Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/02—Contact members
  • H01R13/15—Pins, blades or sockets having separate spring member for producing or increasing contact pressure
  • H01R13/187—Pins, blades or sockets having separate spring member for producing or increasing contact pressure with spring member in the socket
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
  • F16F1/00—Springs
  • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
  • F16F1/04—Wound springs
  • F16F1/045—Canted-coil springs
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
  • H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening
  • H01R13/6277—Snap or like fastening comprising annular latching means, e.g. ring snapping in an annular groove
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R43/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors
  • H01R43/20—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, or repairing of line connectors or current collectors or for joining electric conductors for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve
  • H01R43/24—Assembling by moulding on contact members

Definitions

• Electrical connectors provide the mechanical and electrical interface between two mating parts. In general, they all have the same requirements, i.e., low resistivity and robust mechanical connective properties to withstand the environment.
• the resistance is a function of the number of contact points, surface condition, and the normal force at the point of contact. The normal force must be high enough to break through any surface film but not so high that it impedes the connection. A scraping or cleaning action is also desirable as an aide to oxide or surface film removal.
• This invention replaces the louvers, wire baskets, and the strip springs with a canted coil spring mounted in a helical groove in a connector housing.
• the canted coil spring provides multiple contact points with the male portion of the connector.
• the housing can be molded from an insulting material or fabricated from a conductive material depending upon the end use of the connector.
• the spring can be fabricated from a variety of metal alloy such as platinum iridium.
• the spring can be plated to enhance conductivity.
• the canted coil spring has the advantage of nearly constant force over a wide deflection range so that the connector can accommodate a wide tolerance range as well as surface eccentricities.
• the axial spring has excellent surface film removal qualities, particularly by spring design. The ability to use the canted coil spring permits a very high contact point density permitting a more compact connector than other techniques.
• a female electrical connector in accordance with the present invention generally includes a body having a bore therethrough for receiving an electrical plug along with a helical groove formed in the bore.
• a canted coil spring is disposed in the helical groove and protrudes therefrom in order to provide both electrical connection to the plug and to retain the plug within the bore.
• a connecting lug is embedded into the body which surrounds the bore and is interconnected with the spring and further includes a wire segment extending exterior to the body in order to provide electrical communication from an exterior source through the lug coil spring and plug.
• the body may be formed from a non-conductive material and the groove may be flat, V-bottom, or have a tapered bottom. These various groove configurations may be utilized with either radial canted coil springs or axial canted coil springs depending upon the desired force characteristics both retaining the plug within the bore and for establishing and maintaining electrical continuity.
• a method of providing electrical connection to an electrical plug in accordance with the present invention includes providing a female electrical connector consisting of a body having a bore therethrough for receiving the electrical plug along with a helical groove formed in the bore.
• a canted coil spring is provided and disposed in the helical groove and protrudes therefrom for providing electrical connection to the plug and retention of plug within the bore and a connecting lug is embedded into the body which surrounds the bore and is interconnected with the spring and further includes a wire segment extending exterior to the body.
• the method in accordance with the present invention is completed by inserting the plug into the bore with the spring retaining the plug and the bore and providing electrical connection therewith.
• Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of the female connector in accordance with the present invention generally showing a body having a bore therethrough for receiving an electrical plug along with a helical groove formed in the bore, a canted coil spring disposed in the helical groove and an embedded connecting lug;
• Figure 2 is an end view of the connector shown in Figure 1 more clearly illustrating a spring length welded to the embedded conductive lug along with a wire segment extending exterior to the body;
• Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the groove includes a flat bottom
• Figures 5 and 6 illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention which includes a helical groove having a tapered bottom
• Figure 7 is a plan view of an axial spring length suitable for the present invention.
• Figure 8 is a plan view of a radial spring length suitable for use in the present invention.
• FIG. 1 With reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a female electrical connector 10 in accordance with the present invention shown with a male connector, or plug, 12 shown in dashed line inserted through a bore 18 in a body 20 of the connector 10, the bore 18 being sized for receiving the lug 12 by way of a plug head 22.
• the body 20 is preferably formed from an insulating material and a helical groove
• the groove 26 is formed with a bore 18.
• the groove includes a V-bottom 30 and canted coil spring is disposed in the groove 26 with an exposed portion 38 contacting the plug head 22 and providing sufficient force thereagainst to retain the plug head 22 within the bore 18.
• a connecting lug 42 is provided and preferably disposed on an end 44 of the body 20 and is preferably secured therein by lug ends 48 embedded into the body 20.
• the spring 34 includes a length 52 welded to the connecting lug which surrounds the bore 18 and includes a wire segment 56 extending exterior to the body 20.
• Figures 3 and 4 illustrate alternative embodiment 60 in accordance with the present invention which includes a body 62 having a helical groove 64 with a flat bottom 66.
• an embodiment 70 in accordance with the present invention may include a body 72 having a helical groove 74 with a tapered bottom 76.
• Figure 8 may be disposed in the grooves 26, 64, 74 with the various groove 26, 64, 74 configurations, the insertion and retention force requirements coupled with the electrical properties will determine the specific design of the spring, spring length and material be it radial or axial.
• the insertion and holding forces are determined by the spring design and material.
• a complete description of the radial and axial springs suitable for use in the present invention and the groove configurations for determining insertion and holding forces are set forth in U.S. Patent numbers 4,893,795, 4,876,781, 4,974,821, 5,108,078, 5,139,243, 5,139,276, 5,082,390, 5,091,606, 5,411,348, 5,545,842, 5,615,870, 5,709,371 and 5,791,638 all to Balsells. All of these patents are to be incorporated herewith in their entirety including all specifications and drawings for the purpose of describing radial and canted coil axial springs, groove, and force consideration.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)
• Springs (AREA)
• Snaps, Bayonet Connections, Set Pins, And Snap Rings (AREA)
• Connections Effected By Soldering, Adhesion, Or Permanent Deformation (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=37432087

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (7)

Families Citing this family (36)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2006
  • 2006-05-16 US US11/383,529 patent/US7316593B2/en active Active
  • 2006-05-17 JP JP2008512462A patent/JP2008541408A/ja not_active Ceased
  • 2006-05-17 CN CN2006800172181A patent/CN101223674B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-05-17 WO PCT/US2006/019031 patent/WO2006124969A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2006-05-17 EP EP06759994A patent/EP1889331B1/en not_active Ceased
• 2013
  • 2013-01-28 JP JP2013013275A patent/JP5427303B2/ja active Active

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events