parts of the two power terminals are spaced apart from each other on the first side wall and the second side wall of the connecting channel, respectively.

10. The connector according to claim 9 , wherein portions of the two power terminals exposed outside the housing are electrically connected to respective cables.

11. A connector, comprising:
a housing including a first side wall and a second side wall defining a connecting channel therebetween;
a plurality of power terminals arranged within the connecting channel and adapted to electrically connect with a bus bar engaged within the connecting channel;
a grounding terminal disposed on each of the first side wall and the second side wall outside the connecting channel, each grounding terminal having an elastic connecting element; and
an auxiliary support member supporting the elastic connecting element.

12. The connector according to claim 11 , wherein the auxiliary support member includes a first auxiliary arm located between the elastic connecting element and one of the first side wall or the second side wall.

13. The connector according to claim 12 , wherein the auxiliary support member further includes a fixing part fixed to a respective one of the grounding terminals on a side thereof opposite to the connecting channel.

14. The connector according to claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary support member further includes a connecting component extending from the fixing part through a gap between the elastic connecting element to the first auxiliary arm.

15. The connector according to claim 11 , wherein the housing further includes two shoulders located on opposite sides of the connecting channel, respectively, one of the shoulders extending from the first side wall away from the connecting channel, and the other one of the shoulders extending from the second side wall away from the connecting channel.

16. The connector according to claim 3 , wherein each of the grounding terminals further includes:
two fixing elements fixed to a respective one of the shoulders; and
a second elastic connecting element located between the two fixing elements and extending obliquely outside of a plane defined by the two fixing elements.

17. The connector according to claim 16 , wherein each of the grounding terminals further includes two first plug-in parts protruding from a respective one of the fixing elements for plugging into the respective shoulder.

18. The connector according to claim 17 , wherein each of the grounding terminals further includes a second plug-in part located between and protruding from between bases of two second elastic connecting elements for plugging into the corresponding shoulder.

19. The connector according to claim 18 , wherein each of the grounding terminals further includes a second auxiliary arm connected between the two fixing elements and located between the respective shoulder and the two second elastic connecting elements, the second auxiliary arm projecting curvedly towards the two second elastic connecting element.

20. The connector according to claim 16 , further comprising a mating plate, including a main body fixed to the two shoulders, the two fixing elements and the two second elastic connecting elements of each of the grounding terminals clamped between the shoulders and the main body.

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Shanghai Co Ltd
• TE Connectivity Services Gmbh
• Te Connectivity Solutions Gmbh

Inventors

• Liu Jiaoyong (Mac)
• Han Hongqiang (Sean)
• Luo Jie (Roger)
• Costello Brian Patrick

Classifications

• H01R24/60

  Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement · CPC title

• H01R4/28

  Clamped connections, spring connections (made by means of terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits H01R12/00) · CPC title

• H01R13/6583

  with separate conductive resilient members between mating shield members · CPC title

• H01R13/113

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

• H01R25/145 Primary

  Details, e.g. end pieces or joints (H01R25/147 takes precedence) · CPC title