Truss interconnect

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9406462-B2
Application number	US-201313930024-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2013
Priority date	Jun 28, 2013
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

An interconnect for transferring signals herein includes one or more signal contacts to transfer the power or data to or from an integrated truss system. An interconnect may be configured to transfer power or data between layers of the integrated truss system or within the same layer of the integrated truss system. An interconnect may be configured with one or more compression mechanisms that secure the interconnect in the integrated truss system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An interconnect for use in an integrated truss system, the interconnect comprising:
a compression component having a length, a first orientation and a second orientation;
a plurality of signal contacts having a first positional state and a second positional state, the plurality of signal contacts being disposed adjacent to a portion of an outer surface of the interconnect and along at least a portion of the length; and
a plurality of non-electrical pads having the first positional state and the second positional state, the plurality of non-electrical pads being interspersed between at least a portion of the plurality of signal contacts for mechanical securement,
wherein when the compression component is in the first orientation, at least a portion of the plurality of signal contacts and at least a portion of the plurality of nonelectrical pads are in the first positional state, and
wherein when the compression component is in the second orientation, the at least a portion of the plurality of signal contacts and the at least a portion of the plurality of non-electrical pads are in the second positional state.

2. The interconnect of claim 1 , wherein the compression component further comprises a third orientation, wherein when the compression component is in the third orientation, the at least a portion of the plurality of signal contacts or the at least a portion of the plurality of non-electrical pads are in a test state to provide for diagnostic testing of the interconnect.

3. The interconnect of claim 1 , further comprising a conductor to facilitate a transfer of power between a first level of the interconnect to a second level of the interconnect.

4. The interconnect of claim 1 , further comprising an interconnect indicator to provide a visual indication of a status of the interconnect.

5. The interconnect of claim 1 , further comprising a torque limiter to limit overtorqueing of the interconnect.

6. The interconnect of claim 1 , wherein the first positional state comprises an extended position and the second positional state comprises a retracted position.

7. The interconnect of claim 6 , wherein the extended position for the at least a portion of the plurality of signal contacts provides an electrical path from the integrated truss system to one of the plurality of signal contacts.

8. The interconnect of claim 6 , wherein the extended position for the at least a portion of the plurality of non-electrical pads provides the mechanical securement of the interconnect to the integrated truss system.

9. The interconnect of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the plurality of signal contacts comprise a shaped surface configured to reduce lateral movement of the portion of the plurality of signal contacts against a portion of truss contacts of the integrated truss system.

10. The interconnect of claim 9 , wherein the shaped surface comprises teeth configured to engage complimentary teeth of the portion of truss contact.

11. The interconnect of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of signal contacts and the plurality of non-electrical pads are disposed within one or more truss sleeves of the integrated truss system.

12. The interconnect of claim 11 , wherein the one or more truss sleeves encircle a central axis.

13. The interconnect of claim 12 , further comprising an expander configured to provide an outward force on the one or more truss sleeves to secure the truss sleeves in the integrated truss system.

14. The interconnect of claim 13 , wherein the expander comprises a compression bolt, an interconnect installation device, or a spring mechanism.

15. The interconnect of claim 1 , further comprising threads configured to secure the interconnect into the integrated truss system.

16. The interconnect of claim 15 , further comprising a lock configured to further secure the interconnect in the integrated truss system.

17. A method for transferring a signal between levels of an integrated truss system and an interconnect, comprising:
inserting the interconnect into an aperture passing through a first truss level and a second truss level of the integrated truss system, wherein the interconnect includes:
a compression component having a length, a first orientation, and a second orientation;
a plurality of signal contacts having a first positional state and a second positional state, the plurality of signal contacts being disposed adjacent to a portion of an outer surface of the interconnect and along at least a portion of the length; and
a plurality of non-electrical pads having the first positional state and the second positional state, the plurality of non-electrical pads being interspersed between at least a portion of the plurality of signal contacts for mechanical securement;

moving the compression component from the first orientation to the second orientation, wherein when the compression component is in the first orientation, at least a portion of the plurality of signal contacts or at least a portion of the plurality of non-electrical pads are in the first positional state, and wherein when the compression component is in the second orientation, the at least a portion of the plurality of signal contacts or the at least a portion of the plurality of non-electrical pads are in the second positional state;
receiving a signal from the first truss level into a first signal contact of the interconnect;
transferring the signal from the first signal contact to a second signal contact of the interconnect; and
outputting the signal from the second signal contact to the second truss level.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the signal is received from a truss contact.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein transferring the signal from the first interconnect level to a second interconnect level comprises transferring the signal from the first interconnect level to a conductor of the interconnect.

20. An electrical system, comprising:
an integrated truss system comprising a plurality of insulating levels for electrical isolation and a plurality of transfer levels for transferring energy; and
an interconnect comprising
a compression component having a length, a first orientation and a second orientation,
a plurality of signal contacts having a first positional state and a second positional state, the plurality of signal contacts being disposed adjacent to a portion of an outer surface of the interconnect and along at least a portion of the length, and
a plurality of non-electrical pads having the first positional state and the second positional state, the plurality of non-electrical pads being interspersed between at least a portion of the plurality of signal contacts for mechanical securement,
wherein when the compression component is in the first orientation, at least a portion of the plurality of signal contacts or at least a portion of the plurality of non-electrical pads are in the first positional state, and
wherein when the compression component is in the second orientation, the at least a portion of the plurality of signal contacts or the at least a portion of the plurality of non-electrical pads are in the second positional state.

21. The electrical system of claim 20 , further comprising a passive component for conditioning signals, wherein the passive component comprises a resistor or a diode.

22. The electrical system of claim 20 , wherein the energy comprises a signal, light, or thermal energy.

23. The electrical system of claim

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Larsen Ty Aaby
• Brouwer Todd Burton
• Johnson Robert T
• Liffring Mark Eugene
• Shander Mark Stephen
• Holley Robert Dennis
• Douglas Margaret L

Classifications

• H10W72/50

  Bond wires · CPC title

• H10W72/07551

  characterised by changes in properties of the bond wires during the connecting · CPC title

• Y02T50/433

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B64D2221/00

  Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft · CPC title

• B64C1/18

  Floors · CPC title