GB2177553A

GB2177553A - Capacitor terminal connection

Info

Publication number: GB2177553A
Application number: GB08615667A
Authority: GB
Inventors: C Wayne Hodges; Jozef K Limanowski
Original assignee: Emhart Industries Inc
Current assignee: Emhart Industries Inc
Priority date: 1985-07-03
Filing date: 1986-06-26
Publication date: 1987-01-21
Also published as: GB8615667D0; DE3607247A1

Abstract

An internally threaded insert 22 having intersecting faces about its axis is positioned in a keyed aperture formed in the end closure 10 of a capacitor, the closure having a sandwich construction of plastics, 14 and rubber 12. This provides an antitwist characteristic between the insert 22 and the walls 24 of the aperture 26 to facilitate a seal between the two. An electrical terminal 18 can then be threaded into the insert 22 to electrically connect it to an internal lead of the capacitor. Internal lead (16) of the capacitor is connected to the insert (24) by deforming a tenon of the insert to form head (34). Keying may be provided by corresponding shape of aperture and insert, the shape being octagonal or hexagonal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Capacitor terminal connection Electrolytic capacitors commonly use rubberfaced plastic discs as the end closures for the capacitor.

Such material serves as a good electrical insulatorfor the electrical leads running from the capacitor. Electrical contact between an internal lead of the capaci torandanoutsideterminal is normally madethrough a rivet connection, the rivet extending through an aperture in the closing. This arrangement causes difficulty in securing a tight, secure fit between the rivet and the rubber-faced plastic closure. Such difficulty causes the electrical path between the terminal and the electrical leads to be broken down, thereby increasing the electrical resistance of the system.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means to secure an electrical-mechanical connection for electrical leads to a capacitor end closure of insulative material and especially such a connecting means that has a more reliable connection.

Anotherobjectofthe invention isto provide a good electrical connection between an electrical terminal and an internal lead of an electrolyticcapacitorhav- ing an end closure of insulative material.

Accordingly, there is provided a terminal connec tionassemblyforacapacitorhaving a dise ofinsula- tive material, suitable a rubber-faced plastic disc closing the capacitor's open end which comprises an aperture in the disc, keying means in the aperture, a metal insert having an outerface adapted to engage the keying means to thereby provide an antitwist characteristic between the disc and the insert, receiving means within the insert adapted to receive an electrical terminal, and retaining means holding an internal electrical lead into electrical contact with the metal insert.

There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a terminal connection embodying the invention. It will be realised that this connection means has been selected for description to illustrate the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 'is an exploded view of a terminal connec tion for a capacitor embodying the invention; and Figure2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 when all ofthe parts are assembled.

Referring to the drawings, a typical prior art electrolytic capacitor employs an end closure comprising a closure disc 10 having a rubber face 12 and a plastic base 14to seal the capacitor body and to provide for connecting suitable electrical terminals to the capacitor. With this type of construction, it is very difficu It to achieve, a good mechanical connection between the capacitor's internal electrical leads 16 and electrical terminals 18 due to the inabilityto achieve a snug fit in the aperture of the rubber-faced plastic disc 10. Such afit is needed in order to insurethatthe electrical path from the internal lead 16 to the terminal 18will be unbroken.

Terminal connections means embodying the invention includes a pair of apertures 26 provided in a disc 10which have keying means 20 and which in combination with the structure of metal inserts 22 provide an intitwisting characteristic between the disc and the insert. As shown, keying means 20 includes intersecting faces 24 which form the walls of apertures 26. Inserts 22 include an outer face having substantially flat intersecting surfaces 28 which are adapted to mate the intersecting walls 24 of the apertures 26. In their present embodiment of the invention, the intersecting faces 24 and the intersecting surfaces 28 both provide an octagon.

Inserts 22 are inserted in apertures 26 and internal electrical leads are held in place on the inserts by retaining means 30 and provide good electrical contact between the inserts and the leads. Retaining means 30 includes washers 32 which are placed on both sides ofthe leads and rivet heads 34 which are formed from insert tenon 36. Inserts 22 also include a receiving means which includes internal threads 38 for receiving electrical terminals 18.

It can be readily seen thattheterminal connecting assembly of the present invention provides an electrical connection between the terminals and the internal leads as well as a good seal between the inserts and the rubber-faced plastic disc.

