Electrical connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9502789-B2
Application number	US-201214359047-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2012
Priority date	Nov 23, 2011
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

An electrical connector configured to maintain an electrical connection with a conductor during heating and cooling cycles is provided. The electrical connector includes connector sections, each comprising a base portion and top portion extending from the base portion. Each connector section defines a portion of a channel configured to receive one or more conductors and includes a bore in its base or top portion that communicates with the channel. A fastener inserted into the bore is configured to retain the conductor inserted into the channel, and the top portions are configured to deflect substantially independently of each other to provide a spring force that secures the fastener against the conductor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical connector comprising:
at least two connector sections, each connector section comprising a base portion and a top portion, each base portion being integrally connected with adjacent base portions, and each top portion being at least partially disjoined from adjacent top portions,
the base portions and top portions of the at least two connector sections defining at least one channel configured to receive at least one conductor, wherein each channel is defined by at least two disjoined top portions that deflect independently of each other, each connector section further having a bore hole in either its base portion or top portion, the bore hole being in communication with the channel and configured to receive a fastener, wherein when a fastener is tightened against a conductor in the channel, the top portions of the electrical connector are able to deflect away from their respective base portions independently of each other while being in contact with the at least one conductor, wherein the at least two top portions are partially defined by a horizontal slot extending along the length of and communicating with the channel and at least one vertical slot intersecting the channel.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the cross-section of the electrical connector is C-shaped.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the top portions of the at least two connector sections are partially defined by a first vertical slot intersecting the at least one channel and a second vertical slot communicating with the at least one channel.

4. The electrical connector of claim 3 comprising at least four connector sections and at least two non-intersecting channels, wherein the at least four top portions are partially defined by a first vertical slot intersecting the at least two non-intersecting channels and at least two second vertical slots, each second vertical slot communicating with one of the channels.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1 comprising at least two connector sections, each connector section having a top portion and a base portion and defining a portion of two non-intersecting channels, wherein the at least two top portions are partially defined by a vertical slot intersecting the two non-intersecting channels and two horizontal slots, each horizontal slot extending along the length of and communicating with one of the channel.

6. The electrical connector of claim 5 comprising at least three connector sections, each connector section having a top portion and a base portion and defining a portion of two non-intersecting channels, wherein the at least three top portions are partially defined by at least two non-intersecting vertical slots intersecting the two non-intersecting channels and two horizontal slots, each horizontal slot extending along the length of and communicating with one of the channel.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1 comprising at least four connector sections and two non-intersecting channels, wherein the top portions of the at least four connector sections are partially defined by at least one first vertical slot between the non-intersecting channels, at least one second vertical slot that intersects the two non-intersecting channels and the first vertical slot, and at least two horizontal slots, each horizontal slot extending along the length of and communicating with one of the channels.

8. The electrical connector of claim 7 comprising at least six connector sections and two non-intersecting channels, wherein the top portions of the at least six connector sections are partially defined by at least one first vertical slot between the channels, at least two second vertical slots that intersects the two non-intersecting channels and the first vertical slot, and at least two horizontal slots, each horizontal slot extending along the length of and communicating with one of the channels.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein when a fastener is tightened against a conductor in the channel, the top portions of the electrical connector are able to deflect away from their respective base portions independently of each other thereby providing
a spring force that secures each fastener against a conductor in the channel.

10. The electrical connector of claim 1 , further comprising:
electrical insulation material disposed on exterior surfaces of the base portion and the top portions.

11. The electrical connector of claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector is a bus bar.

12. The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein the bus bar comprises at least six connector sections and at least three non-intersecting channels, and wherein at least one channel comprises a feeder channel having a first diameter and at least two channels comprise service channels each service channel having a diameter less than the first diameter.

13. The bus bar of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the top portions defines a bore extending from the first side surface to a respective one of the channels.

14. The bus bar of claim 12 , wherein at least one base portion defines a bore extending from the second side surface to a respective one of the channels.

15. A connector assembly comprising:
a connector defining:
at least one channel extending between opposing major faces of the connector body,
at least two connector portions, each comprising a base portion extending between the at least one channel and an adjacent first side surface and a top portion extending between the at least one channel and an adjacent second side surface, one of the base portion and the top portion of each connector section defining a bore communicating with the at least one channel, wherein each channel is defined by more than one disjoined top portion that deflect independently of each other, each connector section further having a bore hole in either its base portion or top portion, the bore hole being in communication with the channel and configured to receive a fastener, wherein when a fastener is tightened against a conductor in the channel, the top portions of the electrical connector are able to deflect away from their respective base portions independently of each other while being in contact with the at least one conductor, wherein the at least two top portions are partially defined by a horizontal slot extending along the length of and communicating with the channel and at least one vertical slot intersecting the channel;
a conductor inserted into the at least one channel; and
means for deflecting each top portion to maintain force on the conductor within the at least one channel.

16. The connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the means for deflecting the top portion comprises forcing a fastener inserted into a bore formed in a top portion into contact with the conductor.

17. The connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the means for deflecting the top portion comprises forcing a fastener inserted into a bore formed in a base portion into contact with the conductor.

18. The connector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the means for deflecting the top portion comprises threaded means for moving the top portion away from the base portion.

19. The connector assembly of claim 18 , wherein moving the top portion away from the base portion comprises storing spring energy in the top portion.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Umlauf Thomas E
• Romanko Walter R

Classifications

• H01R11/09

  the connecting locations being identical · CPC title

• H01R4/304

  having means for improving contact · CPC title

• H01R4/36 Primary

  Conductive members located under tip of screw · CPC title