1. A terminal connection for assembly of a capaci- torwhich has a dise fabricated of an electrically in- sulative material and which serves as an end closure for the capacitor which comprises an aperture in said disc, keying means in said aperture, a metal insert having an outerface adapted to engage said keying means to thereby provide an antitwist characteristic between said disc and said insert, receiving means within said insert adapted to receive an electrical terminal, and retaining means holding an internal electrical lead into electrical contact with said metal insert.

2. Aterminal connection according to claim 1 wherein said keying means comprises flat intersect- ing walls of said aperture.

3. Aterminal connection according to claim 2 wherein said flat intersecting walls provide a hexagon.

4. Aterminal connection according to claim 1 wherein said outerface includes substantially flat intersecting surfaces.

5. Aterminal connection according to claim 4 wherein said flat intersecting surfaces provide an octagon.

6. Aterminal connection according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said receiving means includes internal threads.

7. Aterminal connection according to any one of the preceding claimswherein said retaining means includes a rivet head.

8. Aterminal connection according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the disc is a rubberfaced plastic disc.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Capacitor terminal connection Electrolytic capacitors commonly use rubberfaced plastic discs as the end closures for the capacitor. Such material serves as a good electrical insulatorfor the electrical leads running from the capacitor. Electrical contact between an internal lead of the capaci torandanoutsideterminal is normally madethrough a rivet connection, the rivet extending through an aperture in the closing. This arrangement causes difficulty in securing a tight, secure fit between the rivet and the rubber-faced plastic closure. Such difficulty causes the electrical path between the terminal and the electrical leads to be broken down, thereby increasing the electrical resistance of the system. An object of the present invention is to provide improved means to secure an electrical-mechanical connection for electrical leads to a capacitor end closure of insulative material and especially such a connecting means that has a more reliable connection. Anotherobjectofthe invention isto provide a good electrical connection between an electrical terminal and an internal lead of an electrolyticcapacitorhav- ing an end closure of insulative material. Accordingly, there is provided a terminal connec tionassemblyforacapacitorhaving a dise ofinsula- tive material, suitable a rubber-faced plastic disc closing the capacitor's open end which comprises an aperture in the disc, keying means in the aperture, a metal insert having an outerface adapted to engage the keying means to thereby provide an antitwist characteristic between the disc and the insert, receiving means within the insert adapted to receive an electrical terminal, and retaining means holding an internal electrical lead into electrical contact with the metal insert. There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a terminal connection embodying the invention. It will be realised that this connection means has been selected for description to illustrate the invention by way of example. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 'is an exploded view of a terminal connec tion for a capacitor embodying the invention; and Figure2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 when all ofthe parts are assembled. Referring to the drawings, a typical prior art electrolytic capacitor employs an end closure comprising a closure disc 10 having a rubber face 12 and a plastic base 14to seal the capacitor body and to provide for connecting suitable electrical terminals to the capacitor. With this type of construction, it is very difficu It to achieve, a good mechanical connection between the capacitor's internal electrical leads 16 and electrical terminals 18 due to the inabilityto achieve a snug fit in the aperture of the rubber-faced plastic disc 10. Such afit is needed in order to insurethatthe electrical path from the internal lead 16 to the terminal 18will be unbroken. Terminal connections means embodying the invention includes a pair of apertures 26 provided in a disc 10which have keying means 20 and which in combination with the structure of metal inserts 22 provide an intitwisting characteristic between the disc and the insert. As shown, keying means 20 includes intersecting faces 24 which form the walls of apertures 26. Inserts 22 include an outer face having substantially flat intersecting surfaces 28 which are adapted to mate the intersecting walls 24 of the apertures 26. In their present embodiment of the invention, the intersecting faces 24 and the intersecting surfaces 28 both provide an octagon. Inserts 22 are inserted in apertures 26 and internal electrical leads are held in place on the inserts by retaining means 30 and provide good electrical contact between the inserts and the leads. Retaining means 30 includes washers 32 which are placed on both sides ofthe leads and rivet heads 34 which are formed from insert tenon 36. Inserts 22 also include a receiving means which includes internal threads 38 for receiving electrical terminals 18. It can be readily seen thattheterminal connecting assembly of the present invention provides an electrical connection between the terminals and the internal leads as well as a good seal between the inserts and the rubber-faced plastic disc. CLAIMS

9. Aterminal connection constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.